Class Syllabus
Course Name
6th Grade English Language Arts
Course Code
23.0110002
23.2110001
School Name
Chamblee Middle School
Teacher Name
Tiffany Altheimer
School Phone Number
678-874-8202 Ext. 4284
Teacher Phone: (470) 207-3814
Teacher Email
Tiffany_ [email protected]
School Website
http://www.chambleems.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Teacher Website
http://tiffanyaltheimer.weebly.com/
Course Description
Sixth grade Language Arts integrates conceptual and skill-based learning through the study and practice of reading, writing, and the conventions of language and grammar. Students learn, practice, and master a set of skills and perspectives that are embedded and continuous throughout the units and that are central to success in the English Language Arts classroom. As each level builds upon previously acquired skills, the students are on their way to becoming critical thinkers as well as independent readers, writers, and learners. Our curriculum is based on the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (www.georgiastandards.org) and will prepare students for the new Georgia Milestones Assessment. These standards provide year-long learning goals and establish clear expectations for student work.
Each semester is divided into 9 week units during which students will learn, practice, and master skills and knowledge that will allow them to not only succeed in Language Arts, but also see how the subject relates to their life and the world around them.
Curriculum Overview →THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Unit 1→ Theme: Coming of Age
Writing Focus: Expository Reading Focus: Informational Text/Fictional Text
Unit 2→ Theme: Blast From the Past
Writing Focus: Narrative Reading Focus: Literary Text
Unit 3→ Theme: Courageous Characters
Writing Focus: Persuasive Reading Focus: Informational Text
Unit 4→ Theme: Embracing Heritage
Writing Focus: Expository Reading Focus: Literary Text
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title
McDougal Littell Literature, 2009 Edition
ISBN
9780547075259
Replacement Cost
N/A
Online book and/or resources
N/A
Online student access code (school specific)
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
GRADING CATEGORIES
*GRADE PROTOCOL
Formative Assessment (Pre-Assessment) – 0%
Assessment During Learning – 25%
Guided, Independent, or Group Practice – 45%
Summative Assessment– 30%
A 90 – 100 ~P (pass)
B 80 – 89 ~F (fail)
C 71 – 79
D 70
F Below 70
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS
STUDENT PROGRESS
Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook.
HOMEWORK
Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB.
MAKE-UP WORK
DUE TO ABSENCES
When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA.
SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
All Late Work= 10 points off the first day late, 5 points off every day after that. This can result in the lowest grade being a 30%
All work must be made up within the 9 week grading period; for example: work from the first 9 week period of school cannot be turned in during the second 9 week period
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
English Language Arts Notebook:A notebook dedicated to English Language Arts only allows students to locate materials easily for class activities, review and study purposes, and it is a great way for students to stay organized.
(List of materials on next page)
Materials needed for ELA:
-1-inch 3-ring binder
-5 Divider tabs (labels: Spelling, Grammar, Notes, Daily Work, Graded Work)
-Composition notebook
-College ruled notebook paper
-Pens (black or blue ONLY)
Materials needed for ALL classes:
-Pencil pouch
-Hand-held pencil sharpener
-Colored pencils
- Pens and pencils
Important DatesTBA- To be announced soon due to virtual learning this year
EXTRA HELP
Students are encouraged to come to tutorial on Tuesday mornings from 9:00a-10:00a for additional support. Other times can be scheduled if needed.
PARENTS
AS PARTNERS
Please feel free to contact me at any time concerning your student (email is best). Also, visit my webpage for updates & additional information. I will try to update my website as regularly as possible and return emails/calls ASAP.
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN
I have read the syllabus.
Student Name______________________________________________________________
Student Signature___________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________
Additional information to support continued contact:
Guardian Names
Cell Phone Number
Daytime Phone Number
Email Address
6th Grade English Language Arts
Course Code
23.0110002
23.2110001
School Name
Chamblee Middle School
Teacher Name
Tiffany Altheimer
School Phone Number
678-874-8202 Ext. 4284
Teacher Phone: (470) 207-3814
Teacher Email
Tiffany_ [email protected]
School Website
http://www.chambleems.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
Teacher Website
http://tiffanyaltheimer.weebly.com/
Course Description
Sixth grade Language Arts integrates conceptual and skill-based learning through the study and practice of reading, writing, and the conventions of language and grammar. Students learn, practice, and master a set of skills and perspectives that are embedded and continuous throughout the units and that are central to success in the English Language Arts classroom. As each level builds upon previously acquired skills, the students are on their way to becoming critical thinkers as well as independent readers, writers, and learners. Our curriculum is based on the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (www.georgiastandards.org) and will prepare students for the new Georgia Milestones Assessment. These standards provide year-long learning goals and establish clear expectations for student work.
Each semester is divided into 9 week units during which students will learn, practice, and master skills and knowledge that will allow them to not only succeed in Language Arts, but also see how the subject relates to their life and the world around them.
Curriculum Overview →THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Unit 1→ Theme: Coming of Age
Writing Focus: Expository Reading Focus: Informational Text/Fictional Text
Unit 2→ Theme: Blast From the Past
Writing Focus: Narrative Reading Focus: Literary Text
Unit 3→ Theme: Courageous Characters
Writing Focus: Persuasive Reading Focus: Informational Text
Unit 4→ Theme: Embracing Heritage
Writing Focus: Expository Reading Focus: Literary Text
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title
McDougal Littell Literature, 2009 Edition
ISBN
9780547075259
Replacement Cost
N/A
Online book and/or resources
N/A
Online student access code (school specific)
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
GRADING CATEGORIES
*GRADE PROTOCOL
Formative Assessment (Pre-Assessment) – 0%
Assessment During Learning – 25%
Guided, Independent, or Group Practice – 45%
Summative Assessment– 30%
A 90 – 100 ~P (pass)
B 80 – 89 ~F (fail)
C 71 – 79
D 70
F Below 70
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS
STUDENT PROGRESS
Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook.
HOMEWORK
Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB.
MAKE-UP WORK
DUE TO ABSENCES
When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA.
SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
- Listen & follow directions the first time they are given
- Respect yourself, your classmates, those in authority, and the property of others.
- Bring all necessary materials to class.
- Raise your hand for permission to be recognized and to leave your seat & remain in your seat and wait to be dismissed by the teacher.
- No cell phones, iPods, other electronic devices, gum or grooming in class.
All Late Work= 10 points off the first day late, 5 points off every day after that. This can result in the lowest grade being a 30%
All work must be made up within the 9 week grading period; for example: work from the first 9 week period of school cannot be turned in during the second 9 week period
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
English Language Arts Notebook:A notebook dedicated to English Language Arts only allows students to locate materials easily for class activities, review and study purposes, and it is a great way for students to stay organized.
(List of materials on next page)
Materials needed for ELA:
-1-inch 3-ring binder
-5 Divider tabs (labels: Spelling, Grammar, Notes, Daily Work, Graded Work)
-Composition notebook
-College ruled notebook paper
-Pens (black or blue ONLY)
Materials needed for ALL classes:
-Pencil pouch
-Hand-held pencil sharpener
-Colored pencils
- Pens and pencils
Important DatesTBA- To be announced soon due to virtual learning this year
EXTRA HELP
Students are encouraged to come to tutorial on Tuesday mornings from 9:00a-10:00a for additional support. Other times can be scheduled if needed.
PARENTS
AS PARTNERS
Please feel free to contact me at any time concerning your student (email is best). Also, visit my webpage for updates & additional information. I will try to update my website as regularly as possible and return emails/calls ASAP.
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN
I have read the syllabus.
Student Name______________________________________________________________
Student Signature___________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________
Additional information to support continued contact:
Guardian Names
Cell Phone Number
Daytime Phone Number
Email Address