6th Grade Language Arts – Course Syllabus 2020 – 2021
Instructor: Ms. Melissa Ramirez Room Number: 1122
Email: [email protected] Webpage: https://www.ppmhcharterschool.org/
Office hours: By appointment only — https://calendly.com/mramirez-1122/office-hours-meeting Students, please read the following information carefully along with your parent/guardians and complete and return the Syllabus Review Confirmation/Parent Contact Form as well as the Film Consent Form. (Digital copies of these forms have been provided through your PPMH email account.) Course Description:
Welcome to our class! Our goal this year is to create a learning environment that promotes a rigorous curriculum, keeping your child challenged and interested. We are raising our expectations of the students to lead them on a path toward Advanced Placement courses and college. We have a school year full of rigor, challenge, excitement, learning, and wonder ahead of us, and it is essential that we all work together — teacher, student, and parent. This year’s curriculum is based on Spring Board, a program designed by the College Board to ensure college and career readiness. I look forward to working with all of you along the way.
Course Standards
ELA Florida State Standards (FS) www.cpalms.org Course Text
SpringBoard (CollegeBoard) – Grade 6 Communication & Class Website
All students are assigned a personal PPMH email account to communicate with faculty and staff electronically. Teachers will not respond to emails from other sources. Please refer to the Internet and Media Use Policy in the Curriculum Bulletin and Parent & Student Handbook.
Course Fee
Required Novels
2nd Nine Weeks: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Independent Reading
Students will be required to complete a summative assessment, based on a novel read independently, every quarter. Titles will be given at a future date via the homework page.
Classroom Expectations
1. Respect, respect, respect. Listen when others are talking; keep hands, feet, objects, and negative comments to yourself. This is our classroom.
2. Follow directions / instructions first time given. 3. Do not speak when the teacher is speaking.
4. Raise your hand to be recognized before speaking or standing up from your seat. 5. Bring required materials to class every day.
6. Phones are not permitted to be used during class unless stated otherwise and novels cannot be read electronically (get a copy of the book).
7. You will need to bring a laptop to class regularly in order to complete certain assignments. 8. Turn in completed assignments on time. Assignments are due at the beginning of class
period. Assignments not turned in within 10 minutes of class start time will not be accepted.
9. Chewing gum / Eating food is not allowed. Only water is allowed for drinking. 10. Follow the Pinecrest Preparatory Middle-High School Code of Conduct
(link: http://ehandbooks.dadeschools.net/policies/90/index.htm
Zoom Classroom Expectations:
1. Prepare for the unexpected (connectivity issues) by logging on a FEW MINUTES early and wait to be admitted.
2. Use a laptop or computer to log on (not a cell phone or tablet). If you do not have a suitable device, you can check one out from PPMH.
3. Find a QUIET PLACE, free of distractions (siblings, television, parents, pets, etc.). Ideally sit at a desk or table.
4. Maintain RESPECT at all times in speaking, writing, and appearance.
5. Stay on MUTE. Click the "raise hand" button under "participants" if you would like to contribute. 6. Your VIDEO needs to remain ON to promote focus. Your whole face needs to on the screen. 7. Wear your PPMH uniform.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
Cell phones and electronic devices can only be used when specified by your teacher. They should be set to silent and placed in the teacher’s cell phone storage box during the 90 minutes of instructional time. If you have your device out without the consent of the teacher, your phone will be confiscated.
Consequences for not Meeting Classroom Expectations Ø 1st Consequence — Verbal warning
Ø 2nd Consequence — Email or call parents
Ø 3rd Consequence — Referral to behavior modification program Ø 4th Consequence — Referral to the administration
Depending on the severity of the classroom disruption or behavior, the teacher may bypass consequences listed above.
Methods of Assessment
Summative Assessments are used to evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit. Summative assessments are weighed at 40%. Assignments under this category might include embedded assessments, unit/chapter tests, projects, and or/lab reports.
Formative Assessments are used to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback. Formative Assessments are weighed at 35%. Assignments under this category might include interim exams, quizzes, labs, projects, exit tickets, and Springboard activities
Informal Assessments are used to gauge student learning when first being exposed to new content. Informal assessments are weighed at 25%. Assignments under this category might
include classwork, written responses, academic discussion, homework assignments, presentations, and/or participation, exit tickets.
Make-up Work and Late Work Policies
Pursuant to school policy, make-up work (including homework), must be completed within 24 hours (per missed day) upon return to school. All assignments must be made-up within the allotted time or the student will be issued an incomplete (Z). It is the student’s responsibility to follow up with me to ensure he/she makes up any missing assignments. Students should check Edmodo and the teacher website to ensure all work is completed upon return.
All students are expected to submit their work on time. Since we will be using Edmodo for electronic work submission, students will have the flexibility of submitting assignments until midnight on the due date. We understand that emergencies/technical issues may arise. If this occurs, students should immediately email me to discuss options. Please note that this excuse should not be abused, as teachers will address issues on a case-by-case basis.
Course Outline
First Nine Weeks — August 24 – October 22
Topic Assignment / Resource
Unit 1: Stories of Change
Ø How can change be significant? Ø What makes a good story? Unit Goals:
•To understand how change can be significant •To use narrative techniques such as sequencing, dialogue, and descriptive language
•To write narratives to develop real or imagined events
Lesson Quizzes
Embedded Assessments
Independent Reading Assessment
Second Nine Weeks — October 26 – January 21
Topic Assignment / Resource
Unit 2: The Power of Change
Ø How can talking and working with others help one analyze a novel? Ø How do internal and external forces
help people grow? Unit Goals:
• To analyze literary elements • To collaborate and communicate
effectively
• To write an explanatory essay • To practice using verb tenses and creating sentence variety
Novel: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Lesson Quizzes
Embedded Assessment
Third Nine Weeks. — January 22 – March 26
Topic Assignment / Resource
Unit 3: Changing Perspectives
Ø Why do we have controversy in society? Ø How do we communicate in order to
convince others? Unit Goals:
• To analyze informational texts • To support a claim with reasons
and evidence
• To write an argumentative letter •. To understand and use simple, compound, and complex sentence structures.
Lesson Quizzes
Embedded Assessments
Independent Reading Assessment
Fourth Nine Weeks — April 5 – June 9
Topic Assignment / Resource
Unit 4: The Final Act
Ø How can research shape one’s understanding of a literary text? Ø How is reading a text similar to and
different from viewing and performing a text?
Unit Goals:
• To analyze and understand the relationship among setting, characterization, conflict, and plot. • To rehearse and present an
engaging performance of a drama
Lesson Quizzes
Embedded Assessments
Grading Scale
Numerical Value Grade Grade Point Average Verbal Interpretation
90 - 100% A 3.50 - 4.00 Outstanding progress
80 - 89% B 2.50 - 3.49 Above-average progress
70 - 79% C 1.50 - 2.49 Average progress
60 - 69% D 1.00 - 1.49 Lowest acceptable progress
0 - 59% F 0 - .99 Failure
0 Z 0 Incomplete
Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in one of the following areas. Academic dishonesty is an infraction of the MDCPS Code of Student Conduct and disciplinary action will ensue.
1. Cheating – the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids 2. Fabrication – falsification or invention of any information
3. Assisting – helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty
4. Tampering – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents 5. Plagiarism – representing the words or ideas of another person as one’s own.
Required Materials (These are to be brought to class every time) • 1-inch 3 ring binder
• Dividers for binder • Ear buds/Headphones • Loose-leaf paper • No. 2 Pencils
• 3 highlighters (assorted colors)
• Required novels (Tangerine by Edward Bloor) • Box of crayons OR color pencils
• 2 red pens
Other Required Materials (to be brought and left in class) One box of tissues (Periods 1 and 2 only)
One container of Lysol Disinfectant Wipes (8 oz or larger) (Periods 3, 4, 5 only) One bottle of Hand Sanitizer (Periods 6 and 7 only)
Note for Parents
It is my goal that all my students be successful in my class. I will assist your child in any way that I can. However, I alone cannot ensure success. As parents, you are the first and most important and influential teachers that your children will ever have. Please ensure that your child is prepared for class everyday with the proper materials. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to have the necessary materials for this class. I suggest that you continue to encourage your child throughout the school year in accepting responsibility for his/her learning. Please urge your child to study every night and check to make sure that their homework is completed. Home learning assignments are posted on our class webpage as well as it is posted in our classroom. Students are encouraged to keep an agenda of important information said in class, posted on our announcement board as well as on our class webpage. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Ms. Ramirez
Film/Novel Consent Form
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Ms. Ramirez’s students will be viewing/reading a few films/novels throughout the course, as mentioned earlier in this syllabus. All films will be relevant to the class material and offer additional insight. Some of these films may be rated PG-13 for mature content. If you would prefer individual notification for any of the films viewed in class, please let me know. Otherwise, please sign the form below, indicating that the student has your permission to view the films associated with this class. The student needs to return this signed form before seeing these films. Only students who have a signed permission form will be
permitted to view the films and participate in the lessons.
Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns you may have regarding these screenings.
Thank you,
Ms. Ramirez
Period _______
_______________________ __________________________ ____________ Print Student Name Student’s Signature Date
_______________________ __________________________ ________________ Print Parent/Guardian name Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date
Parents and Students,
Please sign and return to Ms. Ramirez by August 26th (A Day) / August 27th (B Day). This is a required document for student files.
Thank you, Ms. Ramirez
We, the parent/guardian(s) and the student, have fully read, understood, and agree to abide by these expectations.
_______________________ __________________________ ____________ __ Print Student Name Student’s Signature Date
_______________________ __________________________ ________________ Print Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date
Parent Contact Information
Parent/Guardian #1 Name: __________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ____________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian #2 Name: ___________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________ Phone Number: ____________________________________________________
