Sixth Grade English Language Arts (ELA) Syllabus

2018-2019
Mrs. Melendez

Welcome to 6th grade! Throughout the course of this year I look forward to helping you to grow
and become the best student, person, leader, and global citizen that you can be. We will explore a great
deal of our curriculum through projects, use of technology, and student-driven learning in addition to our
classroom assignments and assessments. We will survey several genres of literature in an effort to learn
about the world in which we live. This year you will be challenged to improve and strengthen your skills
in vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, and team building.

Course Description
The 6th Grade English Language Arts class is a balanced literacy program in which students are
challenged to improve in the areas of reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, speaking, and
listening. Students will have a variety of opportunities throughout the year to use their creativity and
imagination in conjunction with what they are learning in class.

Major Objectives
• Develop strategies for reading to obtain information and improve comprehension.
• Develop an enriched vocabulary.
• Write for a variety of purposes with emphasis on the narrative, informative, and persuasive forms.
• Improve composition skills within the five domains: focus, content, style, organization, and
conventions.
• Strengthen skills of spelling and word structure.
• Develop skills of public speaking.

Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the year. The best way to reach me is through email:
emelendez@ourladyofguadalupeschool.org. Please allow a 24-hour grace period to respond.

Course Requirements
• Be prepared for class with 2 composition books (Reading Response Journal/Language Interactive
Notebook), homework, pencil, pen, independent reading material, and workbooks (Grammar/
Vocabulary).
• Complete required assignments, projects, and assessments (Formative and Summative)
• Actively participate in class discussions and group work

Classroom Rules and Expectations

1. Be present and on time: Follow directions the first time they are given
2. Be prepared: this includes bringing materials to class, doing homework, and bringing homework to
class on the day it is due
3. Be respectful to people and property: treat others as you would want to be treated and treat school and/
or peers’ property as if it is your own
4. Be alert: get proper rest so students can perform better and be an active participant in the classroom (all
students are required to participate!)
5. Be responsible: do your own work and keep up with your homework. Make sure to turn in what you
have done.
ALL students must carry their agenda.
ALL students must abide by the dress code.
Restroom Use
Students are expected to make good use of their time and plan accordingly during class changes; this
includes using the restroom during recess and lunch. I protect the first 15 minutes and last 15 minutes of
class for instructional purposes, during which students will not be allowed to leave the classroom for
bathroom needs. If a student needs to use the restroom during class time, only 1 person should leave the
classroom at a time, so if someone else is out of the classroom, please wait until they have returned to ask
for permission. Remember that you are not allowed to leave the classroom during the first and last 15
minutes of class. Restroom privileges may be restricted if the teacher feels the privileges are being
abused.

Group Work
During many lessons there will be opportunities to work in groups with fellow classmates. Depending on
the learning activity, partners may be assigned, or students may be allowed to choose learning partners.
Students are expected to show respect to all other learning partners’ ideas, learning styles, work, etc.
when working together. In addition, all students are expected to contribute to the activity with no one
person taking charge of the entire group, and no students relying on other students to do all the work.

Assessments and Grading Policy

Assessments
Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Daily class assignments, tests,
projects, group work, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. Students are also asked to
complete essays based on covered units, which are assessed using rubrics.

Any work not handed in or not fully completed as directed will not be scored, resulting in a ZERO. Late
work will receive a 10 point deduction for each day late, up to three (3) days. After three days the highest
grade possible will be a 70. If the work is not turned in after three days, the assignment will be marked as
a ZERO.

Student’s final grades are based on the following categories:

Assessments 60%
Class Work 30%
Homework 5%
Participation 5%

Grading System
The students in Grades 6-8 are graded by percentages. According to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
the correlation between letter grades and percentages is the following: GPA equivalents are:
A 100-96% A- 95-93% B+ 92-90% B 89-87%
B- 86-85% C+ 84-80% C 79-75% C- 74-70%
D 69-65% F 64% and below

Retakes
Students who are unsatisfied with a grade received on major assessments (including but not limited to
tests, quizzes, projects, etc.) may consult the teacher to request and discuss the retake procedures as a
means of improving the student’s grade. Having this opportunity is a privilege which has been designed
to encourage students to demonstrate mastery of concepts learned.
Response Journal/Interactive Notebooks (Composition Books)
All students will be required to keep a response journal/interactive notebooks during class. The purpose
for the journal/notebooks is to allow the student to create a portfolio of learning throughout the entire
duration of the year, which can also serve as a guide at home to assist him/her with homework and to
study for upcoming tests.

Homework
Homework will be assigned most nights. All homework will be posted in the classroom and it is expected
to be completed as directed and turned in on the due date.

Parents, your child will always receive written and oral directions for all projects and assignments, and
will be given time to write down the daily assignments into his/her agenda in class. You are encouraged to
check the agenda on a regular basis and emphasize the importance of writing in every block (for example,
writing “NO HW” for that day’s assignment). Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to take
advantage of the organizational guidance offered in class.

Absences/Missed work
Students who miss class due to an absence will have the number of days plus an extra day to complete the
work once he/she returns (for example, a student is absent 2 days, so the student will have 3 days to make
up the work after they return). Students are responsible for obtaining the work they have missed during an
absence.

Preparedness
Students are expected to come to class prepared every day with their agenda, composition books, pencil
pouch with learning tools, including pens/pencils. Bringing the above list of materials, all completed
assignments, a positive risk-taking attitude, and a willingness to learn and participate is crucial for
success.
 Sixth Grade English Language Arts (ELA)
2018-2019
Student/Parent Contract Agreement

Students and Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

Please sign the appropriate sections below and return this sheet to your teacher by Friday, August 31,
2018. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at
emelendez@ourladyofguadalupeschool.org.

Student

I, ______________________________, have read and agree to the following course guidelines. I will do
my best to be successful in this class by (this is not an all-inclusive list):

discussing class work/what has been learned at school,

completing all homework and assigned tasks on time and to do the best of my ability,
becoming independent and responsible for my work, thoughts, and actions,
working to improve my study habits, and
coming to school each day prepared and ready to learn.

Signature _________________________________________

Parent/Guardian

I, ______________________________, have read and agree to the following course guidelines. I will do
the best that I can to help my child be successful in this class by encouraging my child to (this is not an
all-inclusive list):

discuss class work/what has been learned at school,

complete all homework and assigned tasks on time and to do the best of his/her ability,
foster independence and responsibility,
improve study habits, and
come to school each day prepared and ready to learn.

Signature _________________________________________


Student Information:

Any other information I need to know about your child:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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