Welcome to the 16-17 school year!
ALL POSTS PRIOR TO THIS ONE WERE FOR THE 15-16 SCHOOL YEAR AND DO NOT APPLY TO THIS YEAR!
I'm putting some highlights from the syllabus/welcome letter here just for general reference.
6th Grade Gifted and Talented Language Arts and Social
Studies is an integrated and differentiated
program organized around the study of world
cultures. The social studies and literature textbooks - along with many
other sources are used as resources. We
will read stories, articles, poems, and novels that relate to the cultural
studies. The curriculum is advanced and
accelerated with an emphasis on higher level thinking skills. Pre-AP skills are included in the GT LA/SS
program.
Students who like to read and write, who have an interest in the world
around them, and who exhibit task commitment are successful in this class.
Respectful, self-disciplined behavior of each student is necessary for
achievement of his or her personal best – and expected as a member of a
learning community.
You will need the following materials
and supplies EVERY DAY for this class:
- binder containing your
LA and SS sections and many sheets of loose-leaf paper
- agenda/planner
- independent
reading book
- LA composition
book (It will have a place to live in the room.)
- SS ISN (It will
have a place to live in the room.)
-
pencils, blue or black ink pens (No
fancy colors for class work – your words should sparkle, not your ink! However,
you may grade and take notes in any ink that makes you happy!)
-
scissors
-
map pencils
-
Scotch tape (I suggest you buy a big
economy pack and bring them one at a time.)
Your Literature and Social Studies Textbooks should
live at home. Your InterActive Reader (IAR) will live in
your locker, and I will let you know at least one day in advance when it
needs to come to class. You will
purchase a $10 Grammar Workbook that
will also have a place to live in the room.
Portfolios: You
will keep a portfolio in my filing cabinet.
When I return a paper to you, I
will go over it and then let you know where it should go – maybe in your
portfolio or ISN or even the recycling bin, but wait for me to tell you where
it goes!
Class Novels: We are going to read dozens of
interesting and relevant texts this year.
The following is a list of novels we will read and use in class. Class sets are available for students to read
in class, but they may not be taken
home. If you think you will need to do
some reading at home, you may want to purchase/borrow from a friend or library
a copy.
·
Stowaway by
Karen Hess
·
Secrets of the Andes by
Ann Nolan Clark
·
Colum’s Children’s Homer by
Padraic Colum
·
ONE of the three following books
o
The Golden Goblet OR Mara,
Daughter of the Nice by Eloise Jarvis McGraw OR
o
A Single Shard by
Linda Sue Park
·
I Am Malala by
Malala Yousafzai
·
A Long Walk to Water by
Linda Sue Park (We will listen to this as an audio book, but I will have a few
copies available for absences.)
Independent Reading: While we will read
and analyze lots of texts in class, you are expected to have an independent
reading book going at all times. For
most of you this is your normal state of being. J The vast majority of the time, I want this to be completely a book of
your choice – fiction, non-fiction, manga, hieroglyphics – whatever you
love. Just read and bring it to class
every day.
Twice this year,
I’m going to ask you to choose a book from a list to read independently. Every
week or so, I’m going to ask to see your independent reading book and ask you
do something with it. If you are reading
the book, it should be no problem! Yes,
this will count as a grade.
The first nine
weeks, please choose one “classic” book from the NEXT POST as ONE of your
independent reading books. This book was
compiled from a list of previous year’s 6th Grade MMS GT
students. You are welcome to read as
many as you wish, but don’t feel compelled to read them all.
Tutorials: During Activity and by appointment.
Please schedule non-Activity tutorials with me at least 24 hours in
advance as I attend many meetings and appointments each week.
Make-up
Work: Quizzes and tests may be made-up during
Activity and by appointment. Please
schedule non-Activity make-ups with me at least 24 hours in advance. If you are absent, check with me before
or after class or during Activity for make-up work. If you were absent on the day the assignment
was handed out, you have as many days as you were out (excused) to make up the
work. If you were present on the day the
assignment was handed out, but absent on the due date, it is due the day you
return to school.
Semester
Exams: You will take final exams in December and
June. The final exam will
count as 14% of the semester grade the remaining 86% is made up of the two nine
week grades.
Late Work: Work that counts
as a test grade or a daily grade* will be accepted one day late for a
maximum of 75 and two days late for a maximum of a 50.
*Membean and other time-sensitive assignments such as homework will
not be taken late.
Honor Code: Breaking the honor code will result in
parents being contacted, a zero on the assignment in questions, and possibly a
day in ISS
Extra Credit: Extra credit will always be an extension of
the current unit and come DURING the unit. Please, do not ask for extra credit
the last week of class; you will have
had opportunities. If you believe you may need extra credit, please do it
when it is offered. Late extra credit
will not be accepted.
9 Week Grades:
40% Tests, Process Papers and Projects (Major Grades)
20% Quizzes
30% Daily Work (The
single lowest daily grade will be
dropped each nine-week grading period.)
10% Homework
General
Information:
- We will go to the
library every other Monday (with the occasional disruption due to state testing
and such). You are also welcome to check
books out from my classroom library – please bring the book to me when you want
to check it out and when you want to return it.
-
You are expected to record all homework, assignments
and due dates in your Agenda each day.
-
Be sure that all
written work has the proper heading and title. Any work without the proper
heading will be returned, and therefore may be considered late. Pencil, dark
blue or black ink only.
First Last Niki Connor
Date August 27, 2016
Period a.m.
-
Phones and any other electronic devices:
o
need to be TURNED OFF and in a pocket
at the front of the room unless I have given you express permission to have it
out and on.
o
If you want to use your phone on the break,
pick it up on your way out of the room and re-store it on your way in.
o
The first time I encounter your phone not as
it should be, I will keep it until the end of the school day. Every time after
that, I will turn it over to the office and you will have to deal with getting
it back from Mrs. Hiler.
o
All the rules you agreed to for school-based
technology apply to your personal phone when you are using it on campus –
including no picture taking unless you have express permission from an adult.
