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6th Grade ELAR Syllabus – PAC12 Team
haga clic aquí para español
Welcome! We are excited to work with your students this year. While this school year will look and feel different than previous years, we will support your students in every way possible to ensure their success at Barber Middle School and beyond. Please read this syllabus closely with your child, sign and return the signature page only.
Overview: The Language Arts program will consist of direct instruction via Zoom as well as in the classroom using interactive lessons and discussion. We will be covering the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English/Language Arts which can be found online at www.tea.state.tx.us. We will be covering the TEKS using resources from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as well as a Reading and Writing Workshop model.
Curriculum: The Reading Workshop is a powerful, research based teaching framework developed at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. It is a part of a balanced literacy program. The basic format of a reading workshop class looks like this:
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Mini-lessons on some aspect of literature, skill, or a reading strategy. An important part of the mini-lesson is a read-aloud from a text that the teacher will use to model thinking.
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Independent Reading and/or Writing Time, students will read their chosen texts and respond in writing. During this time the teacher will work with individuals and small groups based on their needs.
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Response time during which students respond to their reading in writing, and/or by discussing with their classmates.
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We will follow this model for remote learning as well as face-to-face. Our units of study this year are thematic which means we will explore multiple genres of a specific theme. In addition to a comprehension unit, students will explore themes of finding courage, discovering your voice, surviving the unthinkable, and never give up. We believe these units of study will not only prepare their minds to comprehend what they read and respond, but also develop their social and emotional skills.
Grading: 55% Formative Assignments/Assessments (i.e. classwork/homework/quizzes)
45% Summative Assessments (common assessments/CBA’s/projects)
Students will receive a minimum of 12 number grades every 9 weeks. At least 3 of the grades will be major grades.
Tutoring: Tutoring is available by request this year. We will provide tutoring as necessary to ensure student success.
STAAR: Students will be taking the STAAR test this year. STAAR stands for “The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.” Success on the STAAR test is important because satisfactory performance shows us that your child is on track for college. Please visit http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/parents/
Interactive Notebook: We will use an electronic interactive notebook this year. Students will receive training on the expectations.
Homework Including Reading Log: The importance of your child’s at-home reading, and completion of their reading log, cannot be overstated. The statement that kids who read a lot learn to read well, and then go on to do better on standardized tests is the literacy conclusion most supported by research. In short “kids who are given more time to read do better” (Krashen, 2004). Good research points to 90 minutes daily (total, in and out of school) of on-level, “just right” reading for your child to maintain their current reading level. In addition to reading for 30 minutes each day at home, students may have work to complete to satisfy requirements of an in-class activity.
Library: Students have the opportunity to go to the library this year although we are still working out the guidelines due to the current pandemic. We will update parents and students as we know more information. Students will receive information for logging into a virtual library through Google Classroom.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time with questions or concerns. You may reach us via email or during the posted office hour/conference times.
Together we will ensure your child climbs the mountain to college. Every decision we make will be with the best interests of your child in mind. When your child walks through our doors they become our family, too, and we will treat them with the respect and love they deserve.
Sincerely,
Amber Yokum
281-229-6900 ext.6955 (classroom, please call afterschool or during conference)
ayokum@dickinsonisd.org
Jackie Cardenas 
281-229-6900 ext. 6990
jcardenas@dickinsonisd.org
To download and print a copy of this syllabus, click this LINK.