HOMEWORK:
Students should be working at home on English/Language Arts IXL assignments EVERY day for at least 10 minutes, if electronic device/internet access is available.
IXL work replaces most of the traditional 'worksheet' homework for our classes. Students receive immediate feedback on concept misconceptions and are able to, for the most part, work at their own pace (making sure to meet 'check-point' deadlines along the way).
On Fridays, after weekly/biweekly assessments are completed, students receive the remaining time in class to work on ELA IXL sections, but are still expected to work at least 10 minutes per day on IXL outside of class in order to stay up-to-date with their current IXL assignments/deadlines.
Welcome to the RCMS 6th Grade English/Language Arts Blog! This is a great place for Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Mason's students (and their parental units) to obtain valuable information about what's going on in the 6th grade English/Language Arts (ELA) classes. Lesson plans, weekly reviews, assignments, and additional ELA class specific information will be posted here.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
Boys' Basketball Tryouts
There's been a bit of confusion regarding the 2017-2018 Boys' Basketball Tryouts.
Tryouts for 6th graders will be held NEXT Monday and Tuesday (10/16-10/17) from 3:30 to 5:30.
:)
Tryouts for 6th graders will be held NEXT Monday and Tuesday (10/16-10/17) from 3:30 to 5:30.
:)
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Storytelling Festival
The Storytelling Festival is tomorrow! (I don't know about the kids, but we teachers are SUPER excited! We are excited to take our students on their first Field Trip of the year!:)
Reminders:
- Students will NOT be permitted to bring/use their electronic devices. (RCMS admin will be available if emergencies arise.)
- Students MAY bring a blanket, water bottle, etc. for use during the festival. (Students may NOT bring big backpacks, but may carry belongings in a smaller cinch sack or something equivalent. )
- Students need to dress weather-appropriate! Dress in layers, as it will be cooler in the morning, but should warm up nicely by the afternoon.
- Students MUST either bring a packed lunch from home or pick up a sack lunch from the Cafeteria before they will be allowed on the bus. (Students may pack snacks and/or bring money for the concessions.)
Reminders:
- Students will NOT be permitted to bring/use their electronic devices. (RCMS admin will be available if emergencies arise.)
- Students MAY bring a blanket, water bottle, etc. for use during the festival. (Students may NOT bring big backpacks, but may carry belongings in a smaller cinch sack or something equivalent. )
- Students need to dress weather-appropriate! Dress in layers, as it will be cooler in the morning, but should warm up nicely by the afternoon.
- Students MUST either bring a packed lunch from home or pick up a sack lunch from the Cafeteria before they will be allowed on the bus. (Students may pack snacks and/or bring money for the concessions.)
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
CASE Testing
The first round of CASE testing snuck up on us a little bit this year! Kiddos completed the Math CASE test on Monday morning and the Reading CASE test this morning. The CASE test is what RCMS uses as a benchmark assessment (the elementary schools use MAP) to determine students' strengths, weaknesses, and growth in math and reading. We should receive the kiddos' CASE results within a couple of weeks. Those results will be shared with the students, and we will analyze the information together.
All of the 6th grade teachers agreed that most all of our 6th graders showed a great deal of effort while completing the CASE assessments. :)
All of the 6th grade teachers agreed that most all of our 6th graders showed a great deal of effort while completing the CASE assessments. :)
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Parent/Teacher Conference Handout
During Parent/Teacher Conferences, Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Mann provided parents/guardians with a handout that provided tips parents/guardians can use to help their student improve his/her ELA skills. Key points from the handout can be found below:
Infinite Campus (IC)
Parents (and students) are encouraged to download the Infinite Campus app (IC) to view students’ current grades, missing assignments, etc. Instructions on how to install and sign-in to IC can be obtained in the RCMS front office or off of the Rowan County website.
Remind
If you have not yet signed up for your ELA teacher’s REMIND text messages, please consider doing so. Contact Mrs. Mason or Mrs. Mann for the instructions or visit our blog!
Infinite Campus (IC)
Parents (and students) are encouraged to download the Infinite Campus app (IC) to view students’ current grades, missing assignments, etc. Instructions on how to install and sign-in to IC can be obtained in the RCMS front office or off of the Rowan County website.
Remind
If you have not yet signed up for your ELA teacher’s REMIND text messages, please consider doing so. Contact Mrs. Mason or Mrs. Mann for the instructions or visit our blog!
What can done
at home?
* Encourage your child to read. Reading independently helps build students’ vocabulary, aids in reading comprehension, and improves fluency. It is hands down the single most powerful thing students can do to improve their ELA skills.
* Encourage your child to read. Reading independently helps build students’ vocabulary, aids in reading comprehension, and improves fluency. It is hands down the single most powerful thing students can do to improve their ELA skills.
* Remind your student
to study their daily bell work. Students are given five Language Mechanics
bell work questions at the beginning of each class (M-Th). The correct answers
are then given (and written out on the SmartBoard) every day. Every day, two of the five questions require students to make corrections to
sentences. On Fridays, kiddos are tested (multiple choice) over eight of the
twenty bell work questions they were presented with during the week.
* Have students
memorize and practice Word Stems. Students are given eight word stems every other Monday. Every other Friday, they are
tested over the definition of each word stem, as well as asked to correctly use
each one in a sentence (multiple choice).
Wish List Supplies
Clorox Wipes
Colored Pencils
Band-Aids
Color Copy Paper
Glue Sticks
Individually wrapped candy
Clorox Wipes
Colored Pencils
Band-Aids
Color Copy Paper
Glue Sticks
Individually wrapped candy
Thursday, September 14, 2017
IXL Grammar Homework Assignment
IXL: Grammar
Homework Assignments
This year, you
will be using IXL (IXL.com or IXL app) to complete grammar homework assignments
for your English/Language Arts (ELA) class. You will begin working on NOUN skills and, by the end of the year,
work your way through at least six total parts of speech:
nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions.
Because many
6th graders’ language skills are below average, and to ensure that
all students receive the appropriate foundational instruction before they
attempt grade-level content, all students will be required to work through
several different levels of specific language skills.
You will
receive formative assessment credit (.25 pts) for each section successfully
completed with a score of 85 or above, with a minimum of 20 questions
attempted. Once you have completed ALL of the teacher recommended sections for
one part of speech, you will take an in-class summative assessment over that
content and then proceed on to the next part of speech as outline below. (This
will allow students to somewhat work at their own pace.)
Directions:
- Login to IXL by going to www.ixl.com/signin/rowancountyms
- Begin by working on the recommended IXL
NOUN levels/sections (see spreadsheet on back).
- ALL 61 sections must be completed by
teacher-specified due date. (Right now we are shooting for the end of the
9-weeks, but may adjust that based on student needs.)
- You must attempt at least 20
questions per section AND achieve a score of 85 or higher on that section
before moving on to the next recommended section.
- You MUST complete the sections in
order, starting with the sections in Level C.
- Once ALL NOUN levels have been completed, you will complete an in-class summative assessment over nouns. Then, you’ll be released to work on the next part of speech!
- ALL NOUN sections need to be completed by the end of the 1st nine weeks.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Veterans Day Essay
Veterans
Day Essay Assignment
Prompt: Hearing
rousing speeches to honor the military is a frequent occurrence on Veterans
Day. What do you think are some of the important elements of a Veterans Day
speech? Who would be a good candidate to make such a speech and why?
This year for
the Veteran’s Day Essay assignment students need to write a 5 paragraph essay on
the assigned topic above. (Remember a paragraph is considered 5-8 sentences). The essay should be well thought out and written with complete sentences. (The essay will be graded using the scoring rubric outlined on the Homework page.) Students may type their essays, but it is not
required. The top essays will go on to compete in the school-wide competition. If students wish to be considered for the
Veterans Day Essay Contest, their essay MUST be submitted by Friday, Sept.
15th. ALL other
essays MUST be submitted by Friday, September 29h.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Homework
Throughout the year, students will be assigned several out-of-class/homework assignments. Some of these will be short-term assignments (due within a day or two) and others will be long(er)-term assignments (due within a week or more).
Some of the homework will be completed via a computer or electronic device, and other homework will be assigned via a handout or copied document.
If a student loses or misplaces his/her paper copy of the homework assignment, they may print an additional copy off of here (from the 'Homework' page on the right-hand side bar) or they may attend morning or afternoon tutoring with Mrs. Mason or Mrs. Mann to obtain an additional copy.
This year all formative assessments (including most homework assignments) will be worth approximately 20% of a student's grade, with summative assessments holding 80ish% of his/her overall grade.
Some of the homework will be completed via a computer or electronic device, and other homework will be assigned via a handout or copied document.
If a student loses or misplaces his/her paper copy of the homework assignment, they may print an additional copy off of here (from the 'Homework' page on the right-hand side bar) or they may attend morning or afternoon tutoring with Mrs. Mason or Mrs. Mann to obtain an additional copy.
This year all formative assessments (including most homework assignments) will be worth approximately 20% of a student's grade, with summative assessments holding 80ish% of his/her overall grade.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Bell Work (and Weekly Bell Work assessments)
Everyday Bell Work 2017-2018
On most Mondays-Thursdays, students will complete Bell Work designed to learn, practice, and reinforce language mechanics (grammar) skills. (6th grade students will take a Language Mechanics assessment as part of their end-of-the-year KPREP standardized test. On Fridays, students will then be tested over the concepts/questions they completed the previous M-Th.
An online copy of the Evan-Moor Grade 6 Daily Language Review workbook we use in class can be found here: Evan-Moor Grade 6 Daily Language Review
Students may use this online resource to help study for weekly Bell Work assessments, as well as catch up on Bell Work they may have missed if they were absent from class. Correct answers are found at the very end of the document beginning on page 118.
Students may ask either Mrs. Mann or Mrs. Mason to find out which 'Week' of questions are currently being covered.
Happy Learning!
***Weekly Bell Work assessments will begin 9/5-9/8.
On most Mondays-Thursdays, students will complete Bell Work designed to learn, practice, and reinforce language mechanics (grammar) skills. (6th grade students will take a Language Mechanics assessment as part of their end-of-the-year KPREP standardized test. On Fridays, students will then be tested over the concepts/questions they completed the previous M-Th.
An online copy of the Evan-Moor Grade 6 Daily Language Review workbook we use in class can be found here: Evan-Moor Grade 6 Daily Language Review
Students may use this online resource to help study for weekly Bell Work assessments, as well as catch up on Bell Work they may have missed if they were absent from class. Correct answers are found at the very end of the document beginning on page 118.
Students may ask either Mrs. Mann or Mrs. Mason to find out which 'Week' of questions are currently being covered.
Happy Learning!
***Weekly Bell Work assessments will begin 9/5-9/8.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Tutoring
**Tutoring will begin THIS week!**
Content area
specific, as well as general, tutoring will be available Monday-Thursday as
outlined in the schedule below:
Tuesdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason
Wednesdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason
Thursdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason
Mondays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects)
Room 619 (Geometry w/ Mrs. Eldridge)
Room 619 (Geometry w/ Mrs. Eldridge)
Tuesdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (Science w/ Mrs. Armstrong)
Room 612 (English w/ Mrs.
Mann)
Room 621 (Math w/
Mrs. Carnevali)
Wednesdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects)
Thursdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (Social Studies w/ Mr. Hood)
Room 615 (English w/
Mrs. Mason)
Room 607 (Math w/
Mrs. Fannin)
Opening a Smart Board Presentation
Opening Smart Board Presentation
Save the SMART notebook file on your computer before opening it in SMART Express
Go to the following site: http://express.smarttech.com/
Once you are on the site, open the file you wish to view
Save the SMART notebook file on your computer before opening it in SMART Express
Go to the following site: http://express.smarttech.com/
Once you are on the site, open the file you wish to view
Standards Based Grading
6th
Grade English/Language Arts – 2016-2017 – Grading Policy and Procedures
Standards
Based Grading (SBG) will be implemented into this course. During
this school year Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Mason will be using Standards Based
Grading. SBG is designed to give students more direct feedback pertaining to
specific learning objectives. Students
will know the areas in which they have performed well and areas that need
improvement. The following will outline
how this grading system operates and what students can expect.
1.
During each unit students will be provided with
learning targets written in student friendly language. These “I Can” statements specify exactly what
students need to know, be able to do with what they know, and how to
demonstrate that knowledge. Daily
lessons will focus on specific “I Can” statements. Students will be assessed throughout the unit
to see how well they have grasped each target.
This information will provide feedback to the teacher and student on the
progress being made and what additional instruction is needed.
2.
At the end of each unit students will be assessed
on their understanding of the learning targets.
Each unit assessment will be planned out so that each target is assessed
an effective and appropriate way. The
assessment will be scored on a 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 scale with 4 being the highest
possible score and representing ‘Mastery’ of the target. The total points they
earn divided by the total points possible will then determine the student’s
percentage grade for the unit. (A score of 3 represents a solid understanding
of the learning target, a 2 represents ‘Developing’ knowledge, a score of 1
represents ‘Limited/Basic’ understanding of the target, and a 0 means students
lack any understanding of the target, or the assessment was not completed by
the student.
3.
After receiving feedback on their performance,
students will have an opportunity to take an additional assessment (a
‘retake’). This opportunity will allow
students to show if there has been an improvement in their understanding of
individual learning targets with which they initially had trouble. If students show an improvement on their
learning target performance, the lower grade will be replaced by the higher
grade. If they don’t show improvement, their grade remains the same. There is no penalty for taking longer to
demonstrate competency of a learning target. Retakes must be completed within 2
weeks of the initial assessment, and students must successfully complete Target
Practice for the target they have requested to retake. Retakes must be
completed outside of regular class times, and must be student initiated. It is
the student’s responsibility to complete the practice and the retake within the
designated time. (Reminders will not be provided.)
This grading process allows students (and
teachers) to pinpoint specific areas of greatest understanding, as well as
specific areas of needed improvement. It’s a great way to see exactly what
concepts need to be retaught, practiced, and reassessed.
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