6th grade Advanced language arts

Mrs. Griffiths class

Contact Information Class Materials

Mrs. Tamara Griffith For this course, you will need the
850-833-3613 ext. 217 following resources:
www.pryorela6.weebly.com 1. Pencils
Remind Text Updates: 2. Post-its
@adv6ela to 81010 3. Agenda
or join online at: 4. Glue Sticks
remind.com/join/adv6ela 5. Loose-leaf Paper
tamara.griffith@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us 6. Composition Notebook

Welcome to my class!
7. Highlighters

In this course, we will be reading many different types of texts and analyzing them. We will be
exploring various concepts to become better readers and writers. You will be held to high
expectations both academically and behaviorally. Strive toward reaching your goals.
Incomplete work, poor attitudes, and other non-productive behaviors will not put you on a
path for success. If you are struggling at any point, please see me so that we can work
together to come up with the best plan for your success.

A reader lives a thousand lives.

Formatives:
This includes
Grading & Policies Summatives:
This includes quizzes, tests,
classwork, homework, essays, projects,
warm-ups, and exit presentations, and
tickets. Socratic Seminars.

Make-up Policy:
You may make up any missed
Late Policy:
assignments during your Late work will be
excused absence. Make-up accepted for 10% off
work can be found in the each day it is late. Late
appropriate bin. If students work will not be
are absent or do not finish accepted if it is more
work in class, they may take it than 3 days late. Note:
home to finish it with teacher Classwork taken home
permission. Classwork taken to finish will not be late
home will be listed as a "Z in if it is turned in the
gradebook until it is turned in. following day.
What kinds of things
will we be working on this year?

Required Novels:
Quarter 1 Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
Quarter 2 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Quarter 3 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Quarter 4 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Please note that for some of the required novels, I only have a class set, meaning the books
will not be able to leave the classroom. It is recommended that you purchase the required
novels to facilitate completion of coursework in the event that you are absent on a reading
day. Some novel studies will require that students read all, or portions of the novel outside of
class.
Time will not be provided in class to make up non-completed readings assigned as
homework, and students will still be expected to complete any and all classwork related to
the assigned homework reading.

Additional Readings:
In addition to novel studies, students will read a variety of complex, grade-level or above
grade-level texts (in keeping with advanced requirements) that span a variety of genres:
fiction, non-fiction, fables, poetry, drama, etc.

All students will be expected to read independently on a daily basis. Students must bring a
reading book to school so they are prepared for independent reading. Certain homework
assignments, such as close reads, will require students to read outside of class

Writing: Socratic Projects:

Types of Essays
Narrative
Argumentative
Informative
Short Answer Questions
Research Paper
Writing will be included in
lessons on a daily basis. Students
will write at least 1 formal essay
each month. These may be
classwork or homework and are
worth two test grades (planning
& final draft). Short answer
responses will need to cite text
evidence and are graded on a
4 point rubric.
Seminars:
In conjunction with our
speaking and listening
standards, students will be
completing formal Socratic
Seminar discussions once a
month. The Socratic Seminar
is worth a test grade (70%).
Students who are absent on
the day of a Socratic Seminar
are expected to complete
the makeup assignment
within 5 days of the missed
seminar. Makeup assignments
are only available for students
who are absent.
There will be at least 1
major project each
quarter, which is worth a
test grade. Often, but
not always, students will
be able to chose the
format of their projects.
While some class time
may be allotted for
projects, the majority of
these tasks are to be
completed outside of
class. Additionally,
students may be
required to present their
project for an additional
grade.
Classroom Policies
Rules:
1. Manage your impulses (blurting out,
tapping, etc.)
2. Follow directions the first time theyre given.
3. Speak only with permission.
4. Remain seated unless given permission to
leave it.
5. Be respectful always.
Your appropriate behavior in class assures
everyone of an environment conducive to
learning. Some possible rewards for
continuous appropriate behavior are: intrinsic
value (satisfaction of learning), improved skills,
verbal praise, positive note to parents,
tangible trinkets, and special class activities /
privileges.
Academic Dishonesty
All work that you submit must be
your own work. You may not do
any of the following:
1) Turn in or copy someone elses work.
2) Copy someones work and change a
few of the words.
3) Copying words from a source without
citing it and giving credit to the source.
4) Attempt to use any notes on a closed-
note assignment.
5) Look at someone elses work during an
quiz, test, or otherwise individual
assessment.
If you are doing any of the above or
anything else that constitutes cheating,
you will receive a zero on that assignment,
and you will be referred for discipline.
Success requires responsibility.
Consequences
1. Warning: The student receives a
verbal/ nonverbal reprimand.
2. Second Warning: The students seat
is moved and will complete a
refocus form.
3. Third Warning: The students parent
or guardian will be contacted.
4. Referral to Administration:
Note: Students will be
immediately referred to
administration for severe
behavior problems.
Technology
We will be utilizing various resources to
access the Internet to research, review
material, and submit assignments. You
must hold yourselves to high
expectations when you use these
resources. Your time must be spent
well.
Cell phones and other personal
electronic devices must be kept away
at all times. If I see your cell phone in
class, I will take it and turn it into the
front office. Depending upon how
many times it has been taken away
previously, you will be able to retrieve it
at the end of the day or your parent
my be expected to come in to retrieve
it .
Additional class info.
Classroom Expectations:
Achieving Arrival: Come prepared with your
materials and a positive attitude. Begin
working on the bell-ringer immediately
without socializing before the tardy bell
rings. This is the appropriate time to ensure
you have a writing utensil and to sharpen
your pencil.
Put the proper MLA heading on all of your
papers.
All typed assignments must be in 12 PT
TIMES NEW ROMAN FONT, double-
spaced, and have 1 margins with
your name, class period, and date in
the top left corner with a centered
title.
Handwritten assignments should be
printed neatly and follow the same
parameters.
Clean up after yourself.
Maintain a clean and orderly work
area backpacks and binders should
be underneath your desk.
Respect the property in the classroom.
Do not write on, tear, or otherwise
deface any materials or surfaces in
the classroom.
Be an active participant in the classroom.
This includes asking for help when needed.
Bring all of your supplies to class daily.
Classwork is to be neat and free of doodles.
Points will be deducted for doodling.
Follow all Pryor Middle School rules and
policies.
Efficient Exit: Complete your exit ticket
silently, return materials as directed, turn in
exit ticket by the door.
Additional Notes:
You may have bottled water only.
Fidget spinners/ devices are not permitted.
Success is going from failure to
failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
Bathroom Policy
Do not interrupt valuable instruction to
ask to go to the bathroom. Please wait
for an appropriate time. You have nine
bathroom passes per marking period,
one for each week.
At the end of the quarter,
these passes can be
redeemed for prizes.
Homework:
Assigned Monday due Friday.
Beginning August 14th.
Assigned homework reinforces
grammar standards or includes a
supplemental article and will be
graded. Points will be deducted for
late homework.
Extra Credit:
It is expected that students complete
all of their assigned classwork and
homework on time. Extra credit
assignments will not be an option
unless all homework, classwork, and
projects have been turned in.
Tutoring:
Thursdays 2:30p.m. 3:30p.m.
Beginning August 21st.
The expectations is that you are
attentive in class and working to
understand the concepts. Please do
not waste class time only to request to
stay after school to make up for lost
time.
Mrs. Griffiths Class Pryor Middle School 2017-201 School Year

PLEASE READ THE COURSE INFORMATION, SIGN THE FRONT & BACK, AND
RETURN TO MRS. GRIFFITH BY AUGUST 14TH.
Students:
Please sign below to signify that you have read the course sheet for Mrs. Griffiths class, will
keep it in your folder, and will be responsible for the information throughout the year, and will
check your grades on Parent Portal at least once per week at school or at home.

___________________________________ __________________________________________
Student Printed Name Student Signature

Parents /Guardians:
Check all the statements that apply to how you would like to communicate with Mrs. Griffith
about your students progress. I will, of course, call for major concerns or accomplishments,
but with approximately 130 students, I would like to know how youd prefer to communicate.

_____ I/We have internet access at home, so we will check Parent Portal at least once
per week to check on my/our students progress. I/We will contact Mrs. Griffith
about any concerns we have.

_____ I/We plan to email Mrs. Griffith weekly or monthly for an update.

_____ I/We do not have internet access at home, but I/we would like to have regular
contact with Mrs. Griffith. I/we will call for an update on a regular basis.

_____ Other: _______________________________________________________________________

Please sign below to indicate that you have read the course sheet for Mrs. Griffiths class and
will help your student be accountable for the information. If you have questions about the
course or your students work, please do not hesitate to contact me; email is the best way to
reach me quickly. See the bottom of this sheet for my email address.

___________________________________ __________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Printed Name Parent/Guardian Signature

___________________________________ __________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number Parent/Guardian Email Please Print

Parents and guardians, please CIRCLE the best way for me to contact you: e-mail phone

tamara.griffith@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us phone & ext. 850-833-3613 ext. 217

Advanced Class contract

I Understand.
Advanced courses move at a faster
pace than on-level courses.
I will have more assignments and more
homework than if I took an on-level
course.
I will read more books and the books I
read will be more difficult.
I will write more essays and the essays I
write will be graded strictly.
This advanced course will help prepare
students for the AP / IB curriculums in
high school.
Students should only be in this class if
they enjoy reading and feel that they
can handle the faster paced
curriculum.
If I do not enjoy reading or do not feel
prepared for a faster paced classroom,
then I should talk to my teacher/ the
counselor.
My teacher wants me in this advanced
class, but she also wants me to be
aware and prepared for the course
load. She doesnt say this to scare me;
she says this to prepare me.
I agree to
Come to class on time.
Do my homework completely and
turn it in on time.
Participate in class discussions and
activities.
Work hard and do my best at all
times.
Care about my education.
Work with my classmates and my
teacher as part of a collaborative
team.
Read any assigned reading when it
is assigned.
Never cheat, copy or plagiarize
others work.
Behave respectfully.
Learn something new, try new
things, read new things!
Fill my brain with brand new
thoughts, authors, books, dreams
and goals!

PLEASE SIGN & Return Due Tuesday, 8/14/17 for a grade.

Student Name (print please): ________________________________________________________

Student Signature (sign please): _____________________________________________________
Parent Name (print please): _________________________________________________________
Parent Signature (sign please): ______________________________________________________
Todays Date: ______________________________________________________________________