Back to School Night6th Grade Language Arts

Welcome!

Thank you for entrusting us with the important job of partnering with you in the Catholic education of your child.Let’s begin in prayer.

Opening Prayer

Oh Heavenly Father, make me a better teacher/parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Holy Spirit, always fill my heart with joy and love for my precious child. Amen.

Teacher Introductions6th Grade Team Mrs. Olivieri –B.A. English and Multiple Subject Credential,

UCI-3rd year teaching full-time at Serra-Attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Escondido

Miss Davidson - B.A. English Lit and Multiple and Single Subject Credentials & Masters Degree, UCI - 2nd year teaching full-time at Serra

-Serra Alumni

Mr. MiyashiroMrs. Pantano

Tonight’s AgendaCurriculum

Book Clubs

Writing Program

Homework Policy

Academic S.O.S.

Classroom Management

Language Arts CurriculumLiterature

Book ClubsText /workbookNovels

Writing/Grammar-6 Traits of Writing and Jane Schaffer

LiteracyWe will implement reading strategies, note

taking, and study skills throughout the year. Our goal is to increase literacy and reading skills across all subject areas.

LiteratureBook ClubsNovels

Navigating EarlyNumber the StarsStargirlTuck Everlasting

“In the Zone” Reading: reading on technology

Textbook/workbook

Book ClubsWho: 6th Grade Language Arts students, hosted by Miss Davidson and Mrs. OlivieriWhere: 6A and 6B ClassroomsWhat: Structured discussion meetings with a small group of peers who are also reading the same novel How: Participate in “In the Zone” reading and weekly Book Club meetings; read one assigned novel per trimester, and complete one trimester projectWhen: Designated Fridays

6 Trait Writing Consider the following quote from Jerry

Seinfeld’s book Sein Language, 1993, p. 164:

“I always did well on essay questions. Just put everything you know on there, maybe you’ll hit it. And then you’d get the paper back from the teacher, and she’s written one word across the entire page, “vague.” I thought “vague” was kind of a vague thing to say. I’d write underneath it, “unclear,” send it back.

6 Trait Writing

Ideas: the heart of the matter; generates thought and holds the interest of the reader; focuses on the main goals or points of subject; reasonable and thought provoking

Organization: strong coherence and order to sequence of events in writing; strong transitions that keeps the reader on the right path; effective leads and conclusions

Voice: generates emotion/feeling/opinion; demonstrates comfort with topic; written with passion, a careful eye, and zest

6 Trait Writing Word Choice: selection of words that are like

“Baby Bear” from Goldilocks “just right” (not too verbose and not too limited); words selected create visual images that paint a “showing” not telling picture; stimulates the senses

Sentence Fluency: sentences flow easily and effortlessly; a variety of complex, compound, and simple sentences are present

Conventions: Application of accurate knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation; allows piece to be understood and prevents frequent re-reading of text

Sample Graded Essay Based on 6 Trait Writing

Stargirl’s Triumphant Fall from Grace: Analytical EssayIdeas: 2 Organization: 2Word Choice: 2 Conventions: 2Sentence Fluency: 3 Voice: 2

Comments: You identified one part of the main idea in Stargirl’s fall from popularity, and how this is foreshadowed by Spinelli. Definite improvement noted from your original draft. You are moving closer to the middle of the river on the 6 trait writing guide! Keep swimming! Be prepared with one question you would like to ask me when I conference with you about this piece next week (How can I improve my word choice? I don’t really understand how to come up with better ideas for my work? ).

 

Jane Schaffer

Writing program which specifically addresses organization

Created by a classroom teacher

Simple formula- TS, CD, CM, CM, CS Response to Literature, Analytical Writing Skelton that assists students in excelling in 6 Traits

iPads & Technology

Look how far we’ve come…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk

We will be using the iPads in language arts to enrich the curriculum!

Language Arts Late Work Policy1st Day Late- demerit; teacher

will offer student opportunity to attend a lunch time Academic S.O.S. (Supporting Our Students)

2nd Day Late-25% will be deducted from assignment

3rd Day Late- 50% will be deducted from assignment

4th Day Late-0% for assignment

DigitalLinks on ELA

teacher webpagesStudents will

complete after each book they

readRecognition for

2,000+ pages per trimester

Parent/Teacher/Student CommunicationTeacher web pages

AnnouncementsEventsHomework assignmentsAttachments-students need to print assignments onlinePreferred method of communication/contact – emailcdavidson@serraschool.orgkolivieri@serraschool.org

Academic S.O.S.6th grade teachers will have office hours once

per weekWednesdays at lunchAsk questions, clarify homework, study for

testsNo ZAP

Study hall in library

Classroom Management RespectRemember

Every

Single

Person

Expects

Courteous

Treatment

Positive and Negative ConsequencesPositive ConsequencesCommendations, Raffles, Positive

encouragement, and Class jobs and privileges

Negative ConsequencesNatural consequences-if disrespecting peer

verbally=compliment peer verballyLoss of merit point(s)

Organizational SkillsDuring September please help your child stay on

track by :Checking student’s planner

Before starting homework After finishing homework

Check the teacher web page with your child

Help your student pack his/her backpack for the next day of school

Organizational Skills

Also, please help us teach them to problem solve and accept personal responsibility by:

NOT bringing forgotten items to school

homework lunch books clothes

Cell Phone PolicyAs a reminder, there

will be NO cell phones allowed on campus this year during school hours. If they are out, Mr. Overton will take them. If students need cell phones for after school, they will be stored in student lockers throughout the day.

Thank you for coming.

Siempre Adelante

“Always Forward”