The “English Program” encompasses and includes reading, language arts, and writing skills. The purpose and goal of our reading program is to develop life long readers, writers, and learners. Our program supports and enhances that goal. By teaching this content together, the teacher can combine the best teaching strategies with current and “user friendly” materials to relate these subjects together. Our reading and language arts programs enhance all areas of the curriculum and promote student success. The texts used to assist in accomplishing these goals are Holt, Rinehart, and Winston’s “Elements of Literature: Introductory Course” and “Elements of Language: Introductory Course” by the same publisher.

 

Upon completion of the reading program, the student will be able to:

ü      Identify main and supporting ideas

ü      Use appropriate reference sources

ü      Summarize a selection

ü      Skim and scan text for important information

ü      Predict outcomes and understand cause and effect

ü      Draw conclusions and make judgments

ü      Use sequencing skills

ü      Compare and contrast text

ü      Distinguish between different genres, intent, and voice

ü      Understand what “good readers” do when they read and apply that knowledge

 

Upon completion of the language arts/ writing program, the student will be able to:

ü      Show mastery of various elements of the writing process

ü      Develop and complete to publication  various forms of  writing  ( narrative/expressive, informative, and persuasive)

ü      Participate actively in various projects to meet reading, writing, listening, and speaking expectations

ü      Use context clues and other strategies to determine meaning of words and author’s intent

ü      Listen to and participate in classroom discussions and oral presentations

ü      Extend comprehension and connections to text through writing

ü      Identify and use the “Six Traits of Writing” effectively (ideas, conventions, organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, and presentation.

ü      Understand what “good writers” do when they write

  Social Studies Course Description

Social studies includes the study of history, economics, geography, and civics. The sixth grade curriculum explores these topics through the study of countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.  Lessons will include the contributions that were made by the ancient   civilizations that began in those areas of the world. Content and standards will be met through the use of  interactive lessons,  oral discussions, mapping skills, research, and responses to written materials.

The following is a list of the content/standards focus for the sixth grade Social Studies Curriculum:

Ø     Geography, including mapping and the globe, will be concentrated on in the beginning of the year and be expanded upon during the various regional units. Geography lessons  will include  the physical, political, and cultural  characteristics of our world.

Ø     Africa’s early empires, geography, economics, and government. This includes specific changes, conflict, and growth within Africa’s political system and human rights movements.

Ø     North Africa and the Middle East units focus on the beginnings of civilization, the interaction between man and the environment, the foundations of modern government, and economic influences in that region of the world. Current events will also be discussed as a means of developing fact versus opinion.

Ø     Asia’s contributions to eastern civilizations through the study of ancient cultures in Japan, China, and India. Trade, economics, and government conflict will also be explored in relationship to the various systems established and maintained in Asia. All geographic themes will be analyzed through Asia diverse landscapes and cultures.

Ø     The Pacific World will be investigated by students to understand the region’s diverse geography and cultures. Students will explore the many different physical and political characteristics of this region with a strong focus on the continent of Australia.

 

 

 

Class Procedures and Expectations:

 

    Students are expected and required to:

 

Ø     Be on time for class.

Ø     Bring required materials to class everyday, this includes a pen or pencil to write with.

Ø     Follow all classroom procedures as outlined in the procedures manual.

Ø     Take responsibility for work, grade, actions, and attitude towards learning.

Ø     Obey all classroom and school rules.

Ø     Treat all students and staff  with respect.

 

                    Homework/Grading

Ø     Every assignment is important and needs to be completed in a neat, organized, and timely fashion.

Ø     Students are expected to read 20-30 minutes per evening at home. This can be done silently or aloud to younger siblings. Family should encourage discussion about literature.

Ø     In the event of an excused absence, the student must make up the missed work in a timely fashion or receive a zero. For example, if a student is absent one day, he/she has one day to make up the work.

Ø      Students who miss work need to find out what they missed. It is the responsibility of the student to collect needed “missed” assignments from the teacher and/or notes from other students.

Ø     ALL assignments must be recorded in the student’s agenda book. If there is no homework, the student needs to mark the date/day/subject section accordingly.

Ø     Each assignment is given a point value. Expectations and point value will be given out when assignment is given out along with due dates.

Ø     Student notebooks and PODs will be periodically checked and/or collected for review and points as well.

Ø     In accordance with Colonial policy, the student's final grade for each class will consist of nine grades. The percentage point value from each marking period twice and the percentage point value of the student’s final exam divided by nine.

Ø     The Colonial School District grading policy is:

           100-93% = A        92-85% = B      84-77% = C     76-70%=D      69% or below = F

 Discipline Policy

 

Students are expected and required to behave in a manner consistent with the rules and guidelines of the classroom, the school, and the district’s code of content. Each teacher had taken time to go over and familiarize the student with these rules and the expectations for behavior. We try very hard to be fair and consistent with our rules and discipline without losing site of developmental levels and individual differences. However, disruptions to the educational process will not be tolerated.

 

A student who MAKES THE CHOICE to behave in an inappropriate manner will receive the following consequences:

1.     1^st offense – Verbal warning

2.     2^nd offense – private discussion

3.     3^rd offense- phone call home

4.     4^th offense – removal from class

5.     5^th offense – written referral to the Student Advisor or Assistant principal

 

Please note that this is a guideline. Certain offenses the interfere with the safety of others or that are determined to be severe will increase the speed at which the levels are obtained. Violations to the School Code of Conduct will be handled according to District policy. Lists of offensive behavior can be found in the school agenda and the School Code of conduct.