Ms. Cabezas6th gradeEnglish

Email: rcabezas@kleinisd.net

Phone: 832-249-5967

GRADES

30

40

30Daily

MajorLiterature

Major Writing/Grammar

*Look for a weekly

average on Parent portal!

Grading Procedures

• Test Days: Tuesday and Friday• Grades fall into two categories: major and minor• Major grades: 60% of overall average (3 major

grades each six weeks)– Literature, novel, Benchmark assessments– Projects– Essays (one essay each six weeks)

• Minor grades: 40% of overall average– Class work

ELA Information

• Students should bring to class daily their ELA binder, pencils, library book, vocabulary workbook, and tracker.

• Library day is every other Friday. We will go to the library tomorrow, 9/12/14. Students may check out a library book or bring a book from home to read.

ELA Information

• Students needed to turn in the following items to me: 100 page marble composition notebook, box of tissue, pink ELA syllabus, and the salmon colored parent contact sheet.

• If you have not signed the ELA syllabus, please download one from my webpage, sign, and return to me.

Tracker- School planner

• Each student was issued a tracker at the beginning of the school year.

• Students are required to bring their tracker to every period.

• Sixth grade is a huge transition year for students. In ELA, we utilize the tracker to help students keep track of work in all classes.

Tracker- School planner

• In ELA to aide in organization, students are required to write down their agenda and HW/reminders for all classes.

• Writing down the agenda will help parents know what students are studying in classes, and hw/reminders help students keep track of work.

Tracker- School planner

• Students are given class time at the beginning of each period to write down agenda/HW for my class and other subjects they forgot.

• Students are encouraged to talk and help each other out if they are missing agenda/HW in any class. Interacting with peers will help promote social skills and responsibility.

• I will have periodic tracker checks to ensure students are writing their agenda/HW down daily. Advance notice will be given, and it will count as a daily grade.

Tracker Color Coding

• In ELA, we color code HW/reminders in all classes. The color coding has been written down on p. 20-21 in the student tracker. Students use this as a reference page as needed.

• Six colors are used: yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, and orange.

Tracker Color Coding

• Yellow- HW (student responsibility)• Green- Money (Students needing to bring money to

school. Ex: Vocab. Workbooks, pictures, elective fees, fundraisers, purchasing t-shirts, etc)

• Blue- Major grades (tests, projects, essays)• Pink- Parent Connection (Anything needing parent

attention)• Purple- Daily Grades (Assignments that count as a daily

grade.)• Orange- out of school responsibilities (Club meetings,

tutoring, games, practices, etc.)

Vocabulary Workbooks

• We will be using the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Book A. The cost of the book is $12.00. Parents may send cash or check. Make checks payable to “SIS”, and please include a driver’s license number and phone number on your check.

• The school will be making a bulk order of these workbooks. We will begin using the workbooks beginning of the 2nd six weeks.

Late Work

• Daily Work: 20 point deduction for each day

late. Assignments MUST be turned in no matter how late!

• Major Assignments:10 point deduction for every late day.* Some points are better than no

points.*

Homework• Due to changes in

department grading guidelines, homework is not assigned for a grade.

• Students are given plenty of class time to complete their assignments. However, students are given the opportunity to finish their assignments at home.

Homework

• What should students be completing at home?

1. Reading- Students should be reading daily or approx. 2 ½ a week. Students can read a library book, magazine, picture book, textbook, or newspaper.

2. Practice cursive writing- Have students open up their library book, magazine, or newspaper and copy a paragraph in cursive.

3. Looking at their tracker to see if they can could be studying for upcoming tests and/or quizzes.

Make-Up Work

• It is the responsibility of the student to request and make up all work when absent.

• The student will have the same number of days to complete the assignment as the days absent.

• There is a blue hanging file on the wall labeled “Make-up work”. Students need to look in their period folder. Make up work will be attached to a blue “While You Were Out” sheet with their name, instructions, and work stapled together.

Group WorkStudents will be required throughout each six weeks to work in groups. Most grades are still taken individually; however, a few will be based upon participation (pulling

your own weight), cooperation, and occasionally a daily assignment.

Extra Credit• Extra credit is not given to

individual students, but to the class as a whole.

• Examples of extra points: (five points may be added to the test or assignment).

• May be earned by studying with your child on a page that requires a parent signature, turning in a project early, or choosing the “Bonus Points” option on an assignment.

Textbooks

• We have 2 textbooks in our class. They are both online.

• Literature: www.pearsonsuccessnet.com• Writing; www.pearsonsuccessnetplus.com

• Students are also given a Pearson Reader’s workbook. This is a consumable workbook which is kept in class.

Important Dates

Testing Dates• Nov. 3-14: Reading Benchmark• Feb. 9-13: Reading Benchmark• March 30-April 10- Writing BA Personal

Narrative• April 22- STAAR Reading

Curriculum

• Unit 2

Reading/Writing Fiction

Sept. 3-27/ marking period 1• Unit 3

Reading/ Writing Literary Non-Fiction

Sept. 30-Oct. 25/ Marking periods 1,2

Curriculum

• Unit 4

Reading/Writing Expository

Oct. 28-Dec 6/ Marking periods 2,3• Unit 5

Reading/Writing Persuasive

Dec. 9-Jan. 16/ marking period 3

Curriculum

• Unit 6

Reading/Writing Expository with embedded procedural elements

Jan. 21-Jan. 31/ marking period 4• Unit 7

Reading/Writing Poetry

Fe. 3-Feb.28/ marking period 4

Curriculum

• Unit 8

Reading/Writing Drama

March 3-April 9/ marking period 5• Unit 9

Reading/Writing in a testing environment

April 10-April 16/ marking period 5

Curriculum

• Unit 10

Reading/Writing Mythology/ Folk Literature

April 21-May 2/marking period 6• Unit 11

Reading/Writing Research

May 5-May 28/ marking period 6

Novels

• Bud Not Buddy

by: Christopher Paul Curtis• Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie

by: Jordan Sonnenblick• The Lightening Thief

by: Rick Riordan• Students are not required to

purchase novels.

Tutoring

• Offered to those students

who are currently failing ELA with a grade of below 70.• Tutoring is held every Thursday from 8:00-8:40

a.m. in room 233 (Mrs. Klempnauer).• Students do not need a pass to attend tutoring. • If students need to work with me directly, they can

come in before or after school. They just need to notify me, so I can make arrangements accordingly.

Clubs/ Activities• The following clubs/activities are open to sixth graders to join or

attend.• No Place for Hate- Promotes Diversity within the school. Meets once

a month• T-Wolves for Christ- Student led organization. Meets once a month• Science Club- Speak to your child’s Science teacher for specifics.• Student Council- Contact Mrs. Magee or Coach Stivers for specifics. • Intramurals- Speak to your child’s PE coach for specifics.• Schindewolf Games- Football, volleyball, basketball. Students may

attend games that are hosted on our campus. Student cost is $1-2 to attend. Students must follow school dress code to attend. A concession stand is open for food and drink purchases.

We’re in this together!

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you have a concern.rcabezas@kleinisd.net

Please check my teacher webpage frequently.

http://classroom.kleinisd.net/default.aspx?Ms.RebeccaCabezas/Home

Words of encouragement..

• This is a big year for your child! • Please take a few minutes to encourage

him/her by writing a short word of encouragement to have a successful school year.

• THANK YOU!