Class Syllabus
Course Title: English Language Arts
Teacher: Ms. A. Tomlinson
School Phone: (843) 310-1898, ext. 6106
E-mail: [email protected]
Teacher: Ms. A. Tomlinson
School Phone: (843) 310-1898, ext. 6106
E-mail: [email protected]
Planning/Conf. Times: Mondays-Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
I. Course Content
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn and be able to do the English language Arts designated in the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready (SCCCR) Standards for 6th Grade English. A parent friendly version of the SCCCR Standards is available at http://www.scfriendlystandards.org/. These standards align with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate http://ed.sc.gov/about/profile-of-sc-graduate/
Teachers will utilize the English Language Standards in instructional lessons, activities, and assessments. Students will be encouraged
to work collaboratively, to think critically and analytically, and to engage in authentic activities that will help them to make connections with real-world English Language Arts usage.
The South Carolina College and Career Ready standards for 6th Grade English Language Arts are used in develop the following key
concepts/skills:
• Inquiry Writing
• Reading Literary Text Communication
• Reading Informational Text
concepts/skills:
• Inquiry Writing
• Reading Literary Text Communication
• Reading Informational Text
II. Instructional Methods and Materials
The following resources are used in the 6th Grade English Language classroom for instructional purposes:
● Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -Collection 6 (Glencoe)
● Kagan Cooperative Learning Engagement Structures
● Digital tools for learning, such as:
• USATestPrep
• I-Ready
• Mastery Connect
• IXL
• Flocabulary
• Achieve 3000
• Imagine Language and Literacy
• Epic Digital Library
• Flip Grid
With the above resources, teachers will:
● Monitor students’ progress
● Utilize small group targeted instruction based on formative assessment data to extend and deepen student knowledge
● Utilize adaptive digital content to support learning and provide remediation and extension
The following resources are used in the 6th Grade English Language classroom for instructional purposes:
● Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -Collection 6 (Glencoe)
● Kagan Cooperative Learning Engagement Structures
● Digital tools for learning, such as:
• USATestPrep
• I-Ready
• Mastery Connect
• IXL
• Flocabulary
• Achieve 3000
• Imagine Language and Literacy
• Epic Digital Library
• Flip Grid
With the above resources, teachers will:
● Monitor students’ progress
● Utilize small group targeted instruction based on formative assessment data to extend and deepen student knowledge
● Utilize adaptive digital content to support learning and provide remediation and extension
III. Assessment
Teachers will assess students during each of the units of study using a variety of tools.
● Selected response questions
● Constructed response questions
● Conferences with peers and/or the teacher
● Quizzes/Test
● Observations
● Journal entries
● Video journals
● Homework
● Projects
● Collaborative activities
● Diagnostic tests
● Pre-assessments
● Post-assessments
● Comprehensive exams
Along with these formative and summative assessments, students will assess their work through personal reflections and teacher-student goal conferences.
IV. Grading
Students will be provided grades using South Carolina’s
Universal Grading Scale:
A (100 - 90)
B (89 - 80)
C (79 - 70)
D (69 - 60)
F (Below 60)
Jasper County Schools has determined category weighting for
each quarter to include:
Tests and Projects – 40%
Quizzes – 35%
Classwork-20%
Homework/Practice - 5%
Students’ final grades are calculated with each quarterly grade having equal weights of 25%.
V. Classroom Requirements/Procedures
A. Student Materials:
• Pencils
• 3 inch-Ring Binder with 4 tabs (the same binder will be used for ELA, Math, Science & Social Studies)
• Notebook paper for binder
• Composition /spiral notebook (for journal entries)
• 1 pack highlighter
• 1 assorted pack of sticky notes
B. Class Theme:
# Trendsetters# We rise above mediocre, we push to the limits
Based on our class theme we want to set the trend for:
• Doing what is right even when no one is looking
• Doing our best academically
C. Classroom Norms:
• Listen with the intent of learning
• Speak to share, wonder, clarify and connect
• Be present and minimize distractions
• Enjoy one another’s company and foster humor
• Be courageous and be ok with not knowing
Additionally, students will be required to adhere to all classroom procedures relating to transitions, whole class activities, group work and individual work. Also, every student will be expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of the Jasper County School District, and the Hardeeville Junior Senior High School as outlined by the school’s Code of Conduct
D. Consequences for Wrong Choices
All students need a safe environment in which to learn. No one can learn in a classroom filled with chaos. Each student will be held accountable for his/her conduct. I will contact parents regarding both positive and negative behaviors via email, notes and phone calls. I will utilize the following steps to address undesirable behaviors.
1. 1st offense- warning (student will be required to change the undesirable behavior)
2. 2nd offense- complete behavior reflection sheet
3. 3rd offense- parent phone call/request for conference
4. 4th offense- office referral
Each of these behaviors will be documented and recorded in the PowerSchool application
Severity Clause: If the degree of student disruption is severe, the student will be removed from the room immediately and may be issued a referral.
All students need a safe environment in which to learn. No one can learn in a classroom filled with chaos. Each student will be held accountable for his/her conduct. I will contact parents regarding both positive and negative behaviors via email, notes and phone calls. I will utilize the following steps to address undesirable behaviors.
1. 1st offense- warning (student will be required to change the undesirable behavior)
2. 2nd offense- complete behavior reflection sheet
3. 3rd offense- parent phone call/request for conference
4. 4th offense- office referral
Each of these behaviors will be documented and recorded in the PowerSchool application
Severity Clause: If the degree of student disruption is severe, the student will be removed from the room immediately and may be issued a referral.
E. Make-Up Work Policy:
Students are expected to be in school on a regular basis to achieve specific curriculum objectives. Students are required to make up all work missed. When lawful absences occur, the teacher will specify a reasonable period of time for missed work to be completed
based on the length of absence and school time missed. However, after reasonable efforts have been made by the teacher without success, a zero or unsatisfactory grade may be given.
1 Day Student Absent = 2 Days Allowed to Make Up Work
2 Days Student Absent = 3 Days Allowed to Make Up Work
3-5 Days Student Absent = 5 Days Permitted to Make Up Work
More than 5 Days = Student and Teacher Develop a Plan to Make Up Work
Clause: If the due date of an assignment was given prior to the student’s absence and the absence occurs on the due date, the student is expected to submit the assignment upon their return to school.
F. Late Work Policy:
Students are expected to submit work on the due date. For every day late, 10 points will be deducted from the assignment grade. After 5 school days, a zero will be recorded for that assignment.
Gentle Reminder: Cell phones may not be used during the school day. All cell phones need to be powered off upon arrival to school and need to be out of sight throughout the school day. Unless directed by the teacher.