6th Grade Language Arts and Reading Syllabus
Mrs. Jill Hubele
2012-13
Welcome back to a new year at SVMS. We are all looking forward to a great year with many experiences for learning. My name is Jill Hubele. I have been a teacher my whole life…ok, officially for 23 years. This is the best career ever. I live on a farm east of Lindsborg with my husband, Kenton, and daughters, Jenna 17 and Lauren 15. I love teaching, reading, writing, movies, music, horses, cooking, and flower gardening.
Reading and writing are the foundation for learning and telling others your knowledge. The 6th grade reading and language arts curriculum consists of skills focused on comprehension, vocabulary, the literary elements, speaking, grammar skills, and writing. Students will be involved in reading a variety of texts, including books, magazines, encyclopedias, Internet research, and a DVD writing study series. Sixth graders are encouraged to keep a record of books that have been completed and conference with the teacher or library-media specialist over these books.
Course Objectives:
Ø To learn to communicate effectively through writing, speaking, and active listening.
Ø To understand and effectively use steps in the writing process: prewriting, writing, revising/editing, and publishing.
Ø To understand and effectively use the Six-Traits + 1 writing model: ideas/content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.
Ø To learn research skills.
Ø To use/learn organization and study skills.
Ø To understand word parts and relate these to spelling practice and writing.
Ø To determine meanings of words and phrases.
Ø To understand the purpose of text features, text structure, and the author’s purpose.
Ø To use the literary elements in reading and comprehending literature.
Reading: We have a rather NEW Literature textbook. We will be using this resource for many skills lessons in vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and speaking. Students have yellow reading folders explaining requirements specific for units and assignments. The reading folders are a collection of each student’s work: vocabulary, responses to literature, and reading skill activities. Students take part in oral reading, silent reading, literary discussions, and a variety of projects. Books may be read independently, in small groups, with a teacher read-aloud, or by the whole class. Some of the topics, class books, and stories we also read are The Cay, ocean animals, coral reefs, and hurricane research, mysteries and short stories unit, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Big Wave, Time for Andrew, Greek Mythology; D’aularies Book of Greek Myths. Sixth grade assessments include comprehension tests and vocabulary quizzes. We also will be taking the Kansas State Reading Assessment in the spring. We have access to the computer for Kan-Ed web site, email, and MOODLE server, which are tools we will be utilizing for researching, studying, practicing tests and quizzes, and learning about writing, literature, and reading.
Language Arts: Speaking and writing will be our focus in Language Arts. We will be learning to write for a variety of reasons: to inform, to entertain, and to persuade. Some examples are letters, journaling, descriptive and figurative writing, reports and essays, poetry, speeches or some drama, story telling and writing, and technical writing. Students will become familiar with applying the 6+1 Traits of writing and using the Writing Process. Write Source 2000 is the resource book used to reinforce the parts of speech and correct grammar usage. Students will also practice study skills: note-taking, summarizing, using reference materials, and getting prepared for tests/assessments. Technology resources become more integrated with the writing process: researching, creating presentations, and projects.
My planning period is from 9:02-9:50 MTThF. School Phone: 227-4249 Ext. 421.
It is my pleasure to be teaching each one of you.
Jill S. Hubele
6th Grade Reading and Language Arts Teacher
Smoky Valley Middle School