Franklin SimpsonMiddle School Course Syllabus
Ms. Cheyenne Brown
Team Hope - 6th Grade Language Arts
2012-2013
My goal for students this year will include the following:
●Strengthen oral and written grammar skills.
●Instill a love for reading a variety of literary genres.
●Promote analytical thinking skills.
●Enhance knowledge of the English language.
●Develop a strong vocabulary.
Sixth graders will be assessed in on-demand writing, reading, and language mechanics.
Textbook:
-Holt, Rinehart and Winston; “Elements of Literature” and “Elements of Language”
*Additional resources may be pulled from the Kentucky Department of Education’s Core Knowledge Curriculum and Program of Studies.
To instill a love of reading, I plan to keep a classroom novel going on each day throughout the course of the year. This novel will be read in group setting in addition to the students reading their own personal Accelerated Reader books. This will be an opportunity for me to read to the classes and spark analytical conversations about the text.
Accelerated Reader Requirements:
Each student will be required to read and test on four (4) Accelerated Reader books per nine weeks. Due dates for the 4 books will be posted on the “A.R. Bulletin Board” at the front of the classroom. Books must be of a reading level no lower than 4th grade AND at least 100 pages in length unless approved by me or by Mrs. Link. Due dates for each book will also be posted on my website. Students will be given a 30 minute block each day (6th period) for Sustained Silent Reading (S.S.R.). This will be a great opportunity for them to complete their Accelerated Reader books at school.
Daily Required Materials:
Your child will be required to bring paper and pencil to every class. It is suggested that you purchase a three-ring binder with dividers and pockets to hold worksheets and handouts. Your child will also be given an agenda the first day of school. This is to be used as an organizational tool, and each student is expected to record assignments and important due dates in their agenda for every class. Parents can check the agenda daily to see their child’s assignments, as well as to correspond with the teachers.
Common Assessment Points:
Students will be assessed at various intervals during the school year. These assessments will include reading comprehension, basic grammar skills, and common state assessments. Open responses, on-demand practice, Accelerated Reader, and daily assignments will complete the student’s grade.
Bell Ringer Activities:
Upon entering class each day, students will complete one of the following activities:
●Word of the day
●Inference/Reference
●General knowledge of background information for the day’s upcoming lesson.
●Completion of G.U.M. problems (grammar, usage, and mechanics)
Missed Assignments/Absentee Notes:
Any time during the school year that your child is absent, he/she must check with me from 7:45 A.M. – 8:00 A.M the morning following his/her absence.
Classroom Rules and Expectations: (Guidelines to Success & CHAMPS)
●Be prepared (notebook, paper, pencil, agenda, A.R. book)
●Be respectful
Checking Grades (Infinite Campus):
Grades will be posted periodically throughout each week, so please log on to Infinite Campus and stay up-to-date with your child’s progress. Your child’s Username will be the ten digit number assigned to them on their schedule. The Password will be his/her six digit birthday.
I am looking forward to working with each and every student this year, and I will challenge each one of them to excel into stronger readers, writers, and thinkers. Let’s work together to make sure that your child’s first year at F.S.M.S. is a great one. Please e-mail me at is you have any questions or concerns. You may also contact me at school (270) 586 – 4401 or on my cell at (270) 776 – 3070.