Welcome to 6 th Grade Language Arts Mrs. Adams Room 102

Reading Parts of a plot Literary elements Reading comprehension strategies Question answering strategies Genre study –Action/Adventure - Fantasy –Folktales/Tall Tales - Nonfiction In class reading –Short stories –Novels Bud, Not Buddy- The Wanderer Tuck Everlasting- The Cay

Viking Minimum Writing Standards  Proper heading is used  All rules of capitalization are followed  End punctuation is correct  All sentences are complete thoughts  Questions are embedded in the answer  Whopper format is used when appropriate  Non-negotiable words are spelled correctly  Correct format is used for final product (For example: typed, proper margins, paragraph structure, etc.)  Quality work and effort are apparent

Writing Whopper Paragraph The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. It introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Supporting detail sentences make up the body of the paragraph. Details develop and support the main idea of the paragraph. A detail sentence may also need a supportive sentence that elaborates on (explains better) what the detail sentence says. The clincher sentence restates the main idea from the topic sentence using different words. Topic Sentence Transition Detail Sentence #1 Elaboration of #1 Detail Sentence #2 Elaboration of #2 Detail Sentence #3 Elaboration of #3 Clincher Sentence

Writing The Six Traits of Writing Ideas –Choose a topic that you will enjoy. –Narrow your topic to a controllable size. –Add interesting details that may surprise people. –Have a clear plan for writing. Organization –Chronological Order ● Order of Location –Order of Importance ● Cause and Effect –Problem and Solution ● Comparison –Step-by-Step ● Main Idea and Support (Whopper Paragraph) Word Choice –Change dull verbs into colorful ones –Use specific nouns that create a picture –Use adjectives and adverbs to add flavor to writing

Writing The Six Traits of Writing Voice –Voice is the author’s fingerprint on the page –The reader knows the feelings and opinions of the author. –The writing makes the reader feel something (shocked, upset, excited, giggly, or scared) –The writing sounds like the author enjoys writing Sentence Fluency –Use different sentence lengths long and stretchy sentences ● short and snappy sentences –Start sentences with a variety of beginnings –Vary the kinds of sentences simple – one independent thought ● interrogatives – question compound – two or more simple sentences ● imperative – command declarative – statement ● exclamatory – exclamation Conventions –Revising vs. editing - Punctuation –Spelling - Grammar –Capitalization- Paragraphing

Grammar Mini Lessons Parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, interjections Punctuation: period, question mark, exclamation point, comma, quotation marks, italics, & underlining Prefixes, roots, suffixes Subject, predicate, helping verbs Sentences, phases, clauses Comparative superlatives

Spelling Rebecca Sitton Spelling Program Spelling list “Dear Parent” homework worksheets can be done together or checked by a parent Non-negotiable Spelling Words theretheirthey’re totwotoo ouryou’rea lot its it’sbeginning writewritten wrote Quizzes

Late Homework & Z.A.P. Daily Assignments are due the next day (i.e. spelling, grammar, comprehension questions, vocabulary units, quick writes etc.). Students will be given a Z.A.P.* and given one day to complete and turn in the assignment for full credit. Short Term Assignments are due in two to five days (i.e. writing assignments, etc.). Students will be given a Z.A.P.* and given one day to complete and turn in the assignment for a 5% reduction in the assignment grade. Long Term Assignments are due in one to three weeks (i.e. book reports, etc.). Students will be given a Z.A.P.* and given one day to complete and turn in the assignment for a 10% reduction in the assignment grade. *Z.A.P (Zero’s Aren’t Permitted) is a school wide program designed for students who have not completed their homework. Students who have not completed their homework are assigned to a Z.A.P lunch where they can work on their incomplete homework and eat lunch in a designated classroom under staff supervision. Please look for more information on the Van Hoosen Z.A.P. program in the Viking Weekly and the Viking Voice.

Requesting Homework for an absence due to illness: Your child is responsible for missed class work. Your child should check my web page and/or the classroom absent bulletin board for information on the work he/she missed. Parents may request homework by calling the counseling office secretary. Students are allowed one day per each day absent to complete and turn in missed work. Any pre-announced work, test, or quiz is due the day your child returns to school. It is your child’s responsibility to turn in his/her work – I will not ask for it or track it down.

Requesting Homework for an absence due to a preplanned extra-curricular activity (i.e. student council meeting, school field trip, hockey tournament, gymnastic competition, etc): Your child should request his/her work at least three (3) days prior to the planned absence. All make-up work is due the first day your child returns to school. Any pre-announced work due during the time of the absence should be turned in prior to the first day of the absence. If your child will be missing a test or quiz, he/she will need to make arrangements to take the test or quiz before school, during lunch, or after school prior to the first day of the planned absence. It is your child’s responsibility to turn in his/her work – I will not ask for it or track it down.

Requesting Homework for an absence due to a preplanned family vacation/extended absence: Please call the counseling secretary at least five (5) days prior to the planned vacation/extended absence to notify the school of your child’s absence and request his/her homework. The counseling secretary will give your child a “Request for Homework” form to take to each of his/her teachers. Your child will need to give this form to his/her teachers promptly. Any pre-announced work due during the time of the absence should be turned in prior to the first day of the absence. All make-up work is due the first day your child returns to school. If your child will be missing a test or quiz, he/she will need to make arrangements to take the test or quiz before school, during lunch, or after school prior to the first day of the absence. It is the your child’s responsibility to turn in his/her work – I will not ask for it or track it down.

Communication Classroom Happenings –Web Page – Blast –Your child’s planner –Your child’s L.A. Binder –Your child’s work Grades –myRCS –Interim reports –Report cards Conferences –Thursday, October 8 th & Wednesday, October 14 th –Arena style –If your child is getting an A or a B you are not required to attend –Conferences are three to five minutes in length –To help us maximize our time together, please review your child’s planner, L.A. binder, and L.A. work and come with specific questions

Donations I would greatly appreciate donations of the following items: –Tissue –Hand sanitizer –Antibacterial wipes These items will help us fight the flu germs this season.

Thank you for coming!