Click to add text Welcome to Room 613 Mrs. McDonald’s Language Arts Back-to-School Night Presentation

Communications Teacher Web site: Teacher Web site: Teacher Web site Teacher Web site Phone: x3613 (Do not leave message.) Phone: x3613 (Do not leave message.) BVMS Web site: Go to Staff, McDonald- HW Calendar, web pages BVMS Web site: Go to Staff, McDonald- HW Calendar, web pages is best! Class Policy Tear-off info is a must. is best! Class Policy Tear-off info is a must. See student grades with ID and password See student grades with ID and password Students upload Google Chrome to use Google Docs and Google Classroom. Teacher gives feedback on shared writing. Students upload Google Chrome to use Google Docs and Google Classroom. Teacher gives feedback on shared writing.

Infinite Campus New System See BVMS web site and click on Grades. Put in student’s ID and password. See Grade Report and possible comments All grades have weights. 6 th grade has 10% Practice (some have no points) 30% Application: Quizzes, drafts 60% Assessments- Final Writings/Reading, Projects, Unit Tests, District Finals.

Writing takes time to grade, so I indicate if received or not. The actual grade shows later. In LA, large Writing/Reading Assignments collected on due date can indicate: 3 Points or more for handing in on time. “M” for missing assignment (no points=zero) “L” means received late (some points) Student must check writing assgs. for feedback. If indicated, he/she can revise and mark “ret” in the Assignment name window. (This works for Google Classroom and Docs.)

LA Common Core Standards stress: Critical thinking involving reading of fiction and non-fiction, using vocabulary in context to arrive at and create meaning. -Signposts in reading are used so students will notice, note, question, and connect to their reading with annotations. This is called Close Reading. Writing with an emphasis on forming a central idea and using a specific organization based on author’s purpose to put it across. Language skills using varied sentence structure Speaking with academic language and Listening with partner

Common Core digs deeper. Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. Write informative/explanatory essays to examine a topic with supporting, cited details to convey an idea. Read and analyze relevant non-fiction articles. Read literature with the help of noting specific signposts or clues that lead to questions and inference Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, and organization of task is suited for the purpose and audience.

Reading performances Million Word Log or a Reading Response Log (parent sign) Novel Projects – One-Pager or Book in Bag analyzing theme (Must have Book Commitment Form signed.) Novel packet analysis Biography/Autobiography –Visual and oral presentation+listening Central Idea: Formative and Summative Assessments Summarizing skills practiced with note taking for LA and SS Methods practiced with marking up a text for understanding, questioning, inferring, and summing up. Coding signposts, leading to questions and meaning. This is called annotating a text.

Nonfiction Informational Texts Textbooks, reference materials, primary documents, You Tube videos Biographies, diaries, journals, speeches Magazine, news articles All non-fiction materials provide researched viewpoints and are used for text-based citations when students write arguments. (MLA method)

Fiction – Core literature + Choice Identifying and tracing themes in literature lead students to analyze life. Choose a novel with parent approval for P-3 DEAR or enrichment 1 st Semester: Read short stories and Maroo of the Caves, or other 2 nd Semester: Read The Outsiders, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, or other

Forms of Writing Explanatory explains ideas: compares-contrasts, relates news story, explains cause and effect, a problem-solution, or how to Summary explains in brief exactly what author wrote. No personal views or interpretation. Argument informs on both sides of an issue with a thesis which must be supported with cited evidence from a text. Example is an argument or response to literature essay. Personal Narrative explains one incident: My eyes immediately met the hard, bright lights hanging directly above. I soon realized that I hurt all over..

Writing: Google Classroom leads to feedback from peers and teacher. Review/Revisions/Portfolio expected. Teacher or peer feedback encourages revisions. On-Task Writing during class gets a performance grade. Peer editing is crucial. Students will share writing and be required to give feedback to two others, using rubrics. Revisions expected if at a “C” or 2. All writing is placed in a Google Docs LA folder and submitted to Google Classroom.

LA District Assessments* First Semester Central Idea- Summing up Argument Writing *Will teach explanatory structure first District Summative Assessment on reading and language in December before the Semester 1 ends. Second Semester Literature: Figurative Language, Theme Literary Response Compare-Contrast Narrative Writing District Summative Assessment

Reading and preparing Fill in HW Planner. Watch web site HW calendar and subject area pages with links to print assignments if directed. See Google Classroom with assignments/links. Practice, application, and preparation make it easier for students to discuss ideas and participate using academic language to express their understanding.

Ideas about Common Core Thinking Deeply Emphasizes critical thinking by insisting on citing areas of a text that explain their understanding. Integrating Learning Learning across disciplines with emphasis on tasks requiring use of math, social studies, and reading in order to produce concise constructed responses. Showing how they know Must show proof of understanding with cited evidence from text.

How do parents encourage this deeper thinking for Common Core? 1.Ask why when child tells you he/she wants something. Ask for a specific reason and example. 2. Explore their questions by researching with them. 3. Discuss an issue or problem, but show both sides with examples. Brainstorm solutions. 4. Compare how things alike or different. 5.Respect your child’s opinions, but ask for reasons. 6.Explain what you value and why.