Welcome to 6 th Grade ELA! Mrs. Gavagan

Your Quarterly Grade Assessments 60% (tests, quizzes, writing assignments, etc.) (tests, quizzes, writing assignments, etc.) Projects20% Class Participation and Homework20%

~Independent Reading Homework~ How many pages do I have to read? Can I read with my dad? What can I read?

Independent Reading “ the amount of time students spend in independent reading is the best predictor of reading achievement” Increases your vocabulary Builds your fluency Builds your background knowledge

Pick what you LIKE…. ….. or ask for a recommendation! I want to help!

The 5 Finger Rule for Selecting a “Just Right” Book

The Reading Log  Read at least 20 minutes each day  Get a parent to sign-off and it is due the last day of the week  Counts as part of your “homework” grade  Rewarded for following through with your responsibility: special lunch (by invitation only) at the end of each marking quarter

What is Reading Fluency?

Reading Fluency – the power to read quickly and accurately Why is Reading Fluency so important? Fluent readers are better able to comprehend (understand) what they’ve read

ELA Fluency Homework Number of words on that line

Let’s look at Mrs. Gavagan’s website! Teachers & Staff  Donna Gavagan

~Literary Genre ~ A literary genre is a __________________ or ____________________ of writing. Literary genres are _______________________.

Fiction - _____________________________ Non-Fiction - _________________________ Other – Poetry, _________________, Folktale ~ Three Main Genres ~

Fantasy – A story including elements that are _________________________ such as talking animals or magical powers. Examples: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone ___________________________________ Fiction

Science Fiction – A type of fantasy that includes _________________________ and _____________________, such as robots, time machines, etc. Examples: Star Trek ___________________________________

Fiction Realistic Fiction – A story using made-up _______________________ that could happen in ___________________. Examples: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing ___________________________________

Fiction Historical Fiction – A fictional story that takes place in a particular _________________________ in the past. Often, the __________________ is real but the characters are ___________________. Examples: I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 ___________________________________

Fiction Mystery – A _____________________ story about a puzzling event that is not _________________________ until the end of the story. Examples: The Hardy Boys series ___________________________________

Non-Fiction Informational Text – Texts that provide _____________________ about a variety of _________________________. Examples: Sharks! ___________________________________

Non-Fiction Biography – A story about a ____________________________________ written by ________________________________. Examples: Who Was Walt Disney? ___________________________________

Non-Fiction Autobiography– A story about a ____________________________________ written by ______________________. Examples: Derek Jeter, The Contract ___________________________________

Number the Stars

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio tells the story of ten-year-old August. The boy was born with a face that horrifies most who look upon it. Over the years, he had countless surgeries, so he was home-schooled. Now, he's about to enter the fifth grade in a regular school. This story is told from his perspective as well as from his sister's, her boyfriend's and friends' perspectives.

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________.

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________. Title: ___________________________________________________

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________. Title: ___________________________________________________

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________. Title: ___________________________________________________

1)Ask yourself, “Does it seem to be fiction or non-fiction? _________________________________ I think this because ________________________________________________________________________. 2)Look for clues (or text-evidence) that will help you pinpoint exactly which genre it is. My clues: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 3) From the text-evidence, I believe this book is the genre of _______________________________________. Title: ___________________________________________________

Spelling Homework Goal: Students will master words that are troublesome for them individually.

Differentiated Spelling You will spend the week focusing on 5 words that you need to learn Your teachers will gather words from your written work that you have spelled incorrectly Everyone’s list will be different You will spend the week learning your personalized spelling list (using the research-based method “Cover-Copy-Compare”) – this is part of your ELA homework A weekly “check-up” will take place on Friday (or the last day of the week)

REMEMBER:

Spelling Grade 1 point for spelling each word correctly on the Weekly Check-Up 1 point for each night of homework completed Example: AssignmentWorkPoints Earned Monday’s HomeworkCompleted1 out of 1 point Tuesday’s HomeworkCompleted1 out of 1 point Wednesday’s HomeworkCompleted1 out of 1 point Thursday’s HomeworkIncomplete0 out of 1 point Friday’s Weekly-Check-Up4 out of 5 correct4 out of 5 points 7 out of 9 possible points Weekly grade is 78%

ELA Goal What do you want? What is standing in your way?

Goal: I want to lose 10 pounds. SMARTer Goal: To improve my health, I will lose 10 pounds by January 1 st by eating three meals a day and exercising 5 times each week. Specific I will lose 10 pounds MeasurableScale will show me how much I weigh at the beginning and on 1/1 Attainable10 pounds can be reached and within the time frame RelevantLosing weight will improve my health Time-bound1/1

What do you want to achieve? ________________________________________________________________________ How will you know when you’ve achieved it? _________________________________________________________________________ Attainable: is it something you have control over? Is it realistic? _______________________________ Is it relevant to ELA? Is it worthwhile? _____________________________________ When is your deadline? _______________________________________________________________