1. Welcome to 6-1
ELA

2. Teacher background- Thompson
Bachelors in English, History, and Education from TCNJ
Masters in Reading from Grand Canyon University
14th year teaching
Taught middle school in Pearl City, HI (3 years)
Taught high school in Brick, NJ (1 year)
Currently teaching middle school in Old Bridge, NJ (9+ years)

3. Teacher background- sikdar
Bachelors in English from MS University in India and Rutgers
Pursuing Masters in Education from Monmouth University
Student teaching
Observational teaching in Long Branch, Ocean Twp, and Manalapan

4. Supplies 3 ring binder Dividers with the following tab titles:
daily sheets;
Reading;
Writing;
Grammar;
and Vocabulary
Pens and pencil
A highlighter is suggested

5. Goals for the year in reading
The goal of reading class is for students to become active readers utilizing the strategies of good reading.
We will be reading a lot. We will first begin in the text reading short stories of a variety of genres (fiction and non-fiction) before moving into larger texts.
Students are required to have a DEAR book on Fridays.
We read for 30 uninterrupted minutes silently.
During the year, students will have book reports on these books.
Quarter 2 they will complete a publisher newsletter
Quarter 4 they will create and present a PowerPoint presentation on their book.
In addition, we will be reading Maniac Magee, Walk Two Moons, and A Wrinkle in Time as a class with book assignments, projects, and quizzes/tests.
Achieve3000 initiative

6. Goals for the year in writing
We will be doing a great deal of writing in class. We will learn writing structures for the following writing structures:
compare/contrast essays;
open-ended responses;
persuasive writing;
creative/expository writing;
and functional “everyday” writing
In writing class, we will also be covering the basics of grammar: nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, subject/verb agreement, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Writing is also a period for vocabulary development. Students will have 12 units of vocabulary (20 words at a time) throughout the year. See the vocabulary website for games and studying techniques.

7. Textbooks, Textbooks, read all about them
Language Network- grammar worksheets sent home as a resource
McDougall Littell Literature- Students will get an on-line version to access at home; access id and code needed and will be provided
Vocabulary workbook
Online vocabulary Access— and choose level A and Student
Novels provided to each student.

8. These links are available on my teacher webpage
Websites for support
These links are available on my teacher webpage

9. Procedure for class Upon entry to class: Copy homework
Have out homework to check from the previous night
Begin the “do now”

10. Grading
Grades are now available for viewing through the Realtime parent portal. I do make an effort to keep grades up to date; please stay current with your child’s performance
Test/Reading- 35%- Any reading packet, reading response assignment, and book project; reading checks that correspond to stories in class; book tests
Alternate Assessment/Writing- 30%- Any writing assignment/prompt, essay, quarter project, and ASK assignments
Quizzes (Grammar and Vocabulary)- 20% quizzes and tests for each topic
Homework 15%

11. Homework
Homework is posted on teacher’s website found from Carl Sandburg’s main page
Homework is written on the board everyday and copied into planner daily.
Homework counts toward 15% of the marking period grade.
All late, graded homework is worth half credit, but all unsubmitted or incomplete work is worth a zero.

12. Questions