1. Mrs. Anestad English language arts Voyager

2. A little about me This is my fifth year as a teacher in PVSD
This is my fourth year teaching sixth grade at East (I was at West my first year in PVSD)
I have been teaching for 10 ½ years
I worked in Human Resources as well as teaching preschool before becoming a public school teacher
I have two teenaged children, a 16 year old girl Rebecca and an 18 year old boy Marcus (who I just sent off to begin his freshman year at Temple two days ago!)

3. Contacts
is the best was to contact me! I check it regularly and will get back to you as soon as I can.
(listed in the staff directory on the PVSD web page)
If you prefer to talk over the phone, me to let me know and I’ll call you
Follow me on – a few times per week I’ll post photos on what we are doing in class. It’s 100% classroom related, nothing about me and my family

4. Voyager web page
On the Voyager page this is a document that lists assignments and upcoming quizzes and tests
Mrs. Terry’s assignments are also listed on this document
Students should be using an assignment book to write down homework and tests/quizzes

5. Class structure 53 minutes Reading Comprehension and Writing Skills
Big focus
When answering a question about something we have read, use text based evidence to support it
Close reading - Reading the selection two or three times for increased comprehension and a specific task in mind with each reading
Different types of writing (narrative, argumentative, informational).

6. Independent Reading
Students should always have an independent reading book with them (not just to ELA, but to other classes as well)
For each marking period students are expected to read 650 pages. (This is about 15 pages per school day.)
Read at their level, something they enjoy – NO project afterwards, this helps support more authentic reading.
They can select books but need to read from at least two different genres each marking period

7. Independent Reading Continued
For every 50 pages in the book, a written response is completed. This helps with reading comprehension and is also a way to hold them accountable for their reading.
When book is finished they turn in their written responses and I record their pages read and logged
The 650 pages per marking period counts towards the practice portion of their grade (more on grades in a moment…). If 650 pages or more are read, then 25/25. If less than 650 pages then grade is based on pages read, for example 500 pages would be 19/25.

8. Where can my child get books?
Borrow from my classroom library
Scholastic Book Orders – each month, Scholastic flyers will be sent home. It’s a great way to get books without spending a lot – most books are $1 - $7 (unless hardcover). Books typically arrive days after I place the order, so about 2-3 weeks from the day the flyers are handed out.
Go to the library during homeroom or lunch to borrow books.

9. Grade What is your child’s grade based on? 25% Practice
75% Assessments
All of the English Language Arts teachers use this same grade breakdown (both at East and West)

10. Practice 25% of your child’s grade
Typical practice assignments include
Homework assignments (more about this in a moment)
Classwork that’s mainly graded for completion
Open book “quiz” on a reading selection we did in class – can work with partners
“5 lines” of writing
In class worksheets
Parts of the writing process before the final writing piece (such as a graphic organizer)

11. Homework I rarely give new work for homework.
When classwork is not finished in class, it is to be finished at home.
Typically finishing the classwork at home will take minutes.
If you find it is taking your child more than 30 minutes of on-task time on a regular basis, please let me know.
Keep up with the independent reading; especially if in chorus/band/orchestra and have less advisory time for reading

12. Assessments
75% of grade
Quizzes – point value varies, but typically10-40 points
Collections unit assessments – one per marking period (approximately 50 points for multiple choice and points for written response)
Graded writing assignments (points will vary based on assignments, typically points)
Projects (points will vary depending on length and depth of project, could be as little as 10 points or as high as 50)

13. Collections – Main resource we will be using this year
Balance of complex texts with including fiction, nonfiction, and informational
Many of the texts are challenging – read and reread
Textbook – both hardcover and online
Different reading selections about similar topic
Fear
Animal intelligence
Making your voice heard
Decisions that matter
Tales and Myths

14. Collections Assessments
The Collections assessments can be quite challenging. The grades on these assessments will most likely be lower than other graded assignments in the class.
One Collections assessment marking periods 1, 2 and 3.
All sixth graders (both East and West) take the same Collections assessment

15. Other resources that we use
In addition to Collections we use
Yellow lit book and workbook
Selected poetry
Selected nonfiction texts
Newsela articles