1. Phillips Preparatory School 6 th Grade Language Arts

2. Mrs Mrs. Herren Phillips Preparatory School 6 th Grade Language Arts And 8 th Grade Language Arts

3. Education Mobile College - Bachelors of Science in Education English, grades 6-12English, grades 6-12 Music EducationMusic Education PsychologyPsychology University of Mobile – Masters in Elementary Education Any grade or subject in grades 1 - 6 Any grade or subject in grades 1 - 6

4. Teaching Career Mary Montgomery High School 1977-1986 English 9 – 12 English 9 – 12 Chorus 9 -12 Chorus 9 -12

5. Teaching Career Council Traditional School 1997-1999 5 th Grade 5 th Grade Science Science and and Language Arts Language Arts

6. Teaching Career PhillipsPreparatory School School 2001 - 2014 6 Th Grade 6 Th Grade Language Arts Language Arts 2007 – 2014 8 th Grade 8 th Grade Language Arts Language Arts

7. WHAT SHOULD MY STUDENT BRING TO CLASS? Students should have their blue binder, novel, and pencil pouch with school supplies every day. Students were given the first week to get into the routine of getting to class with their needed supplies. NOTEBOOK PLEASE go through your student’s notebook and make sure their papers are in the right sections. Tabs should be labeled in this order: Important Papers, Vocabulary, Literature, Test Prep, Novel, & Grammar.

8. Homework/Planners Homework is assigned nightly. Students should enter the room and copy their homework into their planners. PLEASE check the planners DAILY to make sure this is happening. Please check to make sure that the students are completing their homework each night and putting it back into their binder/backpack to bring to class the next day. Zeros for incomplete assignments will affect grade averages. Homework is 10% of the Language Arts grade. If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to make up all work missed.

9. COMMUNICATION If you need to discuss your child’s progress with me, you may email me at hpherren@mcpss.com to request a conferencehpherren@mcpss.com or ask a question; or you may call the school at 221-2287 and I will return your call. NOVEL The novel study each quarter is part of the Language Arts grade. Each student must have his or her own novel to annotate the answers to the guided reading questions. At the end of the quarter, the students will write an EQT essay that counts 25% of their quarter exam grade.

10. Important Date Progress Reports – On Tuesday, September 2 nd, all parents will receive a call letting them know grades are current in each class and iNow should be checked. This will be done in place of sending home progress reports. Due Dates Please remember all assignment, test, and project due dates are given well in advance. Work not completed by these deadlines will result in zeros.

11. Phillips Language Arts teachers use specific reading strategies to improve reading skills and comprehension. The Language Arts Department attends many professional development seminars to continuously update our strategies to help students improve their reading skills and comprehension levels.

12. Reading and Test Schedules Every 6 th graders receives a schedule BEFORE the novel study begins. Test Dates and Deadlines for Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie Tuesday, August 26 Chapters 1- 4, pages 1-45 Wednesday, September 3 Chapters 5 - 7, pages 46-97 Tuesday, September 9 Chapters 8 - 11, pages 98-161 Tuesday, September 16 Chapters 12 - 16, pages 162-215 Tuesday, September 23 Chapters 17- Epilogue, pages 216-273

13. Name____________________________ Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie Chapters 1 - 4, p. 1- 45 Vocabulary 1. Peasant 2. Demoted 3. Droll 4. Lingo 5. Profusely 6. Tethered 7. Practice pad Questions 1. What setting is being described in the first two paragraphs of the novel? 2. Steven describes himself as, “Being a skinny geek named Steven.” What do these words tell the reader about Steven’s opinion of himself? 3. Why does Steven feel his younger brother is a nightmare? 4. Why are the Regal Tip 5A sticks called “Special sticks”? 5. Why is it such a big deal for Steven to be in the All City High School Jazz Band? 6. Why Steven was nicknamed Peasant? 7. What caused Steven to sag against his mom’s shoulder and mutter, “Please kill me, Mom.” Characters 1. Steven 2. Jeffery 3. Renee Albert 4. Annette Watson 5. Mom 6. Dad

15. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Guided Reading Questions and Vocabulary Chapters 1- 4