Week of August 24-28
Welcome back students! Its going to be a great year full of fun activity. During this year, I know that together we can do wonders.
Remember that together we S.O.A.R.!
This is a copy of the 2015-2016 Syllabus
6th Grade Honors
Writing
Mrs. A. Cantu
Email: acantu108@rgccisd.org
AC2E Middle School
School: (956) 352-6324
To the student:
You are
about to study writing in sixth grade. It requires more understanding and
mastery of the rules of English grammar as well as a high level of skillfulness
in crafting pieces of writing which expresses deep and carefully thought-out
ideas. Skillful writing does not come easily for most people. It involves a lot
of work and persistence in doing it right. But once it happens, the rewards are
great. It is like a mother who has given birth to an adorable child! Take
heart. You are about to embark on an adventure!
Materials:
Ø
2 composition notebooks
Ø
1 package of paper
Ø
1 folder with 3 prongs
Ø
1 pack of pencils
Ø
1 box of Ziploc bags
Ø
1 package of highlighters (yellow, pink, blue,
green, and orange)
Course Objectives
Primarily this course requires the students to write a
multi-paragraph essay in the form of a personal narrative or an expository
piece. Each of these has its own requirements which will be examined in detail
in the course of each six weeks. Secondly, this subject demands from the
students a consistent command of usage rules as well as conventions of the
English language as applied in the essays that will categorize the learners on
an accomplished level.
Course Overview
Among the main topics of this subject are the parts of
speech, sentences, sentence structures, combination of sentences, punctuations,
conventions; drafting essays with a clearly defined focus, appropriate
organizational strategy, precise word choice and vivid images, use of simple,
compound, complex sentences, internal and external coherence, and effective
introductions and concluding paragraphs.
Teaching
Strategies
This course will employ various methods that have been found
effective in enabling students to learn and are supported by data as to their
usefulness. Cooperative learning, lecture, Socratic questioning to elicit
student responses and understanding, the use of depth and complexity in
planning and implementing lessons, journal writing, oral presentations,
recitations, role playing, mnemonics, acronyms, diagramming of sentences,
thinking maps, open response questions, and rubric scoring will be utilized as
part of classroom techniques of instruction.
Grades
Ø
Grades will be computed according to two
categories: class work (75%) and tests (25%). Class work involves
participation, recitation, assignments, homework, projects, journals, binders,
writer’s notebook, book reports, and others. Tests entail quizzes, six weeks
exams, and benchmarks.
Ø
I will not assign a grade of “A” for late work.
I will count 10 points off per day of late work. If work is turned in and is of
good quality, it will not be assigned a grade lower than a “70”.
Ø
Work not turned in will be recorded as NHI (not
handed in) or M (missing) on the student portal so that grade reports will
compute the grade as zero until handed in.
Tardy Policy
Tardies are minutes taken away from learning. Students who
are chronically tardy waste the most valuable commodity in school - time.
Tardies at Ac2E Middle School accumulate all day and start
over at the new 6 weeks. These will be referred to the office with
consequences.
Ø
Tardies 1-4 Teacher records and warns the
student.
Ø
Tardy 5 – Referral to administrator. Parent
contact
Ø
Tardy 6 – Referral to administrator.
Parent, teacher, administrator meeting
Ø
Tardy 7 – Referral to administrator. ISS at home
campus assigned.
Ø
Tardy 8+ - Referral to administrator. Student
will be transferred to home campus.
Discipline Plan
1. Follow teacher’s written and spoken directions the first
time given all the time.
2. Ask permission before leaving seat, talking, going to and
from anybody and anywhere in the classroom.
3. Keep hands and feet to oneself.
4. No gum, food, or drinks are allowed (except when
permission is given and during special occasions).
5. Talk softly and respectfully.
Classroom Rules
- Follow directions quickly
and the first time they are given.
- Raise your hand before
speaking or leaving your seat.
- Keep hands, feet, and objects
to yourselves.
- Respect your classmates
and your teachers.
- Adhere to district uniform
policy at all times.
- Keep your Teachers
Happy J
Consequences
Everything we do in life has
consequences. Consequences are the things that happen to you when you choose
not to obey the rules. This is what will
happen if you choose to violate one or more of the classroom rules.
- Verbal
Warning/Reassignment of seat
- Student and Teacher
Conference
- Parent Contact: Letter or
Phone call
- Parent and Teacher
Conference/with Student
- Referral to principal
-During special circumstances first 4 steps can be bypassed.
Work Expectations
Journals, assignments, homework, book reports, projects,
presentations, and other products will have their specific formats to be
explained and required by the teacher. They must show professional quality
(neat, in correct formats, deep and insightful content, presentable to
professionals). They have to be
consistently followed by the students. Any digression or non-compliance of
these expectations will result in the work not accepted or not graded until the
format is followed.
Blog
This class will have a blog where I will be posting
reminders, due dates, and things that will be discussed in class. Sometimes it
will be daily and others weekly depending on the information that needs to be
given. Students and parents should check the blog daily to make sure that no
new information has been posted. http://www.ac2emsacantu.blogspot.com
Contact
If you have questions feel free to come in and see me during
my 8th and 9th planning periods which are from 1:50 p.m.
to 3:35 p.m. You may also call me at (956) 352-6324.
