Syllabus

6th Grade Reading/Language Arts Syllabus North Dorchester Middle School

**Teacher**: Mr. Brian Cook **Email**: cookb@dcpsmd.org **Web site**: http://ndmscook.wikispaces.com

**Course description from DCPS Program of Studies: ** **The goals of our middle school language arts program are to teach students: ** **Textbook **: //Glencoe Literature, The Readers Choice Course 1, //Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2002 ||
 * The middle school language arts program is designed around the State Curriculum’s standards for reading, writing, language, speaking, and listening. Students will use the Glencoe textbook series along with various novels and resources to aid in the learning process. Students experience the full range of literary genres; fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama. Spelling and vocabulary are integrated with the study of literature. These components help to create a well-rounded language arts instructional program that is challenging and preparatory for high school and life.
 * To be critical and creative thinkers
 * To utilize technology to access and present new information
 * To engage in education that is multicultural and diversified
 * To express their understanding in a variety of ways
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">To be strategic readers

<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Course Outline: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0pt;">The teacher reserves the right to adjust the course outline if needed
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Major Topics ** ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Assessments (Quizzes/Exams) **  ||
 * **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Taking Sides __** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">By: Gary Soto  || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vocabulary – each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Study Guide discussion questions for each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Discussion questions – each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Graphic Organizers/Worksheets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Final Test – comprehensive ||
 * **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Winter Thunder __** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">By: Mari Sandoz  || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vocabulary – each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Study Guide discussion questions for each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Graphic Organizers/Worksheets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Projects
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Reflective writing pieces/journals
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Final Test – comprehensive ||
 * **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">The Giver __** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">By: Lois Lowry  || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Before reading activities/worksheets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vocabulary Guide discussion questions for each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Study Guide discussion questions for each chapter
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Graphic Organizers/Worksheets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Projects ||
 * **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21px;">Reading Assessment __** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">The reading assessments will consist of Short Cycle Assessments and Benchmarks. Dates of assessments will be determined by DCPS. ||

**<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Grading Components: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">(worksheets, vocabulary, chapter discussion questions) ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Component ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Percent ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Details ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Test/Quizzes || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">60% || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Test will be a variety of multiple choice, essay questions, and constructed responses. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Classwork || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">20% || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Writing pieces, literature circles, quizzes, informational texts, book projects, etc. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Homework || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">20% || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Practice makes perfect and homework is designed to give students additional practice.

**<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">How grades are computed: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Grades will be posted on a daily basis using Power School. Parent and/or guardians may monitor grades online with a specified username and password. For assistance or to obtain online assistance, contact North Dorchester Middle School’s guidance department at (410) 943-3322. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Grading will follow the policy of the Dorchester County Public School District. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">A=90-100 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">B=80-89 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">C=70-79 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">D=60-69 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">E=0-59

**<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cheating/Plagiarism ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">If I suspect that a student has cheated or plagiarized, then that student will be reported to Mr. Evans, even if it is only a homework assignment and not a test. The student will receive a zero on that assignment AND will have to redo it without receiving credit. Cheating is cheating!

**__<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Helpful Hints __** **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">My Expectations: __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">I expect that all homework assignments will be handed in on time (more details under homework policy).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students will arrive to class on time and begin their warm-up..
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Students will come to class prepared. This includes bringing all materials (book, notebook, pencil, journal, etc.) to class with you.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I want you all to come to class ready to learn. We may review things you already know, and we will also go over new information. It is important to pay attention at all times!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Respect is a big issue with me. I want you to respect me, as well as your classmates. This includes verbal and physical words and actions.

**<span style="font-family: 'Rockwell Extra Bold','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Classroom Materials Needed: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Many sharpened pencils
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">1 or 2 pens (mainly for correcting, not writing)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Three ring binder (trapper keepers will not be accepted)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Lots of loose leaf paper
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Dividers (Warm-up, Vocabulary, Classwork, Resources)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">Textbook – which will be provided

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">PDF VERSION <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 115%;">