6th Grade Pre-AP Reading & Language Arts Mrs. Sony

Who is Mrs. Sony? enjoy reading, running, movies, lived in Houston for most of my life - in Kingwood for 8 years taught at Riverwood for 7 years married with three children - son, 2014 KHS grad - off to - daughter, 10th @ KHS - son, 7th @ RMS enjoy reading, running, movies, & outdoor concerts

Course Syllabus: First Nine Weeks Literature: Literary Elements, Short Stories, Memoirs, and Poetry Writing: Poetry, Literary Analysis, Paragraph Writing, Multiple Paragraph Essay Grammar: Parts of Speech, Subject/Predicate, Types of Sentences, Sentence Structures Vocabulary: Knowsys

Grading Information Formative Assessments: 40% Daily Work, Homework, and Quizzes Summative Assessments: 60% Tests, Projects, and A.R. Testing days Wednesday and Thursday

RMS Grading Policy blank space – teacher has not yet entered grade All assignments will be accepted up to two days late. It is worth 75% of the earned grade the 1st day late; the 2nd day is 50% credit of the earned grade. After third day late, no credit (0 in grade book). Grade book Codes: A – student absent; needs to complete for makeup work X – student exempt from assignment O - final grade; teacher has requested missing work & student has not complied blank space – teacher has not yet entered grade Make-up Work – district policy is 1 extra day per excused day absent

Class Novels Walk Two Moons – Sharon Creech The Pearl – John Steinbeck Gifted Hands - Ben Carson and Cecil Murphey ** It is a good idea for students to have their own copies of novels to practice annotating, but it is not required.

Knowsys Vocabulary Vocabulary program used throughout Humble ISD in grades 6-8 New word list assigned each Friday (10 words) Quiz each Friday (formative) TEST (summative) after each five groups of words Quizzes and Tests are cumulative Word Group Lists and Alphabetical List are available on my website Pre-made vocabulary cards are available for purchase @ myknowsys.com iPhone and Android apps also available at myknowsys.com

Accelerated Reader Novels are on a point value system. Students need to earn 20 A.R. points per nine week grading period. AR is an ongoing homework assignment AR is a summative (test) grade

2013-14 AR Deadlines: 1st 9 weeks- October 16 2nd 9 weeks- December 18 3rd 9 weeks- March 19 4th 9 weeks- May 28

AR All tests will be taken on the computer in my room. All tests must be taken by the end of the class period on the due date.

Tutoring **Testing days are Wednesdays and Thursdays 6th Grade Wednesdays7:50-8:25 a.m. Other days/times by appointment *Anytime your child is absent, he or she needs to come to tutoring on the first morning back to check the “Absent” student file & to ask for clarification on missed assignments. **I encourage students to come to tutoring as much as needed. They can use that time to finish incomplete work, ask for help for help with certain assignments, or to catch up on reading. **Testing days are Wednesdays and Thursdays

Contact Info Web Site http://www.humbleisd.net/rms/msony Email melissa.sony@humble.k12.tx.us Phone 281-641-4856

How Parents Can Help Check planners. Check grades online. Make sure students are reading. Make sure students are reviewing vocabulary words. Proofread essays, but don’t write or re-write. Check the teacher’s website when absent. Check the website to see if information is posted that will answer your question. E-mail questions. DON’T bring their “forgotten homework” to school. Encourage independence.