Sixth Grade Language Arts Track 3- Middle Earth Mrs. Hannula Salem Middle School Sixth Grade Language Arts Track 3- Middle Earth Mrs. Hannula

Question? Conerns? Comments? Volunteers? Post-it notes provided Please leave feedback on the notes throughout the presentation If your comment requires a response, please include name and contact information Leave notes in the bin on the front table

Mrs. Hannula Graduated from NC State University Nationally Board Certified in English Language Arts, 2008 Currently attending graduate school—Curriculum & Instruction Beginning Teacher Mentor and ITT Mentor (In This Together)

A Trip around the Room Caught Ya Quote of the Day & Word of the Day Missing Work, Class Handouts & Turn-in Bin Date, Agenda, “I Can”, & Calendar 40 Book Challenge Word Wall Reading Recommendations

ILL Interactive Learning Log (5-subject spiral notebook) ALL class notes, handouts, assignments, and assessments will go in ILL glue or staple items into the notebook each day. table of contents at the beginning of the notebook

Shared Lesson Planning SMS teachers are planning together every week—by discipline, interdisciplinary and vertically Students, regardless of team, are getting the same quality instruction and are working the meet the same objectives. This commonality allows us to capitalize on teacher strengths and ensures that all children are getting the best practices of all teachers at Salem.

Shared Assessments All LA teachers will be giving students the same assessments. Most homework assignments, quizzes and tests will be common across teams. This again ensures that all students, regardless of team, are being held to the same standards and exposed to the same content.

Common Core Language Arts Curriculum Reading (literature & informational) Writing: informational (narrative, evaluative & argumentative) Listening and speaking (collaboration and presentation) Language: conventions and vocabulary skills

Team Routines SSR (silent, sustained reading) schedule Agendas, ILLs & red folders Behavior Records & Bathroom Passes –10 per quarter Commendable Behaviors –Positive Behavior Support Spartan Time Working Lunch Peer Tutoring Blackboard, Blog, Wikis, Pageflakes, Voicethread, Diigo!

Grading Policy All assignments are designed to measure a student’s mastery of specific objectives. We use two types of assessments: formative and summative. Formative assessments may not be “graded” based on accuracy, although a student may be asked to rework an assignment if it is determined that the objective has not been met. Instead, feedback will be provided that is intended to help a child master content before a summative assessment.

Grading Scale/Feedback Check Plus = Superior Check = Above Average Check Minus = Average Minus = Needs Improvement *Students who score below an 80 on any assessment will be given the opportunity to retake the assessment for a grade of up to an 80 during working lunch

Must Do Assignments All assignments for a given week will be listed on the board each week on Monday and are included on my website. Reading Logs-These are due every other Friday, signed. There may not be homework “drill and practice” assignments every night in LA, but there may be times when the homework is to complete the independent practice from class or to STUDY. We review how to study before any assessment; this may not include standard memorization “study guides”. The best thing you can do at home for homework and increased classroom performance is to encourage and provide time/space for your child to read for at least 30 minutes each night.

Can Do Assignments/Enrichment As the year goes on, we will have several optional homework/enrichment activities posted on the wiki and available in class. Enrichment opportunities are provided with most assignments. They are designed to extend a child’s learning on topics that we are studying in class. Can Do assignments allow a parent to support their child’s education and to have some control over the amount of “homework” that their children have. Blog/wiki/40 Book

Blackboard & Team Websites All teachers will have a Blackboard account or website to keep parents informed about school happenings and to post valuable information. Parents can access Blackboard by using their student’s username and password. Your child has this information. The web address for Blackboard is http://bb9.wcpss.net. My website is: http://hannulasclass.pbworks.com.

Communication SPAN Weekly Emails Commendable Behaviors-sign every week Blackboard-check daily Agenda-check daily The best way to contact Mrs. Hannula is via email. Her email address is mhannula@wcpss.net You can also contact Mrs. Hannula by calling SMS at 363-1870. She will call you back within 48 hours during her planning period (1:27-3:00).