1. Welcome to Language Arts 6 Ms. Wakida Room 610 wakidao@pvpusd.net
Back to School Night
Welcome to Language Arts 6 Ms. Wakida Room 610

2. About Ms. Wakida - Born and raised in the Southbay
About Ms. Wakida - Born and raised in the Southbay. Graduate of MIS and PVPHS . - Anteater Alumni! Zot! (UCI) - Been teaching in PVPUSD since Taught 6th, 7th, and 8th in my six years of teaching. - Intermediate School is my favorite age group to teach! - Mrs. Egan was my 12th grade English teacher. - Love to read and write – with coffee in hand, of course . - I have a codependent relationship with my pup!

3. Student Goals To become independent readers, writers & thinkers.
To have an appreciation for different genres of literature and writing.
To be prepared for intermediate school and beyond!
To be responsible for their learning.
To have a positive attitude and open mind about this class and school.

4. Parent/Teacher Communication
Please me first if you have any questions or concerns regarding your son/daughter. It the easiest and quickest way for me to get back to you in a timely manner.
Write a note or if there is an emergency with HW or the computer.
me or have student tell me about planned absences.
I use Aeries to post grades.
Please subscribe to my Edlio page. This is where I will post notes, PowerPoints, and reminders.
A reminder, I DO NOT post daily homework reminders on Edlio. Homework, class work, and quiz/test/project reminders will be written on the homework/class work board for the week. Students are welcome to take a picture of it if needed, as long as no students are in the picture.

5. Class Business
For more details in regards to grading and classroom procedures, please refer to the syllabus.
Absent students need to check with a study buddies for information.
I do NOT post daily HW online. Students must bring and utilize their agenda books daily! I always remind students to write their homework down at the beginning of class.
Preparation, participation, respect and a positive attitude are essentials for success in my class!

6. Grades The percentage breakdown is as follows:
I do NOT give pluses and minuses for grades.

7. Writing
My students are well aware that I very much value the writing process and tend to “hit it hard”. Instead of “quantity” of essays produced, I strive for teaching students “quality” and structure to help prepare them for their future writing “careers”.
We will be focusing on three main types of writing this year: Argumentative, Informational (which will include a research component), and Narrative.
There will be in-class essays.
Students may be required to type drafts that they take home.
The paper that receives the grade will be the final draft that students turn in.
Rubrics will be used for grading.

8. Classroom Texts
This year, we are excited to be piloting two textbooks in preparation for next years textbook adoptions. The schedule is as follows:
8/29/16 – 11/2/16: Houghton Mifflin's Collections 
11/3/16 – 2/1/17: CollegeBoard’s Springboard
Furthermore, we will be reading our anchor texts, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead in class throughout the year. We will also be reading non-fiction texts
and current events throughout the year.

9. Outside Reading Increases Proficiency and builds confidence
When students read books of interest they are more likely to comprehend the material.
Please approve and monitor the books your child chooses to read – it must be grade level or higher and 150 pages or longer.
Students have green “Outside Reading Requirement” sheet with genre, dates, and required signature which will be checked – for points – on each “beginning date”.
There will be a project at the completion of every novel.
Reading at home is expected and crucial to a students' success not only in reading, but also writing.

11. Helping Your Child Have a consistent time and place for HW.
Help them create a schedule for long-term projects.
Ask to see their agenda books and binders.
Discuss the novel he/she is reading.
Ask them to read their essays out loud to you.
Allow them to write their essays on their own without major help from a parent, sibling, or tutor.
* Intermediate school is the chance for students to explore their own writing style without it affecting their grades for college.

12. I look forward to working with your child this year! Thank you!