Course Syllabus

IB SIXTH GRADE SYLLABUS_2016_updated.docx

Newsela Class Code: 5C74JN

Flocabulary Class Code:  NQCXK8

Schoolastic.com/readingclub  Class Code:  PMRJQ

 

IB SIXTH GRADE SYLLABUS

MRS. MENDOZA

Welcome to sixth grade! I am looking forward to an exciting year of partnering with you and your family for academic success. Students will further develop their skills of communication, collaboration, and asking meaningful questions. Sixth-grade language arts classes incorporate the California Common Core Standards that focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language skills.  Language arts differs from other classes, such as math, in that the content does not necessarily follow a specific progression that advances to more difficult material.  Instead the standards are taught holistically (many at once) instead of in isolation. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Below I have listed different ways to contact me. All in person conferences must be scheduled ahead of time. It is important to me that you are able to reach me promptly whether you have a question, comment, or concern. Any email sent after 3PM on Friday will receive a response Monday morning.

E-mail: (The fastest way to contact me is email) lisa.mendoza@cnusd.k12.ca.us

*Any email sent after 4PM Monday through Thursday will receive a response the following day.

**Any email sent after 3PM on Friday will receive a response Monday.

School Phone: 951-736-3221                                                  Room: C-5

MATERIALS- Students are expected to carry the following materials with them on a daily basis:

1. Pencils (mechanical preferred- pencil sharpener will NOT be supplied by teacher)
2. Eraser
3. Correcting pen (an easily visible color besides black or blue)
4. 2 black or blue pens
5. Highlighters
6. Colored pencils
7. Glue stick
8. White board marker
9. Lined paper
10. Flash drive (2 GB min)
11. Earbuds (with case recommended)
12. 2 Composition Book ( 1 for Lang. Arts and 1 for History)

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

1. Arrive on time (3 tardies=1 lunch detention)
2. Arrive prepared for class (computer charged, assignments done, with necessary supplies)
3. Be respectful of your classmates and your teachers
4. No food or drink in class (water is ok)

**No cell phones are to be turned on or used during class without teacher permission. Any student caught using cell phones without permission will have it confiscated until the end of the day and a detention may be given.

TECHNOLOGY EXPECTATIONS

Sixth grade IBMYP at Raney Intermediate is part of a 1 to 1 technology program. This means that every student has a laptop of their own. Students may bring their own (BYO) laptop with windows 7 or later OR apply for a school provided Dell mini laptop if unable to bring their own device.

1. Students must bring their (fully charged) laptop and power cord to school with them on a daily basis. Students who do not bring their laptop will be given an alternate, paper-based & independent assignment.
2. Students are expected to complete nightly homework using a device and an internet connection.
3. Students are expected to use technology appropriately during class time (i.e. to work on given assignment NOT to check grades, check email, use social media, play games, etc.).

*If your family does not have daily access to a computer/tablet and/or the internet, please contact our student advisor (Linda Martinez; linmartinez@cnusd.k12.ca.us) to request a school device. Devices are provided based on need and availability.

HOMEWORK POLICY

1. Students are required to come to school with their homework completed. A missing homework notice will be given (requiring a parent signature) for each missing assignment. If the assignment is not returned, completed, with the signed slip a 1 hour detention will be given. Late homework receives 75% credit. Incomplete homework assignments receive 50% credit. For every 3 missing assignment slips, a lunch detention will be given. If missing or incomplete homework becomes a pattern, a parent-teacher-student conference will be scheduled.
2. If you are on a school field trip, homework is still due the next day, even if you weren’t in class. Ask the teacher for your homework ahead of time.
3. Homework is still considered late or missing if you forget to write down your homework in your planner. It is recommended that you have the phone numbers of 2-3 friends who you can call if you are unsure of the homework.

LATE POLICY

Work may be turned in late for partial credit.

1. Classwork and homework may be turned in late for up to 75% credit.
2. Projects may be turned in 1 day late for 80% credit, 2 days late for 65% credit, and 3 days late for 50% credit. After three days, the project max score possible is 50%,
3. Long-term assignments (projects) must be submitted ON OR BEFORE the due date (even in the case of student illness). Projects not turned in on their due date, regardless of reason, will be considered late.

ABSENT POLICY

• Students have 2 days to make up absent work (including tests & quizzes) for every 1 day they are absent. Work turned in after this time period will be marked as late.
• Turn in all make-up work to the inbox (check that you place your work in the correct period) located in the back of the room. You must write absent on the top of the paper by your name when you turn it in.
• Make up tests and quizzes must be taken before or after school by appointment only. (See extra help times below.)
• Make up work for all subjects is located in the box labeled “6^th grade” (on the back table) under the date of the month you were absent.

EXTRA HELP: Students may come in BY APPOINTMENT Monday-Friday for extra help before school starts at 7:15. If you have a zero-period, you must have your teacher’s permission in order to come before school or come at lunch.

• I am available most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for extra help until 2:45p.m.
• **If students do not set up an appointment ahead of time they are coming in for extra help I cannot guarantee my presence.

GRADING SCALE

A+     100% to 98%                 B+     89.9% to 88%                C+     79.9% to 78%       D    69.9% to 60%

A       97.9% to 93%                B       87.9% to 83%                C       77.9% to 73%       F    59.9% or below

A-      92.9% to 90%                B-      82.9% to 80%                C-      72.9% to 70%

 

IB MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to develop an inclusion program of inquiring and caring young people who help to create a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. MYP will challenge students in a rigorous, but nurturing environment, as they acquire the skills, knowledge and study habits necessary for success at higher levels of learning and assessment.

Study Strategies for Tests

1. Study a little (10 -15 minutes) every day. Do not  cram (wait to the last minute) the night before the test and try to remember everything
2. Review your notes by reading over them, rewriting them or have someone quiz you on the information.
3. Make flash cards of the vocabulary on your study guide and use them to test yourself.

4. Write and solve your own test questions.

1. Review the handouts/worksheets completed for homework or class work.
2. Review the questions at the end of the reading section. You can come in after school to correct your answers.
3. When doing assignments, like reading or even a poster, don’t just try to get it done, try to learn from each assignment. That way you won’t have to work so hard later.

Strategies for getting Homework done

1. Start with the subject that is the most difficult.
2. Use an egg timer set it for 30 minutes and work hard. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done when you aren’t distracted and have a timed goal.
3. If your child is a perfectionist, tell them they can’t erase to rewrite neater or re-draw any items until the timer goes off and all of their HW is done. (They will have to experiment to see if their grade changes if it’s rewritten/redrawn)
4. Don’t use the internet when doing HW unless it is part of the assignment.
5. Remember to turn in the HW. (It’s silly to do the work and not turn it in to get points)

Staying organized

1. Every night, before you go to bed, put all your schoolwork back into your backpack. This prevents forgetting your homework during the morning rush to get to school.
2. Use a planner to write down HW for each subject. If there is no HW in a class write NONE.
3. Use a highlighter or pen to mark homework that has been completed.
4. Use post-it notes to note questions or mark what needs to be turned in.
5. When arriving to each class, only take out the folders/notebooks for that subject and your Homework Folder. This will avoid disorganization.
6. When leaving a class, put the assignments/papers in the correct folder. Don’t put Language Arts work in the Math folder.

 

 

History

HISTORY STANDARDS: In this ancient civilizations history class, all students will be encouraged to develop as internationally-minded learners.  This means that students will consider the world around them, both locally and globally.  While exploring the history of great civilizations of ancient civilizations, students will be encouraged to make practical connections between history long ago and the real world today.   

HISTORY TEXTBOOK: Harcourt School Publishers Reflections Ancient Civilizations

HISTORY GRADING POLICY: Grades will be weighted as shown below:

• Homework:10%
• Classwork: 25%
• Tests and Quizzes: 35%
• Projects: 30%

IB HISTORY CRITERION YEAR 1

Throughout the year, projects, tests, and activities will be assessed using IB criterion rubrics. These scores are in addition to the A-F grade you receive on all assignments. (For example, a test would receive a score of 1-8 for Criterion A AND receive an A-F grade.) More information on these criteria will be given at Back-to-School Night. The four criterion are scored on a 1-8 rubric.

Each criterion has nine possible levels of achievement (0-8):

 

7-8   Excellent performance

5-6   Substantial performance

3-4   Adequate performance

1-2   Limited performance

 

The history criterion for year 1 students are listed below:

Criterion A:  Knowing and Understanding

Criterion B:  Investigating

Criterion C:  Communicating

Criterion D:  Thinking Critically

 

 

The achievement level will allow students to monitor their progress on these skills throughout their years in the IB program.  Achievement levels will be entered into the grade book, but will not count toward students’ grades.

 

 

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Sixth-grade language arts classes incorporate the California Common Core Standards that focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language skills.  Language arts differs from other classes, such as math, in that the content does not necessarily follow a specific progression that advances to more difficult material.  Instead the standards are taught holistically (many at once) instead of in isolation. 

 

Grading Policy – Academic Achievement & Citizenship  

 

 GRADING SCALE

A+     100% to 98%                 B+     89.9% to 88%                C+     79.9% to 78%       D    69.9% to 60%

A       97.9% to 93%                B       87.9% to 83%                C       77.9% to 73%       F    59.9% or below

A-      92.9% to 90%                B-      82.9% to 80%                C-      72.9% to 70%

 

 

Please note: All formative and summative tasks and assessments must be completed.  These are the assignments and tests that will identify a student’s mastery level of the standards and will determine his or her final achievement grade in the class.  Therefore, after-school support will be provided to ensure completion of these tasks and assessments. 

___________ (initials) 

 

Citizenship:   Citizenship grade will be determined by using a point system. If a student is consistently losing citizenship points due to incomplete or missing assignments or other misbehavior, his or her potential learning will not only affect the final achievement grade, but it will also result in earning a poor citizenship grade and the loss of the privilege to participate in extracurricular school events and clubs. 

 

 

LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS

For the sixth grade common core standards, please go here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/documents/glc6thgradecurriculum.pdf

 

IB LANGUAGE ARTS CRITERION YEAR 1

Throughout the year, projects, tests, and activities will be assessed using IB criterion rubrics. These scores are in addition to the A-F grade you receive on all assignments. (For example, a test would receive a score of 1-8 for Criterion A AND receive an A-F grade.) More information on these criteria will be given at Back-to-School Night. The four criterion are scored on a 1-8 rubric. The math criterion for year 1 students are listed below:

 

Criterion A:  Knowing and Understanding

1. identify and comment upon significant aspects of texts
2. identify and comment upon the creator’s choices

• justify opinions and ideas, using examples, explanations and terminology

1. identify similarities and differences in features within and between texts

Criterion B:  Investigating

1. employ organizational structures that serve the context and intention
2. organize opinions and ideas in a logical manner

• use referencing and formatting tools to create a presentation style suitable to the context and intention.

Criterion C:  Communicating

1. produce texts that demonstrate thought and imagination while exploring new perspectives and ideas arising from personal engagement with the creative process
2. make stylistic choices in terms of linguistic, literary and visual devices, demonstrating awareness of impact on an audience

• select relevant details and examples to support ideas.

Criterion D:  Thinking Critically

1. use appropriate and varied vocabulary, sentence structures and forms of expression
2. write and speak in an appropriate register and style

• use correct grammar, syntax and punctuation

1. spell (alphabetic languages), write (character languages) and pronounce with accuracy
2. use appropriate nonverbal communication techniques.

 

 

IB MYP Final Grade

Schools using the MYP 1–7 scale should use the grade boundary guidelines table that follows to determine

final grades in each year of the MYP. The table provides a means of converting the individual criterion levels (A-D) total into a final grade for the year based on a scale of 1–7.