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Welcome to Mrs. Mayer's page (and language arts class)!

In language arts class,  we will hit on components of grammar (parts of speech, usage, mechanics - like punctuation and capitalization), writing, reading, comprehension, and public speaking. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand, and we will work on improving our skills in these areas.

Students are expected to READ every day. To improve reading skills, our goal for each student is 30 minutes each school day (and then another 30 minutes sometime over the weekend), for a total of 3 hours of reading each week. If you aren't used to reading, this might seem like a lot; that's why it's important to make it a daily habit. If you like to read or are used to reading routinely, this won't seem bad at all. I just ask that you give it your best and put in the time; reading scores and abilities have been shown to improve with consistent daily reading time. This isn't something only I would like the students to do; the student handbook (approved by the administration and school board) includes the expectation of 30 minutes of reading each day. 

The 5th grade students will review grammar at the beginning of class for most of the year. The 6th graders will review grammar and writing skills through mentor sentences at the beginning of class; they will also utilize pre-writing packets, with some Fridays (or the last day of the week) being used as a writing day. The pre-writing packets might include grammar review or will practice reading comprehension or editing skills. 

Both grades will have group read-alouds / class novels. There are days I will read to the class during our class time, but new this year is a section of time called 'Novel Studies' after lunch; this is when the students might read with (or be read to by) their advisor. Then during my class, we will discuss the reading or go over reading skills or topics noticed/used in the reading. Each grade will read 3-5 fiction novels throughout the school year, as well as short stories and non-fiction passages. The books cover a range of topics and are age-appropriate. As stated earlier, a teacher will read the majority of our class novels aloud in class, being sure to talk through or explain any sensitive subject matter or tough vocabulary with the students.
If parents or students have any concerns about books or topics, please contact me. I am happy to discuss any questions or concerns (about anything) with parents and feel it is best to start by communicating with me. Mrs. Douma (our principal) does her best to stay updated on what each teacher is teaching in our classrooms, but I am the one with first-hand (and deeper) knowledge of the happenings in my own classroom and would be happy to answer any questions or address any concerns.