Mrs. Mary Beth Parent and Mrs. Kristin Hardy
Email us at: mparent@southingtonschools.org
khardy@southingtonschools.org
Welcome to gr 6 LA on the Blue Team!!! We request that each student come prepared to class with their materials while being prepared to learn and engage in class activities. A positive attitude is a must! All students are expected to have Patriot Pride throughout the entire day at DePaolo Middle School. This holds true in the classroom as respect is the common theme on the Blue Team.
Our Classroom is Our Home Away From Home:
We ask that our students:
Be prepared
Be on time with your work
Be respectful
Be accountable
Be consistent
Reader's and Writer's Workshop:
We utilize the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model during our grade 6 LA block where students work on reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing skills. We both teach 90 minute blocks and often co-teach and/or switch blocks, therefore, we will work with all the Blue Team students. We look forward to working with your children this year!
What does a Reader's and Writer's Workshop look like?
Reader’s Workshop:
Mini-lessons, Mentor texts/Read alouds, Turn and Talk, Reader’s Notebooks, IRB/Book Clubs
and Projects
Writer's Workshop:
Mini-lessons, Mentor texts analyzed for elements of craft, Stop and Jots, Writer’s Notebooks
Memoir/Autobiographies, Digital Notebooks and Projects
Whether we are in a Reader’s Workshop or Writer’s Workshop, the outcome is a performance task (ie/ such as a published memoir, creating a commercial, a TED TALKS or digital feature article).
Navigating and Analyzing Nonfiction
· Analyzing Characters
· Social Issues Book Clubs
· Historical Fiction Book Clubs
· Narrative Nonfiction
· Poetry
Writing Curriculum Topics:
Genres include:
Informational Writing,
Compare/Contrast Essay Writing
Literary Essay
Persuasive Writing
Historical Fiction
Memoir Writing
Poetry
Two composition notebooks (Reader's Notebook and Writer's Notebook)
"Post-its” and highlighters
1 inch binder/folder
An Independent Reading Book (at all times)
Pens and pencils & a hand sharpener
Optional: plastic sleeves
Homework Expectations:
Homework is essential in reinforcing the knowledge or skills being taught within our classrooms.
It is also an opportunity to finish in-class activities, conduct research on topics and study for assessments.
It is important that homework is completed in an efficient and timely manner.
IRB by night, and Book Clubs by day:
Reading independently at night builds:
Background knowledge so kids can make connections
1/3 of vocabulary growth
Reading comprehension
Reading as a lifelong learning activity
With IRB homework, students are applying reading strategies.
During class, students are utilizing IRB/Book Clubs to take part in Turn and Talks and Stop and Jots, to read closely, and respond thoughtfully with text evidence. Students will have opportunities to show what they know through: book talks, incorporating research, creating projects, and sharing with book partners/book clubs.
At home reading will be assigned typically 5x per week and we ask that you sign your child’s reading log. We appreciate your partnership to keep kids reading. Our hope is the log is a way to connect with school by seeing what your child is reading and hopefully starts discussion about books.
Our Grading Policy:
Your child will earn his or her grade in LA based on the following:
Categories and Percentages:
Test level assessments/Projects/Performance Tasks/Essays
(out of 100) 45%
Quiz level assessments
(out of 100) 35%
Classwork/Graded Work
(out of 100) 20%
Homework
Graded for completion as: Check or Missing
BOTH STUDENTS and PARENTS should monitor academic progress using POWER SCHOOL.
All test level assessments, quizzes, classwork/graded work, and homework completion are updated and
marked within POWER SCHOOL and updated continuously.
Absences:
If you are absent from school, please be sure to make-up the work in a timely fashion. Whenever possible, check the LA homework button on Canvas to find the missed work which is organized by date. Once back in school, your teacher will also check in with you regarding missed work. Your LA room also has a folder for missed work. Students will not be expected to take a test or quiz the day they return. We will make arrangements during lunch or after school to complete the assessment. Don’t stress. Just feel better!
Extra Help:
For those seeking extra help, we are available after school from 2:45 until 3:15 any day of the week except Tuesdays. Please see our after school binder to sign up. Periodically, we ask students to eat lunch in our classrooms so we can also provide assistance. At times, this can be more convenient for parents who work well after 3:15.
Communication:
Throughout the year, we will e-mail you with updates regarding class activities or send home letters regarding news or celebrations. We believe communication is the key to your child’s success. If at any time you have a question, please contact us at:
khardy@southingtonschools.org mparent@southingtonschool.org
We are so happy your children are on our team and in our classes! We hope they are inspired to read and write MORE than ever before.
Finally, welcome to the BLUE team family!
Kristin Hardy and Mary Beth Parent