6th Grade Language Arts

Meredy Smith

mporte@kyrene.org480*541*5901

A little about me:• Grew up in Nebraska and went to the

University of Nebraska.• Started teaching in the Midwest and

moved to Phoenix in 1994 and have been at Akimel since.

• I am the Gifted Mentor at Akimel• Kyrene family- Husband works at

Altadena, girls have attended Kyrene schools.

• I coach the high jump at Desert Vista and my family is involved in the community.

Curriculum• Language, Reading, Writing, Speaking and

Listening• Informational reading & writing

• defending responses with evidence from the text

• Annotation, analyzing text• Making notes as they read and making connections

• Spelling/vocabulary using Greek and Latin roots, context clues, academic vocabulary (infer, context, defend, etc.)

• Google docs, student email accounts for collaboration

Organization of text

• Students will use the “stoplight” method to highlight information in a text.

• They will use the same method to structure their writing.

• Green- topic• Yellow- main ideas/points• Red- examples, evidence

Grading

• Students may receive grades for classwork and homework. This includes daily “walk-in” work. (30% of grade)

• Larger assignments such as assessments, projects, reader’s response, research, creative writing work will receive more points than daily work. These are considered formal and informal assessments. (70% of grade)

• Use the Parent Vue Portal on Kyrene website to check grade and work completion status. Students can check grades via Student Vue with their student number. Contact school office 541-5800

Learning Goal ScaleLearning Goal Scale

Homework– Read 20+ (for enjoyment and book

reflections, literary elements)

– Spelling/vocabulary/grammar – Unfinished classwork – Pre-reading of upcoming text – Additional research/writing time for

projects– Absent/make-up or missing work

Supplies

• 2 Composition books • Two pocket folder with three

prongs• Highlighters- green, yellow, pink,

blue• Sticky notes (little ones)• Toolkit/pencil pouch- with general

needs (see handout from team)

Things to ask your kid…

Can I see your agenda?

Did you reflect on your

nightly reading?

Do you need to replenish

your supplies?

Are you working on any

long term projects?

Have you cleaned out your

backpack recently?

Do you have a reading book

in your backpack?

Best way to reach me:

• mporte@kyrene.org• 480-541-5901• Class website- resource,

rubrics, and handouts• Team website- homework

Thanks for coming!

•Higher level Lexile reading (novels)•Vocabulary book (Classic Roots) SAT prep•Reading Responses with in depth evidence•Expected to maintain a B average or above•Quicker pacing•Higher quality work, discussions, thinking•Making inferences, Interpretations•Shakespeare study- continued through 8th grade•Independent projects

Expectations for Advanced Language Arts Class