Welcome to a very busy and rewarding year! We are a team of 6th grade language arts teachers, thrilled and
honored to be working with your son/daughter this year. We will be having fun and learning A LOT this year; your child
will grow by leaps and bounds- academically, socially, and physically. We hope this paper will give you a glimpse of what
to expect this year.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
 3-ring binder with 5 dividers and notebook paper
 Notebook or composition book
 Self-selected reading book
 Agenda
 Pencil Pouch supplies-replenish often
 Folder for homework-recommended to take to all classes
 A smile & positive attitude 
GENERAL INFORMATION
Language arts class meets one full block (90 minutes), and on the next day, students have a 40 minute reading lab (the
block is shared with math lab).
READING
The purpose of the reading lab is to encourage students to become lifelong readers. Through the reading lab, students
will develop the habit of reading for pleasure and reading for information. They will also continue to expand their
abilities to read critically. Students will be exposed to poetry, fiction and non-fiction texts and will be encouraged to
experiment with multiple genres.
The 6th grade English team will present focused mini-lessons of reading skills and strategies in the full block to promote
comprehension and critical analysis. We will be utilizing Scholastic news magazines, class novels, book clubs, articles, and
short stories. With BYOT, many new avenues to teach 21st century skills (collaboration, creativity, critical thinking,
communication, and contribution) are possible. Students are more engaged and take ownership of their learning. Each
teacher will read aloud a novel or short stories to apply the skills we are learning, promote discussion, develop a widebase of knowledge, as well as for enjoyment.
WRITING WORKSHOP
In order to develop students’ writing skills while fostering inquiry and creativity, students in sixth grade will participate in
the writing workshop this year. Students will develop their ability to communicate effectively in writing, taking into
consideration their audience, purpose, and form. We will be focusing on a specific type of writing each quarter:
narrative, research, argumentative, and analysis writing. Students will have a lot of choice in their writing topics and will
be able to explore and practice informally in their writer’s notebooks.
The 6th grade English team will foster students’ writing skills by providing the following:
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Mini-lessons that model the habits of writers and explore writer’s craft
Mini-lessons that focus on revision and editing skills
Independent writing time in class
Peer groups and teacher conferences with targeted feedback
Opportunities to share and publish their work
VOCABULARY
Students will learn how to use context skills to determine the meaning of words in their reading. In addition, prefixes,
suffixes, and roots words will be taught weekly. Due to time constraints, students will need to study and practice the
words at home. Students will take a weekly assessment on the words of the week.
GRADING
While the focus is on teaching our students to become life-long readers and understanding the writing process, we are
required to give grades which are posted in Phoenix. Your child’s grade will be based on the total points they receive for
selected homework, class work, quizzes, tests, independent reading at school, oral presentations, and informal and
formal writing assignments. Parents will be informed through written communication or a phone call if work is
consistently incomplete or doesn’t reflect a student’s best effort. Keep in mind that essays take several days to grade.
RETAKE POLICY
Students will be allowed to retake a quiz/test or rewrite a writing assignment provided the following steps are followed.
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The assessment is worth more than 25 points
The student received a grade of a C- or below
All homework and classwork leading up to the assessment was completed
Students will receive a retake note and must return it signed by a parent.
Students must complete a review packet, attend a reteaching session, and/or conference with their teacher.
There is a time limit for the retake.
Only one retake per assessment is allowed; the retake grade will be recorded in Phoenix.
MAKE-UP POLICY
When a student is absent, he/she needs to take the initiative to get caught up. Most teachers keep an “Absentee Folder”
in their classroom. Generally, for every day absent, students have one day to make up the work unless prior
arrangements have been made. Once your child has missed three days of instruction, you can contact the house
secretary, Mrs. Kamis, to request work from the teachers. If at all possible, please contact both the main office as well as
your child’s teachers if you know of an upcoming absence. Your child should schedule an appointment with his/her
teacher during resource, lunch, or afterschool to get help or makeup a quiz. Make-up work is the student’s responsibility
to complete.
BYOT
In keeping with Dr. Williams’ initiative of One to the World, Belmont Ridge already piloted BYOT last spring. Each
teacher has eight laptops dedicated to student use in the classroom. Our focus is for students to work collaboratively
with their peers using interactive technology while allowing them to work at their own pace. We welcome students to
bring their own devices provided they are used for an educational activity that is teacher-directed. Cell phones are
appropriate for certain activities, but we encourage tablets, iPads, and laptops for writing activities. Students will know in
advance if they will need to bring their devices to class. More information will be provided as we explore this innovative
style of learning.
We know that middle school can be a little overwhelming at first. But like other major milestones, over time, the middle
school life of having lockers, switching classes, experiencing several teachers with unique styles, and balancing homework
with family and recreational time will be a snap. Thank you all for attending Back to School Night. We encourage you to
email your child’s teacher if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
The 6th grade language arts team
Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cannon, Ms. Chiet, Ms. Muller, Ms. Brookover, Ms. Page, and Ms. Weaver