6th Grade Language Arts
Syllabus
Mrs. Stolzman
Karissa.Stolzman@new-haven.k12.ct.us
Welcome to sixth grade Language Arts at ESUMS! I am very excited
about this year, and I am especially glad to have you as part of my class. This year,
we will focus on the development of your skills in reading, writing, and speaking.
The instruction will be based partly on the reading and writing workshop format. I
ask that you read the following course description, grading policy, and make-up
guidelines carefully. If you have any questions concerning this course, feel free to
contact me at any time via e-mail.
Reading: Our class will be focusing on reading skills to help students gain
an appreciation and enjoyment of the reading process. Together, we will explore
many different works of literature. These selections include poems, short stories,
novels, dramas, and nonfiction works. They will be required to bring a reading book
to class every day. Students will be provided with a reader’s writer’s notebook.
Students are expected to read twenty minutes a night. After the first couple of days,
students will have nightly reading homework assignments.
Writing: Writing is a major focus during sixth grade. Students will keep a
portfolio of all of writing assignments. The resulting portfolio will be showcased to
parents at the end of the year. They will also take notes and compete smaller
writing assignments in their reader’s writers notebooks. Many of our writing
assignments will take us through the entire writing process. Some of our writing
assignments, significant tasks and performance tasks, will count as test grades.
Language Study: Grammar and vocabulary skills will be reinforced
throughout the year. Our class
uses various methods to master
necessary skills.
Late homework will not be accepted.
Grading Policies
Projects, writing assignments, and quiz grades that are turned in late will lose ten
points for every day they are past the due date.
After three days, they will not be accepted!
Classwork
Homework
Projects
Quizzes
Writing
30%
10%
30%
15%
15%
Absences: Attendance is extremely important! Please make every attempt to make it to
school every day. If you do know you will be absent, ask for make-up work before leaving school.
This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed when you return. Make-up work is YOUR responsibility!
Course Outline
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 3
Quarter 4
Unit Titles
Fiction, Novels, Short
Stories and Poetry
study
Nonfiction reading
and writing, articles
and essays study
Poetry, Reading
Workshop, and/or
Reader’s Theater study
Memoir, personal
narrative, biography
and autobiography
study
Learning
Outcomes
Students will learn
during Writing and
Reading Workshop:
Students will learn and
study during Writing
and Reading
Workshop:
Students will learn and
understand during
Writing and Reading
Workshop:

Students will learn and
study during Writing
and Reading Workshop:




determining themes
author’s values and 
character’s values
figurative language 
organization of
fiction to effectively 
tell a story

Students will set up
their Reading and
Writing Notebooks


Significant 
Task



Core Text 
Personal Narrative
1 research task (TBD)
1 reading task (TBD)
The Skin I’m In

Distinguish own ideas
from sources

Nonfiction text
structures
Attributes credit to 
sources
Uses quotation and
paraphrases
appropriately
analyze literary
elements in text
take a stand on an
issue
poetic language
poetic devices that are
used to convey ideas,
feelings and images
increasing fluency by
using Reader’s Theater


analyze literary
elements in text
recognize the
contribution of point
of view to
comprehension
make connections to
reading
recognize main ideas
and themes in text
write multiple drafts
Informational
Research paper
Research based
argument essay
Compare and
Contrast Essay
1 research task (TBD)
1 reading task (TBD)
1 research task (TBD)
1 reading task (TBD)
1 research task (TBD)
1 reading task (TBD)
The Great Fire

The Secret of the
Yellow Death

No More Dead Dogs
Content 
Supporting
Materials 


Novels
Fiction
Short stories
Poetry
Memoirs/personal
narrative








Nonfiction reading
Newspapers
Articles
Essays
Diaries,
Informational text
Journal entries,
How-to essays








Nonfiction reading
Newspapers
Articles
Essays
Diaries,
Informational text
Journal entries,
How-to essays






Memoirs/personal
narrative
Autobiographies
Poems
Short stories
interviews
Novels