2014-2015 Sixth Grade Academic Language Arts
Mrs. Flannigan
Room 671
Email: flanniganm@ltisdschools.org
Voice Mail: 512-533-6400 ext. 5669
Conference Time: 10:31-11:19
Please check my website for updates.
Please check my website for updates.
Course Description:
The Academic Language Arts course is an integrated approach to the study of English.
A literature-based, reading-based program is fused with a process-oriented writing program
to provide a well-rounded language arts curriculum. An emphasis is placed on reading from
various genres of literature. Speaking, listening, spelling, researching, vocabulary,
grammar, and mechanics skills will be taught.
Grading Guidelines:
My website, the HBMS student planner, and TxGradebook are our most valuable sources of
communication between parents, students and teachers. Grading procedure is determined by content
level and communicated to parents through the syllabus, teacher web page, or rubric. Grading
percentages are as follows:
Tests/Projects/Major Assignments 40%
Quizzes 25%
Classwork/Homework 15%
Opportunity to improve a failing grade on homework or quizzes
Students will have the opportunity to bring up a failing grade on daily or homework assignments if
they attend Z-Hall the same day and turn in the next day for a maximum grade of 70%.
Late work policy:
· Work not turned in during the period and on the due date will reflect a 0 in the grade book,
unless the student attends Z-Hall.
· Teachers will drop the 1 lowest homework/classwork grade from each nine week grading period.
· Long term work will be taken one school day late with a 15% deduction; two school days late
with a 30% deduction; no work taken after the third school day.
· Quizzes must be retaken within the next five school days.
· Quizzes and tests may be redone for a maximum grade of a 70%.
Opportunity to improve a failing grade on a major summative exam/test
· Students must make a reasonable effort to attend a reteach session and/or prepare study
sheet/notes (or anything else the teacher may require to show the student made an effort to
relearn the material).
· Tests/Exams must be retaken and/or corrected at the teacher's discretion within the week of the
failed test or within the next five school days.
· Resubmitted work will be graded and will be averaged with the previous grade for a maximum
grade of a 70%.
Opportunity to improve a failing grade on a major summative project/paper/essay
· Students will attend a scheduled review/tutorial for a reteach opportunity.
· Project/Paper/Essay must be resubmitted and/or corrected at the teacher’s discretion within the
week of the failed test or within the next five school days.
· Resubmitted work will be graded and will be averaged with the previous grade for a maximum
grade of a 70%.
Submitting work via email
**On summative grades, if the student is having technical problems, they may email the
project/paper.
--Subject line must contain:
· Class period---First and Last name of student---Name of assignment
· Teacher will respond with a reply of "Got it" to indicate receipt of work.
· Reply does not indicate correctness of work submitted.
· All work submitted via email is subject to the Late Work Policy [see above].
Homework: Students will be assigned Language Arts homework regularly. Assignments are posted on
the board and on my website daily. Students are to write the assignments in their planner each day
and are expected to complete all assignments on time. Independent work is essential to the mastery
of language skills. Please encourage good study habits so that your child begins developing habits that
will lead to success in the future.
Make-up Work and Absences:
All make-up work must be done within the allotted time, according to school policy. The students will
be allowed the same number of days that they were absent to turn in their work. A student absent on
a previously scheduled test day will be expected to take the missed test on the day of his or her
return. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for any missing assignments, not the teachers. Please
check my web page or email me for assignments if your child is absent.
Tutorials:
Students are encouraged to ask for help when needed. Tutorials will be available at the request of the
student. Please schedule your appointments in advance. Homework Hall/Homework Help is also
available after school Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. In Homework Help, teachers
are available to help students with assigned homework. On these days, there is a late bus to take
your child home, or you are welcome to pick them up.
Major Assessments and Projects:
Major assessments and projects will be assigned throughout the year. Students will be given
complete instructions and rubrics in advance. Our power genre for the first semester is memoirs and
the second semester there will be a mini-research project.
Texts and Resources:
Literature textbook, classroom novels, Interactive Reader workbook, Texas Assessment Practice
workbook, STAAR practice passages, various reading passages
Outside required reading = at least 1 novel per 9 weeks at student’s reading level.
Summer Reading:
PreAP: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen