WELCOME To A New School Year At John Adams Academy
6th Grade English Language Arts and History
Mrs. Boerman ~ 2014/2015
I hope your summer was a great one…a time of fun, rest and relaxation with family and friends!
I worked in the JAA office this summer and have a whole new appreciation for what goes on in
there!! I am looking forward to the new 6th graders and what we will learn this year! Since
Back-to-School Night isn’t until next week, let me outline a few things about which you may be
curious. At Back-to-School Night, there will be an opportunity to ask questions, but as always, I
welcome you to contact me by phone at school, e-mail at carla.boerman@johnadamsacademy.com
or in person anytime.
This first week of school we will spend quite a bit of time getting to know one another and
establishing our “family” and classroom. Academics will not get fully underway until next week.
The California State Standards for 6th grade English Language Arts and Core Knowledge
curriculum (this is not the same as Common Core) will serve as the guide for this course. The
class will cover the following standards this school year:
 Reading ~ word analysis, fluency and systematic vocabulary development, reading
comprehension, and literary response and analysis
 Writing ~ writing strategies, and writing narratives, expository compositions, research
reports, responses to literature and persuasive compositions
 Written and Oral English Language Conventions ~ sentence structure, grammar,
punctuation, capitalization and spelling, Latin and Greek root words
 Listening and Speaking ~ listening and speaking strategies and delivering narrative
presentations, informative presentations, oral responses to literature, persuasive
presentations and presentations on problems and solutions
The California State Standards for 6th grade History/Social Science and Core Knowledge
curriculum will serve as the guide for this course. The class will cover the following standards
this school year:
 World History and Geography of Ancient Civilizations from the Paleolithic era to the
agricultural revolution.
 The geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early
civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush, the Ancient Hebrews, Ancient Greece,
Ancient India, Ancient China and during the development of Rome.
These standards in detail can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/. Go to the English
Language Arts and/or History-Social Science section and click on 6th grade.
Parental involvement is important to the success of your scholar. I will do my part in the
classroom and I will need your help at home. Because this is the first year most of our scholars
switch classes and have different teachers with different expectations, it is important to
check their “planner” on a nightly basis to see what their homework is for each class. I will post
the homework for my classes on the JAA website – www.johnadamsacademy.com – go to the blue
bar at the top of the website, click on Academics, then staff directory. Find my name, click on
it and it will take you to my page. You will also be able to check your scholar’s grades online
through Aeries. The instructions for how to use that site will come very soon, and I will also be
showing your scholars how to do it for themselves. It is important for them to take
responsibility for their education, and so I encourage them to check their grades at least
weekly.
Electronics Policy: Electronics such as cell phones, iPods, or other music or game system
devices are not acceptable at any time in the classroom and must be turned off and stored in
scholar backpacks or left at home. After the second offense of a cell phone sounding in class, it
will be taken and kept by me until the end of the class day and must be picked up by a parent.
Laptops, Kindles or iPads may be brought to class with permission of the teacher.
Grading: Scholars will receive a letter grade using the following scale:
98% - 100% =A+
93% - 97% = A
and so on for B, C, and D…F is anything 50% or lower
90% - 92% = AIt is the policy of John Adams Academy that a semester grade of “D” or “F” is NOT passing in
any class, and if a semester grade of anything lower than a “C-“ is obtained, no credit for that
semester will be given and the scholar may be at risk for retention. Assignments are due on the
date given…late work will receive a grade lower for each late day it is turned in. If a scholar is
ill, one day will be given to turn in an assignment for every day missed due to the illness.
Opportunities for extra credit will be given ONLY IF the scholar is current on all assignments.
This prevents scholars from failing to turn in assignments and then doing a bunch of extra
credit at the end of the grading period to raise their grade.
HOMEWORK: Ahhh, the dreaded “H” word! I will do my best to give time each day in class to
get a good portion of their work completed. If a scholar uses his/her time wisely in class, the
homework load will be minimal. There will be weekly spelling/vocabulary words assigned every
Monday to be tested on Thursdays, a weekly essay assigned every Monday (to be due the
following Monday) and a book report every other month, as well as a speech on the alternate
months. When a scholar is finished with his/her work in class, I will always encourage those
assignments to be taken out and worked on…again, a scholar will quickly learn that using time
wisely “while on the job” means less work at home!
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
I try to keep my classroom rules to a minimum: BE NICE, WORK HARD and follow the Ten Core
Values of John Adams Academy! However, there are expectations to help the classroom run
smoothly and ensure every scholar have the best opportunity to learn and grow:

Be Respectful ~ for your classmates, your teacher and yourself. I will also give each
scholar my utmost respect! “Putdowns” and inappropriate language will not be tolerated
and we will always show consideration for differing viewpoints.

Be Prepared to Learn ~ Scholars are expected to be in their seats and working on their
journal write or daily warm-up by the time class begins. They are to be ready to learn
and bring necessary materials (completed homework, a pencil or blue or black pen, lined
paper, a binder in which to put papers, and their assignment/homework log) to class. Gum
is not allowed on campus at any time, and food must be stored in backpacks ~ A 15 minute
snack break will be given during the second class period of each day because lunch will not
be until 1:00 p.m. Water is acceptable and encouraged!

Be Responsible ~ Scholars are expected to do their work on time and the best of their
ability. Assignments must be turned in when they are due (Note: Your printer being out
of ink or malfunctioning is NOT an excuse…email me your homework if your printer
breaks). When the scholar is absent, it is his/her responsibility to check the assignment
board and folder to obtain any assigned work.

Be Honest ~ Copying or plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated! Plagiarism will result
in all scholars involved having to redo the assignment outside of class time. All instances
of plagiarism will be reported to the administration for additional disciplinary action, if
necessary. Cheating will result in an “F” on the assignment or test and a conversation
with the parent, possible suspension or expulsion.
Please know that I am dedicated to the learning success of your scholar and I want our
classroom to be one where much is expected, but it will be a fun and engaging learning
environment. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me at carla.boerman@johnadamsacademy.com.
I know it is going to be a great year! Thank you for the privilege of teaching your scholar.
Sincerely,
Carla Boerman
PLEASE sign and return this page as soon as possible! The remainder of this
document should be kept at home or in scholar’s binder for future reference.
I have read and understand the contents of this syllabus and agree to follow it:
Scholar’s Name: _________________________________________
Mother’s Name: __________________________________________
Father’s Name: __________________________________________
Parent/Guardian (Print):____________________________________
Parent/Guardian (Sign):____________________________________
Date:___________________________
Parent/Guardian e-mail:____________________________________
Additional e-mails (if applicable):______________________________
_______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian phone (best name and # to reach during the day):
___________________________________
Scholar (Print):_________________________________________
Scholar (Sign):_________________________________________
Date:___________________________________
Scholar e-mail:__________________________________________
Kindle e-mail (if applicable): ________________________________