Welcome Parents!
Mrs. Boyle’s 6th grade Language Arts Class
Thank you so much for coming to Back to School Night! I am very excited
about working with your child this year! Please contact me if you have any
questions throughout the year. The best way to reach me is e-mail:
Sarah.Boyle@lcps.org. I send out weekly updates via e-mail. If you have not
already done so, please send me an e-mail so I can add you to my list 
Things to expect this year:
 We will be reading several novels this year and the students will
participate in literature circles within the class later on in the year. We will
also be using the Interactive readers. Each student has their own
workbook that they leave in the classroom. Students will also be
completing Accelerated Reader assignments. They will be choosing a book
from the list and taking a quiz on the computer when they are done
reading the book.
 We will be going to the library every other Thursday (B days). Our first
library day will be tomorrow.
 We will also be working on vocabulary and spelling this year that will help
them on the reading SOL!
 Every other day the class participates in a Spanish lesson for 30 minutes
during our class.
 We will also be doing a lot of writing in this class. The students will
practice the writing process with each paper that they write. They will
learn to write different forms of writing such as; creative, reflective,
argumentative, research and poetry. They will also be writing in their
journal every Friday. They either have an assigned prompt or I let them do
a free-write. The students will complete several lessons on grammar and
editing this year as well.
 We will be teaming up with another language arts class for a “Poetry
Slam” in the spring. You all will be invited to come and listen to your child
present his or her poetry! You will receive more details closer to the time
of the event!
 Homework will usually consist of Vocabulary, Grammar and sometimes
spelling. We will switch off every other week with vocabulary and
grammar where the students will have an assignment each night and a
quiz on Friday. Certain times throughout the year, we will do the same for
spelling.
 Tests: Any test can be retaken by the students as long as they follow the
appropriate steps. These steps and regulations are described in the reteaching letter attached to this handout. A copy of this can also be found
on my website.
 My Website: The homework and most handouts that I give out in class
can be accessed through my website, which you can find on the River
Bend Middle School website under “Staff”.
Reward System:
1. Ravens- Students can earn “Ravens” from several of their teachers. I
usually give ravens for good test grades, behavior and class participation. I
will also give them 10 ravens for every dollar that they spend on Scholastic
books. We will have a raffle in January and an auction after SOL’s where
students can use their ravens to bid on items.
2. Awesome Attitude Awards- If a student is caught doing something nice
for someone else; they will receive an awesome attitude award. Every
Friday, I choose one “AAA” for each block, and the winner will receive a
candy bar, gum or Ravens. Students can nominate someone else for an
“AAA”; however, they cannot nominate themselves.
Fun facts about me 
 I graduated with a Bachelors and Masters in Education from
West Virginia University. Go Mountaineers!
 This is my 10th year teaching at River Bend Middle School.
 I will be coaching Girls on the Run this fall!