Mrs. Herte’s Sixth Grade Syllabus

Mary Tsukamoto Elementary 2009-2010

Dear Parents,

Welcome to sixth grade! This will be an exciting and busy year as students prepare for middle school. Please take the time to go over these academic policies and classroom rules with your student and keep it in a safe place for future reference. Fill out and return the attached tear-off as soon as possible. If you have any questions, you may write, call or email. My message number is 689-7580 and email address is [email protected].

Classroom Rules

Sixth graders are expected to be responsible for their learning and in control of themselves and their actions. This includes getting to class on time, using appropriate classroom behavior, returning homework, studying for tests, completing projects, checking for and making up work when absent, using appropriate language and maintaining positive peer relationships.

To help students keep a positive attitude and learn how to conduct themselves in a business setting I have a “classroom cash” system in place. Students may earn “yen” for such things as turning in homework, classroom jobs, extra special effort, etc. They will be able to spend their cash on supplies, the classroom store or at auction.

If your student forgets classroom rules the following consequences may occur:

• Warning
• Time out in a buddy room with a written assignment
• Loss of recess or classroom job
• Phone call home
• Referral to vice principal

Homework

Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday nights and should take about 60-90 minutes for an average 6^th grader to complete. Most assignments are started in class and continued as individual practice at home. Points are given according to the type of assignment and account for a large portion (about 50%) of the student's grade. Homework is due when the student arrives at school. Students may not call family members to deliver it if forgotten at home. No late work is accepted. Students will simply lose the points. There will be an exception made for large projects and you will be notified of these. Projects will drop one grade level for every day they are late (an "A" project will drop to a "B", and so on.) Students that continually miss assignments will also miss specific school activities and field trips.

As part of their regular evening homework assignment they will be required to read a book of their choice for 20 minutes and complete a reading log entry. Magazine articles will be allowed only by teacher approval and in limited quantity.

Students will be given a day planner, "Skills For Success", to keep track of their homework assignments. I encourage you to check these every day and monitor your student's work. One of the most important lessons your student can learn in order to be successful for high school, college and beyond is that education begins with them. Their effort will determine their success and opportunities. Please encourage them to take their homework seriously.

Assignments and Grading

All assignments must be neat and complete with the student's full name. I only accept work in navy blue or black pen or #2 pencil, no "pretty colors", please. Work in inappropriate colors will need to be rewritten. Most in-class work will be done in workbooks or journals I will provide. If you are buying binder paper make sure it is loose as paper torn from spiral notebooks is difficult to handle.

Students will earn points for daily assignments, homework, quizzes, exams, and projects. The points given will be based on accuracy and/or effort and will vary with the difficulty or importance of the assignment. Non-expository work will be graded according to a rubric which students will be given prior to assignment.

Absence

It is important that your student attend class. There are many things occur in the classroom that cannot be duplicated outside. Students are responsible for all work they have missed due to absence. They will need to get missing work ASAP upon return and may need to spend extra time in the classroom at recess or lunch for help and instruction. At that time they will be given a new due date for their assignments. It is difficult to prepare work for a student prior to an absence so I prefer to get them caught up when they return.

Communication

Shark Folders come home every Monday with graded work, handouts and a weekly update that will include a list of missing or incomplete work, a behavior report and other needed communication. Please sign the update and have your student return it on Tuesday. I encourage you to include a note if you have any questions or concerns.

The best way to communicate directly with me is by email. My address is [email protected]

If this is not possible please leave a message with the front office and I will return your call as soon as possible. Please leave a time and number where you can be reached.

Curriculum

Our sixth grade curriculum includes a history of ancient civilizations, grammar, spelling, writing, a literature based reading program, math computation and problem solving, earth science, physical education, fine arts and computers. Assignments will include individual and cooperative work.

Contraband Items

Please have children leave the following items at home as they are either too distracting or may be stolen: toys, electronic devices such as CD players or cell phones, games, cards, valuables, gum and extra money. These items will be confiscated and may be held until a note from home is brought in. Note passing in class is not allowed and all notes will be confiscated and a consequence assigned.

Finally…

I am looking forward to an exciting year. Your student’s progress is important to me so please keep the lines of communication open. Even though they are now "big sixth graders" they still need you to be a part of their education.

Virginia Herte
vherte@egusd. net
689-7580