6th Grade Syllabus
Mrs. Bethanny McGuire
bmcguire@stellamarisacademy.org
Greetings and welcome to middle school Language Arts! I am so excited to begin
this new school year at Stella Maris Academy. I have a ton of fun things
planned this school year that will hopefully get you excited about language
arts as well as prepare you for the rest of your middle school career and high
school. The following information outlines in more detail what we will be
doing throughout the school year, but if you have any questions or concerns do
not hesitate to ask!
Vocabulary
Using the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop you will be asked to learn 10 new
words a week and complete the corresponding flashcards and assignments for
homework.
Every Friday there will be a vocabulary quiz that will feature all 10 words.
In addition to weekly quizzes there will also be a Unit Test every 6 weeks
where 30 of the possible 60 words will be chosen.
Grammar
Each day there will be time devoted to grammar practice, which will be
completed in your Easy Grammar Plus consumable book. These books MUST be
brought to class every day with the exception of Friday. Tests will be
administered at the end of each unit.
Writing
In 6th grade language arts we will continue to build on your preexisting
writing skills by devoting time to reviewing narratives, introducing
expository writing, as well as beginning to incorporate research and MLA
formatting in all writing pieces. We will also be focusing on a variety of key
literary and poetry terms.
In Class Reading
This year in 6th Grade Language Arts we will be focusing on a variety of
literature pieces that correspond with topics and time periods covered in
social studies. We will also be covering topical selections from the
literature anthology, as well as reading and preforming Greek plays and
devoting considerable time on a poetry unit.
The in class novels for 6th grade are:
Odyssey: The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
General Class Rules and Expectations
Behavior and Ethics- For all my middle schoolers I expect that you treat one
another with respect and are kind and considerate to both myself as well as
your fellow classmates. Any form of intolerance displayed in the classroom
will NOT be tolerated. I also expect that you come to class prepared every day
and while in class you participate in the lessons.
Class Materials
Everyday you are required to bring your binder, grammar book, and the class
novel we are reading.
Absences
If you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in
class, as well as what you need to complete for homework. Both in class
assignments and homework will be displayed on my webpage and you will have two
weeks in which to talk with me to make arrangement to make up your missed work.
Late Work
A Pink Slip will be issued for each piece of missing working. The missing work
plus the Pink Slip must be returned the next day to receive half credit. After
the missing work becomes a zero and no make up work will be accepted.
7th Grade Syllabus
Vocabulary
Using the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop you will be asked to learn 10 new
words a week and complete the corresponding flashcards and assignments for
homework.
Every Friday there will be a vocabulary quiz that will feature all 10 words.
In addition to weekly quizzes there will also be a Unit Test every 6 weeks
where 30 of the possible 60 words will be chosen.
Grammar
Each day there will be time devoted to grammar practice, which will be
completed in your Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 8 consumable book. These
books MUST be brought to class every day with the exception of Friday. Tests
will be administered at the end of each twenty-five day cycle.
Writing
In 7th grade language arts we will continue to build on your preexisting
writing skills by devoting time to reviewing expository writing, as well as
continuing to incorporate research and MLA formatting in all writing pieces.
We will also be focusing on a variety of key literary and poetry terms.
In Class Reading
This year in 7th Grade Language Arts we will be focusing on a variety of
literature pieces that correspond with topics and time periods covered in
social studies. We will also be covering topical selections from the
literature anthology.
The in class novels for 7th grade are:
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
General Class Rules and Expectations
Behavior and Ethics
For all my middle schoolers I expect that you treat one another with respect
and are kind and considerate to both myself as well as your fellow classmates.
Any form of intolerance displayed in the classroom will NOT be tolerated. I
also expect that you come to class prepared every day and while in class you
participate in the lessons.
Class Materials
Everyday you are required to bring your binder, grammar book, and the class
novel we are reading.
Absences
If you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in
class, as well as what you need to complete for homework. Both in class
assignments and homework will be displayed on my webpage and you will have two
weeks in which to talk with me to make arrangement to make up your missed work.
Late Work
A Pink Slip will be issued for each piece of missing working. The missing work
plus the Pink Slip must be returned the next day to receive half credit. After
the missing work becomes a zero and no make up work will be accepted.
8th Grade Syllabus:
Vocabulary
Using the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop you will be asked to learn 10 new
words a week and complete the corresponding flashcards and assignments for
homework.
Every Friday there will be a vocabulary quiz that will feature all 10 words.
In addition to weekly quizzes there will also be a Unit Test every 6 weeks
where 30 of the possible 60 words will be chosen.
Grammar
Each day there will be time devoted to grammar practice, which will be
completed in your Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 9 consumable book. These
books MUST be brought to class every day with the exception of Friday. Tests
will be administered at the end of each twenty-five day cycle.
Writing
In 8th grade language arts we will continue to build on your preexisting
writing skills by devoting time to expository writing, as well as continuing
to incorporate research and MLA formatting in all writing pieces. We will also
be focusing on a variety of key literary and poetry terms.
In Class Reading
This year in 8th Grade Language Arts we will be focusing on a variety of
literature pieces that correspond with topics and time periods covered in
social studies. We will also be covering topical selections from the
literature anthology.
The in class novels for 8th grade are:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Holocaust memoir/autobiography (student preference from pre-approved titles)
Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Patillo Beals
General Class Rules and Expectations
Behavior and Ethics
For all my middle schoolers I expect that you treat one another with respect
and are kind and considerate to both myself as well as your fellow classmates.
Any form of intolerance displayed in the classroom will NOT be tolerated. I
also expect that you come to class prepared every day and while in class you
participate in the lessons.
Class Materials
Everyday you are required to bring your binder, grammar book, and the class
novel we are reading.
Absences
If you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in
class, as well as what you need to complete for homework. Both in class
assignments and homework will be displayed on my webpage and you will have two
weeks in which to talk with me to make arrangement to make up your missed work.
Late Work
A Pink Slip will be issued for each piece of missing working. The missing work
plus the Pink Slip must be returned the next day to receive half credit. After
the missing work becomes a zero and no make up work will be accepted.