6th Grade ELA 2015-2016

Ms. Mendler
(504) 301-1500 smendler@sbpsb.org

CURRICULUM
St. Bernard Parish uses a middle school English curriculum called Springboard. This rigorous curriculum is
aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and will provide students with opportunities to
strengthen their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills by working collaboratively with their peers.
The textbook for Springboard is a consumable textbook that will remain in class; however, parents and
students may access electronic copies of the textbook by going online at
www.springboard.collegeboard.com.
GRADING POLICY
1. A standard percentage scale will be used to determine students grades. The grades will be
weighted as follows:
15% Homework
20% Classwork
25% District Exam
40% Tests & Quizzes
100%
2. All assignments must be turned in ON TIME for the student to receive full credit.
3. Students are responsible for all assignments missed. When students return to school, they should
meet with the Absent Student Helper to get the information that they missed. Students have as many days
as they were absent to make up class work/homework. It is not the teachers responsibility to give
out or ask for missed assignments; students must take on that responsibility themselves!

HOMEWORK
1. If you would like to receive updates on assignments via text message please use your cell phone to
sign up for my Remind 101 alerts. Grab your cell phone and follow the instructions on the third
page!
2. I have a website on which I list the weekly homework assignments in addition to updates on what your
student is learning: http://mendler.weebly.com
Please note that there may be times when technology or scheduling prevents a timely text alert or website
update. These are meant to be supplemental tools for students and parents. It is ultimately the
individual students responsibility to record homework assignments in a school-issued agenda.
Students will receive homework regularly. It is the students responsibility to complete homework with
support from parents/guardians. Students will be sent to the Focus Room at lunch to complete
missed/incomplete assignments. After five times being assigned to Focus Room (from any class) a
student will receive either a Saturday detention or suspension. Please take an active role in
ensuring that your child is completing homework. Homework is not optional!
CLASS WORK
Every day, students may earn a total of five points for class work: one point for completing warm-up work,
one point for staying on task, one point for coming to class prepared, one point for participating, and one
point for showing effort. Therefore, twenty-five points are possible a week. Daily points will be added and a
weekly class work grade can be assigned based on the above grading scale.
ASSESSMENTS
Open-Book Assessments - Students will be tested on readings that have been reviewed in
class approximately every two weeks. These assessments will test students on concepts and
standards that have been taught in class.

 Embedded Assessments - The SpringBoard curriculum includes two embedded

assessments per unit. Embedded assessments are expository essays and narratives.
Mid-Unit Cold Read Assessments - Halfway through each nine-week period, students will
be tested on several new readings. The assessments are designed to track students progress
before each quarterly exam.
Quarterly Exams - Exams will demonstrate mastery of the standards taught throughout
the quarter. They are designed to prepare students for their annual standardized test, as yet to be
determined.
Accelerated Reader (AR) Assessments - Students are expected to have their own
independent reading book with them at all times. I will help student to find interest and level
appropriate books in the school library, or they may bring their own. Students must keep an inclass reading journal and complete at least one AR test every nine weeks. This will count as a test
grade.
SUMMER READING
Over the summer students had a choice of books to read prior to the start of school. The students must
take an A.R. test or turn in their writing assignment by August 28 th. The grade earned on the
A.R. test or writing assignment will count as a test grade.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
1. Verbal warning
2. Lunch Intervention
3. Parent phone call
4. After school intervention
5. Class II referral
Students will be rewarded for being respectful, demonstrating enthusiasm, achieving goals, displaying
citizenship, and
working hard. Rewards may include Student of the Week Award, positive phone calls home, colonel cash,
and raffle tickets. We will have a raffle every few weeks; prizes include: bathroom passes, homework
passes, computer passes. At the end of the quarter students can turn in unused passes for extra credit.
CLASS PREPARATION
Students are expected to have all required class materials every day. These are an independent
reading book, the required whole class reading book, a binder with four dividers, looseleaf notebook paper,
a pen with blue or black ink, a red pen and a yellow pocket folder (for homework). Should a student fail to
bring these required materials, students daily class work grade will be lowered one point.
Binder
Section
Section
Section
Section

Organization
1 - Warm-Up
2 - Tools & Notes
3 - Scholarly Writing
4 - Looseleaf Paper

BATHROOM PASSES
Students will be allowed to use a limited number of passes per nine-week period (to eliminate classroom
disruptions). Students must use their agenda books as their bathroom pass. If the student does not have
his or her agenda he or she may not use the restroom. See your Guide to Student Conduct. This is a
school rule.
Books Available for Purchase
The first book that we will read this year is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Every student will have the
opportunity to check this out from the school library, but if students would like to have their own copy, they
may bring in $7.00 by Friday, August 14th. Payments must be in cash. If you would like to order it on your
own, it is available on Amazon for $7.19.
Throughout the year we will have required reading books that are available from the library, but students
must return one required reading book before they can check out another. (They are allowed to check out
an additional self-selected book at any time). Students will be charged for books that are not returned to
the library, and they will be barred from extracurricular functions until those debts are paid in full. Please
emphasize to your child the importance of keeping up with library books. The books that we check out

from the library are NOT OPTIONAL. Students will use them for classwork, homework, and tests. I will
always allow students to purchase books at the lowest retail price available in advance of reading them if
they would like to have their own copies. I will let parents know when we are collecting money via text
alert and it will be posted on my website.

PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE PORTION BELOW NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, AUG. 14,
2015
After you and your parent or guardian have read the course syllabus & Ms. Mendlers policies, please
complete the information below and return this page only.
Student Name: ______________________________________________
Did a parent/guardian sign up for the text alerts?
___ Yes
___ No
What resources do you have at home? (Check all that apply)
__ Dictionary
__ Student has phone with internet access
__ Computer with Internet access
__ Parent has phone with internet access
__ Computer with working printer
__ Public library card (extra credit will be given).
What is the best way to contact parents/guardians?
Name of parent/guardian: _________________________________
Relationship to student: ___________________________________
__ Phone - Best phone number: ____________________________
__ Email - Email address: _________________________________
Is there anything that you feel I should know about your child as we begin the school year?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
My parent/guardian and I have read and understand the information on Ms. Mendlers 2015-2016 course
syllabus.

Students name (printed)

Students name (signature)

Parent/guardians name (printed)

Parent/guardians name (signature)

Date

Date