Ms. S. Rodriguez

Swift Creek Middle School

Course Syllabus

2013-14

Ms. S. Rodriguez-6^th Grade Language Arts Bridge to Advanced Placement

email: Rodriguezsh@leonschools.net

website:http://mssrodriguez.yolasite.com

Course Description:

Incoming Sixth grade Language Arts Bridge to A.P. students will concentrate on Common Core Standards which include Comprehension skills and Analysis of Literary Elements in fiction and non-fiction. Reading and Vocabulary development will be a large part of the curriculum. In addition, writing and the mechanics of writing will be emphasized along with expected mastery in grammar. Homework will be assigned as needed. Bridge to A.P. students will also be expected to complete four projects this year. One and possibly two projects will involve written annotations of literary elements in fiction, one will involve non-fiction genres, and one will be a poetry project. Throughout the year, Bridge students will take part in literature circles, academic discussions, and formal Socratic Seminars.

Students will read and write every day!

Common Core Standards: http://www.fldoe.org/BII/curriculum/SSS/

The following texts may include but are not limited to:

Number the Stars
A Wrinkle in Time
Holes
Einstein’s Refrigerator: and Other Stories from the Flip side of History by Steve Silverman (non-fiction)
SPRINGBOARD-The College Board’s official Pre-A.P. program
Literature Florida Edition Glencoe Publishing (fiction and non-fiction)
Elements of Literature Holt Publishing (fiction and non-fiction)
Best Short Stories Middle Level second edition, Jamestown Publishers

Late Work: Points will be taken off all late assignments the first semester. Be on time!
No late work will be accepted during the second semester.

v Grading Scale (I will round grades up):

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 0- 59

v Weighted Grades:

Major Projects & Assessments…………35%

Quiz Grades………………………..25%

Classwork ……………………………..15%

Homework ……………………….10%

Speaking/Listening/Group Participation.......15%

The teacher reserves the right to amend or adjust this syllabus as needed to accomplish the objectives and learning goals of the course.

This year we will have four major projects due each quarter. Due dates and specific instructions will be forthcoming.

First quarter- Annotations which include all the elements of fictional literature with extra credit offered for elaboration and citing allusion, irony, motif, symbolism, and foreshadowing on the novel Number the Stars .Due Sept. 26th, 2013
Second Quarter – Annotations (for those who did not score at least 85% o the first quarter project); Fictional Book Project (including the elements of fiction and an original visual) for those who scored a 90% or above.
Third Quarter- Literature Circles, Socratic Seminar, and novel studies
Fourth Quarter- Reading Comprehension; Close Readings; Socratic Seminars; Poetry Project which includes an original poem using techniques of poetry, a tech. visual (such as film or glog ) or art visual (painting; original piece of music to go with it; original dance, etc.).

In addition to our major projects, we will be using the Springboard text which is closely aligned with Common Core.