English Language Arts

6th Grade Sea Turtles

Contact Information
Instructor: Ms. Elaine Hughes
Email: elaine.hughes@cravenk12.org
Room #407
Telephone: 252-444-7200
Office Hours: 8:00 - 8:25 a.m, 10:15 - 10:45 a.m., and 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Welcome to 6th Grade! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and has come
back to school refreshed and ready to learn! We will be studying many concepts in
English Language Arts (ELA) this year, including reading different types of literature,
writing, grammar, and vocabulary.
Supplies
In order to be successful, be sure to have the following supplies. Some of these
items will be left in the locker to be used occasionally, while others will need to
come to class EVERY DAY*
3-ring binder*

Dividers and page protectors*

Plenty of notebook paper*

Composition book*

Pencils and/or pens*

Independent Reading book*

Index cards

Highlighters

Colored pencils

Earbuds or headphones

Class Novels
Throughout the year, we will be reading several novels. These novels will primarily
be read in class due to limited supplies. If you are interested in buying a copy for
home use, we plan on reading the following novels this year:
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (tentative)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (tentative)
If you have objections to your child reading certain novels on the list, an alternate
novel will be provided with accompanying work in such an event.
Tutoring
ELA tutoring is offered weekly on Monday afternoons from 3:45 - 4:30 p.m.
Students will be able to work on corrections, get clarification on confusing subjects,
study for tests and quizzes, or work on projects and essays if necessary. Please
have rides waiting along the curb around the back bus parking lot at 4:30 p.m.. (Do
not block the bus parking spaces please!)
Grades

Student grades will be split between three different categories: (1)classwork and
homework, (2)quizzes and essays, and (3)tests and projects. Items under classwork
and homework count once, quizzes and essays count 1.5 times, and tests and
projects count twice in the gradebook. Students are on a 10-point grading scale.
90 - 100 is A, 80 - 89 is B, 70 - 79 is C, 60 - 69 is D, and <59 is failing.
Late Work
Assignments are due on the due date, not after. For every day an assignment is
late, ten points will be deducted. I will accept missing work up to three days past
the due date. If there are extenuating circumstances, please speak to me privately
to arrange an agreeable solution.
Corrections
When corrections are allowed, please make sure to follow instructions for half credit
back. If corrections are not done as directed, no credit will be awarded. Corrections
can be done on tests, classwork and homework, essays, and projects, but will not be
accepted for quizzes (pop or scheduled).
On a separate sheet of paper
Write out entire missed question
Write out entire correct answer
Provide details/evidence if applicable
Staple corrections to the front of your original test
RAPP Format
Students need to construct answers using the RAPP format:
R - Restate the Question
A - Answer the Question in COMPLETE SENTENCES
P - Prove it with text (or details)
P - Proofread and edit
Read Theory
Read Theory is an online program used to promote reading comprehension in
nonfiction. Once we start the program, students will be gradually be required to
take a set number of quizzes per week as both classwork and homework.
Independent Reading
Students will be required to read 30 minutes every evening in their Independent
Reading book. Students may choose any book from my home, or my classroom,
school, public, or base library. Throughout the year, I would like students to choose
different genres of literature to read: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, etc.
Scholastic Book Orders
If you are interested in buying books and materials from Scholastic Book Clubs, our
classroom code is GKQ7H. Parents may order using a debit/credit card online or by
turning in money (check written to Scholastic - preferable) to Ms. Hughes to be
mailed. Flyers will go home monthly and will be ordered the last school day of
every month. This is a great way to read new books for Independent Reading time
and to get free materials for your classroom!

I know we are going to have a productive and fun-filled school year. I look forward
to getting to know each and every one of you!