Mr. Visnosky: Sixth Grade Reading
Welcome Students and Parents
Thank you for visiting our class website. Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class. If you have any questions about our program or progress please don't hesitate to contact me!
Click HERE for tips on how to help your child with sixth grade ELA at home.
If you are interested in volunteering or helping out within the middle school, it is important that you join the Southern Columbia Middle School parent organization: S.M.A.R.T. For questions or information about S.M.A.R.T., you can contact the middle school office or follow S.M.A.R.T on Facebook and messenger. You can Search @SmartSouthernColumbiaMiddleSchool or use the link below to get involved!
S.M.A.R.T. Facebook Page
6th grade reading syllabus 2022.pdf
6th grade social studies syllabus 2022.pdf
Homework
Click on the link below for daily homework assignments and announcements concerning upcoming assessments.
Sixth Grade Homework Link
What is Happening
ELA grades will be determined by daily homework, reading logs, literature circles, written responses, papers, projects, and quizzes. All homework is posted online and is accessible via the homework link above. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me.
Welcome class of 2028! I hope everyone had a fantastic Summer. I look forward to teaching and engaging in the learning process everyone. This year your, 6th grade students will be learning how to read and analyze fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. The course materials for teaching these reading strategies includes: selections from our McDougal Littell Literature Reader, in class novels (Where the Red Fern Grows & Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry), and student chosen novels that are read and discussed during four rounds of literature circle jobs and meetings. Grammar and writing will also be a focus of the instruction. Students will improve upon their writing skills through various activities, grammar lessons, and creating several text dependent analysis essays.
Most weeks, students will read the literature reader story at least 3 times prior to the test. The first-time students read, they will be talking to the text and doing margin magnets. The second reading will focus on specific reading skills to help them become better at comprehension and analysis. The third reading will be with a partner, and offers an opportunity to share ideas and overcome any roadblocks they may still have. In addition to the weekly literature reader work, students are will work on reading logs for the first half of the year, and then participating in literature circle discussions during the second half of the year. Students will also have ongoing assignments on Study Island. If you would like more information on Study Island, please scroll down to the "Study Island" section of this webpage. If you would like more information on metacognitive logs, please read below.
Metacognitive Logs
Students are expected to read 100 minutes per week and log those minutes on a reading metacognitive log. Parents must sign to confirm the student is reading. After each 20 minutes of reading, students must complete a metacognitive log entry. Students should complete no less than 5 metacognitive logs per week to turn in for a grade along with the signed reading log. These will be collected every Friday.
Grading:
The reading logs are worth 20 points. 10 points for 100 minutes read and signed by an adult + 5 points for total completion+5 points for accuracy of entries. Click below for a copy of the log.
Metacognitive Reading Log.docx
Metacognitive Log Sentence Requirements.pdf
** For the second part of the year (beginning on February 6th) Metacognitive logs will be replaced by literature circle packets with a reading log. See "Student Projects" for more information on literature circles.
Student Projects
All student projects are graded with teacher made rubrics which students receive ahead of time. There are no student projects at this time.
AR Requirements & Rewards
All students are required to read 14 points per marking period. AR books should be 4th grade level or higher unless approval is given by the ELA teacher. You can use the AR Book Finder to identify the number of points and reading level of a book. Extra points do not carry over to the next marking period. Students can use the nonfiction articles provided in AR to achieve their points, but they must be 4th grade level or higher as well. The number of AR points earned each marking period will count as one - 100-point test grade using the grading scale below.
14 points = 100%
13 points = 97%
12 points = 94%
11 points = 90%
10 points = 88%
9 points = 85%
8 points = 82%
7 points = 79%
6 points = 76%
5 points = 73%
4 points = 69%
3 points = 64%
2 points = 53%
1 point = 50%
Rewards
*Dependent upon Covid Restrictions
Students can qualify for an AR party that is funded through SMART. We hold one AR party at the end of each marking period for students who read beyond the required reading. The point requirements increase each marking period. Books read for ELA class DO count toward AR grades and rewards.
AR PARTY REQUIREMENTS
Marking Period 1- - -25 AR Points
Marking Period 2- - -30 AR Points
Marking Period 3- - -35 AR Points
Marking Period 4- - -40 AR Points
Accelerated Reader Site
Username: 29 + First initial followed by your last name + @scasd.us (ex: 29rvisnosky@scasd.us)
Password: Lunch number followed by SCA (ex: 12345SCA)
Ebooks available to download for free:
Students may search and download books to read by using the link above. Students must enter the following information in order to download the books for free:
School: Hartman Elementary Center
User ID: 29 + First initial followed by your last name + @scasd.us (ex: 29rvisnosky@scasd.us)
Password: Lunch number followed by SCA (ex: 12345SCA)
StudyIsland ELA Practice and Remediation
Most students will log in using the information below.
Username: 29 + First initial followed by your last name + @scasd.ms (ex: 29rvisnosky@scasd.ms)
Password: Lunch number followed by SCA (ex: 12345SCA)
-Students will receive 10 points on all lessons they scored 70% or higher. Students will receive 5 points for 69% and lower. Students will be given 0 points for incomplete lessons and lessons not started.
IXL for ELA and Math
Most students will log in using the information below.
Username: 29 + First initial followed by your last name (ex: 29rvisnosky@scasd.ms)
Password: Lunch number followed by SCA (ex: 12345SCA)
-Students will be graded using the Smart Score. They willreceive 10 points on all lessons they scored a smart score of 90 or higher. Students will receive 8 points for a smart score of 80-89. Students will receive 5 points for a smart score of 50-79. Students will be given 0 points for incomplete lessons and lessons with a smart score below 50.
MobyMax ELA Practice and Remediation
Most students will log in using the information below. It is the same login they use for MobyMax Math.
Username: 29 + First initial followed by your last name + @scasd.us (ex: 29rvisnosky@scasd.us)
Password: Lunch number followed by sca (ex: 12345sca)
Students will receive 10 points on all lessons they scored 70% or higher. Students will receive 5 points for 69% and lower. Students will be given 0 points for incomplete lessons and lessons not started.
Book-Finding Resources
Looking for a good book? Try one of these tools:
AR Book Finder-A useful tool to search for AR books. This tool can search by genre, interest level, and book level.
Follett Destiny Library Catalog- Tool to search the Southern Columbia library for available books.
