6th Grade ELA 2025-2026 Assignments
- Instructor
- Mrs. Nickie Irby
- Term
- 2025-2026 School Year
- Description
-
Lake Middle School
August 4, 2025
Teacher: Mrs. Irby
Email: [email protected]
Welcome to 6th grade English Language Arts (ELA)/History
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is my pleasure to welcome your student to 6th grade. I believe that all students can learn and I look forward to the opportunity to serve your students. All students will write a variety of essays, complete projects, and book assignments. Essays must be completed during class. During the school year students will be required to read and take A.R. test on grade level books as well as assigned chapter books. They may read via Epic or hard copies from the library. Students must bring a hard copy to read in the mornings before school and when assignments are finished early. I do not assign busy work. They will be required to complete homework each night. This will not always be written homework. Students should read 30 minutes each day, which is the non written homework, including Saturday and Sunday.
I’m looking forward to a great year and seeing each of your smiles!!!
Class Rules…
- Raise your hand before speaking and leaving your seat.
- Listen and follow directions the first time given.
- Keep hands, feet, objects, and ugly remarks to yourself at ALL times.
- Come prepared to class.
- ALWAYS be respectful to EVERYONE!!
- No eating or drinking in the classroom. (You may only have a clear container with a lid that closes securely and you may only have water in that container, no labels on any bottles.)
- Turn in all classwork before leaving class. Classwork that is taken out of the room will result in a zero.
Consequences
- Redirect/Verbal Warning
- Parent Contact
- Discipline Note /Written Warning/ Student- Teacher Conference
- Office Referral
Entering the Class
- Students will enter class everyday on time, and quietly read the board as they take their seats. Follow board directions like having homework out and ready to turn in, having all materials needed for class, making sure pencils are sharpened, and/or etc.
Bell Ringer
- Bell Ringer or other assignment will be on the board every day when students arrive to class, report directly to your seat, read the board, and complete the assignment.
Binder
- Students need to bring their binder to class everyday.
- Binders will be checked periodically for neatness and retaining notes/handouts.
Group Work
- While completing group work students will be assigned different roles and be asked to work effectively and efficiently to complete the assignment. Students who do not complete their assignments will receive a 0 for the assignment.
End of the Class
- Table areas are to be left clean for the next period. I will dismiss students and not the bell. Assignments will be placed in the classwork basket as students exit the room.
Turning in Work
- Each paper you hand in will be neat, and contain your first and last name, date, and block number. Papers with no name will be thrown away.
- Students who are present and do not submit classwork, will receive a 0 for that assignment.
- All homework assignments need to be turned into the homework basket on the following day. Homework grades from that week will be averaged for a ONE homework grade given at the end of each week. Students may turn in homework up to 3 days late with a 10 point deduction for each day that it is late.
- Students who lose a copy will have 5 points deducted for a new copy.
- For every day a student is absent they will have a day to make up the missed assignments/notes. Students may come in during the activity period to complete make-up work. (activity period is P.E., band, or library)
- If a student is absent, it is *the student’s responsibility for obtaining missed assignments and notes from the teacher or another student. (*This is in the Scott County Student Handbook)
- ISS/OSS does not excuse a student from missing work.
GRADING SYSTEM
A standard numerical grading system is maintained in the SCSD. Grade frequencies are as follows: A = 100-90 B = 89 - 80 C = 79- 70 D = 69 - 60 F = 59 – 0
- Students will show academic integrity at all times. Any ideas/work that is handed in must be your own. This includes homework and assignments.
- Any assignment that has been copied from another student will be counted as a 0 in the gradebook and the parent/guardian will be notified. (no exceptions)
World History Class
- Students will complete IReady ELA twice a week during history class. These grades will be entered in the grade book as daily grades.
- During history, we will not only cover World History, but current events, geography, and U.S. History. We will complete projects for 9 wks exam grades.
RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY TO Mrs. Irby
Parents and students,
Please sign and return the following contract signifying your agreement and acknowledgement of the rules and procedures for Mrs. Irby’s class for the 2025-2026 school year.
I have read and understand the rules and procedures for Mrs. Irby’s class. By signing this contract, I acknowledge that I understand the rules and procedures set forth in this student contract and it is my responsibility to adhere to these guidelines.
Student Signature X __________________________________________ Date: __________
Parent/Guardian Name (Print) X___________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature X __________________________________________ Date: __________
RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY TO Mrs. Irby
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Upcoming Assignments
Due:
Announcement
Past Assignments
Due:
Newsletter
6th grade ELA April 27, 2026
.
It is important that you are here for the final
6 days of review before ELA state testing!!!
Due:
Newsletter
6th grade ELA April 27, 2026
.
It is important that you are here for the final
6 days of review before ELA state testing!!!
Due:
Newsletter
6th grade ELA April 13, 2026
.
It is important that you are here for the final
15 days of review before state testing!!!
Due:
Info
Due:
Homework
Due:
ELA Info
Due:
Class information
|
Dates |
Time |
Subjects Tested |
|
Friday, December 12 |
7:45 am |
Algebra 1 (8th) Benchmark |
|
Monday, December 15 |
7:45 am |
ELA (5th-8th) (Mrs. Irby) Benchmark |
|
Tuesday, December 16 |
7:45 am |
Math (5th-8th) Benchmark |
|
Wednesday, December 17 |
7:45 am-11:30am |
Science (5th and 8th) Benchmark |
|
11:30 am-3:00pm |
History (Mrs. Irby) Science, Cyber 1, Cyber 2, Writing (Exams will be project based) |
|
|
Thursday, December 18 |
7:45-9:45 am |
ELA (Mrs. Irby) |
|
9:45 am- 11:45am |
Math |
|
|
11:45 am- 1:45 pm |
Science |
|
|
Friday, December 19 60% day |
7:45am-11:45am |
Benchmark/Semester Exam Make-ups |
- Exemption Letters will go out on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
- Exemptions will start at 11:30 am on Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- All students are required to take the Benchmarks that they are scheduled to take.
- OSS students cannot be exempt from Exam/Project.
Due:
Class info
- HW for the week sent home on Tues.
- A.R. Deadline Dec. 12
- ELA Benchmark Dec. 19
Due:
Weekly info
Due:
9/22/25
September 22, 2025
Dear Parents,
We are coming to the close of the end of the first nine-weeks. We have been working really hard. Now we are gearing up for benchmark testing. Benchmark Tests are provided at the end of each nine-week in the following areas: English Language Arts, Math, and Science (5th and 8th grade). At the end of each year all middle school children in the state of Mississippi are required to complete a state assessment called MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) program. The test is essentially designed to measure your student’s growth from one to the next year. Our district has opted to complete a Benchmark Test to measure the student’s growth throughout the year leading up to the MAP assessment. Benchmark Tests mirror the state assessment in the variety of question types, answer choices, and rigor. The Benchmark testing schedule is included below. Students will take the test via Chromebooks in their homeroom class. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Please make sure your student has a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and is present daily.
Students who are present all three days will receive benchmark tickets which can be given to any teacher for a free 100.
Homework this week will be on benchmark study guides. We will work on them in class and at home. Monday- Thursday
Thank you,
Mrs. Irby
ELA Teacher
1st 9 Weeks History Exam Project: This project is being assigned: 09/23/2005
Due Date: 10/03/2025
The students are to choose one of these project ideas below for the exam:
Circle your choice: Sarcophagus (or) Mummy
The reason the project is not due for 2 weeks is because the projects are going to need enough time to dry before they can be turned in. This will be to keep the project from falling apart during transportation to the school. It can be turned in earlier than 10/03/2025 as long as the crafted piece is fully dried and completed per the instructions given below. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me via school status.
How to Make a Sarcophagus from a Shoe Box
Make a sarcophagus: A shoe box or similarly sized cardboard box serves as an ideal starting point, cutting down on the amount of building you need to do, but you could also make the coffin from scrap cardboard, card stock or construction paper.
Plain Shoe-Box Sarcophagus
Things You'll Need:
Shoe box Scissors Doll or action figure as mummy Pencil Tape
School glue Water Shallow bowl Paintbrush Markers or acrylic paints
Step 1: Flatten the Box
Deconstruct the shoe box, tearing or slicing apart glued seams to fold the cardboard flat. If the cardboard tears along the seams, it can still be used.
Step 2: Trace the Mummy
Set the mummy, doll or figure along the former bottom panel of the shoe box so the figure's feet touch the former narrow side flap. Trace loosely around the figure, mimicking the shape of many ancient Egyptian coffins. Keep the sides fairly straight and the head area slightly rounded; the traced shape should leave at least 1/2 inch space all the way around the mummy figure.
Step 3: Cut Out the Shape
Cut out the traced shape, leaving the bottom flat part -- near the feet -- attached to the flap that used to be a narrow side of the box.
Step 4: Cut Out the Sides
Cut the two former side panels -- the long sides -- out from what remains of the box bottom. Cut them along the seams where they meet the bottom of the box.
Step 5: Prepare for Assembly
Bend one long edge inward 1/2 inch on each of the long side panels, then do the same to one of the two short sides on each. Flatten the cardboard again and cut a fringe-like pattern every 1/2 inch or so up to the new folds. This fringe helps hold the finished coffin together.
Step 6: Start Shaping the Sarcophagus
Fold the flap up along the area designated as the foot of the coffin -- this is still in place from the original box shape. Hold one long piece of the cardboard vertically next to the flap as if reassembling a shoe box. The non-fringed long edge should face the top. Tape the cardboard fringe to the vertical piece near the foot, along the inside of the box. Do the same with the other piece of fringed cardboard.
Step 7: Finish the Coffin Shape
Bend each piece of the cardboard side walls to conform to the mummy cutout shape on the bottom so the fringed short edge bends and conforms to the flat vertical edge at the mummy's foot area. Tape the fringed tabs to the bottom of the sarcophagus, inside or outside -- whichever you prefer. Bend the two cardboard pieces around the head area of the coffin and tape them together to complete the coffin form.
Step 8: Decoupage the Coffin and Make a Lid
Trace the coffin shape onto the lid and cut it out 1/4 inch or so beyond the lines. Cover the entire outside of the coffin form with bits of torn, plain brown bags. Coat the back of each paper piece with equal parts water and school glue for a homemade decoupage medium. Cover the lid with the paper as well, adding longer strips to make the sides of the lid so the coffin lid fits the coffin much like the shoe box lid fit the shoe box. Allow the coffin to dry completely, with the lid off.
Step 9: Decorating the Sarcophagus
Add decorations to the finished piece such as copied hieroglyphics or your own fake hieroglyphics. Draw on or paint designs to mimic the look of actual ancient mummy coffins displayed in museums or pictured on history sites.
Tip:
The coffin or sarcophagus can be made out of card stock or construction paper as well -- whatever materials are readily available. Coating the finished piece with the paper bag strips turns it into papier mache, making it stronger and giving it a natural beige stone look. Crumple the paper first, if you like, for a wrinkly effect.
How to make a mummy project
For the craft project, start by molding air-dry clay into a mummy shape, or use a foil or doll figure, then wrap it with linen or cotton strips after coating it in glue or plaster bandages.
Craft Project Steps
- Create the Mummy Figure:
- Clay Method: Shape a long, body-like form out of air-dry clay, with a round head at one end.
- Foil or Doll Method: Use a small doll, or mold a human shape from aluminum foil.
- Prepare the Wrap:
- Cut white cotton, cheesecloth, or linen fabric into 2-3 inch strips for wrapping.
- Alternatively, use plaster bandages that are cut into strips, dampened, and applied to the form.
- Mummy the Figure:
- For Clay or Foil: Lightly brush the clay or foil figure with a mixture of glue and water, or with liquid glue to help the fabric strips adhere.
- For Plaster Bandages: Dampen the plaster bandage strips and apply them directly to the mummy form, smoothing them as you go to cover holes.
- For Fabric Wraps: Carefully wrap the strips diagonally around the figure, then in the opposite direction, to create the layered look.
- Dry and Decorate:
- Allow the mummy and its wrapping to dry completely.
- Decorate the mummy's body or its sarcophagus with paint, markers, or jewels to resemble Ancient Egyptian designs and hieroglyphs.
Student name: ____________________________
Parent Signature: ___________________________________
Due:
Newsletter
ELA CLASSROOM BUZZ September 15, 2025 BEnchmarks in 2 weeks
Due:
Newsletter
ELA CLASSROOM BUZZ August 18, 2025
Due:
Newsletter
6th grade ELA Aug. 11, 2025
A student should understand the meanings of grade appropriate Greek or Latin roots in order to use their meanings as a clue to determine the meaning of unknown words.
Example: aud means “hear”
The meanings of grade appropriate Greek and Latin affixes to use their meanings as a clue to determine unknown words.
Examples: -ible means “can be done” -ence means “state of” -ory means “quality of”