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6th Grade ELA 2025-2026

Course 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


  



Upcoming Assignments See all

Due:

Newsletter

 ELA CLASSROOM BUZZ                                         September 15, 2025             BEnchmarks in 2 weeks

Homework: Read nightly for 20 minutes

Vocabulary practice is on Quizlet

Monday: Standard practice & Study Voc.

Tuesday:  “Art for Arts Sake” & study voc.

Wednesday: no written hw  

Thursday: “Measuring Time”

Friday: Read 30 min & Study for the vocabulary test on Wednesday 9/17 on all 45 words


Text: Bad Boy


Assessment: ELA Benchmark Sept. 30, 2025

Essay Every Wednesday Test Grade

Wholistic Test III

9/17 Voc. Test on all 45 words


Standards : 

I can analyze how a key event, individual, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated on in a text.

I can explain the author’s meaning when given figurative and connotative words and phrases. 

I can understand the effect of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. 

Grammar basics on sentence structure, punctuation, spelling rules, synonyms, meaning of suffixes, prefixes, root words, etc

 

Bellringer: Meaning of  vocabulary and phrases in context;

  Example. Mr. Goya’s disquieting cold symptoms forced him to step out in the hallway repeatedly during class.

 Example. Knowing that he who pays the piper calls the tune, Dad ordered for everyone at the restaurant table.

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” 


World  History

Ancient Civilizations: Egypt

We will study history MWF. 

We will study IReady T-Th.

No homework 

We will continue to have these words throughout the year.

Academic Vocabulary

                 Vocabulary Test Wed.,Sep. 17, 2025

1. Analyze – To carefully examine parts of a text to understand how they work together.

2. Key Individual – An important person in a text who has a major role in the events or ideas.

3. Key Event – An important happening that moves the story or text forward.

4. Key Idea – A main thought or message the author wants you to understand.

5. Introduced – When a person, idea, or event is first brought into the text.

6. Illustrated – When something is explained or shown using details, examples, or visuals.

7. Elaborated – When an author adds more details to make an idea clearer or stronger.

8. Anecdote – A short, true story used to make a point.

9. Statistic – A fact or piece of information shown with numbers.

10. Quotation – The exact words taken from a person or text.

11. Important Date – A specific time in history that has significance in the text.

12. Plot- on the list below

13. Character – A person, animal, or figure in a story.

14. Action – What a character does in the story.

15. Setting – Where and when a story takes place.

16. Tone – The author’s attitude toward the subject (serious, funny, hopeful, etc.).

17. Mood – The feeling a story creates for the reader (scary, exciting, sad, etc.).

18. Character Shift – When a character changes in feelings, thoughts, or actions.

19. Climax – The most intense or exciting moment in a story; the turning point.

20. Resolution – How the story’s main problem is solved or ends.

21. Rising Action – The events leading up to the climax, building suspense.

22. Falling Action – The events after the climax that lead to the resolution.

(2nd vocabulary test)

1. Theme: The main message, lesson, or moral the author wants readers to learn from a story. 

2. Central Idea: The most important point or focus of a text (what it’s mostly about). 

3. Convey: To communicate or make an idea known through words, actions, or details. 

4. Details: Pieces of information (facts, examples, or descriptions) that support the main idea. 

5. Particular Details: Specific details that help readers understand exactly what the author means. 

6. Word Choice: The author’s selection of words to create meaning, tone, or mood. 

7. Plot: The sequence of events in a story (beginning, middle, end). (what happens).

8. Figurative Language: Words or phrases that go beyond their literal meaning (examples: simile, metaphor, personification). 

9. Summary: A short retelling of the most important ideas and details in a text, written in your own words. 

10. Distinct: Clearly different or separate from others. 

11. Fact: A statement that can be proven true. 

12. Opinion: A statement that shows what someone believes, thinks, or feels. 

13. Judgment: An opinion or conclusion formed after considering facts and evidence. 

14. Inference: A conclusion you make based on evidence in the text plus your own knowledge. 

15. Author’s Purpose: The reason why an author writes a text (to inform, entertain, persuade, or explain). 

16. Read Closely: To carefully examine a text to understand its deeper meaning.

17. Annotate: To add notes, highlights, or comments to a text while reading to show understanding and track ideas.

     S C H O O L  B U Z Z 

  • 9/16 Volleyball @ Newton 4:30
  • 9/16 LMS Football @ Sebastopol 6:00
  • 9/18 Volleyball @  Scott Central 4:30
  • 9/19 Football: LHS @ Choctaw Central

 

 

 



First Vocabulary Test

1. Cite/Citation: To mention (something) especially as an example or to support an idea or opinion. In the context of RI.6.1, pinpointing specific text examples, details, or evidence.

2. Textual Evidence: Information directly taken from a text to support a claim or understanding.

3. Explicit: Information stated clearly and completely in the text. Often described as "right there answers" found directly in the text.

Implicit: Understood but not clearly or directly stated in the text; requiring the reader to infer or "read between the lines".

4. Infer/Inference: To reach a conclusion or make a logical assumption based on known facts or observations from the text, combined with one's own knowledge.

5. Analysis: The process of breaking down a text into smaller parts to examine them closely and understand their relationship to the whole. In RI.6.1, this applies to the information explicitly stated and the inferences drawn.

6. Support: To provide evidence, reasons, or examples to back up a claim or analysis. 




 Benchmarks in 2weeks