FAQ: Grading, Retakes, and Procedures 2019-2020

The time is approaching for our first progress report. There may be several questions on your mind regarding the scores that you will see on your learner's progress reports. Here are some questions that you may have when your student brings home his/her progress report.

What exactly does mastery of standards mean? All scores identify the level of mastery that an individual student reaches for each of the 6th grade standards. That means that as we practice with standards throughout the year, students work towards one-hundred percent mastery for each standard. Grades are not compensation for effort put forth but a communication of where he/she currently is on the learning continuum for each standard.

Where are the assignments listed for each grade? Because students are graded on standards, you will see the standard identified for each "assignment." There will also be an indicator as to the specific task, activity, or project for which a score was taken.

My student scored low on a practice assignment or assessment. Can they earn some extra credit? Learners are being graded according to their level of mastery of the 6th grade ELA standards. Extra credit gives inaccurate data on where a child stands in their learning. However, students can continue to work towards mastery of the standards. If a student would like to take the time to reflect on their progress, complete a retake contract and make arrangements to retake an assignment, they are welcome to do this up until the deadline for a specific project or 10 days before the end of a grading period, depending on the assignment. 
 

For our students, part of being in middle school is learning how to take responsibility for their actions. Although, I will work with all students diligently in class and encourage each one to take advantage of all the additional learning opportunities, it is ultimately each individual student's responsibility to fill out a retake contract, meet with me one-on-one, take time to relearn through the plethora of opportunities, and make arrangements to complete a retake.

(You can find the Sixth Grade Reflect, Relearn, Retry contract here: http://bit.ly/RetakeContract1920 . While other sixth grade teachers may use this contract, please be aware that each individual teacher may make slight alterations to this contract and its procedure. For our class, students wishing to retake an assessment must complete the contract, meet with me, and retake their assessment within five school days of a grade being posted.)

How are scores determined on retakes? Students will keep the score that demonstrates the highest level of mastery. In iNow at Home, when you sign-in, you will see the scores noted for each of the attempts. However, only the highest score will be the one that counts towards a final average.

How does my learner know how to improve? For every assignment, I provided detailed feedback on how he/she can improve. In their blog posts, I will leave private comments that are only viewable to that student with specific information regarding their level of mastery and areas they may need to grow. In their Google Drive, I will leave feedback through comments. In all cases, students are also given resources and tips on how they can continue to grow in that area.

Hopefully, these have addressed any questions you may have had in regards to your learner's grades including what they can do to continue to grow. Using these procedures, my students always have an extremely successful school year filled with exponential growth...and a lot of fun along the way.

Building a Culture of Reading 2019-2020

Throughout the school year, in our English Language Arts class, we will be reading a wide variety of texts across many different genres. Typically, we will have an ongoing genre study. In today's digital society much of our reading is moving to a digital format. That being said, I realize that many of my learners have devices where they can read a digital version of the books. This is not mandatory, but it would give your student the opportunity to notate in his/her eBook as students work to demonstrate reading mastery through the books that they choose to read.  Similarly, if your student would like to have his/her own print copy of the book, that would be great as well. Although this is not a requirement, having a personal copy in print or digital format would give students an opportunity to have the same text at home and school with their specific notes.

The first literature study in which we will be engaging is realistic fiction. Students will participate in a "book tasting" of highly recommended books in order for them to select a text of their choosing. This is a powerful way for students to demonstrate mastery of reading standards on a text that is of interest to them.


Research has proven that the best way to become a skilled reader is to read. This year, students have the reading goal of reading 40 "new to them" books across different genres. Each night, students need to spend 20-30 minutes reading. These books can be checked out from our class library, our school library, or the local, public library. All TCS students also have access to Sora, an app that gives students FREE access to digital and audio books from our district and the Tuscaloosa Public Library. Students will keep a record of these books in their ELA comp book, use them to show mastery of the standards and skills we are learning in class, and engage in book chats and book reviews with peers, locally and globally.

RamsaysClass on Social Media 2019-2020

Research has proven that one of the most powerful learning tools for middle level students is the ability to socialize. We are fortunate to live in a time that provides us with the opportunity to learn from anyone, anytime, and in any place. In our digital world, social media is extremely prevalent. It is imperative that students learn how to make safe and wise choices when they interact online.

My goal is to prepare them for their lives outside of the classroom walls in today's digital world. We will spend the beginning of the school year learning about netiquette, online safety, and cyber bullying. The students will be developing lifelong habits while in the safety of the classroom. Just like we wouldn't ban pencils from the school if one student writes on the restroom wall, we do not want to prevent students from expanding their horizons by supporting their learning using tools which can broaden their horizons and cause them to take ownership of their learning journey.

With that in mind, our class will be connecting with students, authors, and experts from all over the world through our class Twitter and Instagram accounts, @RamsaysClass.

Through our use of these tools, under my close supervision, you also will gain a peek into our daily activities. Please be aware that I am the only one with access to this account. I will approve and monitor everything that my students tweet out and post as well as anything that other students, authors, and experts tweet or post to us. These are powerful tools where students can reflect on their learning, compose stories, participate in book chats, write poetry for an authentic audience, set academic goals, connect with authors, share their insights, and interact with other students for deeper understanding of content.

This is my eleventh year to use Twitter with my classes and my seventh year to use Instagram. It is always astounding how much learning is generated in using these simple tools. We hope you will join us in our learning journey this year as we tweet and post away.

ELA Syllabus, Expectations, and Practices 2019-2020

Below you will find the link to our 2019-2020 Class Syllabus. This includes information on our learning and grading practices, procedures and expectations.

An online version can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/RamsaySyllabus2019 

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Welcome to Sixth Grade 2019

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to sixth grade! I am your English Language Arts teacher. I am a twenty-five year
teaching veteran, educational author, writer, and National Board Certified Teacher. I
have been eagerly anticipating the beginning of a new school year with you; one that
I am confident will be highly successful. My class is a student-directed learning
environment where students have a voice and choice in their learning with the support
and guidance from me that each student needs, wherever they are on the learning
continuum. Every practice in which we engage is supported by proven research for
best practices in promoting the highest level of success for each student.

Many of the traditional teaching methods that you may have experienced in the past
will look different than the practices in our class. Much of our learning will take place
with the support of digital tools using digital age literacy to increase a student’s growth.
My students will be connected with students from around the world to collaborate,
connect, and learn with throughout this entire school year. Although our learning
may appear different, students will be held to high expectations and challenged
on whatever level they may be on in each of the content area standards. In this type
of environment, students take ownership of their learning. I feel very fortunate to
get to witness how each student blossoms and grows in this type of learning environment.

In order for our students to have the highest degree of success, I know that we
need to build a strong relationship between home and school. I have arranged
several different mediums where we can communicate, and you can stay informed
of our classroom learning activities. First, we have a class website, 
http://ramsaysclass.com/. This site contains important information about
procedures, routines, and units of study. As school begins, additions will be made.
For classroom activities and news, you can visit our class blog,
http://ramsaysclassblog.blogspot.com/, where we will post more specific activities,
giving you a window into our classroom. I will write the first several posts, but then
the students will take ownership in writing and publishing the blog posts, under
my guidance. Please take time to sign up for
alerts when a new blog is posted by filling in the “Follow RamsaysClass by Email.”
I know that you will not want to miss any of the exciting things going on in our
class. Also, for a further connection, please consider following our class on
Twitter and Instagram, @RamsaysClass, for current insight into not only
announcements, but also into the learning that is taking place in our classroom
and through our global connections. 

I realize that for many of us our prime source of communication is through
text messages. This year we will be moving to new communication platform
called Class Tag. Look for more information on that coming home soon.

I deeply value your expertise on your student. In an effort to increase my
knowledge of your student and to effectively plan instructional practices
to support his/her learning, please take a moment to complete the following
survey:http://bit.ly/RamsayELA19. Collaboratively, I am confident that
we can provide your student the most successful year possible. I am thrilled
as we embark on this epic learning adventure together!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ramsay, NBCT
jramsay@tusc.k12.al.us

Flipgrid Book Chats 2019

Flipgrid Book Chats

For our Free Reading Fri-Yay book chats, we are going to begin using Flipgrid, a student-friendly curation tool. Every three weeks, students will shoot a short 90 second video using his/her Chromebook. In the video, learners will select a favorite book that he/she has completed in the last month. In the video, he/she will create a book teaser where he/she gives a brief (and exciting) overview of the book. They need to be sure to "sell" it to their classmates.

This should also include a recommendation of  who would enjoy reading this recommended book. You may not create book chat videos of the books that have been part of our literature groups or that we have read as an entire class. (See list below)

Books that may not be included in the Flipgrid Book Chats

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by  James Patterson

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones

January-February 2019 Important Dates

Important Dates in January and February

1/11 One Word Presentations
1/11 Report Cards

1/17 Lunch & Learn

1/21 No School

1/23 Lunch & Learn
1/23 Flipgrid Book chats due
1/25 Bring headphones or ear buds

1/31 Lunch & Learn

2/5 Lunch & Learn
2/6 Makerspace plan due

2/8 Progress Reports
2/12 "How To" facts are due (rubric)

2/13 Lunch & Learn
2/13 "How To" glossary due (rubric)
2/13 Flipgrid Book chats due
2/14 "How To" project item due (rubric)
2/15 "How To" conclusion due (rubric)
2/15 Bring headphones or ear buds

2/18-2/19 No school

2/20 Lunch & Learn
2/21 Final "How To" project due (rubric)
2/22 Makers' Faire

2/28 Lunch & Learn

Please check back regularly as these will be updated.
Updated 2/5/19

Spirit Week 2018

October 22-26 is Northridge Middle School's Spirit Week. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing up each day with the following themes. House points will be awarded to students each day they participate. Let's show our Jaguar Spirit. Go Jags!

Monday: Galaxy Day

Tuesday: Rock Out Day

Wednesday: America Day

Thursday: Holiday Day

Friday: Country Day

October Important Dates 2018

October Important Dates:

(The narrative writing project is completed in Google Drive. Students will be receiving ongoing feedback in Google Drive.)

10/8-10/9- No school

10/11- Characterization of protagonist and antagonist due (part of narrative writing project; rubric)

10/12- Creation of setting due (part of narrative writing project; rubric)

10/12- Realistic Fiction Book Groups completed

10/16- Outline of narrative plot and identification of theme due (part of narrative writing project; rubric)

10/19- First draft of narrative project due (part of narrative writing project; rubric)

10/26- Sixth Grade: Creepy Science
10/30- Published narrative due (part of narrative writing project; rubric)

10/31- All Hallows Read
11/1- CSI: Hogwarts (investigating evidence and composing a strong argument)
11/2- Reading Carousel to share published narratives

*Updated 10/18/18

FAQ- Grading, Retakes, and Procedures 2018-2019

The time is approaching for our first progress report. There may be several questions on your mind regarding the scores that you will see on your learner's progress reports. Here are some questions that you may have when your student brings home his/her progress report.

What exactly does mastery of standards mean? All scores identify the level of mastery that an individual student reaches for each of the 6th grade standards. That means that as we practice with standards throughout the year, students work towards one-hundred percent mastery for each standard. Grades are not compensation for effort put forth but a communication of where he/she currently is on the learning continuum for each standard.

Where are the assignments listed for each grade? Because students are graded on standards, you will see the standard identified for each "assignment." There will also be an indicator as to the specific task, activity, or project for which a score was taken.

My student scored low on a practice assignment or assessment. Can they earn some extra credit? Learners are being graded according to their level of mastery of the 6th grade ELA standards. Extra credit gives inaccurate data on where a child stands in their learning. However, students can continue to work towards mastery of the standards. If a student would like to take the time to reflect on their progress, complete a retake contract and make arrangements to retake an assignment during Lunch and Learn, they are welcome to do this up until the deadline for a specific project or 10 days before the end of a grading period, depending on the assignment. 

I have at least one Lunch and Learn session a week where I conduct mini lessons for students who feel they

need additional assistance in a standard. These are in addition to the small group lessons that I conduct during class. Students are also given access to additional study materials that they can use at home. In case you are wondering, yes, all of these instructional supports have been available and provided for your students since the beginning of the school year. All of these avenues have been thoroughly and explicitly explained to all of my students on multiple occasions.

For our students, part of being in middle school is learning how to take responsibility for their actions. Although, I will work with all students diligently in class and encourage each one to take advantage of all the additional learning opportunities, it is ultimately each individual student's responsibility to fill out a retake contract, meet with me one-on-one, take time to relearn through the plethora of opportunities, and make arrangements to complete a retake.

(You can find the Sixth Grade Reflect, Relearn, Retry contract here: http://bit.ly/RetakeContract1819. While other sixth grade teachers may us this contract, please be aware that each individual teacher may make slight alterations to this contract and its procedure. For our class, students wishing to retake an assessment must complete the contract, meet with me, and retake their assessment within five school days of a grade being posted.)

How are scores determined on retakes? Students will keep the score that demonstrates the highest level of mastery. In iNow at Home, when you sign-in, you will see the scores noted for each of the attempts. However, only the highest score will be the one that counts towards a final average.

How does my learner know how to improve? For every assignment, I provided detailed feedback on how he/she can improve. In their blog posts, I will leave private comments that are only viewable to that student with specific information regarding their level of mastery and areas they may need to grow. In their Google Drive, I will leave feedback through comments. In all cases, students are also given resources and tips on how they can continue to grow in that area.

Hopefully, these have addressed any questions you may have had in regards to your learner's grades including what they can do to continue to grow. Using these procedures, my students always have an extremely successful school year filled with exponential growth...and a lot of fun along the way.

Lunch and Learn 2018-2019

We know that every student will not be in the same place on the learning continuum at the same time. Students need different supports and challenges based on their individual, specific learning needs. Therefore, once a week I will hold a Lunch and Learn where students can bring their lunch to my classroom to receive extra assistance from me. This time can also be used as additional time to work on class projects or retake assessments (more information on this in a blog post coming soon). Experience has shown that this time is a beneficial tool in a student's learning tool box.

Rocking Reading Around the Clock 2018-2019

Throughout the school year, in our English Language Arts class, we will be reading a wide variety of texts across many different genres. Typically, we will have an ongoing literature study. In today's digital society much of our reading is moving to a digital format. That being said, I realize that many of my learners have devices where they can download an eBook version of the books that we will read in class. This is not mandatory, but it would give your student the opportunity to notate in his/her eBook as we read through the books in class. Similarly, if your student would like to have his/her own print copy of the book, that would be great as well. Although this is not a requirement, having a personal copy in print or digital format would give students an opportunity to have the same text at home and school with their specific notes.

The first book we will read is Ghost by Jason Reynolds. Simultaneously, students will be reading a partner text of their choosing. This is a powerful way for students to demonstrate mastery of reading standards on a text that is of interest to them.

In addition to our whole group literature, genre, or text studies, students will continue to read something of their choice. Every night, students are expected to read. Students may bring print or digital versions of whatever they are reading to class as each student strives to grow as independent readers. Each Friday, we will celebrate with some time designated as Free Reading Fri-Yay. Each week, students will have book chats where they do a 60-second share of a great book they have completed reading. Also, they will be creating fun, mini-projects in class to share their favorite reads. 

Be sure to watch for further details on our reading activities on this blog, our social media tools (@RamsaysClass), and our class Remind. Until then, happy reading!

Our Bring Your Own Device Practices 2018-2019

I wanted to make all of you aware of the digital device policy for my 6th grade ELA class. My students  are allowed to bring their digital devices to class to use for educational purposes. That includes devices such as smart phones, iPod Touches, Kindles, iPads, tablets, Nooks, or laptops. These devices need to be internet capable.

Because students will not be receiving 1:1 Chromebooks until later in the school year, in our classroom, we will use digital tools on a regular basis to support individual student learning. Outside of my classroom are three signs. The green sign is "ROCK IT." When students see this sign, that means that there is something waiting for them to do with their devices upon entry into the classroom. The yellow sign is "DOCK IT." For "DOCK IT," students need to bring their devices to class, but place it facedown (or closed) on their desk until instructed to use it. The red sign is "LOCK IT." That means that students need to keep their devices in their locker for that class period. 

If your student brings his/her device to school, please remember that he/she must take responsibility for it. 

In our class, we will use devices for different types of assessment (formal and informal), writing, publishing, communicating, creating, and collaborating. It is exciting when students learn how much the tools that they use in their everyday lives can positively impact and support their learning.

RamsaysClass on Social Media

Research has proven that one of the most powerful learning tools for middle level students is the ability to socialize. We are fortunate to live in a time that provides us with the opportunity to learn from anyone, anytime, and in any place. In our digital world, social media is extremely prevalent. It is imperative that students learn how to make safe and wise choices when they interact online.

My goal is to prepare them for their lives outside of the classroom walls in today's digital world. We will spend the beginning of the school year learning about netiquette, online safety, and cyber bullying. The students will be developing lifelong habits while in the safety of the classroom. Just like we wouldn't ban pencils from the school if one student writes on the restroom wall, we do not want to prevent students from expanding their horizons by supporting their learning using tools which can broaden their horizons and cause them to take ownership of their learning journey.

With that in mind, our class will be connecting with students, authors, and experts from all over the world through our class Twitter and Instagram accounts, @RamsaysClass.

Through our use of these tools, under my close supervision, you also will gain a peek into our daily activities. Please be aware that I am the only one with access to this account. I will approve and monitor everything that my students tweet out and post as well as anything that other students, authors, and experts tweet or post to us. These are powerful tools where students can reflect on their learning, compose stories, participate in book chats, write poetry for an authentic audience, set academic goals, connect with authors, share their insights, and interact with other students for deeper understanding of content.

This is my tenth year to use Twitter with my classes and my sixth year to use Instagram. It is always astounding how much learning is generated in using these simple tools.. We hope you will join us in our learning journey this year as we tweet and post away.