Language Arts

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Language Arts

• Meredy Smith

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A little about me

• Bachelors degree from the University of
  Nebraska,
• and my Masters from NAU.
• Ive been teaching at Akimel A-al for 15 years.
• I am the Team Leader for 6A and the Gifted Mentor
  for Akimel A-al.
• I coach the high jump at DV and volleyball
  through the YMCA.
• I have a 6th grader and Kindergartner at home.
• My husband teaches and coaches at Altadena and
  also coaches at DV.

Go Huskers!
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Language Arts

• Grammar, test prep questions, journals
• Spelling/vocabulary practice- weekly Wednesday to
  Wednesday, test each week
• Reading Skills- read it and understand it
• Writing Skills- sentence structure, paragraphing
• Students are expected to hand write drafts AND
  edit/revise their own work. Adult help will come
  after the student process.

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Preparing for the future

• Critical thinking skills
• Written communication skills
• Informational reading skills

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Reading Skills

• Reading Process
• Vocabulary, fluency, comprehension
• Informational Text
• Expository, functional, persuasive
• Literary Text
• Genres, structure of stories

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Reading practice

• Homework is to read 20 minutes a night.
• Reading receipt is completed in class on Friday.
  Questions are posted on my web site.
• Practice, practice, practice. Read aloud, read
  together, read anything!
• Student should always have a book to read in
  his/her bag. It is worth a grade for Language
  class.

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Writing Skills

• Writing Process
• prewrite, draft, revise, edit, publish
• Writing Elements
• Six Traits
• Writing Applications
• Expressive, Expository, Functional, Persuasive,
  Literary Response, Research

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Doing it the right way

• Focus of a writing may only be on opening
  sentence or conclusion or voice.
• Students will do it until they get it right.
  Corrections and revisions are a must.

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Research Projects

• Research will be done at school, but you can
  always do more at home.
• Rough drafts, editing/revising, final copy
• Final copy- hand written in blue or black ink, OR
  typed
• Grading rubrics, directions and handouts will be
  on my web site.

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Typical Homework- YES, expect it.

• Read each night (20 minutes)
• Spelling/vocabulary practice
• -Due each Wednesday
• Grammar practice assigned early in the week- due
  later in the week
• Unfinished class work
• Occasional time for research if doing a project
• Book project

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Book Projects

• Books must be grade level or above. Required
  number of pages for each quarter.
• Student will sign in with the book and the
  project he/she has chosen.
• Project types, directions, and grading rubric are
  on my web site.
• Be sure to check that all directions have been
  followed.
• Due at the end of each quarter.
• Students will briefly share their projects with
  the class.

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Other fun stuff

• Skits and plays
• Commercials/Advertising
• Poetry
• Spelling Bee
• Game directions
• Word games/Brainteasers

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Thank you

• Class web site www.kyrene.org/staff/mporte
• The best way to contact me is through email
  mporte_at_kyrene.org
• 480-783-1601