6th grade 3/11-3-15

Welcome to the NYS ELA Exam Boot Camp!

Looks like this but say 7th grade instead of 8th

The middle school English Department is swinging into full-gear for the next month to prepare students for the exam on April 16th, 17th, and 18th. There are many changes to the exam this year. The biggest change is that the test is now aligned to the new NYS Common Core Standards. Although we have aligned our curriculum this year to those same standards, we have read that this test will focus more on deeper reading skills then the tests that came before. The test is three days instead of two and there isn't a speaking/listening section anymore. Students will write two essays (extended responses) and 8-10 paragraphs (short responses). In addition, the reading passages will be "authentic passages" which I think means published writing instead of state created passages.

Since this exam seems to "kick it up a notch" I am doing the same in my classroom. It is essential that students come prepared to class with supplies like their notebook and pens. No more excuses for being unprepared! Student must complete classwork! Furthermore, student MUST BE COMPLETING THEIR ELA HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT!!!!! The assignments will help student practice the skills they learned in class that day as well as feel more confident on test day.

Homework will be in their Kaplan Advantage book that they signed out in November before break. It is orange colored with students on the front.

Monday 3/11

^{Kaplan Advantage}

 ^{pgs. 40-43}

Tuesday 3/12

^{Kaplan Advantage}

^{pgs. 30-33}

Wednesday 3/13

^{Kaplan Advantage}

<sup>pgs. 61-64

Tutorial Today for 6th grade 3:15 to 4:15pm</sup>

Thursday 3/14

Parent Teacher Conferences TODAY! 12:30-3pm, 5-7pm

Friday 3/15

HWK: Kaplan Advantage 35-43 Reading Non-fiction