Welcome to Mrs. Barfield’s ELA Class! 

August 19^th – 23^rd 

Hopefully, everyone had a wonderful summer. I am looking forward to an amazing school year with you!          

My goal is to provide a safe and respectful learning environment where all students can be organized, self-motivated, responsible, and extremely successful! West Ridge teachers always have high expectations for all students, so from day one, we share organizational strategies and important suggestions for setting daily and weekly goals to be successful in middle school. All students will complete the beginning of the year 6th grade ELA benchmark test on Monday, August 21st and Tuesday, August 22nd. All literary elements, grammar and English skills will be taught as we read the novel and any additional unit texts. Please refer to the Hatchet calendar in Google Classroom for upcoming skills, assignments, test dates, etc…  

Students received a resource packet (SRP) for their binder this week and should PURCHASE an individual copy of HATCHET by Gary Paulsen for reading and annotating during class time. A “class set” copy may be used until a personal copy of the novel is purchased. You can purchase the novel online or at a local bookstore. Currently, Target (online) and Amazon offer the BEST price! 

Throughout the year, I hand out Scholastic flyers to take home. You may order at any time you want additional reading for enjoyment.  Orders will be shipped directly to school when you use my code below. Be sure you choose “Ship to the school”. I do NOT collect money for Scholastic book orders. Your parents will need to purchase online. 

                  Mrs. Barfield’s Scholastic Code: GK6TD

Novels/Books Required for reading in Ouachita Parish: 

• First nine weeks - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen  

• Second nine weeks - Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse 

• Third nine weeks - If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge 

We will read, analyze, and develop a more advanced understanding and interpretation of  a variety of literary sources, figurative language, literary elements, and strengthen test taking skills and reading comprehension. Composition of an essay (Culminating Writing Task)  for each unit will be required. Throughout each nine-week period, students will continuously work to gain and practice the writing skills necessary for the final writing task of the unit.  (See unit calendar in Google Classroom) 

Class Expectations/Rules 

1. Give 100% every day and have a positive attitude! 

2. Respect EVERYONE

3. Bring all materials to class daily 

( Chromebooks, reading binder, pens, pencils, etc…)

4. Begin work/bellringer as soon as you enter the classroom

5. Go to the restroom BETWEEN classes. Students will NOT be allowed to go during class time unless a doctor’s note is provided. 

6. NO cell phone use - Students must leave CELL PHONES and APPLE WATCHES off and inside their backpacks during instructional time. 

7. Water /Clear flavored water ONLY - You will be allowed to drink water during class. Other liquids are allowed if approved due to a medical diagnosis. 

8. Raise your hand to give a response or ask a question.  

9. Complete all assignments on time. Pay attention to DUE dates! If you are absent due to a doctor’s appointment or sickness, you will be given a specific number of days to complete the assignment. Late points will be deducted if the assignment is PAST the expected due date. A ZERO will be given if the assignment is NOT submitted within a specified time period. It is your responsibility to check your assignments daily. The ELA agenda/calendar for the entire nine weeks is posted in Google Classroom. Check TEACHER PAGES for any updates or changes to this calendar each week. 

10. Be KIND 

       *ELA class supply list is on a separate sheet and can also be found on my Teacher Page!

Conference Times/Contact Information

If you would like to schedule a conference, please call WRMS and ask for a counselor. They will schedule a conference time for you. 

Please email me if you ever have any questions or concerns. 

Emailing me is one of the best ways of communication throughout the school year! 

Jbarfield@opsb.net   

Weekly Agendas

Please check WRMS - Teacher Pages - for general announcements. A more detailed ELA calendar will be located in Google Classroom. 

Activities, tests, resources pages, practice work, links to websites or other activities will be posted in Google Classroom. Your child should be able to log in to Google Classroom easily so you can view their assignments, tests taken, etc…

♥️♥️♥️

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”    

~Theodore Roosevelt~