Ms. Kaplan is beginning her 12th year of teaching 6th grade language arts and history. This year she is joining Synergy Kinetic Academy, where she will teach these subjects. She earned her B.A. in Child & Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University in 2004. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at a bulldog rescue and going to Disneyland and the beach. The document outlines her class materials, rules, grading policies, and words of wisdom for students.

1. MS. KAPLAN
6TH GRADE
LANGUAGE ARTS
& HISTORY

2. My name is Ms. Melissa Kaplan and this school year
marks my 12th year of teaching 6th grade! This
school year also marks my first year at Synergy
Kinetic Academy. I am very excited to join the
Synergy family!
Before joining Synergy, I taught 6th grade at a
middle school in LAUSD. Prior to that, I
volunteered at two different schools while
completing my B.A. at San Francisco State
University. I graduated from SFSU in 2004 with
honors and a degree in Child & Adolescent
Development, with a focus on school-age children
(K-8) & their families.
In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering with
Southern California Bulldog Rescue. Saving dogs
is my biggest passion outside of teaching! For
fun, I love going to Disneyland and the beach.
ABOUT ME

4. CLASS MATERIALS:
The supplies students are
expected to have in class
DAILY are:
2 blue or black ball point
pens; 2 sharpened pencils;
lined, 3-hole punched
standard size white binder
paper; student agenda;
colored pencils; binder
required by SKA (with
folders) and a free reading
book.
Inappropriate materials such as liquid white-out, permanent markers, nail polish,
make-up, toys,inappropriate magazines,and electronic games will be
confiscated. Certain items may require a parent conference in order for their
return.All books for class should be available as well.

5. CLASS RULES:
1. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

6. HOMEWORK
• Designed to prepare students for class assignments and/or extend learning
beyond the classroom.
• Students should expect some out-of-class work in the form of larger projects
or assignments to assess skills and knowledge over long-range time period.In
addition,much of your reading will be done OUTSIDE of class.

7. ASSESSMENT & GRADING
I do not give grades. Students earn grades. All work in this class is awarded
on a point system. The more points a student earns, the higher the grade
will be. Points are cumulative from the beginning of the semester. All work
counts toward the final grade. The following scale will be used:
Participation – 5%
Classwork – 10%
Homework – 10%
Assessments – 75%

8. EXTRA CREDIT
There is no extra credit!

9. LATE WORK
• Students must turn in a “MissingWork
Log” in lieu of the assignment.
• 10% of points deducted for each day late.
• Parents contacted on major assignments
OR when missing work exceeds three
assignments.

10. MAKE-UP WORK
• Responsibility of the student to check Agenda & “Make-up File” when absent.
• Work should be made up within one day for each class day missed.
• MAKEUP WORK MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN A GRADING PERIOD TO RECEIVE
CREDIT.

11. STAY IN TOUCH
WEBSITE
www.mskaplan.com
EMAIL
mkaplan@wearesynergy.org
CALL or TEXT
(213) 394-5704

12. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
You will enjoy your 6th grade year
MUCH more if you do what you need
to do, not the bare minimum!
COME TO CLASS READY TO WORK!

13. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
You are in middle school – you know you
should be putting your name on your work!
You will get marked down & I will not try to
figure out who it belongs to.

14. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
Your job is to learn.
My job is to teach. If
you are talking,
you’re NOT listening;
therefore, I’m not
doing my job.
Please, help me do
my job. I want what is
BEST for you!

15. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
If I catch you with your cell
phone out, you will receive
one warning. Then, I will
take it up and someone
from home will have to
come up and get it. I will
keep a log documenting
when I gave you a warning,
which you will sign. This way,
you can’t tell me I never
warned you. J

16. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
Don’t eat in my
classroom, unless I
give you the food
OR invite you to
have it.
I don’t want to clean
up after you. I’m
crazy like that…

17. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
You don’t have to like me, but you do have to be in here all year.
Let’s make the best of it.
Remember: Ms. K is awesome at acting foolish. J
It’s important to
remember: Whatever
you put out, you’re
going to get back.
If you act in a
disrespectful manner,
please do not expect
your teacher to sit
back, take it, and ask
for more.

18. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
I don’t know you’re not getting
it if you don’t tell me!
Please
ask me
for help!

19. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
I call, email, “run
into” on purpose,
text, or write
notes home.
I WILL let your
people know what
you are or are not
doing.

20. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
I will let you leave
the room, but you
must follow the
restroom
procedures of SKA.
If I need to be in class, you do too! Please
make an effort to use the bathroom during
break and passing time.

21. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MS. K
DO
YOUR
WORK!
The biggest reason why students fail is
because they don’t turn in their work.