Welcome to Defender English-Language Arts
Homework due
February 6th - February 10th
Monday
Read 30 minutes (summary sheet due February 15th
Tuesday - Thursday
Read 30 minutes (summary sheet due February 15th)
January 30th - February 2nd
Monday
Review Direct and Indirect object worksheets in Language Arts folders (Test on 2/6)
Read 30 minutes for 3rd quarter summary sheet requirement (Summay sheet due date calender t/b/a)
Tuesday thru Sunday
Review Direct and Indirect object worksheets in Language Arts folders (Test on 2/6)--Study Guide will be sent home this week
Read 30 minutes for 3rd quarter summary sheet requirement (Summay sheet due date calender t/b/a)
Summary sheets for the 3rd quarter are due:
2/15
3/7
3/21
4/2
Homework due
Week of January 23 to January 27th
Monday
Finalize copy of short story. Use the peer edit sheet as well as you rubric and vocabulary worksheets--due 1/25
Read -- summary sheets for the 2nd quarter are due January 25th (no later!)
Week of January 17th to 20th
Tuesday
Finalize copy of short story. Use the peer edit sheet as well as you rubric and vocabulary worksheets--due 1/25
Read -- summary sheets for the 2nd quarter are due January 25th (no later!)
Wednesday - Friday!
Study Direct and Indirect objects for a test on February 1, 2012. Bring in the sports section of any newspaper (past or present) by Friday.
!
Monday
Read 30 minutes; last day to turn in summary sheets will be 1/25.
Tuesday
Read 30 minutes; last day to turn in summary sheets will be 1/25.
Wednesday
Read 30 minutes; add conflict to your short story draft. Label and submit 1/20.
Thursday
Read 30 minutes; Add conflict to your short story draft. Label and submit 1/20.
Last day for summary sheets for the quarter will be January 25th
Follow rubric and turn in final copy of short story on 1/25.
Friday
Read 30 minutes
Work on indirect and direct characterization (last opportunity to turn in this draft) due Friday
Work on adding "atmosphere" to your short story draft. This will be due on Tuesday of next week--please label.
Friday
No homework!
Week of 12/12 to 12/16
Monday--
Read 30 minutes--summary sheet is due 12/21
Tuesday
Read 30 minutes-summary sheet is due 12/21; Go onto the internet and google pro article on Pledge of Allegiance or against article on Pledge of Allegiance in schools. Bring in the article that you wish to use for your debate on Friday.
Wednesday
Summary sheet due in a.m.--Work on placing "atmosphere" into your drafts t/b/a; go onto the internet and google pro article on Pledge of Allegiance or against article on Pledge of Allegiance in schools. Bring in the article that you wish to use for your debate on Friday.
Thursday
Summary sheet due in a.m.--Work on placing "atmosphere" into your drafts t/b/a; go onto the internet and google pro article on Pledge of Allegiance or against article on whether or not the words "under God" is appropriate in the American Pledge of Allegiance or should it be eliminated? Bring in the article that you wish to use for your debate on Friday.
Friday
Review notes for CFA which will be on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
Week of 11/5 - 12/10
Wednesday
Direct and Indirect essay due
Read
**Due to an important family issue at home, I will be unable to stay on Wednesday. I will stay on Thursday afternoon instead. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Thursday
Read for 30 minutes; tomorrow will be the last day to turn in your direct and indirect copies of your short story. Please review your notes on direct and indirect characterization that we did in class--use the graphic organizer done in class as well to help you. I will be after school today for extra help.
Friday
No homework!
Week of 11/28 - 12/2
Monday
Read for 30 minutes-summary sheet due 11/30
Tuesday - Friday
Work on revising POV drafts and adding direct and indirect characterization to your drafts; due 12/5
Week of 11/21 - 11/23
Monday
Work on Point of View in short story due Wednesday
Tuesday
Work on Point of View in short story due Wednesday
Thursday - Sunday
Happy Thanksgiving Recess! Summary sheet due 11/30; POV draft to class on Monday if you did not turn it in on Wednesday.
Week of 11/14 - 11/18
Monday
No homework
Tuesday
Read 30 minutes; 1st summary sheet for the quarter is due on Wednesday during Learning Center
Wednesday
Work on critique of "The Grinch" due Friday, November 18th
Thursday
Work on critique of "The Grinch" due Friday, November 18th
Study for Adj. Adverb quiz on Friday, November 18th--see grammar notebook
Friday
Story focal point rewrite--please type due 11/21
Week of 11/7 - 11/11
Monday
Work on outline project due Wednesday
Tuesday
Work on outline project due Wednesday
Wednesday
Read 30 minutes first summary sheet due 11/16
Thursday
Read 30 minutes first summary sheet due 11/16
Friday
No school; no homework!
Summary sheets for quarter 2 will be due on the following dates:
(1) November 9th
(2) November 30th
(3) December 21st
(4) January 4th
Week of 10/31 - 11/4
Monday
Read; summary sheets due on Wednesday
Study for outline quiz due Wednesday
Tuesday
Read; summary sheets due on Wednesday
Study for outline quiz due Wednesday
Wednesday
Work on outline project
Thursday
Work on outline project
Friday
Catch up on reading for the 2nd quarter
Week of 10/24-10/28
Monday, 10/24
Read 30 minutes; last day for quarter 1 summary sheets will be 11/2
Haiku due for test grade tomorrow
Tuesday, 10/25
Read 30 minutes; last day for quarter 1 summary sheets will be 11/2
Wednesday, 10/26
Read 30 minutes; last day for quarter 1 s ummary sheets will be 11/2
Thursday, 10/27-
Friday, 10/28
Read 30 minutes; lasta day for quarter 1 summary sheets will be 11/2
Quiz on outlining 11/2--review notes (I will be after school on Tuesday for review)
Week of 10/17-10/21
Monday, 10/17
Read 30 minutes--3rd summary sheet is due 10/19--many students are behind in their summary sheets
Tuesday, 10/18
Reveiw notes for 5-paragraph essay and constructive responses for NECAP testing on Wednesday
Wednesday, 10/19
t/b/a
Thursday, 10/20
Read 30 minutes; last day for summary sheets for quarter 1 is 11/2
Bring in small pumpkin to paint in LC on Friday
Haiku supplies to school tomorrow--to be worked on in class. Haiku will be collected on 10/25 as a test grade. The theme is to write a poem that related to Halloween (incorporate nature and the senses into your poem).
Friday, 10/21
Read 30 minutes; last day for summary sheets for quarter 1 is 11/2
Haiku supplies to school tomorrow--to be worked on in class. Haiku will be collected on 10/25 as a test grade. The theme is to write a poem that related to Halloween (incorporate nature and the senses into your poem).
Week of 10/11-10/14
Monday, 10/10
No School
Tuesday, 10/11
Work on 5-paragraph essay due 10/14
Wednesday, 10/12
Work on 5-paragraph essay due 10/14
Thursday, 10/13
Five paragraph essay due tomorrow
Friday, 10/14
No homework
Week of 10/3 to 10/7
Friday, 10/7
P Revised Final CFA from last year will be due as a quiz grade 10/14 Revised Final CFA from last year will be due as a quiz grade 10/14
Pros and Cons about school uniform--website source--due Tuesday, 10/11
Thursday, 10/6
Pros and Cons about school uniform--website source
Revised Final CFA from last year will be due as a quiz grade 10/14 Revised Final CFA from last year will be due as a quiz grade 10/14
Tuesday, 10/4
Read--Summary sheet due on Thursday, 10/5
Monday
NECAP Packet and Journal entries due Tuesday 10/4 (complete whatever you did not finish in class today).
Week of 9/26 to9/30
Monday, 9/26
Read 30 minutes--second summary sheet is due October 5th
Grammar Bytes website to practice fragments and run-on sentences- quiz on Friday
Tuesday, 9/27
Read 30 minutes--second summary sheet is due October 5th
Grammar Bytes website to practice fragments and run-on sentences- quiz on Friday
Grammar worksheet due tomorrow
Wednesday and Thursday 9/28 - 9/29
Read 30 minutes--second summary sheet is due October 5th
Grammar Bytes website to practice fragments and run-on sentences- quiz on Friday
Study for grammar quiz on Friday
Finish 3 paragraph essay--due Friday for in-class peer editing
Week of 9/19 to 9/23
Thursday, 9/22:
Voice lesson: Fiction paragraph due.
Wednesday, 9/21:
Bring in the web address of a charity organization you feel connected to.
Week of 9/12 to 9/16
Monday, 9/12
ELA: Coats of Arms due
Week of 9/6 to 9/9
Friday, 9/9
ELA: Summer reading summaries & assignments
Thursday, 9/8
LC:
- Free/reduced lunch form
- Parent Acknowledgement Form (p. 13 of planner)
- Student information form - confirm or correct information
ELA:
- Syllabus - signed, with phone & e-mail, even if it is the same as last year
- Independent reading requirements - signed
- Materials for class: 1.5" binder, folder, independent reading book, 3-hole punch (at home)
Classroom Policies for Mrs. Powers' Classes
Quarter grades are determined by a combination of the following:
a. Homework, In-class assignments, and Journal Writing
b. Quizzes, Independent Reading, Spelling, and Vocabulary
c. Tests, Projects, Presentations, and Reports
All work that is missed due to absenteeism must be made up within a reasonable amount of time.
Quizzes, tests, and homework assignments must be made up within five school days. If you fail to make arrangements to make up missed work within this time frame, you will receive a zero for all missed work. Cutting class is a violation of school rules. You will receive a zero for any in-class work, quizzes, or tests missed as a result of cutting class.
Grading System:
1. Homework, Independent Reading (see independent reading handout), and Journal Writing Assignments
All homework assignments will equal 15% of your quarter grade.
All homework is to be completed at home and not during class time. If you are caught working on homework during class time, you will receive a "zero" for that assignment.
Homework is to be handed in on the date that it is due. Homework is checked for credit and reviewed the following day in class. Homework submitted one day late will be accepted for 50% credit, unless you have been absent. Homework will not be accepted more than one day late.
Credit for homework is assigned using the following grading system:
- Check plus = 100 (assignment neat and complete)
- Check = 80 (assignment neat and almost complete)
- Check minus = 50 (more than half of the assignment is not finished)
- If you are absent, assume that you have homework; call a friend in the class, see me, or go to skschools.net for your daily homework assignments. Remember, you should be reading at least 30 minutes each night.
- If you are found copying a homework assignment, you will receive a "zero".
- In-class assignments will be given frequently in class. These assignments are worth 20% of your grade for the quarter. They are used as part of your homework and class participation grade. If you are absent, they must be made up and returned within 5 school days. If not completed within this period of time, you will receive a "zero" for that assignment.
- Quizzes
- All reading, vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, grammar, and writing quizzes will equal 30% of your grade for the quarter.
- Class notes should be reviewed by the student on a nightly basis. Teacher has the right to give "prove you read it" quizzes based on previous homework assignments, class lectures, or class discussions.
- Tests, Projects, Presentations and Reports
- All tests, projects, presentations, and reports will be worth 35% of your grade for the quarter. Students will have fair warning of any test that will be given in this class. All test information will be posted on the board well in advance. Teacher will also verbally remind the students of when they will have a test.
- Students should expect to be attentive to this matter. Remember 80% of success is being there.
Independent Reading Policy
- The reading standard for Language Arts is that every student must read 25 books per year. You will receive a quiz grade for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd quarters for independent reading (30%). The 4th quarter will be counted as a test grade for the 25-book standard (35%). These grades will be recorded as a Language Arts grade.
- Your learning center teacher is the person responsible for your reading folder and your 25-book standard. All completed summaries must be given to your learning center teacher when completed.
- All books must be approved before you read them. If the content of the book you are reading is questionable, the following will occur:
- We will have one of your parents approve the book by initialing the reading summary sheet and/or writing an approval note that will be attached to the reading sheet. If the book contains material that is not age appropriate for middle school, we will ask you to submit a note stating that your child has permission to read the book in question. As a team, we would ask that you as parents consider that we are a middle school with younger students in the environment. We also have other parents who do not wish to have their child exposed to certain questionable material. It would be appreciated by the team if you could take into consideration the above concerns when your child selects his/her independent reading selections. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
- The procedures to have a book approved by me or your learning center teacher are as follows:
- You will fill out the information at the top of the summary sheet (quarter, pages, teacher/parent initials, your name, date, title of the book (properly executed, please), author, genre, etc.
- Approval of books must be done during homeroom or learning center or after school only.
Books that you read in your reading classes may be counted toward the 25 book standard. However, they will not count toward the 4 book minimum per quarter quiz grade.
“After considerable discussion, the [Language Arts Department] has decided that for grade 8, a book will need to be at least 600 pages in order for it to count for two books. Our goal is to encourage students to read more challenging books and de-emphasize “page-counting” (LA department meeting notes 9/29/06). As a result, "a book is a book is a book" is the standard, provided the book equals 150 pages.
- Summary sheets will be reviewed and collected by your learning center teacher. He or she will be the keeper of your independent reading folder until the end of the year. This folder is not to leave the classroom unless arrangements have been made between your learning center teacher and Mrs. Powers.
- Summary sheets are to be filled out during learning center reading days only, unless other arrangements have been made with those students who have IEP and PLPs and are not in learning centers to meet this requirement.
- History and Math text books will be counted as one book each toward your final standard grade. Please add them to the annotated book list—no summary needed.
- Students must read to their grade level—between grades 6-8 or higher, if possible.
- Summary sheets will be completed as follows:
- Your summary will be reviewed for content, detail, effort, and clarity demonstrated in writing the summary.
- Your learning center teacher has the right to have you resubmit summaries that do not demonstrate the above criteria.
- All sections of the summary sheet must be completed.
- You must give an explanation as to why you did or did not like the book. Yes and No responses are not allowed.
- Your summary sentences must have a subject, verb, and a complete thought with proper spelling and punctuation.
- The teacher reserves the right to deny approval of books that have been made into movies.
Quarter and final grading criteria
QUARTER GRADE |
YEAR END (25 BOOK STANDARD) |
4 books/quarter = 100 |
25 books = 100 |
3 books/quarter = 85 |
15 books = 85 |
2 books/quarter = 65 |
10 books = 65 |
1 book/quarter = 50 |
5 books = 50 |
No extra books from one quarter will be carried over to the next quarter; however, the more you read will improve your final standard grade at the end of the year. Summer reading credit will be applied to the 25-book standard in the fourth quarter. Please be sure to record on the summary sheet the number of pages the book contained before you submit for credit.
Comments, questions, or concerns regarding the reading requirement:
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