8
thGrade English
2013-2014
Teacher’s Name: Ms. Jessica Fuentes Classroom phone: (517) 925-5398
Contact Times: 2nd hour 8:30 a.m.- 9:25 a.m. or 2:35 to 2:50 p.m.
Website: http://fuentes.glcomets.net
Email: [email protected]
Purpose/Course Description: Students in 8th grade English will read and respond, orally and in writing, to a wide range of literature, including such genres as: the short story, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. During the year, students will become familiar with the terminologies and characteristics of each. Students will write throughout the year for a variety of purposes and audiences including realistic fiction, argumentative writing, and research writing. The writing process will be emphasized as students pre-write, draft, revise and publish their various pieces of writing.
Textbooks Used and Other Sources:
Elements of Literature Second Course: Holt Reinhart, Winston Novels
The Pigman
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry The Giver
Methods of Instruction:
Lecture, writing workshop, oral question/answer practice, discussions, readings, partner and group work and listening comprehension exercises.
Types of Evaluation and Assessment:
Student work will be graded in five categories, each weighted differently. They are broken down as follows:
Essay (1 per trimester) = 30%
Tests/Quizzes = 25%
Homework Assignments/Graded Classwork = 25%
Formative Assessment = 10%
(participation, credit/no credit assignments, freewrites etc.) Responsibility =10%
Grading Scale:
93-100 A 73-76 C
90-92 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
77-79 C+ 0-59 F
Assignment Expectations: Assignments are expected to be the student’s OWN WORK, of high quality and turned in on time. Homework is due at the beginning of the hour.
Absent Work: Upon return from an absence, students are to check
designated folders for their make-up work. Students get ONE day for each day absent to make up work missed while gone. Asking for make-up work is the student’s responsibility! Students must provide at least 48 hours notice when requesting work in advance of an absence.
Responsibility Grade/Late Assignments: Grades are one of the ways that teachers assess student knowledge and understanding; however, teachers cannot assess work that is not turned in. The responsibility category of the grading scale is meant to address the issue of student preparedness for class.
The responsibility category is 10% of the overall student grade. All students will begin with a score of 100 (100%) in the responsibility category every trimester.
Points will be deducted in the following manner:
Late Assignment: -5 points
Late Major Essay (one per trimester): -20 points Not following directions: -1-5 points
(e.g. no name on paper, not writing in complete sentences, not showing up for lunch bunch)
Students will have five school days to turn in any missing work. Students that do not turn in assignments are subject to lunch detention (lunch bunch) or meeting with his/her teacher during homeroom until work is complete. Missing work will NOT be penalized in any other category unless a student fails to turn it in.
Students failing to turn in work after five school days will receive a zero for that assignment, unless the student meets with the teacher to develop a plan for success. Students cannot earn back any of the responsibility points lost during the trimester. The goal is to eliminate zeros in the grade book and prepare students for the responsibility of high school.
For example, if John Doe does not complete his Raymond’s Run 25 point story questions he would lose 5 responsibility points. John completes his questions during lunch detention 2 days later and turns it in. John earns a score of 24/25 on
the assignment. In the assignment category of the grade book, John will still earn 24/25 points; however, his responsibility score becomes 95/100.
Topics, Concepts, or Units of Study:
Year Long Units- Writer’s Workshop
Grammar and Style
No Excuses Spelling and Writing Rules
First Trimester Second Trimester Third Trimester
Writing
Realistic Fiction Reading
Short Stories
Poetry
The Pigman Major Units
Literary Elements
Strong Paragraphing
Writing
Argumentative Essay Reading
Non-fiction
“Flowers for Algernon”
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Major Units
Public Speaking
Writing
Biographical Research Essay Reading
The Giver Major Units
Research
Public Speaking
Materials needed:
Marble Composition notebook for Writer’s Notebook Pencils
Blue or black pens
Multi-colored highlighters Notebook paper
Reading book
Planner (provided by Hayes Middle School)
C
lassroomP
roceduresDaily Routine: In addition to normal daily lesson plan activities, at the beginning of each class, students will be participating in Writing Workshop activities to be completed in their composition notebook. Writer’s Notebooks will be turned in once per trimester and graded for formative assessment points.
Time left at the end of the class is given to students to work on any English assignment or to silently read. Unfinished work is homework and due the
following day at the beginning of the hour, unless a project due date is otherwise indicated by the teacher.
Expectations: Demonstrate Comet P.R.I.D.E. every day. I expect courteous behavior from my students, and I will respond in kind. When a substitute is needed, I expect students’ behavior to be as good as, if not better than, when am I there. Remember the Golden Rule, "Treat others as you would want to be treated." Students are expected to behave in a mature and respectful manner. An open mind and a positive attitude are essential!
Final Copy writing MUST be typed. Typing time is provided in class. If
students need more time and typing cannot be completed at home, students may make an appointment with the teacher after school. Students are always to have final copy work edited and revised. Students are strongly encouraged to have an adult proofread their work before turning in a final copy. All final copy work for major writing pieces must be submitted in MLA format.
No Excuses Spelling and Writing Rules: This year students will be responsible for learning a set of commonly misspelled words and following ten basic writing rules, which will be taught and reinforced throughout the year in ELA. They will receive a No Excuses Spelling List and a No Excuses Writing List at the beginning of the year, which will apply for the entire school year to any and all assignments completed in ELA. There is “No Excuse” for misusing these words and rules. One point will be deducted for each error on all
assignments.
Consequences: Consequences for inappropriate behavior include but are not limited to parental contact, referral to the appropriate administrator, in-school suspension, and out-of-school suspension for severe examples of such behavior.
Cheating: The act of obtaining answers or completing assignments in a fraudulent or deceitful manner is cheating. Staff and administrators will determine disciplinary action. The student will earn a zero grade for the assignment and will serve in-school suspension. Parents will be notified.
Return this page only Important notices:
All major writing pieces must be turned in for a student to earn a passing grade for the trimester. Students have up to one week after the essay due date to turn in the assignment; students will lose 20 points (20%) of their responsibility grade for a late essay.
Students are encouraged to utilize Connect time during homeroom or to make an appointment with their teacher for an appropriate time after school to receive extra assistance with homework or essay writing.
Student and parent(s): If you have any questions throughout the year, email is the most efficient method of teacher-parent
communication. You may email me at the address given on the front page of this syllabus. Please sign/date below to indicate that you have read and understand the content of this syllabus. Return the signed syllabus by Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Students are required to keep this syllabus in their English folder, so it may be referenced as needed. Thank you.
________________________________________________________________
Student’s name (please print) and signature Date
Parent’s name (please print) and signature Date _________________________
Optional: Parent’s email for periodic class updates
_________________________
Optional: Parent’s phone number
If you can help out with a box of tissues for our classroom, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
PLEASE RETURN TO MS. FUENTES BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10