2014-2015 8th grade Language arts
ms. Crenshaw
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (502) 845-8660
Description:
8th grade Language Arts continues building and improving reading, writing, and communication skills. Students will interpret a variety of texts and develop reading, writing, and thinking strategies. Students will do this through hands-on activities, class discussions, group projects, and independent studies.
Units and Material Covered:
Establishing Classroom Community & Expectations
* Review Discovery Program and Thinking Strategies
* 7 Habits/Leader in Me
* Community Building
Comprehension (Reading) & Communication (Writing) Skills
* Main Idea
* Inference
* Synthesis
* Connotation/Denotation
* Figurative/Literal
* Context Clues
* Word Choice/Tone
First Novel Unit:
A Long Walk to Water***
Research Skills and Strategies
* Thesis
* Citations
* Argumentative
* Paraphrasing
Second Novel Unit
Mississippi Trial***
Review Comprehension & Communication Skills
*** Books for each novel unit will be available for purchase at school for $5.00. Students must have a copy of A Long Walk to Water by October 1st and Mississippi Trial by March 1st. If financial assistance is needed to purchase a book, please contact Karen Wilson at the Youth Services Center. Excuses will not be accepted for not having a book.***
Learning Targets:
* Students will be able to read, write, and analyze a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
* Students will be able to connect fiction and non-fiction texts to their lives and the world around them.
* Students will develop critical thinking skills that will prepare them to be college and career ready.
* Students will improve grammar and vocabulary skills.
Expectations:
* Students are expected to always try putting forth their best effort.
* Students are expected to always be respectful despite differing opinions.
* Students are expected to always take responsibility for their own learning and their own lives.
* Students are expected to always come prepared to work hard.
Grading:
* 100-92 = Distinguished (A)
* 91-83 = Proficient (B)
* 82-72 = Apprentice (C)
* 71-66 = Novice (D)
* 65> Unacceptable (F)
Description of terms are below. Not all assignments are graded numerically but will be assessed through rubrics. The majority of class assignments are viewed as a whole piece and then evaluated. For example, a student may have 5 misspelled words. I will not take a number of points away for each misspelled words but will look at the entire piece and score it according to multiple elements.
Distinguished - Excels over and beyond expectations (AMAZING!)
Proficient - Meets expectations (Good!)
Apprentice - Approaches expectations (Fair but needs some work)
Novice - Does not meet expectations (Needs a lot of work)
Unacceptable - Does attempt to meet expectations (The work will be returned and the student will be asked to redo it)
****It is expected that parents and students will take ownership of a student’s grade and be diligent in checking Infinite Campus or requesting a weekly progress report from Mrs. Lineman. If you have an issue with a grade, please respectfully contact me or set up a meeting. I am more than happy to discuss concerns about grades, however please know that I am working towards the well-being of each student. My goal is to prepare students for the next level while also preparing them for life. This may mean that the skills learned are more important than the grade in IC.****
Self-Paced Units and Assignments:
Students will work on certain assignments through a self-paced structure. These assignments will be designated by the teacher. Self-paced learning works for all learning abilities and encourages students to take control of their own learning. It helps students who are itching to move ahead of the class go deeper into content and helps students who struggle work at their own speed. It is NOT a structure for students to socialize and waste time until it is close to the deadline. I may adjust assignments and due dates based on how I observe the classes needs.
Late Assignments and Make-up Work:
* Late work will NOT be accepted. Late assignments will receive a zero.
*Assignments within the Self-Paced units have flexible due dates and will be discussed with the student based on teacher's discretion. Depending on the student's work ethic, he/she may be moved to an alternative location (ICD, the office, etc.) or will be required to stay after school until the assignment is completed. STUDENTS WHO WORK AT A SLOWER PACE WILL NEED TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS OUTSIDE OF CLASS IN ORDER TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES.
* Students are expected to turn in assignments on the due date even if the teacher is absent.
* If a student has an excused absence on the day an assignment is due, they must turn in their work on the day they return.
* In the case of excused absences, the student will have the number of days they missed to make up schoolwork.
* In the event that the website does not work or an issue were to come up with personal technology, it is the responsibility of the STUDENT to show all the steps he/she did to problem solve and work toward a solution to complete an assignment. The student must also conference with the teacher about the issue BEFORE the assignment is due. I am unable to conference with a student about technology issues as I am collecting an assignment. I am in the classroom no later than 8AM.
* If a legitimate issue were to arise in the process of working on an assignment, a student may request an extension. Extensions must be requested in writing by a student and will be evaluated and approved based on teacher discretion.
***Extracurricular activities do not constitute a legitimate reason for an extension.
Student Devices Policy:
Cell phones are not allowed in the 8th grade Language Arts classroom. Other devices with larger screens are acceptable as long as they are used for classroom use. Devices brought to the classroom will be required to sit on student's desk and may only be used during designated times.
The following procedure will be followed if a student violates this policy:
First offense: Device is kept until the end of the class period.
Second offense: Device is kept until the end of the school day.
Third offense: Device is taken to the office and a parent or guardian must pick up at their convenience.
Fourth and subsequent offenses: Device is taken to the office and a parent or guardian must pick up at their convenience; after school detention assigned.
Policy of Cheating and Plagiarism:
Definition according to Marriam-Webster:
Cheating: to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something; to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
Plagiarize: to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas
Cheating and/or plagiarism is unacceptable! Through out the year, students will work individually, in pairs, or in groups. Students must produce their own work in order to show their own thinking. Work that is turned in by individual students must show their own words and their own ideas. A few words changed could still constitute as cheating. There is a zero tolerance policy. If an assignment is plagiarized, it will receive a zero, and the student will be unable to make it up. If it becomes excessive (more than one time), the student maybe issued a detention or other disciplinary actions may be taken.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS YEAR GREAT!!
8th grade Language Arts continues building and improving reading, writing, and communication skills. Students will interpret a variety of texts and develop reading, writing, and thinking strategies. Students will do this through hands-on activities, class discussions, group projects, and independent studies.
Units and Material Covered:
Establishing Classroom Community & Expectations
* Review Discovery Program and Thinking Strategies
* 7 Habits/Leader in Me
* Community Building
Comprehension (Reading) & Communication (Writing) Skills
* Main Idea
* Inference
* Synthesis
* Connotation/Denotation
* Figurative/Literal
* Context Clues
* Word Choice/Tone
First Novel Unit:
A Long Walk to Water***
Research Skills and Strategies
* Thesis
* Citations
* Argumentative
* Paraphrasing
Second Novel Unit
Mississippi Trial***
Review Comprehension & Communication Skills
*** Books for each novel unit will be available for purchase at school for $5.00. Students must have a copy of A Long Walk to Water by October 1st and Mississippi Trial by March 1st. If financial assistance is needed to purchase a book, please contact Karen Wilson at the Youth Services Center. Excuses will not be accepted for not having a book.***
Learning Targets:
* Students will be able to read, write, and analyze a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
* Students will be able to connect fiction and non-fiction texts to their lives and the world around them.
* Students will develop critical thinking skills that will prepare them to be college and career ready.
* Students will improve grammar and vocabulary skills.
Expectations:
* Students are expected to always try putting forth their best effort.
* Students are expected to always be respectful despite differing opinions.
* Students are expected to always take responsibility for their own learning and their own lives.
* Students are expected to always come prepared to work hard.
Grading:
* 100-92 = Distinguished (A)
* 91-83 = Proficient (B)
* 82-72 = Apprentice (C)
* 71-66 = Novice (D)
* 65> Unacceptable (F)
Description of terms are below. Not all assignments are graded numerically but will be assessed through rubrics. The majority of class assignments are viewed as a whole piece and then evaluated. For example, a student may have 5 misspelled words. I will not take a number of points away for each misspelled words but will look at the entire piece and score it according to multiple elements.
Distinguished - Excels over and beyond expectations (AMAZING!)
Proficient - Meets expectations (Good!)
Apprentice - Approaches expectations (Fair but needs some work)
Novice - Does not meet expectations (Needs a lot of work)
Unacceptable - Does attempt to meet expectations (The work will be returned and the student will be asked to redo it)
****It is expected that parents and students will take ownership of a student’s grade and be diligent in checking Infinite Campus or requesting a weekly progress report from Mrs. Lineman. If you have an issue with a grade, please respectfully contact me or set up a meeting. I am more than happy to discuss concerns about grades, however please know that I am working towards the well-being of each student. My goal is to prepare students for the next level while also preparing them for life. This may mean that the skills learned are more important than the grade in IC.****
Self-Paced Units and Assignments:
Students will work on certain assignments through a self-paced structure. These assignments will be designated by the teacher. Self-paced learning works for all learning abilities and encourages students to take control of their own learning. It helps students who are itching to move ahead of the class go deeper into content and helps students who struggle work at their own speed. It is NOT a structure for students to socialize and waste time until it is close to the deadline. I may adjust assignments and due dates based on how I observe the classes needs.
Late Assignments and Make-up Work:
* Late work will NOT be accepted. Late assignments will receive a zero.
*Assignments within the Self-Paced units have flexible due dates and will be discussed with the student based on teacher's discretion. Depending on the student's work ethic, he/she may be moved to an alternative location (ICD, the office, etc.) or will be required to stay after school until the assignment is completed. STUDENTS WHO WORK AT A SLOWER PACE WILL NEED TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS OUTSIDE OF CLASS IN ORDER TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES.
* Students are expected to turn in assignments on the due date even if the teacher is absent.
* If a student has an excused absence on the day an assignment is due, they must turn in their work on the day they return.
* In the case of excused absences, the student will have the number of days they missed to make up schoolwork.
* In the event that the website does not work or an issue were to come up with personal technology, it is the responsibility of the STUDENT to show all the steps he/she did to problem solve and work toward a solution to complete an assignment. The student must also conference with the teacher about the issue BEFORE the assignment is due. I am unable to conference with a student about technology issues as I am collecting an assignment. I am in the classroom no later than 8AM.
* If a legitimate issue were to arise in the process of working on an assignment, a student may request an extension. Extensions must be requested in writing by a student and will be evaluated and approved based on teacher discretion.
***Extracurricular activities do not constitute a legitimate reason for an extension.
Student Devices Policy:
Cell phones are not allowed in the 8th grade Language Arts classroom. Other devices with larger screens are acceptable as long as they are used for classroom use. Devices brought to the classroom will be required to sit on student's desk and may only be used during designated times.
The following procedure will be followed if a student violates this policy:
First offense: Device is kept until the end of the class period.
Second offense: Device is kept until the end of the school day.
Third offense: Device is taken to the office and a parent or guardian must pick up at their convenience.
Fourth and subsequent offenses: Device is taken to the office and a parent or guardian must pick up at their convenience; after school detention assigned.
Policy of Cheating and Plagiarism:
Definition according to Marriam-Webster:
Cheating: to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something; to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
Plagiarize: to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas
Cheating and/or plagiarism is unacceptable! Through out the year, students will work individually, in pairs, or in groups. Students must produce their own work in order to show their own thinking. Work that is turned in by individual students must show their own words and their own ideas. A few words changed could still constitute as cheating. There is a zero tolerance policy. If an assignment is plagiarized, it will receive a zero, and the student will be unable to make it up. If it becomes excessive (more than one time), the student maybe issued a detention or other disciplinary actions may be taken.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS YEAR GREAT!!