1. Mr. F. Cancro/Ms. Zupa English Language Arts 2017-2018
Welcome to Peekskill Middle School Back to School Night October 4, 2017
Mr. F. Cancro/Ms. Zupa
English Language Arts

2. Parent –School Communication
It is crucial that there is an open line of communication between the school and the parents/guardians. It is important that your child understands that we are a unified team, with one goal in mind, their education.
Please join the PTO or help out in any way that you can.

3. Parent Portal
The Parent Portal provides parents/guardians the ability to view their children’s attendance, report card, progress report and grades. It is very easy to use, secure and confidential. The Parent Portal helps students succeed. To get started, parents need to create an account with the District. Complete the Parent Portal Request Form to have an account created. You can get a paper copy of the Parent Portal Request Form from you child's school.  

4. Communication/Contact Info.
Please note that Progress Reports and Report Cards WILL NOT be sent home in the mail, but can be found on Parent Portal
If at any time you have questions or concerns, you can me or Ms. Zupa. We will check our s daily. You can also call the school at and leave a message. If an appointment is necessary, Mr. Coster in the guidance office can arrange a meeting with all teachers.

5. All students are expected to:
Expectations
All students are expected to:
Be on-time to class;
Communicate and discuss any issues/concerns;
Complete all classwork assignments;
Study and complete homework every night;
Display respect for themselves and each other;
Remain focused and participate;
Do the best they can everyday in a positive fashion;
Come to Call Back for additional support when needed.

6. This is an Integrated Co-Teaching Classroom
Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classrooms include students with additional learning needs and have two teachers, a general education teacher and a special education teacher. The teachers work together throughout the day to adapt and modify instruction, and make sure the entire class has access to the general education curriculum.

7. Course Overview: ELA
Students will be immersed in multiple fictional and non-fictional genres of literature.
An emphasis will be placed on multiple forms of writing.
A balanced literacy approached will be utilized for reading and writing instruction.

8. Availability
Every day there is time for all children to “catch-up” on any assignments. They may go during their lunch/supervisory block of time if they so desire.
In addition, all children have an opportunity to speak with individual teachers and/or work on assignments during “call back” from 2:40-3:00pm. If students are struggling or missing assignments, they may be required to attend call back.

9. Grading Homework: 10% Citizenship/Participation and Effort: 5%
Class Work/”Do Nows”: 20%
Tests/Quizzes: 30%
Projects/Benchmark Writing: 35%
Grading Equivalent:
++ = 100
+ = 90
= 80
- = 70
= = 60

10. Outside of the Classroom
Students are expected to read daily in an independently selected book or novel for 25 minutes.
An AWARD book project is to be completed on a monthly basis. This project is to be based on the student’s independent reading book.
In addition to the book projects, additional assignments may be assigned relating to the daily classwork.

11. Balanced Literacy (Reading)
What are the common components of Balanced Literacy?
Interactive Read Aloud – teacher reads aloud to class
Shared Reading – students and teacher share the reading responsibility
Guided Reading – teacher works with a group of students with similar ability, focusing on teaching a specific strategy
Independent Reading- student is responsible for their reading

12. Balanced Literacy (Writing)
Shared Writing – teacher models writing to whole class
Interactive Writing – teacher composes text with the assistance of students
Writer’s Workshop – the teacher conducts a mini lesson teaching a specific strategy, the student implements this strategy in their writing, the teacher conferences with the student to review and support the student’s work

13. Supervisory Schedule Monday – Town Hall Tuesday – D.E.A.R
Wednesday – Fun Wednesday
Thursday – Character Education
Friday – Fun Friday