1. Big Blue English/ Language Arts 2011-2012 Student Expectations: Find a quiet, consistent place to complete homework and read Sunday-Friday. Your child must read at least 30 minutes each night from a book he/she cares about and can read fluently (200 words per minute). You MUST document the exact number of minutes read and pages on a reading log. Parents, please take 5 minutes each day to discuss the reading with your child. The most recent research shows that “time reading a book without struggle is the most important factor in improving reading…reading a book that is too difficult is bad for children…. comprehension increases dramatically when a child can discuss a text for 5 minutes.” (Calkins, 2010) According to Harris and Sipay (1990) and cited by Columbia University Reading and Writing Project 2010, students in grade 8 should be reading @235-270 words per minute. This is equivalent to about a page a minute. If your child reads 30 minutes each night, he/she should be reading a minimum of 150 pages during the school week and finishing class assigned books within 2 weeks. Everyday, arrive to class with a book that he/she is reading at home/updated reading log, a writing utensil (pen is great—actually improves volume of writing) the agenda, ELA Binder, writer’s notebooks (we will create the notebooks mid-September). Every Monday, students will be given the weekly home work assignment that is due on Friday. Every Friday, students will turn in reading log SIGNED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN, written work and take a quiz based on lessons taught during the week. *If homework cannot be completed, please jot us a note—no explanations necessary-- and homework will certainly be excused. Your child can make up the work in one week’s time. If no note is provided, the homework will be earn zero.

2. How will my work be graded? Class Participation: Book club discussion, binder/notebook organization and quality, prepared for class with book, binder, agenda, reading log, writer’s notebook, and writing utensil 25% Reading: Book Log/Signed Reading Log and finishing a minimum of one book every two weeks 25% Writing: Final written pieces, prompts, and any graded response to literature 25% Conventions and Word Work: Weekly Friday quizzes based on conventions and vocabulary taught or assigned during the week. 25% Dear Big Blue Students (and Families), Hello! I am thrilled to be teaching you this year! I knew many of you as fifth and sixth graders, so I am especially grateful to share this last year at the middle school with you and see how you have grown as readers, writers, and young adults. This year, you will enjoy a rich curriculum designed to offer you strategies and practice in reading and writing fiction and non-fiction texts. You will be reading fiction novels related to social studies topics, as well as short stories, classic American poems, non-fiction articles, plays, and novels of your choice. In addition, you will be taught to write a personal narrative, essay responses, a research piece, an opinion proof essay, a literary essay, and a play including a setting snapshot and monologue. Conventions will be taught daily during “warm-ups” at the beginning of each class, and vocabulary will be taught through Latin and Greek root words, suffixes and prefixes. Your lessons and units embrace the requirements outlined in our school curriculum and the newly adopted Connecticut Common Core State Standards. By June, you will be well-prepared for high school. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me: elizabeth.brouillard@eastlymeschools.org. elizabeth.brouillard@eastlymeschools.org Sincerely, Mrs. Brouillard My child and I have read the requirements on the back of this paper for ELA. We understand that a parent or guardian must sign a daily reading log that is to be turned in on Friday. This log accounts for 5 homework assignments each week. We understand reading and finishing a minimum of one book every two weeks is not optional, but rather required. Students must read Sunday night through Thursday night. We also understand that every Friday---unless specified—students will turn in a reading log and other homework, as well as take a quiz relating to conventions and/or vocabulary. Student Name/Parent Signature ___________________________/_______________________________________________ Welcome to Big Blue English/ Language Arts 2011-2012