English Language Arts Course Description Mrs. Page’s Class McKenzie Middle School 2017-2018 English Language Arts Class Rules Bring all needed materials to class. Be in your seat and working when the bell rings. Show respect to yourself, others, and all property. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Speak at appropriate times using an appropriate voice and language.   Other Expectations Write the proper heading on all assignments. Use the restroom between classes. Maintain a clean and organized work area. Complete all of your work and turn it in on time. All MMS rules and policies are to be followed in class. Course Description Welcome to ELA! Our focus this school year will be learning and developing our skills as critical thinkers, readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. The development and mastery of these important literary skills not only are important to achieving success in the ELA classroom, they are a critical component of achieving success in other subjects, building strong relationships with others, and attaining a flourishing career as an adult. Basically, the quality of life you experience now through adulthood will depend a lot on how well you read, write, and communicate with others. What are the consequences if I don’t follow class rules? 1. Verbal warning 2. Parent contact 3. One hour detention on Friday 4. Office refferral Where do I go to find assignments? Planner: On Mondays, students are responsible for writing the entire week’s assignments and scheduled activities in their planners. Class Website: The class website will be updated weekly/biweekly with assignments, due dates, and other important information. What happens if I turn in an assignment late? Work not completed and turned in by the due date is considered late. If a student is absent on the date work is due, the assignment is due the first day the student returns to school. COMPLETED LATE WORK will only receive partial credit (ten points will be automatically deducted). INCOMPLETE LATE WORK will not be graded and will result in a zero for the assignment. pages2@mckenzieschools.org 731-352-2792 1

How will I check my grade? Mrs. Page’s Class McKenzie Middle School 2017-2018 Grading Scale How will I check my grade? A 93-100 B 85-92 C 75-84 D 70-74 F 69 or less Parents and students are encouraged to check Power School on a weekly basis to view the most current grades. What do I do if I am absent? You will need to check the Absent Work folder and collect your missing assignments. If a quiz was administered on a day a student was absent, the quiz must be made up on the first day the student returns. If previously assigned work was due on the day of the absence, the work is due on the first day the student returns. Otherwise, it is considered late and will not receive full credit. Grade Breakdown Daily Work- 20% ISN & Writing Journal- 20% Station Assignments- 20% Benchmark Project/Test- 20% Other Quizzes & Tests- 20% Do I have to read outside of class? YES. Students will be required to read outside of class and participate in Accelerated Reader. In seventh grade, students will be required to earn a particular number of A.R. points each nine weeks (1st nine-weeks: six points, 2nd nine-weeks: eight points, 3rd nine-weeks: ten points, and 4th nine-weeks: ten points). A.R. will account for one test grade in your child’s average. Homework Students will be given a homework sheet on Monday. It is due on Friday. What is an Interactive Student Notebook? An Interactive Student Notebook (ISN) is a portfolio of student work. The notebook is organized in a left-side / right-side format. Every left side of the notebook will house teacher-directed notes and activities, while right side assignments will showcase student understanding of the material in a creative manner. A composition book will be used for the ISN. A percentage of the ELA grade is based on the ISN. The majority of classwork, notes, study guides, and vocabulary will be completed in the ISN, so it is imperative that it be complete and up to date. Supplies Binder Folder Wide-rule loose leaf paper Two composition notebooks Pencil pouch Ear buds Glue sticks Colored pencils PENCILS Highlighter 3x5 Index cards What are the required readings this year? There will be required novels throughout the year as well as selections from the literature textbook. pages2@mckenzieschools.org 731-352-2792 2

Mrs. Page’s Class McKenzie Middle School 2017-2018 Please Read the course information, sign, and return this sheet to Mrs. Page. Students: Please sign below to signify that you have read the course sheet for Mrs. Page’s class, will keep it in your folder, and will be responsible for the information throughout the year.    _______________________________ ________________________________________ Student’s Printed Name Student’s Signature Parents/Guardians: Please sign below to indicate that you have read the course sheet for Mrs. Page’s class and that you will help your child be accountable for the information. If you have questions about the course or your child’s work, please do not hesitate to contact me. Email is the best way to reach me quickly. Parent/Guardian’s Printed Name Parent/Guardian’s Signature Parent/Guardian’s E-mail Address Parent/Guardian’s Phone Number (please print) Parents and guardians, please CIRCLE the best way for me to contact you: Email Phone pages2@mckenzieschools.org 731-352-2792 3