1. NO GUM! Language Arts—PRE ap @themsnorris (Instagram)
Ms. Norris’ Class Crockett Middle School School Year
Language Arts—PRE ap
“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”
- Gustave Flaubert
UNIT PROJECTS
For each unit of study, you will complete a writing project. These projects will be due at the end of each unit, and will count as a test grade. The units this year are: Literary Nonfiction and Poetry; Fiction and Drama; Informational Text; Persuasive Text and Media; Connections Across Literary Text; Connections Across Informational Texts; Connections Across All Texts; and Research.
Class Expectations
Be in seat when tardy bell rings, and begin work on the Do Now.
Maintain a clean and orderly work area.
Bring all of your supplies to class daily.
Complete all of your work and turn it in on time.
Watch assigned videos and take notes according to the assigned schedule.
Course Description
Welcome to 7th Grade PreAP ELA! I’m excited to have all of you in class this year. I have lots of great ideas that I think will get you excited about writing. In this class, you will do a variety of activities that are designed to help you become a better writer, a better reader, a better thinker. The skills you learn in this class will help you in all of your other classes, and will benefit you throughout your entire life.
@themsnorris (Instagram)
@RNorrisCJHS (Twitter)
Ms. Norris’s YouTube Channel
How do I succeed in this class?
To succeed in this class, you need to show up every day ready to take on whatever activity is on the agenda, and with the necessary materials. Also, you must make sure that you are keeping up with watching the assigned videos and taking notes appropriately.
How do I stay organized in this class?
You will keep your work for this class organized in a variety of ways, including:
class binder that you will not use for anything else
a bullet journal that you will use for note-taking
a writing portfolio
Each of the above will be assessed for a grade periodically.
What type of assignments will I be doing?
You will be doing a variety of assignments, including: vocabulary, spelling, Word Within the Word (stems), and writing in a number of genres, such as fiction, nonfiction/memoir, poetry, drama, expository, and research.
What is the policy for late work?
Students who receive a zero on an assignment because it was not turned in on time may turn in the assignment for partial credit as follows:
1 day, 90%
2 days, 80%/parent phone call
3 days, 70%/teacher d-hall
No class time will be given for making up late work—it must be completed during tutoring before or after school, or during lunch.
NO GUM!

2. Grade Weighting Retest Policy Supplies
Mrs. Norris’ Class Crockett Middle School School Year
How will I keep up with my grade?
Grade Weighting
You will keep track of your assignments, through the use of assignment trackers, which will be kept in your class binder. The trackers will make note of assignments and due dates. It is very important to keep track of your work so that you do not fall behind.
What do I do if I am absent?
Sometimes, things happen, and you might have to miss a day or two of school. It is your responsibility to make up any work you miss while you are absent. Make up work is kept in a bin in my classroom. When you come back to school, find the papers with your name on them—there you will find assignments and instructions. You have the number of days you missed—plus one—to complete your make up work.
Do I have to read outside of class?
Every student will be responsible for outside reading. You may read whatever you like, but I challenge you to experiment with genres you don’t usually pick up. A dialectical journal and one-pager will be due each six weeks—these assignments will be based on your outside reading books.
Retest Policy
You may retake any quiz or test that you fail. Before retesting can take place, however, you must satisfactorily complete a study packet designed to help with mastering the material. Also, you may only retest during tutoring hours, and you will have one week to complete the retesting. The maximum grade for a retest is a 75.
What types of writing will I do this year?
You will write in a variety of genres this year—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, expository. Your portfolio will contain examples of all of these genres. You will find that you have your preferred genres, but by writing in all the assigned genres, your writing skills will be improved.
Student Responsibility
One of the things that students need to learn as they get older is the responsibility for keeping up with their things. To this end, here is the policy for my class. There are many times I provide students with handouts that they need to keep. As a rule, I make enough copies for each student to have one, and keep a master for my files. If you require an additional copy because you lost the first one I handed out, I will provide you this copy the following school day, after I have had a chance to make the copy. Additionally, you will lose 5 points on the final product that the handout refers to. If I have to give you a third copy, there will be a loss of 10 points on the final product.
Gmail
Every student in ECISD has a Google account. You will be using that address to communicate with me throughout the year.
Supplies
Binder—1 ½-2”
Dividers—at least 7
Notebook paper
Pens (black + 3 colors)
Pencils/erasers
Tissue
Earbuds (for use when you are watching videos)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Students will be using my teacher webpage and my YouTube Channel this year for note-taking purposes. I understand that it may be difficult for some students to access the internet at home, but it is vitally important in these cases that students make the effort to be at school early, or to stay late, on the days that they need to take notes. I can give you computer access before school, after school, and during lunch, and you can also access computers in the library.

3. Ms. Norris’ Class Crockett Middle School 2017-2018 School Year
PRE AP
ABOVE AND BEYOND
Throughout the year, the assignments for PreAP students will ask you to go above and beyond what regular students are expected to do. Writing projects will be longer and more involved, outside reading will require more pages and dialectical journal entries, and many tests and quizzes will be different. That is why it is so important that you give your best effort every time. If you don’t challenge yourself, you will never know what you are capable of. 
The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.
--Michelangelo
How is PreAP different?
Pre AP courses are designed to help students reach their full potential. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone, and you will be expected to take risks with your learning. To this end, there are several important things you need to know.
Gradeless Classroom
PreAP is, for the most part, a gradeless class. The purpose of this system is to ensure that students stay focused on their learning, and not just on the number grade they receive. However, it is important to understand a few things.
A gradeless class does not mean that there is no way to fail. Not doing work or not turning it in will result in failure.
Grades will still appear on 3-week progress reports and report cards.
Grades will be determined through a regular conference between student and teacher. During these conferences, students will present their body of work and justify the grade they think they deserve. Any passing grade must be supported by proof that work has been done satisfactorily and on time.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Bullet Journal
You will use a bullet journal for your notes and scheduling this year. I will provide you with handouts and instructions, along with examples, to help you set up your journal. For the first few weeks of school, we will work on bullet journals together during class, so that you can become accustomed to this way of doing things. After that time, you will be expected to keep up with your journal on your own. I will make my room available before and after school for those students who want to work on their bullet journals.

4. Ms. Norris’ Class Crockett Middle School 2017-2018 School Year
Please Read the course information, sign, and return this sheet to MS. NORRIS
Students:
Please sign below to signify that you have read the course sheet for Ms. Norris’ class, will keep it in your folder, and will be responsible for the information throughout the year, and will take responsibility for tracking your assignments and grades throughout the year.
_______________________________ _____________________________________________
Student printed name Student signature
Parents/Guardians:
Please sign below to indicate that you have read the course sheet for Ms. Norris’ class and that you will help your student be accountable for the information. If you have questions about the course or your
student’s work, please do not hesitate to contact me; is the best way to reach me quickly. See the syllabus for my address.  
Parent/Guardian printed name Parent/Guardian signature
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Parent/Guardian Parent/Guardian daytime phone number
(please print)
Parents and guardians, please CIRCLE the best way for me to contact you:
phone
Check all the statements that apply to how you would like to communicate with Ms. Norris about your student’s progress. I will, of course, call for major concerns or accomplishments, but with approximately 130 students, I like to know how you’d prefer to communicate.
_____ I/We have internet access at home, so we will check Parent Portal at least twice per week to check on my/our student’s progress. I/We will contact Ms. Norris about any concerns we have.
_____ I/We plan to Ms. Norris weekly or monthly for an update.
_____ I/We do not have internet access at home, but I/we would like to have regular contact with Ms. Norris. I/we will call for an update on a regular basis.
_____ Other: _______________________________________________________________________________