1. Eighth-Grade English/Language Arts
Mrs. Hensley, Room 112
Materials Needed:
Notebook Paper
Pencils
Composition book - not spiral
Personal Headphones (needed for all classes)
Composition Books will be kept in the classroom at all times and are subject to a random check
_________Daily Routine
Turn in homework when applicable
Check the “supplies” board, the whiteboard, and the promethean board to determine what supplies will be needed for the day. Gather these items BEFORE class begins which means YES, you may go to your locker before the tardy bell.
Begin the “bell-ringer” activity for the day. If there is no activity planned, sit quietly and read until you receive further instructions.
___________Reading, Writing, and Speaking
Reading, Writing, and Speaking are the three largest components of my classroom work. You are required to read a certain amount of pages daily and participate in a “Book Talk” with me. You will practice your writing skills daily. Speaking and listening skills are a large part of the eighth-grade curriculum. At the end of each 9 weeks, a participation grade will be assigned.
You will have access to my classroom library and the school library. As a parent myself, I am sensitive to having appropriate reading material in my classroom library. That said, what is considered “appropriate” may vary from one parent to another. Please be aware that the selections in my classroom library, just like any public library, range from elementary-level to high-school level. Choose an appropriate book that your parent will approve, is interesting to you, and that you will enjoy reading.
Schedule:
1st period: 8:00 – 9:10
2nd period: 9:13 – 10:23
LINKS: 10:27 – 11:12
Related Arts: 11:15 –12:00
5th period: 12:04 – 12:32
Lunch: :35 – 1:00
5th period: 1:04 – 1:46
6th period: 1:50 – 3:00
_________Homework and test/quiz policy
Late work IS accepted as outlined in the Hawkins County Schools handbook.
If you fail a test or quiz, your parent or guardian must sign the test acknowledging she/he saw your grade if you want to retake the test/quiz. It must be brought back and turned in to me within two days in order to be eligible to retake the test/quiz.
_________Absentee Policy
Yes! We did something important while you were absent! It is YOUR responsibility to check with me the day you return to class to find out what you missed. I will not seek you out – you need to take responsibility for the missing assignments.
You are always welcome to contact me by for your assignments as well as turn in your assignments via or Google when possible.
When a test, assignment, or essay has a firm due-date, being absent does not excuse you from the due-date. If you are absent on the day of a big test or the final copy of the essay due-date, you are responsible for being prepared the day you return. If you’ve known about the date for weeks, you must be prepared upon return.
SKYWARD
All eighth-grade students have access to Skyward. They have been trained on how to access Skyward and provided with their log-in name and password. Students can view grades, attendance, missing assignments, etc. on this website. There is a different log-in for parents. Please contact me if you would like more information as a parent.

2. TEXT ALERTS Plagiarism: What is Graded?
___________Classroom Rules & Expectations
Students will maintain a respectful and positive attitude toward the teacher and classmates at all times. We may not always agree, but we will always be respectful toward each other.
Be prepared for class. This means that it is YOUR responsibility to determine what supplies will be needed for class and gather those supplies BEFORE class begins.
Be on time! Go to your locker, bathroom, etc. before class begins.
You are allowed to have water- only water - in my classroom.
No sleeping in class. If you sleep, you will automatically receive a zero for the 9-week participation grade which counts 30% of your grade.
Until further notice, no iPads, laptops, Kindles, Nooks, and other electronic devices are allowed in the classroom for reading or note-taking.
Cell phones must be kept in your locker and turned OFF.
I recommend you keep all graded work until AFTER you receive your progress report or report card.
Students will be unable to attend 8th grade field trips if any of the following occurs: You are remanded to Alternative School, you receive 75 cumulative points, you are suspended out of school, your unexcused absences exceed the county policy of five days.
Plagiarism:
To plagiarize is defined as taking ideas and writings of another and passing them off as one’s own. Students caught plagiarizing will be given NO CREDIT for plagiarized work.
What is Graded?
Reading Literature
Reading Informational text
Writing/Grammar
Language
Speaking and Listening
For more information about the standards, please go to this website:
40% - Summative Assessments (Unit tests*Benchmarks)
30% - Formative Assessments
(Quizzes*Classwork)
30% - Participation
TEXT
ALERTS
Text this message: @surgoins
To this number:
I, ___________________________, have read and understand the rules and expectations for 8th-grade ELA. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to contact my teacher if I have any questions or concerns. I know that a copy of this syllabus is located in the classroom as well as on the class website for reference. I fully understand the 8th grade field trip policy as outlined above.
_________________________________________________ ______________
Student Signature DATE
Grading Scale A
85-92 B
75-84 C
70-74 D
>70 F