1. LANGUAGE ARTS “Literature is no one’s private ground, literature is common ground; let us trespass freely and fearlessly and find our own way for ourselves.” - Virginia Woolf Ms. Hicks’ Class Florence Middle School 2015-2016 School Year Class Rules 1. Follow directions quickly. 2. Raise your hand for permission to speak. 3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat. 4. Make smart choices. 5. Keep your dear teacher HAPPY. Class Expectations 1. Be in seat when tardy bell rings. 2. Put proper heading on all papers. 3. Do not use electronic devices in class without teacher permission. 4. Use restroom during passing breaks. 5. Maintain a clean and orderly work area. 6. Bring all of your supplies to class daily. 7. Complete all of your work and turn it in on time. 8. All FMS rules and policies shall be observed within the classroom. Email: jane.hicks@rcsd.msphone: 601.845.2862 1 Welcome to 7th Language Arts! 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 is important to achieving success in the Language Arts classroom, it is a critical component of achieving success in other school subjects, building strong relationships with others, and attaining a flourishing career as an adult. Basically, the quality of life you experience now thorough adulthood will depend a lot on how well you read, write, and communicate with others. Your appropriate behavior in class assures everyone of an environment conducive to learning. Some possible rewards for continuous appropriate behavior are: intrinsic value (satisfaction of learning), improved skills, verbal praise, positive note to parents, tangible trinkets, and special class activities / privileges. 1. Warning: the teacher provides a verbal reprimand/reminder to student. 2. Before School Detention: One hour spent during before school to contemplate conduct. 3. Referral to Administration: a cadet will be immediately referred to administration for severe behavior problems. Work not completed and turned in by the assigned 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 be accepted 7 days past due. INCOMPLETE LATE WORK will not be graded and will result in a zero for the assignment. My website: http://www.rcsd.ms/Page/29233 will house the weekly agendas, assignment due dates, PDF copies of class handouts, important announcements, and more. Please bookmark the following site and check it daily: Website:http://www.rcsd.ms/Page/29233 Course Description What do I get if I follow class rules? What are the consequences if I don’t follow class rules? What happens if I turn in an assignment late? Where do I go to find agendas and assignments?

2. Class progress reports will be sent home every Monday electronically via e-mail and in paper form every two weeks. Parents and students are also strongly encouraged to check the Parent Portal on a weekly basis to view the most current grades for EVERY class. A+= 100%A= 94% - 99% A-= 90% - 93%B+= 87% - 89% B= 84% - 86%B-= 80% - 83% C+= 77% - 79%C= 74% - 76% C-= 70% - 73%D= 64% - 69% F= 0% - 63% Grade Scale Grade Breakdown Assessments / Quizzes = 50% (vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar) Writing=30% (Weekly writing & process papers completed throughout the year) Benchmarks=20% (quarterly district tests & writing) College-ruled filler paper Multiple pencils One chunky eraser Set of five subject dividers One set of 12 or more colored pencils One handheld pencil sharpener One set of four or more highlighters 3 Ring Binder Colored correcting pens Supplies How will I check my grade in class? What do I do if I am absent? Always check my website for agendas, handouts, and assignment due dates. A student has two extra days to turn in any work assigned on a day a student was absent. 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. Do I have to read outside of class? All students will be expected to read independently on a daily basis. Students must bring a reading book to school so they are prepared for independent reading during any free time. *A book project will be due every quarter and must be completed on an independently read book the student finished that quarter.* What types of writing will I do this year? My Schedule:Bell Schedule: Email: jane.hicks@rcsd.msphone: 601.845.2862. 2 Ms. Hicks’ Class Florence Middle School 2015-2016 School Year 1. Personal response to a short story 2. Narrative 3. Descriptive paragraph and character sketch 4. Different types of poems 5. Poem analysis 6. Persuasive essay 7. Short story 7:30 - 8:15 Zero Block (Tutoring, Remediation, Detention) 8:20 - 9:56 First Block (Tardy bell will ring at 8:20) 10:01 - 11:37 Second Block 11:42 - 1:36 Third Block(Lunch block) 1:41 - 3:17 Fourth Block (Dismissal at 3:17)

3. PLEASE READ THE COURSE INFORMATION, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS SHEET TO MS. HICKS Students: Please sign below to signify that you have read the course sheet for Ms. Hicks’ class, will keep it in your folder, and will be responsible for the information throughout the year, and will check Parent Portal at least twice per week at school or at home. _______________________________ _____________________________________________ Student printed name Student signature Parents/Guardians: Please sign below to indicate that you have read the course sheet for Ms. Hicks’ class and that you will help your child be accountable for the information. If you have questions about the course or your student’s work, please do not hesitate to contact me; email is the best way to reach me quickly. See the bottom of this sheet for my email address and school phone number. _______________________________ _____________________________________________ Parent/Guardian printed name Parent/Guardian signature _______________________________ ______________________________________________ Parent/Guardian e-mail Parent/Guardian daytime phone number (please print) Parents and guardians, please CIRCLE the best way for me to contact you: e-mail phone Email: jane.hicks@rcsd.msphone: 601.845.2862 3 Ms. Hicks’ Class Florence Middle School 2015-2016 School Year Check all the statements that apply to how you would like to communicate with Ms. Hicks about your student’s progress. I will, of course, call for major concerns or accomplishments, but with a large number of 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. Hicks’ about any concerns we have. _____I/We plan to email Ms. Hicks 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. Hicks’. I/we will call for an update on a regular basis. _____Other: _______________________________________________________________________________