Course Title: 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher: Mrs. Fisher
Contact Information:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 850-488-6287 Ext. 5706
Office Hours: 9:00 am-9:25 am
Website: http://mrsfisherteacherlife.weebly.com/
Textbook: Florida Collections (my.hrw.com)
Class novels: To be determined
Student must have an independent novel of their choice at all times!
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide grade 8 students, using texts of high complexity, integrated language arts study in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language for college and career preparation and readiness.
The new textbooks are very high in complexity and highly engaging, and students will need internet access at home to benefit from the resources. I am very excited to begin the new Language Arts curriculum. I’m looking forward to a very successful, high-powered, and higher learning school year.
The content will include, but not be limited to, the following:
· active reading of varied texts for what they say explicitly, as well as the logical inferences that can be drawn including citing textual based evidence
· analysis of literature and informational texts from varied literary periods to examine:
· text craft and structure
· elements of literature
· arguments and claims supported by textual evidence
· power and impact of language
· influence of history, culture, and setting on language
· personal critical and aesthetic response
· writing for varied purposes
· developing and supporting argumentative claims
· crafting coherent, supported informative/expository texts
· responding to literature for personal and analytical purposes
· writing narratives to develop real or imagined events
· writing to sources using text- based evidence and reasoning
· effective listening, speaking, and viewing strategies with emphasis on the use of evidence to support or refute a claim in multimedia presentations, class discussions, and extended text discussions
· collaboration amongst peers
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Learning Outcomes for the Course: This is a standard based course and each strand identifies learning outcomes for the 8th grade Language Arts course. The new Florida State Standards can be found at http://www.fldoe.org/pdf/lafs.pdf
The alphanumeric coding scheme has changed – Language Arts Common Core (LACC) is now Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS). Each strand delineates your child’s learning outcomes for the 2014-15 school year.
Required Materials
· Pencil
· Binder
· Paper
· Composition or spiral notebook (preferably with holes)
Technology Requirements
All students must have a Flash Drive (any USB Saving Device)
Grading: Refer to school wide grading practices for more comprehensive information (available on-line).
Grading Scale Grading Criteria
Scholastic Classwork/homework 40%
A 90-100 Assessments: test/quiz 60%
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0- 59
Citizenship Scale
Outstanding Conduct 4
Satisfactory Conduct 3
Conduct Needs Improvement 2
Unsatisfactory Conduct 1
Conduct Expectations & Class Rules
· Students are required to be in seat before tardy bell – if tardy, students will adhere to consequences below.
· Students must have all required supplies or will receive deduction in citizenship points.
· Students are to respect their working environment at all times – this includes respecting teacher, fellow peers, and any visitors.
· Students are to adhere to any procedures for group/center discussion activities
· Students are not allowed TO HAVE ANY GUM/CANDY/FOOD/DRINKS in classroom area unless given by teacher – if teacher provides treat, students are required to eat during that class period and are not allowed to exit classroom with items.
· Students are not allowed to have any electronic devices during class period.
· NO RESTROOM passes are provided during class discussion or group activities.
Consequences for not adhering to classroom rules include the following:
1st offense: Verbal warning
2nd Offense: Teacher warning
3rd Offense: Parent Contact/Intervention
4th Offense: Teacher Detention
5th Offense: Administrative Detention
*PLEASE NOTE: Any offense exceeding the consequences above will result in an office referral
Remember
· Students are to be in their seats and reading board instructions before tardy bell
· Students will complete bell ringer within a 5 to 10 minute limit
o Achieve Online Reading instruction program will take place 1 designated day every week
o Wordly Wise Direct Vocabulary Instructional Quizzes will take place twice a week
· TEACHER releases students when bell rings – students are not allowed out of seats unless given permission by teacher.
Additional FYI’S (for your information)
· Makeup work policy for absences is covered in student handbook and is strictly enforced! Students are responsible for all information presented in handbook; please contact me immediately via information above for any questions or concerns regarding policy.
· NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED without consequences. Students are required to notify teacher IMMEDIATELY if an assignment will be late; if no notification is made within 24 hours of due date, the work WILL NOT BE ACCPETED. After student/teacher conference, student will be provided with the penalty system below. No late work is accepted after three days of due date unless there are extenuating circumstances documented by parent/guardian – this will be handled on a case-by-case basis and extensions are granted at teacher’s discretion.
o 1 day: 8 point deduction
o 2 days: 16 point deduction
o 3 days: 24 point deduction
*PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*