Welcome to English 7 and 8 at Petaluma Junior high!

1. Welcome to English 7 and 8 at Petaluma Junior high!

2. Teaching Background: • First Teaching Position: 8th Grade English • in San Diego County (Oak Crest Junior High) • One year 9th/10th grade English Piner High • Eleven years English, Advanced English, and Reading Support at Piner-Olivet Charter School (a junior high) • Time off with kids! • One Year 6th Grade at Miwok Elementary School • One year 7th/8th ELD at Windsor Middle • Very happy to be back in town and in junior high school at PJHS for the 2nd year

3. Family: I am the parent of a sixth grader, a ninth grader, and an eleventh grader.

4. I. Curriculum Reading (Narrative and Informational) Writing Speaking and Listening Language (conventions and vocabulary) Novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction will be read in both 7th and 8th grade.

5. Reading: Novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction will be read in both 7th and 8th grade. Novels will be accompanied by many non-fiction articles and smaller readings. • 7th Grade Novels • (Tentative) • The Outsiders • The Midwife’s Apprentice • The Pearl • Never Cry Wolf • Julius Caesar (Play) • 8th Grade Novels • (Tentative) • The Giver • The Call of the Wild • Flowers for Algernon • Crossing (Paulson) • Animal Farm Novels will be issued to students as needed and must come back and forth to school each day.

6. Writing: • 7th Grade Writing Types: • paragraph review • argument (CCSS 7.1) • writing to explain/inform (CCSS 7.2) • narrative (CCSS 7.3) • 8th Grade Writing Types • career development documents • technical documents • argument (CCSS 7.1) • writing to explain/inform • (CCSS 7.2) • narrative (CCSS 7.3) Five paragraph essay format will be used for various writing types.

7. Conventions Listen carefully to each grammar or punctuation lesson and be certain to complete all practice work to the best of your ability. Why? Generally, after a lesson in grammar or conventions you will be asked to practice your new skills in an actual piece of writing. Knowledge of more complex grammar and punctuation can help your writing SPARKLE.

8. Vocabulary Vocabulary will include words from novels and short stories read in class. Vocabulary will also come from a list of academic vocabulary. Academic vocabulary consists of words needed to understand and complete assignments and tests. You will need to study words and know both the definition and spelling of each word. VOCABULARY – USE IT OR LOSE IT! The best way to make new vocabulary your own is to use new vocabulary often.

9. Textbooks Students are issued both a literature textbook and a grammar textbook to keep at home. They will be collected at t he end of the school year. Please treat them well, as they are $75.00 and $50.00, respectively. 8th grade 7th grade

10. II. & III. Homework Late work Absences

11. Woo Hoo! Homework will be assigned daily. Why is homework so important? Not only is it an opportunity for learning, but in junior high English, often the class work assigned the next day will be dependent on the homework from the night before. For example, on Monday night you may be assigned a chapter to read in a novel, such as the Outsiders. On Wednesday, I may ask to you in class to work on a plot map with details from that chapter. If you did not read, you will be unable to do the work and will receive a zero. If there was a reading check quiz, you also may receive a second zero. Bottom Line: Homework is of the utmost importance!

12. Late Work Students will receive four late work passes per semester. They may be used for regular class work and home work assignments under 50 points only (not essays, tests, or projects). Late work should be turned in here. Please log your late or absent work here. Late work passes may not be bought, sold, bartered or given as gifts.

13. Absent Work When turning in absent work, be certain to write “Absent” on top in large letters, or I will assume it is late. Absent If you are absent, you have as many days as you are absent to complete and turn in work. Don’t forget to log it on the late or absent work log.

14. IV: Grades All grades are based on points. Assignments range from 10 points (small homework and class work assignments) to 100 points (essays, projects, and tests). Points are weighted within the following categories below: 30% Reading 20% Writing 10% Speaking and Listening 20% Language 20% Effort/Professionalism (on time, neat, directions followed…) I will post grades on Aeries (our computer program) and you and your family will be able to check them any time from home.

15. V. Supplies On your desk, everyday, before the bell rings, you must have: A binder with lined paper and a section marked “English”. Your agenda planner should also be in here. several pens in blue or black ink several sharpened pencils with erasers In your backpack you should also have your SSR book. A notebook just for English class (pick it up from the basket before the bell).

16. Classroom Expectations, Procedures, and Policies

17. Be Respectful • of your peers • of your teacher • of the classroom and school • of learning time Please raise your hand to speak. Please use respectful language in class discussions, even when you disagree with someone.

18. Be Responsible • During the passing period: • use the restroom • sharpen your pencil • place school materials on your desk • This way, you will be ready to learn when the bell rings. • During class: • Clean up after yourself whenever necessary You will get 4 bathroom passes per semester. It is non-exchangeable and cannot be bought, sold, or gifted. It cannot be used in the first or last 20 minutes of class..

19. A few quick NOs: • NO • hats or hoods • cell phones • food • drinks (except water in a closed container) • sunglasses • grooming • cell phones (must be off and put away in your backpack) Consequences: warning, speak with the teacher after class, lunch detention with teacher, and/or phone call/note home. All other school rules and consequences apply in class, as well.