Please be aware that plans are subject to change at teacher's discretion.
Students have been reviewing for FCAT Reading and working on short and extended response format for all FCATs in March.
Interims for third quarter were distributed on Friday, February 22.
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Greetings to everyone as we begin the year 2008. Please be advised that the end of second quarter will be Thursday, January 17. Updates for grades in Pinnacle will be on going until the morning of Friday, January 18.
Third quarter will begin on Wednesday, January 23.
Upon returning from winter break, students will be working on Units 5, 6 and 7 of the PowerEd Writing Program. Unit 5 will guide them through practicing and improving sentence fluency, word choice, and voice in their writing. Unit 6 provides students with review of grade level grammar, usage, and punctuation conventions. Unit 7 will provide them with practice FCAT-style essays in a timed format.
This preparation will take them through Tuesday, February 12, which is the day of Florida Writes (FCAT Writing Test).
If you believe your child still needs additional help with their writing, please enroll them in FCAT Writing Camp.
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Benchmark Testing will be during the week of November 26. From November 30 through December 14, students will be reviewing for their midterm exams. Midterm exams will be conducted during the week of December 17. Students will be tested on the stories, plays, non-fiction, and poems they have read and interpreted during first and second quarters.
Second Quarter Interim Reports will be distributed on Monday, December 3, 2007.
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Students have completed the first four units of the PowerEd Writing program. At this point, each and every student has had enough strategy, guidance, and practice to write a basic, solid, five-paragraph expository and persuasive essay. Students have learned how to incorporate a creative hook or quote introduction and conclusion, use transitions and justifiers, and provide solid quote, example and/or statistic supporting details.
When students return from winter break, they will be working on Units 5 and 7 of the PowerEd Writing Program. Unit 5 will guide them through practicing and improving sentence fluency, word choice, and voice in their writing. Unit 7 will provide them with practice FCAT-style essays in a timed format.
If you believe your child still needs additional help with their writing, please enroll them in FCAT Writing Camp (see below).
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The first day of the second marking period is October 29, 2007.
FCAT Writing Camp information was sent home with ALL Language Arts students on Friday, October 5, 2007. The first session begins on Saturday, November 3, 2007. Registration is on-going, as FCAT Writing Camp will continue until the FCAT Writing Test in February 2008. I encourage ALL students to attend--remember, each student who participates in FCAT Writing Camp will earn extra credit in Language Arts class--a rare opportunity!
Reminder: Your child has been directed to complete his or her agenda daily as bellwork for Language Arts class. Students have been told to copy information under "classwork" as well as any homework that has been assigned. That way, parents may check students' agendas at any time and be advised of concepts that are being taught and practiced in Language Arts Class.
Language Arts Grade 8
Team 8B "The Bravehearts"
Please be aware that plans are subject to change at teacher's discretion
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Updates in Pinnacle are ongoing. If there is a blank for an assignment, please do not be alarmed. Again, this simply means that updates are in progress. A "0" or "Z" would indicate that an assignment was not completed.
Open House is Thursday, September 20, 2007. I welcome you to attend; I would love for you to see the fabulous learning opportunities your child is experiencing in Language Arts class this year!
Interim Reports will be distributed on Friday, September 21, 2007. Please note that grades for Language Arts class may be low at this time due to students not demonstrating mastery in writing on their diagnostic essays. However, as students' skills are strenghened through the use of the PowerEd Writes curriculum, students will receive an opportunity to revise and rewrite their diagnostic essays prior to the end of the marking period. This will provide students with a chance to raise their grades. However, please keep in mind that a low grade could be an indication that a child is not completing work for class. If this has resulted in a "D" or "F" grade, a request for parent communication will be noted on the interim report.
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.Re: Pertinent Class Information
Curriculum Goals:
1. Preparation for Language Arts classes in high school
2. Preparation for FCAT Writing and FCAT Reading
3. Foundation for lifelong writing and literary analysis skills
4. Stimulation for lifelong appreciation of literature and culture
Class Texts:
Writing and Grammar Text
The Language of Literature Texts
FCAT Prep workbooks (kept in class)
Writing and Grammar workbooks (kept in class)
Interactive Reader workbooks (kept in class)
Teacher-generated activities, packets, handouts, assignments
Class Rules:
1. Come prepared to begin working immediately. The teacher will tell you when class is finished.
2. Follow directions the first time they are given.
3. Raise your hand for teacher permission to speak aloud in class. Do not interrupt others.
4. Uphold the Broward County Public Schools Code of Conduct.
5. Follow Glades Middle School Rules.
Noteworthy Procedures:
1. Copy the agenda from the board daily. Teacher will do weekly agenda checks.
2. Bell work will be on the projector screen is to be completed upon arrival to class. Teacher will collect and grade student bell work.
3. Raise your hand for teacher permission to leave your seat.
4. Read or work on other schoolwork if you are finished with your class work before others.
Noteworthy Policies:
1. The teacher enforces the school policy on being on time to class.
2. No passes from class will be permitted. The only exception is extreme circumstances such as an emergency or a pre-arranged school activity.
3. The teacher’s policy on make-up from absences is consistent with the district policy. Students can find make-up work in the colored bin by the teacher’s desk.
4. The teacher does not accept late homework (with the exception of ESE and/or ESOL accommodations).
Suggested Materials:
Pencils, pens, erasers, loose-leaf notebook paper, folder
A composition-style notebook is recommended for daily bell work.
(Writing portfolios will be kept in class. A class work portfolio is also kept in class, as well as a file of students’ tests. Work that students will need to review for tests or quizzes will be returned to the students.)
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