Course Content All learning activities will address the 8 th grade Language Arts standards that can be obtained at

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1 Nancy Downing Willow Glen Middle School Room C103 8 th grade Language Arts nancy_downing@sjusd.org (my cell phone) downingc103.blogspot.com/- All assignments are posted on my blog Welcome to room C103 and 8 th grade Language Arts! I am excited about the school year ahead and getting to know all of my students. The success and academic growth of each student is my top priority. I strive to build relationships with each student and provide rigorous and relevant lessons. This year is an important one for 8 th graders, as it is the final year before entering high school. It is my goal to help each of my students become fully prepared to transition into high school. Positive Behavior Expectations Our school is participating in Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. This program promotes good behavior and academic achievement. I am a firm believer that students will thrive when good behavior and academic excellence are the expectations and norms, not only in the classroom, but campus wide. Our expectations form the acronym: Respect all Achieve your best Make responsible choices Feel free to ask me if you have any questions about PBIS. Course Content All learning activities will address the 8 th grade Language Arts standards that can be obtained at Reading I am a firm believer that reading makes a person smarter; it engages the mind and gets the wheels turning. It s a good thing. Students will be reading in class (novels, short stories, poetry and nonfiction) and at home. For their independent reading I will be asking all students and parents (or guardians) to sign a reading contract. This contract ensures that the student communicates with his/her parents and myself regarding their chosen book and that we all agree that the book is appropriate for the student. Students will have an assignment related to their chosen book; therefore it is crucial that he/she reads at home. I usually assign six reading contracts throughout the year which means students will be reading six books cover-to-cover! I do not assign weekly reading logs, but students will have weekly assignments related to their independent novel. INDEPENDENT READING IS ALWAYS A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT! Writing Students will be writing every day in class. They will be writing in a variety of genres including narrative, expository, persuasive and response to literature. Some of our writing assignments will require students to go through the entire writing process: pre-write draft revise edit publish, and other times the writing will be more informal.

2 Listening and Speaking Students will: Read aloud Participate in class and group discussions about what they have read. Use appropriate academic language during discussions Deliver well-organized formal presentations Required Supplies A 3 ring binder (1 ) to be used exclusively for this class. Dividers for the binder (5) Plenty of binder paper Lots of pencils and pens for class work (blue or black ink only!) A small stapler A pencil box or bag (a ziplock bag works fine) to hold pens, pencils, stapler, etc. Optional, but nice to have: Highlighters- green, yellow, pink and blue Colored pencils Class Rules Respect All Achieve your best Make responsible choices Raise your hand for permission to speak Be in your assigned seat ready to work when the bell rings Follow directions quickly Be on task during work times Bring all supplies every day Consequences for breaking a rule First offense: A friendly reminder Second offense: Another reminder (verbal or non-verbal) Third offense: Detention- held after school on 3:00pm Please review these rules with your child. We will be spending some time in class discussing these rules as well as the district rules. I would greatly appreciate it if you would remind your student that cell phones must be out of sight (in backpack) and turned off, and that Gum is not allowed in school, Procedures Class runs smoothly when procedures are followed. Here are a few of my more important procedures. Please review these with your student. Entering class 1. Line up in two orderly lines outside the door. 2. When it is time to enter classroom, quietly walk to desk and take out LA binder, planner, pencil box and any HW or book that is needed. Nothing else should be on the desk! 3. Put backpack under your desk or on your back. Do not put backpack on the desk or your lap! 4. Have HW out on desk and immediately begin working on the warm-up assignment.

3 Sharpening Pencils Bring multiple pencils to class so if one breaks you have back up. If your pencil needs sharpening, do it before or during the warm up. The pencil sharpener is closed after the warm up is over. If you need a pencil, take a golf pencil from one of the pencil boxes. Using the Bathroom If you want to use the restroom: 1. Make eye contact with Mrs. Downing while you raise your hand with fingers crossed. 2. Mrs. Downing will nod yes or shake her head no. 3. If given permission, take the restroom pass with you and be back within 2 minutes. 4. This entire procedure will be done without speaking. Absences and Tardies In order for a student to succeed, good attendance is required. Please make sure your child understands the importance of being on time for each class meeting. I consider a student tardy if he/ she is not in their desk by the time the final bell rings. After 5 tardies an administrator will assign a consequence. If a student is absent it is his/her responsibility to get their missed work. He/She may see me after class (it time allows), before school, during lunch, or after school. Late Work Late work will earn half credit unless the student has an excused absence. All late work should be put into the late-work basket. If the late work is not due to an absence, students must write late at the top of the page and turn it in up to one week after the assignment was originally due. If the student was absent, he/she should write absent at the top of the assignment and put it in the late-work basket. Grading Policy I expect all students to produce the highest quality work possible and to respect due dates. I weight my grades according to these categories: tests/ quizzes, effort/ participation, major assignments/ projects and homework. Tests and quizzes show achievement of standards taught. Warm-ups, class participation and some assignments comprise the effort and participation grade. Major writing assignments and projects are typically assignments that take a week or two to complete. Homework is just that, and I try to only give homework that is relevant (sometimes it is extra credit). Independent reading is ALWAYS a homework assignment. Weighting of Assignments: Test and quizzes Effort and participation Major Writing Assignments and Projects Homework 30% of grade 30% of grade 25% of grade 15% of grade 100% - 90% A 89% - 80% B+ to B- 78% - 70% C+ to C- 69% - 60% D+ to D- 59% - 0% Fail

4 I update grades in Infinite Campus on a weekly basis. If you ever have a question regarding an assignment, please or call me. Contact the school office for instructions on how to access Infinite Campus. I welcome parent communication and want to make it easy for you to contact me. Feel free to call me on my cell phone or me with any questions or concerns and I will respond promptly. I post all of my assignments on my blog (downingc103.blogspot.com/). Please check it whenever your child says, I don t have any homework! ( :

5 Return this page only! Parents / Guardians: Please complete this page and have your child return it to me. I have read through the syllabus with my student,. (Student s first and last name) Please add any additional information here that might help your student have a successful year. Please provide me with as much contact information as you can. Parent / Guardian name: Daytime phone #s: Cell phone #s: Address: Parent s signature Date