Class+information

= CLASS INFORMATION:    = =  = =Miss Leslie Maahs   maahs@4j.lane.edu http://missleslie.wikispaces.com =


 * Websites: ** All assignments, grades, and classroom policies can be accessed via this website.

**Language Arts: ** In language arts the focus is on the four main aspects of communication: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This class will be exploring each area while preparing to meet or exceed the 8th grade benchmarks. In addition, we will be including a research component, which involves on-going mini-research lessons culminating in a final project during the months of April and May.

**Agenda Planners: ** Students will record all assignments in their Agenda Planners. Those who are absent should check the homework board in the classroom, or the website, for missed work. Agenda planner checks will happen sporadically and will be part of the participation grade.

**Homework: ** All classwork not finished in class becomes homework. Students are expected to finish all work by the due date given. Students may check out class literature books from me, so they have the resources to finish the work at home. In addition, all students have on-going reading homework, which will require them to read a novel (chosen from a list) and take notes as they read. Students should expect to have homework almost every night of the school week.

**Late work: ** Work turned in after the due date will have a 10% reduction of the score received, and an additional 10% reduction for each additional week it is late. Late work will only be accepted up to three weeks after the assignment is due. Students with an excused absence will be given an additional week to make up work missed without penalty.

**Participation: ** This is essential to the learning process in a language art’s classroom. Students are encouraged to share their knowledge and opinions with their peers during discussion. Thus, a small portion of a student’s grade will be a participation grade based on actions such as volunteering or sharing.

**Time and Preparation: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Students are expected to come to class on time and be prepared. Materials needed are as follows: binder, notebook paper, pencil, highlighter, agenda, and a reading novel. Tardies will be reflected in the participation portion of the grade.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Written Work: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Unless otherwise specified, all work will be handwritten. Computer-processed work is also accepted for assignments that are completed outside of class time (ex: longer essays).

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Tests: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Students will learn new spelling/vocabulary words at the beginning of every week. They are expected to take notes on these words and study throughout the week, as they will have a spelling/vocabulary test at the end of each week. Students will also be studying grammar and should expect to have regular grammar quizzes over recently learned material.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Extra Credit: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Extra credit is earned by entering school contests such as the Poetry Contest or a Library Contest. It can also be earned by submitting work to the C.Y. Echo or adding to the Library Blog.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Portfolios: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Students are expected to save all written work in a personal file in the classroom.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Rules: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> Students are expected to behave in ways that support their ability to learn, the ability of others to learn, and my ability to teach. Cheating will not be tolerated. If a student is caught cheating he/she will receive a zero and will not be able to make-up those points.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Parents/Guardians: **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> I encourage you to check my website for the answers to your questions. Contact me via email at any time, and I will get back to you as quickly as possible; contact by phone is more difficult. Now that your student is an eighth-grader, he/she will have more responsibility to advocate for him/herself as an adult. Their eighth grade year is their last preparation year before high school, so I expect you and your student to communicate about his/her progress in this class.