English Language Arts

Ms. Jefferis7C

B-13

A Bit About Ms J• Degree from University of Illinois• Arizona certified middle and high school language arts

and Elementary• This is my 16th year in middle school education.• Taught all subjects at some point in my career.• Have taught in Colorado, Illinois and Arizona.• Live in 7 different states• Am a scrap booker/card maker and Photographer

A Bit More About Ms J

• Love pumpkin and cranberries• Trekked on a glacier this summer• Have 2 orange cats named Fred and George

after the Weasley twins in Harry Potter.• Fifth year at AKI, 3rd on team C, 6th in district• Carried the Olympic Flame for the torch relay

for the U.S. Olympic festival in 1994

What is Common Core?• http://vimeo.com/51933492

Grade Break Down15% = Vocabulary/Grammar Assessment ( tests, quizzes and projects)35%= Reading Assessment ( tests, quizzes and projects)35%= Writing Assessment (tests, quizzes and projects)5%= Writing Practice ( homework and classroom practice)5%= Reading Practice ( homework and classroom practice)5%= Vocabulary/Grammar Practice (homework and classroom practice

• Assessments = Final copies of written work (Papers) including proof of revision strategies, Projects, Quizzes and Tests.

• Practice= Homework and classwork – Writing Process: (pre-writing, outlining, drafting and

weekly writing prompt analysis and practice); Reading Process (practice of reading strategies and comprehension); Journal of 4 pages a week recorded in class notebook.

– Vocabulary charts using the Holt vocabulary book or Greek/Latin word parts; weekly minutes of independent (non-school related) reading , completion of reading log questions; grammar assignments; other review or practice assignments.

Grade book Codes• MI= the assignment is missing and needs to be

turned. There is no affect on the grade yet.• 0MI= the assignment is missing. The student was

given a chance to complete but said they did not do it.

• LA- assignment was turned in late and given credit. Some points may shave been lost.

• No zeros for Practice work. And F is 50%.• Assessments can be a zero if a student does

nothing or gets all the questions wrong.• Assignments will be accepted late but points may

be lost.

Homework• Reading logs• Vocab. • Grammar practice• Final Draft Writing• Self assigned- Student Needed

more time

Vocabulary Charts• Each week students use the Holt Vocab. Book. We will do 1

lesson a week.– Charts are handed out the first of the week and checked

Wed.– The words are in the book, on the board and on the

webpage.– Throughout the week there will be word practice from the

vocab. book.– Quizzes are at the end of the week.– They must know how to spell and define each word.

• 5 words and 5 definitions will be given. They need to fill in the blanks.

REG

Vocabulary Charts

• Word Part Chart• Charts are handed out the first of the week

and due Wed.• The quiz will be every 2 weeks over 2

lessons.• There will be review from the vocab book a

couple times during the week.

ADV

Book Summaries• 3 parts- share, summary and

reflection– Sharing is a main reason to do a

book report.– Encourage love of reading.

Students pick book of their level appropriate choice.

– Summary directions are on the webpage.

Check Days•     6 Reading log questions(complete sentence answers)•     8 Journal pages ( 2 weeks worth)•     200 Reading log minutes( 300 for AdvLA)• 1st Check Day is• Wed August 21st ( no reading log yet)

• Dates are on the Web.

Where to find Information• Agenda Board( on Perry Wall)• Vocab. Board( on Perry Wall)• Handout trays( back counter)• Writing center(front of room)• Webpage- Jefferis

Impromptu Speeches Speaking and Listening

Standard• Students will be called upon, at

random, to speak to the class on a topic. Topics are picked out of a fishbowl at random.

• These are timed. Starting at 20 seconds and increasing each quarter.

• Students are required to participate once a quarter.

• removes nerves since it is instant.

Reading• Weekly Independent reading logs. 100

minutes(150 for ADV) a week and 3 reading log questions. Check every 2 weeks.

• Quarterly Book Summaries• In class long and short text reading.

Writing

• Daily Writing Journal-1 page a day(4 a week)• Full Process Writing (a paper/essay)• Weekly analyze a prompt• Writing styles- persuade, inform, and

entertain• Emphasis on common core expository text.• Writing strategies to increase writing skill

– Examples: Exploding the Moment, Zombie Words, and Stoplight format

Questions?• E-mail is the best way to

communicate with me. • tjefferis@kyrene.org