LANGUAGE ARTS “Literature is no one’s private ground, literature is common ground; let us trespass freely and fearlessly and find our own way

for ourselves.” - Virginia Woolf!

Red Team = Mrs. Mallo River Ridge Middle School 2016-2017 School Year Orange Team = Mrs. Walters

Class Rules!1. Follow directions quickly. 2. Raise your hand for permission to speak.

3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.  

4. Make smart choices.    

5. Keep your dear teacher HAPPY.      Class Expectations!1. Be in your seat when tardy bell rings. 2. Put proper heading on all papers. 3. Do not use electronic devices in class without teacher permission. 4. Use restroom during passing breaks. 5. Maintain a clean and orderly work area. 6. Bring all of your supplies to class daily. 7. Complete all of your work and turn it in on time. 8. All RRMS rules and policies shall be observed within the classroom.

Welcome to 7th Language Arts! Our focus this school year will be learning and developing our skills as critical thinkers, readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. The development and mastery of the Florida State Standards for Language Arts is important not only to achieving success in this classroom, it is a critical component of achieving success in other school subjects, building strong relationships with others, and attaining a flourishing career as an adult. Basically, the quality of life you experience now through adulthood will depend a lot on how well you read, write, and communicate with others.

Your appropriate behavior in class assures everyone of an environment conducive to learning. Some possible rewards for continuous appropriate behavior are: intrinsic value (satisfaction of learning), improved skills, verbal praise, positive note to parents, and special class activities / privileges.

1. Warning: the teacher provides a verbal reprimand/reminder to student. 2. Lunch Detention (lonely lunch): alone time spent during lunch to contemplate conduct. 3. Afterschool Detention: time spent with a school teacher/administrative assistant to review the school’s requirements for appropriate behavior. 4. Referral to Administration: student will be immediately referred to administration for severe behavior problems. THERE IS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CHEATING! Please review the Pasco County Academic Integrity Policy in the Student Code of Conduct.

The Orange Team will send home a Team Behavior Plan.

Work not completed and turned in by the assigned date is considered late. If a student is absent on the date work is due, the assignment is due the first day the student returns to school, unless other arrangements have been agreed upon. COMPLETED LATE WORK will only receive partial credit (70% of the assignment total). INCOMPLETE LATE WORK will not be graded and will result in a zero for the assignment.

Course Description – Course numbers 1001050Z and 1001040z!

What do I get if I follow class rules?!

What are the consequences if I don’t follow class rules?!

What happens if I turn in an assignment late?!

Where do I go to find assignments/homework and class information?!Class  assignments  will  be  listed  on  the  board  of  the  teacher.  MyStudent  will  show  assignments  that  are  past  due  or  missing,  so  it  is  important  to  keep  up  with  daily  work  and  turn  it  in  on  <me.    Mrs.  Mallo  offers  Remind  101  for  her  students  and  Mrs.  Walters  has  a  Homework  Website  for  her  team.  

lmallo@pasco.k12.fl.us (727)774-7000 jwalters@pasco.k12.fl.us

   

     

Class progress reports approximately every two weeks. Parents and students are also strongly encouraged to check the myStudent on a weekly basis to view the most current grades for EVERY class. A = 100%-90%

B = 89% - 80%

C = 79%-70%

D = 69%-60%

F = 59%-0%

Grade Scale!

Grade Breakdown!Writing/ Assessments/Benchmarks = 40% Journals/Starters = 20% Quizzes = 20% Classwork/homework/Classroom activities = 20%

Mrs.  Mallo  –  Red  Team  q  Two,  1-­‐  subject  notebook  with  pockets    q  Highlighter  q  Colored  pencils  q  glue  s<cks    q  Scissors  q  Pencil  (EVERY  DAY)  q  1  pack  Lined  notebook  paper  (given  to  

teacher)  q  1  pack  copy  paper  white  or  colored  (given  

to  teacher)  Mrs.  Walters  –  Orange  Team  q  Spiral  Notebook  q  1”  3  Ring  Binder  with  paper  q  Pencils  and  Pens  (EVERY  DAY)  q  Bring  colored  pencils/glue  s<cks/scissors/

highlights  just  in  case      

Supplies!

How will I check my grade in class?!

What do I do if I am absent?!It is the student’s responsibility to check with your teacher for missing work. Depending on the amount of time missed and the complexity of the assignment will determine how long the student will have to complete the task(s). If an absence is prearranged, then please try to have the work that the student takes with him/her complete upon return.

Do I have to read outside of class?!All students will be expected to read independently on a daily basis. Students must bring a reading book to school so they are prepared for independent reading during Language Arts anytime.

What types of writing will I do this year?!Journal Writing Time refers to the almost daily thought provoking writing students will complete in their classroom journals. Essays students will complete essays as the year progresses always using textual evidence to support their purposes. Students will also be required to turn in their final papers on their Google Drive accounts. Numerous process pieces will be completed throughout the year (at least one per quarter). Even though the process pieces will be worked on and stored in the student’s Google Drive, the completed piece must be printed off and turned in to the teacher on the DUE DATE.

What are the required readings this year?!Titles to the novels that we will read will be announced throughout the year; however, all students are expected to have a book of their choice in their backpack at all times. If a student is required to read a novel for another class, he or she is allowed to read that book during class reading time unless a book has been assigned for language arts. Electronic books are also allowed; however, if  a  student  is  found  to  be  abusing  this  privilege  (tex<ng,  playing  a  game,  etc.)  he  or  she  will  Not  be  allowed  to  use  an  electronic  device  again  for  reading.    

http://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/ River Ridge Website http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/ssps/conduct/ Student Code of Conduct

How will I be graded?  To measure your achievements in critical thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and listening, the scale to the left will be followed. Quarterly District Assessments will be given and will be part of each quarter’s grade. Per RRMS’s Summative Assessment Policy, if a student scores below a 70% for Summative Assessments, the student will be allowed to take a new test for an opportunity to score up to a 70%.  

Red Team = Mrs. Mallo River Ridge Middle School 2016-2017 School Year Orange Team = Mrs. Walters

PLEASE READ THE COURSE INFORMATION, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS SHEET TO YOUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER.

Students: Please  sign  below  to  signify  that  you  have  read  the  syllabus  for  English  class,  will  keep  it  in  your  folder,  and  will  be  responsible  for  the  informa<on  throughout  the  year,  and  will  check  MyStudent  at  least  twice  per  week  at  school  or  at  home.            _______________________________      _____________________________________________    Student  printed  name          Student  signature          Parents/Guardians:          Please  sign  below  to  indicate  that  you  have  read  the  course  sheet  for  7th  Grade  English  Language  Arts  class  and  that  you  will  help  your  student  be  accountable  for  the  informa<on.  If  you  have  ques<ons  about  the  course    or  your  student’s  work,  please  do  not  hesitate  to  contact  me;  email  is  the  best  way  to  reach  me  quickly.            _______________________________      _____________________________________________    Parent/Guardian  printed  name        Parent/Guardian  signature            _______________________________      ______________________________________________    Parent/Guardian  e-­‐mail          Parent/Guardian  dayCme  phone  number  (please  print)            

Parents and guardians, please CIRCLE the best way for me to contact you: e-mail phone

lmallo@pasco.k12.fl.us (727)774-7000 jwalters@pasco.k12.fl.us

Check  all  the  statements  that  apply  to  how  you  would  like  to  communicate  with  Mrs.  Mallo  about  your  student’s  progress.  I  will,  of  course,  call  for  major  concerns  or  accomplishments,  but  with  approximately  130  students,  I  like  to  know  how  you’d  prefer  to  communicate.    _____  We  have  internet  access  at  home,  so  we  will  check  myStudent    at  least  twice  per  week  to  check  on  

 our  student’s  progress.  We  will  contact  Mrs.  Mallo  about  any  concerns  we  have.    _____  We  plan  to  email  Mrs.  Mallo    as  needed  for  updates.    _____  We  do  not  have  internet  access  at  home,  but  I/we  would  like  to  have  regular  contact  with  Mrs.  Mallo.  

 we  will  call  for  updates.    _____  Other:  _______________________________________________________________________________    

Red Team = Mrs. Mallo River Ridge Middle School 2016-2017 School Year Orange Team = Mrs. Walters