Ms. Wages’ RELA Class Syllabus
2016-2017
Ms. Wages
Room 201
Email: [email protected]
Website: swages.weebly.com
Phone: 301-572-0650
Welcome to 8th grade Reading/Language Arts! I hope you have an enjoyable year. I’m here to prepare you to accomplish our learning goals. I take my teaching responsibilities very seriously and I commit to encouraging educational excellence for all students. I pledge to put forth my best effort. Please take time to explore my website (address above). You will find resources and information. If you need to contact me, e-mail is the best way.
Texts
The primary text this year will be My Perspectives by Pearson
Course Requirements
Participation
Interactive Student Notebook
Materials Needed Everyday
Please bring all materials to class by Sept. 17th. Students are expected to be prepared and bring materials to class EVERYDAY.
o 1 highlighter
o 3 x3 inch Post-It Notes
Students will not be able to go back to their lockers to get materials needed. If students do not have materials needed for class, they may be subject to points off of their classwork grade.
Ms. Wages’ RELA Class Syllabus
Classroom Expectations
· Students are expected to enter the classroom on time with all of the necessary materials. You will not be able to go back to your locker once class has started.
· Students are expected to turn in quality work. Presentation matters. Assignments should be clean, legible, and free of rips, doodles, and wrinkles.
· Students are expected to follow the King’s Principles
o Be Safe
o Be Responsible
o Be Respectful
o Be Ready
· In addition to following The King’s Principles, students are expected to follow the school rules, which can be found in the MLK Agenda book.
· Students are expected to follow all classroom procedures and rules.
· Students are expected to work to the best of their abilities. All work will be quality work. This means that papers will be handwritten in blue or black ink or typed. All assignments should be clean, legible, and free of rips, doodles, and wrinkles.
· Students are expected to come to school everyday.
· Students are expected to take their learning seriously.
· Students are expected to follow the class routines.
Classroom Rules
· School Rules. All school rules and policies apply in the classroom.
· Use appropriate language. No swearing, obscene language, crude gestures, rude comments, teasing or bullying are allowed. This is a learning environment and the language we use should reflect that.
· Be honest. Lying, cheating, and plagiarism are not allowed.
· Be respectful. This includes the respecting the right of all students to learn, others’ property, beliefs, ideas, and opinions. You do not have to agree with someone in order to be respectful.
· Listen. Pay attention when others are talking. Follow directions.
· Clean up. Keep the area around your desk neat. Put things back where they belong. Help keep the classroom neat.
· Participate. Students are required to participate in a variety of ways including group work, discussions, presentations, etc.
Evaluation/Grading Policy
Grades are set by the PGCPS Reading/Language Arts department and are weighted as follows:
50% Assessments (Tests, quizzes, projects)
40% Classwork (includes participation and conduct)
10% Homework (Reading/Writing Log, other nightly assignments)
Grading Scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; 59% and below is a failing grade of E.
Students earn their grades based on how well they complete the criteria of each task. Students should do their best on each assignment and activity, regardless of the point value. Each assignment counts.
Ms. Wages’ RELA Class Syllabus
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
ENTERING CLASSROOM
· Enter the classroom quietly and calmly
· Go directly to your seat
· Have materials and supplies ready
· Start your warm-up
· Silently read
· Sign tardy card if necessary
RESTROOM/DRINK
· Use the restroom or get a drink only during independent work and only during an emergency
· Do not interrupt the lesson to leave the room
· Only after the first 10 minutes or before the last 10 minutes of class
· Use one of your bathroom passes (10 per quarter)
· Complete departure log
· Extra credit for all unused bathroom passes
PENCILS
· Always have at least two pencils with you
· Do not get up to sharpen your pencil
· Use your individual pencil sharpener at your desk
TRASH
· Put all trash in the trash can on your way out.
· Do not throw paper balls
SUSTAINED SILENT READING (SSR)
· You must have a book every day
· Complete an annotated bibliography after reading each book
· You must read
· Store classroom reading book in bin
· Use a bookmark
· Return book neatly to original place before getting a new one
· If you do not read, you will fill out a report
PAPERS/ASSIGNMENTS
· First and last name in upper right-hand corner
· Date on line beneath name
· Mod on line beneath date
· Include title of assignment centered on the first line
· Do not use pages torn from your journal
· Neat work-Final copies either typed or written in blue or black ink
DISMISSAL
· Place all materials in appropriate locations
· Return desks to original positions
· Place any collected work into the appropriate class bin
WALKING AS A CLASS
· We will walk as a class to and from computer lab, the library, the cafeteria, and assemblies.
· We will walk in two straight lines
· We will walk quietly and quickly
INDEPENDENT WORK
· Work quietly and on your own
· If you need help raise your hand
SMALL GROUPS
· CHAMPS (will discuss in class)
· Do not talk loudly
· Remain seated
· Remain on task
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
· Raise your hand and wait to be called on
· Be patient
· Answer in complete sentences
SPEAKING
· When the teacher or anyone else is talking to the entire class, eyes remain on that person and everyone is quiet
TESTING
· Eyes on own paper
· Stay seated
· Remain quiet
· Raise hand if you need something
· Silently read when finished
FINISHED WORK EARLY
· Have completed assignment on desk
· Read independently
· Work on portfolio
· Work on annotated bibliography entry
· Schoolwork from other classes is NOT allowed during this time
· Work on a RELA assignment
· Do not disturb others
GROOMING
· Do your grooming before you get to school
· All combs, picks, brushes, make-up and mirrors are to be used on your own time and not in class
TARDIES AND ABSENCES
· NOTHING can substitute for attendance. When you miss school, you miss class discussions, group work, and lectures, which CAN NOT be made up or repeated.
· Students who are absent are responsible for getting class information and make-up work.
· Students entering the classroom tardy without a pass will sign a tardy card.
· After the second tardy, parents will be notified.
· Continued tardies will result in detention.
· Tardy students should enter the classroom quietly and not disrupt the class.
LATE WORK
· All work is due at the time I call for it. After that, it is late. I will only accept assignments one day late. After that I will not accept it.
· Assignments more than one day late will receive a score of zero.
· If you are absent when an assignment is due, the assignment is expected the day you come back to school.
· It is your responsibility to get your work done on time.
ASSIGNMENT STANDARDS
· Name, date, and mod written in top right corner
· Title of assignment centered on top line
· Written on loose leaf paper, not torn from journal
· Final written work should be in blue or black ink or typed
HOW TO SUCCEED IN RELA
1. Be sure to read independently each day.
2. Submit every assignment on time. Missing assignments are the main reason students do not do well.
3. Do your best work on every assignment.
4. Complete all assignments in Study Island.
5. Make the effort.
6. Study and review for tests and quizzes.
7. If you need additional assistance, please let me know.
2016-2017
Ms. Wages
Room 201
Email: [email protected]
Website: swages.weebly.com
Phone: 301-572-0650
Welcome to 8th grade Reading/Language Arts! I hope you have an enjoyable year. I’m here to prepare you to accomplish our learning goals. I take my teaching responsibilities very seriously and I commit to encouraging educational excellence for all students. I pledge to put forth my best effort. Please take time to explore my website (address above). You will find resources and information. If you need to contact me, e-mail is the best way.
Texts
The primary text this year will be My Perspectives by Pearson
Course Requirements
Participation
Interactive Student Notebook
Materials Needed Everyday
Please bring all materials to class by Sept. 17th. Students are expected to be prepared and bring materials to class EVERYDAY.
- Agenda Book
3-ring binder (for all subjects)
1 Five-Star spiral notebook, 100 pages (or comparable notebook)
Plenty of loose-leaf paper (This should be replenished throughout the year)
Pencil Pouch for three-ring binder. In your pencil pouch you should always have:
o several #2 pencils
o several ink pens (black or blue)
o 1 eraser - white liquid glue (Elmer's)
o 1 small hand-held pencil sharpener
o 1 highlighter
o 3 x3 inch Post-It Notes
Students will not be able to go back to their lockers to get materials needed. If students do not have materials needed for class, they may be subject to points off of their classwork grade.
Ms. Wages’ RELA Class Syllabus
Classroom Expectations
· Students are expected to enter the classroom on time with all of the necessary materials. You will not be able to go back to your locker once class has started.
· Students are expected to turn in quality work. Presentation matters. Assignments should be clean, legible, and free of rips, doodles, and wrinkles.
· Students are expected to follow the King’s Principles
o Be Safe
o Be Responsible
o Be Respectful
o Be Ready
· In addition to following The King’s Principles, students are expected to follow the school rules, which can be found in the MLK Agenda book.
· Students are expected to follow all classroom procedures and rules.
· Students are expected to work to the best of their abilities. All work will be quality work. This means that papers will be handwritten in blue or black ink or typed. All assignments should be clean, legible, and free of rips, doodles, and wrinkles.
· Students are expected to come to school everyday.
· Students are expected to take their learning seriously.
· Students are expected to follow the class routines.
Classroom Rules
· School Rules. All school rules and policies apply in the classroom.
· Use appropriate language. No swearing, obscene language, crude gestures, rude comments, teasing or bullying are allowed. This is a learning environment and the language we use should reflect that.
· Be honest. Lying, cheating, and plagiarism are not allowed.
· Be respectful. This includes the respecting the right of all students to learn, others’ property, beliefs, ideas, and opinions. You do not have to agree with someone in order to be respectful.
· Listen. Pay attention when others are talking. Follow directions.
· Clean up. Keep the area around your desk neat. Put things back where they belong. Help keep the classroom neat.
· Participate. Students are required to participate in a variety of ways including group work, discussions, presentations, etc.
Evaluation/Grading Policy
Grades are set by the PGCPS Reading/Language Arts department and are weighted as follows:
50% Assessments (Tests, quizzes, projects)
40% Classwork (includes participation and conduct)
10% Homework (Reading/Writing Log, other nightly assignments)
Grading Scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; 59% and below is a failing grade of E.
Students earn their grades based on how well they complete the criteria of each task. Students should do their best on each assignment and activity, regardless of the point value. Each assignment counts.
Ms. Wages’ RELA Class Syllabus
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
ENTERING CLASSROOM
· Enter the classroom quietly and calmly
· Go directly to your seat
· Have materials and supplies ready
· Start your warm-up
· Silently read
· Sign tardy card if necessary
RESTROOM/DRINK
· Use the restroom or get a drink only during independent work and only during an emergency
· Do not interrupt the lesson to leave the room
· Only after the first 10 minutes or before the last 10 minutes of class
· Use one of your bathroom passes (10 per quarter)
· Complete departure log
· Extra credit for all unused bathroom passes
PENCILS
· Always have at least two pencils with you
· Do not get up to sharpen your pencil
· Use your individual pencil sharpener at your desk
TRASH
· Put all trash in the trash can on your way out.
· Do not throw paper balls
SUSTAINED SILENT READING (SSR)
· You must have a book every day
· Complete an annotated bibliography after reading each book
· You must read
· Store classroom reading book in bin
· Use a bookmark
· Return book neatly to original place before getting a new one
· If you do not read, you will fill out a report
PAPERS/ASSIGNMENTS
· First and last name in upper right-hand corner
· Date on line beneath name
· Mod on line beneath date
· Include title of assignment centered on the first line
· Do not use pages torn from your journal
· Neat work-Final copies either typed or written in blue or black ink
DISMISSAL
· Place all materials in appropriate locations
· Return desks to original positions
· Place any collected work into the appropriate class bin
WALKING AS A CLASS
· We will walk as a class to and from computer lab, the library, the cafeteria, and assemblies.
· We will walk in two straight lines
· We will walk quietly and quickly
INDEPENDENT WORK
· Work quietly and on your own
· If you need help raise your hand
SMALL GROUPS
· CHAMPS (will discuss in class)
· Do not talk loudly
· Remain seated
· Remain on task
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
· Raise your hand and wait to be called on
· Be patient
· Answer in complete sentences
SPEAKING
· When the teacher or anyone else is talking to the entire class, eyes remain on that person and everyone is quiet
TESTING
· Eyes on own paper
· Stay seated
· Remain quiet
· Raise hand if you need something
· Silently read when finished
FINISHED WORK EARLY
· Have completed assignment on desk
· Read independently
· Work on portfolio
· Work on annotated bibliography entry
· Schoolwork from other classes is NOT allowed during this time
· Work on a RELA assignment
· Do not disturb others
GROOMING
· Do your grooming before you get to school
· All combs, picks, brushes, make-up and mirrors are to be used on your own time and not in class
TARDIES AND ABSENCES
· NOTHING can substitute for attendance. When you miss school, you miss class discussions, group work, and lectures, which CAN NOT be made up or repeated.
· Students who are absent are responsible for getting class information and make-up work.
· Students entering the classroom tardy without a pass will sign a tardy card.
· After the second tardy, parents will be notified.
· Continued tardies will result in detention.
· Tardy students should enter the classroom quietly and not disrupt the class.
LATE WORK
· All work is due at the time I call for it. After that, it is late. I will only accept assignments one day late. After that I will not accept it.
· Assignments more than one day late will receive a score of zero.
· If you are absent when an assignment is due, the assignment is expected the day you come back to school.
· It is your responsibility to get your work done on time.
ASSIGNMENT STANDARDS
· Name, date, and mod written in top right corner
· Title of assignment centered on top line
· Written on loose leaf paper, not torn from journal
· Final written work should be in blue or black ink or typed
HOW TO SUCCEED IN RELA
1. Be sure to read independently each day.
2. Submit every assignment on time. Missing assignments are the main reason students do not do well.
3. Do your best work on every assignment.
4. Complete all assignments in Study Island.
5. Make the effort.
6. Study and review for tests and quizzes.
7. If you need additional assistance, please let me know.