Language Arts | Griffith, Melody

Email:  melody.griffith@husd.org                                     Office Hours: Monday-Friday, By Appointment   

Phone: 480.279.8500

In order to ensure a successful academic year, all the information below should be carefully reviewed and followed.

Course Description:

In reading, students will focus on comprehension and analytical reading skills through the study of a variety

of authors and genres. Students will learn how successful readers think and visualize when they read, interact with, and examine text.  In writing, we will focus on construction narrative, expository, persuasive, and research pieces. Additionally, we will learn how to write meaningful and concise short responses, summaries, and be able to cite text references.

Curriculum:

The curriculum for this course aligns with the Arizona State Standards for Language Arts and the new College and Career Readiness Standards, which may be viewed on the Arizona Board of Education website, http://www.ade.az.gov/.

Textbook:

Collections, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017

Textbook/Novels, Short Stories, Plays and Poetry:

Students will be responsible for adhering to the assigned reading schedules for classroom novel studies.  Classroom discussions/seminars, activities, reflective writing, and assessments will be based on the readings.  Students will be notified in advance of any novel studies used to anchor the textbook selections.

*Note:  Students may wish to obtain a copy of the anchor texts from the library, bookstore, or via digital download for at home reading and/or annotation assignments. 

Outside Reading Requirement:

In addition to keeping pace with daily classroom readings and the anchor texts, students will be responsible for reading self-selected, level appropriate novels from a quarterly themed list throughout the school year.  An accountability project/assignment will be assigned each quarter to correlate to the self-selected readings.  Project/assignment sheets, guidelines, and rubrics will be supplied and posted on Canvas for student and parent access. 

*Important Note: Parents must approve all self-selected outside literature selections.  Students should select new (not previously read) novels for outside reading.

Homework/Homework Policy:

Students are expected to read 20-30 minutes every evening from their O.R.R. novels. You will occasionally have additional homework in my class.  These assignments are for enrichment, exercise, practice and review. Other assignments may include work that was not completed in class.  I will allot time during each class period to have students copy the assignments in a planner of their choice and to review the directions and expectations.  Students can access homework via Canvas.

After School Detention (ASD)

SMS staff and administration believe in the value and importance of teaching students responsibility and accountability.  As a result, students may be assigned After School Detention (ASD).  ASD will be held three days a week.  Students who are assigned ASD will serve on the next scheduled ASD day. Students will not serve on the day it is assigned to allow parents the opportunity to make arrangements to pick up their child.  District transportation cannot be provided for ASD.  Students will need to be picked up no later than 4:30PM. ASD may be assigned by a teacher for the following reasons:

-Tardy to Class                         -Unprepared for Class                   -Failure to Submit an Assignment

Plagiarism/Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is expected on all assignments.  Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated in this class. It’s that simple. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying assignments
• Dishonesty during testing
• Presenting the ideas or writings of another as your own (plagiarism)
• Copying directly from group members when the assignment calls for individual ideas
• Allowing others to use your work for the purposes of cheating

Any student caught cheating will receive a failing grade for the assignment, a referral to the office, and his or her parents will be notified.

This policy includes working on language arts work in another class. Do not do this without direct permission from the teacher of that class. Be aware that all of the 8^th grade teachers know to take away the work and contact one of us. Working on another teacher’s assignments in class is a sign of disrespect to the teacher of that class and we will not accept any assignments that were completed this way. This also means that assignments from other teachers will not be allowed in our classroom as well.

Work Submission:

All submitted work must have a proper MLA heading written or typed in the upper left hand corner of the page.  Essays must follow MLA guidelines. Students who turn in work without a name will need to track and retrieve their assignments from the “No Name” tray.  We will not grade an assignment until a student’s name is on it.  We cannot grade work that we cannot read. Messy work will be returned to be redone legibly and then resubmitted.

Essays and Projects:

Work must be submission ready—this means typed, printed, and stapled.  It is the student’s responsibility to type and print papers prior to the assigned due date.  You must consult with the teacher before the submission due date if you have printer issues. E-mailed papers will not be accepted.

*If you do not have access to the Internet a hard copy of assignments will be supplied to your child.

 **If you do not have access to a printer a note with parent signature must accompany the hand written assignment.

Daily assignments:

A completed, quality effort assignment must include complete sentences for short answer responses.

Absences:

It is the student’s responsibility to retrieve missed handouts/assignments from the “Missed Assignments” bin in the back of the room. Assignments for the week are posted on the homework board, as well as on Canvas. Students have one day for each excused absence to turn in missing work. In the event of an extended absence, personal arrangements will be made.

Help Time:

If a student needs additional help with an assignment beyond the academic school day or needs access to technology, please notify me before the due date. Students may schedule a help session for additional support.

Tardies:

You are expected to be in your seat with required materials ready and actively engaged in the warm-up activity at the start of the class period. If you are running late from another class you must have a pass to excuse the tardy.  Unexcused tardies may result in a discipline referral.

Grading Policy:

All grades will be based on points and weighted using the scale below.  In 8th grade, grades are cumulative for each semester (Fall and Spring). Grades will be updated regularly; it is highly recommended that both students and parents login to the online gradebook weekly to monitor progress. The following are the weighted categories for Language Arts classes:

Weighting Scale:

Assessments (Test/Projects/Essays/Quizzes)                                             60% of grade

Practice (Homework/Warm-Ups/Class Activities/Interactive Notebook)    20% of grade

Final Exams/Benchmarks                                                                              20% of grade

*Grades will be posted and available online using the Synergy gradebook system.*

A = 90% – 100%       B = 80% – 89%   C = 70% – 79%   D = 60% – 69%    F =59% or below

A teacher has the discretion not to accept assignments from students who do not meet minimal standards of completion. Any assignment that remains un-submitted at the end of the unit of study or two weeks after the original due date (teacher discretion) will remain/be entered as a zero in the grade book. 

Needed Materials:

• 1 subject spiral bound notebook with durable cover (to be used as an Interactive Notebook for LA class only)
• 2 pocket folder with prongs (vinyl/plastic coated preferred)
• Pencils and blue/black ballpoint pens
• Tape
• Editing pen (red)
• Sticky notes
• Index cards
• 1 pack of multi-colored highlighters
• Colored pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• 1 Expo Marker
• Headphones/Earbuds

Classroom Donations:  Tissues, Disinfecting Wipes, Tape, and Highlighters

Class Rules:

1. Respect yourself.
2. 2. Respect others.
3. 3. Respect the class community.

Behavior and Discipline

Students are expected to arrive to class on time, be prepared with books and materials, and show respect.  Students are also expected to adhere to the school wide and classroom rules and expectations at all times. 

• Only pencils and blue or black ink will be permitted in class.  Red pens will be used for grading purposes only.  Work done in any colored ink, other than blue or black, will not be accepted.  Occasionally, colored pencils or markers will be needed. 
• Electronic devices (cell phones, I-pods, video games, etc.) are not permitted unless they are being used for instructional purposes. If you are using your cell phone during class it will be confiscated and turned in to the front office for a parent to pick it up.
• No gum chewing, eating, or drinking (juices, colas, etc.).  Water bottles are encouraged!
• Hats must be removed within the building.

Individual Consequences:

If a student is acting inappropriately or being disruptive the following steps will be taken:

1. Verbal Correction—student reminded to be on task
2. Refocus—student moves from the group to refocus his/her attention in my classroom
3. Buddy Teacher—student sent to a buddy teacher’s classroom to complete assigned work. Completes behavior form. Parent contacted.
4. Parent/Teacher Meeting-a behavior and/or work contract may be initiated
5. Administrative Referral

I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging year of learning.  Parents, please email me at any time if you wish to discuss your child’s progress. 

Mrs. Griffith