Class+Expectations+&+Syllabus

**Mrs. Hamburg** **2013 - 2014 School Year**
 * Class Expectations 8th Grade Language Arts Oak Team**

Welcome to 8th Grade Language Arts! I hope you are as excited to get the school year off to a great start! **Curriculum** The six learning targets are aligned with the Common Core. The six learning targets are:


 * 1) Launching Readers Workshop
 * 2) Developing a Deeper Understanding of Literature
 * 3) Reading Informational Text
 * 4) Big Ideas in Text
 * 5) Comparisons In, Between and Among Text
 * 6) Reading and Communicating with Others

You can find the PA Common Core standards at the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website: [|www.pdesas.org].


 * Reading ** skills will be taught primarily through the McDougal Littell Reading series, novels, short stories, drama, poetry and non-fiction. ** Writing ** consists of persuasive and informative essays. ** Listening and speaking ** is assessed through class participation, discussions and presentations. ** Grammar ** is embedded in reading and writing practice, warm up, and practice for writing and grammar.

**Class Materials**
 * 1) 1 – 2 inch binder with a folder or a pocket
 * 2) Lined 3-hole-punched paper for inside binder
 * 3) Dividers for binder – 5
 * 4) Textbook (provided by school), brought to class daily
 * 5) Agenda book (provided by school), which should be brought to class daily
 * 6) Independent reading book (carried to all classes at all times)
 * 7) Sharpened pencils with erasers

**Homework** Students are expected to read every day for a specific period of time.

Other daily homework is used as a tool to practice and reinforce and will never be graded for accuracy.

Daily homework assignments are due on their assigned due date, usually the day after they are assigned. After that, assignments may be completed for practice, but they will not be accepted for any credit.

**Long-Term Assessments, Writing Assignments & Projects** Long-term assessments, writing assignments and projects will have a due date that students are aware of in advance. All projects are due on the due date unless a student is absent from school on that day, in which case the assignment must be turned in on the day the student returns to school. Long-term projects and assignments will be accepted late, but will drop by one full letter grade for each day they are late. After five days, the assignment will be accepted for 50% of the original grade until the end of the marking period. After that, assignments cannot be accepted for credit. **Grading** Homework will make up a maximum of 10% of the student’s grade. The remaining 90% of the student grade will be comprised of class participation and preparation, writing assignments, long-term projects and assessments and in-class quizzes and tests. Students’ grades will be maintained online for parents and students to check. If a parent or a student should have concerns about a grade or believe there may be a discrepancy, I encourage them to contact me as soon as possible. **Daily Journal** Each day at the beginning of the class period, students will answer a daily journal prompt. Students are responsible for bringing their journal to class each day. Answers to journal prompts may be shared with the class. Students are responsible for making up missed journal assignments, as they will take a journal quiz every marking period based on their daily assignments.

**Absences** Students are responsible for work missed during class absences. If a student knows in advance that he or she will miss a class, the student must notify the teacher and pick up any work that he or she will miss. This is especially true of music lessons or other school activities that will cause students to be out of the classroom. Students are encouraged to be proactive and contact classmates or use my classroom website to check homework in the case of absences.

**Agenda Books** Students are responsible for bringing their school-provided agenda books to every class period. In it, they should record all homework and long-term assignments, as well as any upcoming tests or quizzes. Student assignment books will also serve as hall passes to the lavatory, office, other classrooms, etc.

**Classroom Wiki (Website)** I maintain a website where students can find their homework, long-term assignments and other helpful information. The link to this website can be found under the staff page of the Penn’s Grove Middle School website.

**Extra Help** I will be available for extra help throughout the year to any student who feels he or she needs it. Students may come see me during Academic Lab at any time their homeroom teacher allows. They may also arrange to come before school or stay after school, but arrangements MUST be made in advance to ensure that I am available.

I am looking forward to a great 2013 – 2014 school year filled with learning, cooperation & fun! Please feel free to contact me at any time!

Mrs. Grant Language Arts 8th Grade Oak Team kgrant@oxford.k12.pa.us 610-932-6615 x4111