7th grade English Language Arts (ELA) Syllabus 2016-2017
Mrs. Withorn: Room #101
Best contact: email [email protected]
Phone contact: (859) 334-4410
Planning period: 1:10-2:30
Welcome 7th graders to a new school year! I am excited about our upcoming year here at Conner Middle School. I am certain that we will have an awesome year learning together! Because each of you learns differently, my style of teaching is to use many different activities and methods in our classroom.
Description: This class incorporates the four main domains of English Language Arts instruction: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Media Literacy. Grammar and Vocabulary will be addressed in daily Warm Up activities, and mini-lesson will be designed based on needs determined from these exercises.
Objectives: My goal is for students to know the necessary skills and knowledge required prior to each assessment. This will clarify expectations, eliminate surprises, and help students track their progress. Daily learning targets will guide our progression toward unit objectives. Most of our assessments will be performance-based with clear rubrics given out ahead of time. We will also complete a few project-based learning (PBL) units. Some of our writing will include an original personal narrative, an expository essay, an argumentative essay, a literary analysis essay, and creating a biographical presentation.
This will NOT be a difficult class. I believe each of you can receive a grade that you will be proud of. If you come to class, participate in the lessons, keep notes and handouts, and complete the assignments, you will be successful.
These expectations will help us make the most of our time:
We will make every attempt to make the most of our class time; however, some days you will be asked to complete homework. Assignments are typically due the following school day. If you have an excused absence(s), you will have the amount of school days that you were absent to turn in the work. When you are absent, it is your responsibility to get missed assignments or notes. Check the designated area to retrieve your assignment sheet and/or papers handed out and then ask another student or the teacher for help.
Because I want your grade to reflect your current level of achievement you may not receive a zero for late or missing work. All work must be completed in order to give you a fair grade. All makeup work must be completed prior to the unit assessment. Cheating/Plagiarism: Academic honesty is the expectation in all work including homework. Plagiarism includes copying and pasting text from the Internet and copying other’s work on class work/homework, formative, and summative grades. If you need help, come to me for assistance:)
Grading: Grades will be based on a point system. Examples of typical points are 10-20 points for classwork or homework, 25-50 points for formative grades such as quizzes and multiple step activities, and 100 points for summative assessments and projects.
Again, it is my hope and goal that your year is a successful and memorable one. I believe this class will be a positive experience for you. I am here to assist you in any way that I can. Please come to me if you have problems or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tina Withorn
Mrs. Withorn: Room #101
Best contact: email [email protected]
Phone contact: (859) 334-4410
Planning period: 1:10-2:30
Welcome 7th graders to a new school year! I am excited about our upcoming year here at Conner Middle School. I am certain that we will have an awesome year learning together! Because each of you learns differently, my style of teaching is to use many different activities and methods in our classroom.
Description: This class incorporates the four main domains of English Language Arts instruction: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Media Literacy. Grammar and Vocabulary will be addressed in daily Warm Up activities, and mini-lesson will be designed based on needs determined from these exercises.
Objectives: My goal is for students to know the necessary skills and knowledge required prior to each assessment. This will clarify expectations, eliminate surprises, and help students track their progress. Daily learning targets will guide our progression toward unit objectives. Most of our assessments will be performance-based with clear rubrics given out ahead of time. We will also complete a few project-based learning (PBL) units. Some of our writing will include an original personal narrative, an expository essay, an argumentative essay, a literary analysis essay, and creating a biographical presentation.
This will NOT be a difficult class. I believe each of you can receive a grade that you will be proud of. If you come to class, participate in the lessons, keep notes and handouts, and complete the assignments, you will be successful.
These expectations will help us make the most of our time:
- Respect others, the school’s furnishings, and texts. (This covers a lot!)
- Students will stand silently in a single file line outside of the classroom door and wait until the teacher admits them into the classroom.
- When entering the room, take a seat, write the agenda, and begin Warm Up work designated on the board.
- Always have your supplies. (Please keep them under your desks so that others do not trip over them in the aisles.)
- Sit in your assigned seat. (We will have lots of groups activities and interactive time.)
- Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged before speaking.
- When you see the teacher raise her hand above her head, you immediately should: FREEZE, FACE, & FOCUS. This means, stop everything you are doing, be quiet, look at the teacher, and raise your hand to signal they have your attention.
- Teacher will dismiss you when she has finished giving all instructions. Do NOT start packing up because you may miss something important at the end of class.
- There is no food or drink in the classroom.
- Unless we are using cell phones in the classroom for instruction that day, please make sure your cell phone is turned off and out of sight.
We will make every attempt to make the most of our class time; however, some days you will be asked to complete homework. Assignments are typically due the following school day. If you have an excused absence(s), you will have the amount of school days that you were absent to turn in the work. When you are absent, it is your responsibility to get missed assignments or notes. Check the designated area to retrieve your assignment sheet and/or papers handed out and then ask another student or the teacher for help.
Because I want your grade to reflect your current level of achievement you may not receive a zero for late or missing work. All work must be completed in order to give you a fair grade. All makeup work must be completed prior to the unit assessment. Cheating/Plagiarism: Academic honesty is the expectation in all work including homework. Plagiarism includes copying and pasting text from the Internet and copying other’s work on class work/homework, formative, and summative grades. If you need help, come to me for assistance:)
Grading: Grades will be based on a point system. Examples of typical points are 10-20 points for classwork or homework, 25-50 points for formative grades such as quizzes and multiple step activities, and 100 points for summative assessments and projects.
Again, it is my hope and goal that your year is a successful and memorable one. I believe this class will be a positive experience for you. I am here to assist you in any way that I can. Please come to me if you have problems or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tina Withorn