COURSE OBJECTIVE/CURRICULUM

The class will use high-quality literature selections supported by skills instruction and practice that address the Sunshine State Standards and the FCAT. In seventh and eighth grade you are expected to study literature, vocabulary, writing, and grammar. We will be doing all of that and more in our Language Arts classes.

MATERIALS

We will be using Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, Silver Level (grade 7) and Gold Level (grade 8), published by Prentice Hall, throughout the year. This book contains many exciting stories, poems, and activities. We will be supplementing the textbook with the AMSCO FCAT prep workbook, Vocabulary Workshop, and various novels, workbooks, worksheet packets, etc.

We will also be doing book clubs (literature circles) from time to time. This is an opportunity for the students to choose a book to read with a small group of classmates. Information about that will go home as needed.

GRADES

Your grade is comprised of four different parts as outlined below.

Vocab/Grammar Quizzes 20%

Each week the students will complete either a vocabulary unit in their Vocabulary Workshop workbooks or a grammar unit (from lectures and handouts I give during the week). There will be a short quiz each Friday to assess the students on that week’s content.

Assignments 15%

Assignments include, but are not limited to, the weekly vocabulary workbook assignments, AMSCO workbook assignments, grammar reinforcement worksheets, questions/activities for novels, literature book, etc. Most of the time, there will be some time in class to start assignments with only a little to finish at home.

Quizzes and Essays 25%

Quizzes are given rarely and may be announced or unannounced. Most often they will be given to correlate with a novel or story that we are reading in class. Quizzes also include one selection in the AMSCO book per chapter. This helps me evaluate the students understanding of each LA standard. This category does not include the vocab and grammar quizzes given each Friday.

Essays are given about once a month to help both 7^th and 8^th graders prepare for the 8^th grade FCAT Writing test. The essays will be an assessment of how well the student is progressing with his/her writing skills.

Tests/Projects/Lit Letter 40%

Tests will be given at the end of a unit. Students will be given ample notice before a test is administered.

Projects will be given a few times a year (including a research paper at the end of the year) and the students will get time in class to work on it. They will also be given a few weeks to work on the project at home.

Literacy Letters are letters the students are expected to write to me about the book they are currently reading on their own time. This letter has three paragraphs. The first is a summary of the part of the book they read this week. The second paragraph is a response to a prompt I will give them each week. The prompt will be based on the focus lesson in class at the time. The third is a paragraph where the student rates the book on a scale of 1-10 and includes an explanation as to why it received that rating. These will be assigned approximately every other week. An individual handout will be sent home with more details. Information about this assignment will also be available on the team website.

Grades (cont’d)

While not a factor in your numerical grade, you will also be receiving a mark (E for Excellent, G for Good, etc.) for the effort you put forth in Language Arts.

As always, if you have any questions about my grading policies, or more specifically about your grade, please feel free to contact me at any time.

ABSENCES/LATE WORK

Attendance is critical to success in this class. When a student finds it necessary to be absent from school, per district policy, they have as many days to make up work as they were absent. I will enter a zero in my grade book until the work has been made up. This includes tests and quizzes. When you are absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. You can do this by checking my website, referring to the assignment binder in the classroom, or asking a friend. “I wasn’t here,” is not an excuse! I will not accept any late work. This includes literacy letters.

TEAM WEBSITE/TEACHEREASE.COM

Each Monday, the team website will be updated with the assignments for the week. The assignments may change as the week goes on, but what is on the website is my ideal plan for the week. If your child is out sick, you can visit the website to see what they are missing in class that day. The website is also a great resource for finding out what is happening on our team, getting announcements, etc. Visit the website at http://teachers.srqk12.net/JewellDeMarco

I also use teacherease.com for my grade book. This is a website that allows you and your child to check in periodically on his/her language arts grade. This also allows me to send emails to all parents when necessary. We are still collecting donations to help with the costs of this website. When it is up and running, I will send out an email. For future reference the website is www.teacherease.com

EXTRA CREDIT

There are just a few opportunities for extra credit. First, the school is collecting box tops and I give extra credit if the students bring in box tops. Second, check the website periodically for a surprise extra credit assignment. Finally, once it’s up and running, completing practice sessions in FCAT Explorer will also be extra credit. More will be coming out on that later.

CLASSROOM RULES/EXPECTATIONS

It is essential to be respectful of yourself, your peers, and your teachers. You are expected to follow the school rules as well as my individual classroom expectations as outlined below:

Ø NO GUM (This is big for me as I have stepped on and put my hand in gum too many times!)

Ø You must have your agenda book with you each day in my class. You are expected to fill out your agenda book upon arriving to class. The day’s work will be on the front board to the left of the ActivBoard. The agenda book will also act as a hall pass for students wishing to use the Media Center or go to the Clinic. Periodic agenda book checks will be conducted to ensure students are staying organized.

Ø Come to class prepared. You will not be allowed to return to another class to get any materials. This means having your binder, paper, pencil, pen, red pen, and any other items I’ve requested for you to have on a particular day. Please make sure you always have a book to read in class. You may check out books from my library, but please take care of them and return them in a timely manner. I lose about 50-100 books per year from my library. Money used to replace those books could be put towards adding new and more exciting literature to my library. Again, please treat my books as you would books from your local library.

Ø While Miss DeMarco is teaching, please do not get out of your seat to check out a book, sharpen your pencil, use the restroom, get a drink, throw away your trash, etc. Please wait until the lesson is over. Also, please limit your trips to the restroom/drinking fountain to one time per class.

Ø Stay on task and focused on the lesson at hand.

Ø Be nice and use appropriate language.

Ø Be respectful of my personal belongings (flower pens, my books, plants, etc.)

Learning in my class should be fun and exciting. Limiting interruptions, being prepared for class, listening carefully, and being respectful can help to make our classroom a pleasant place for everyone.

PARENT COMMUNICATION

I am always available to meet or talk with parents. My preferred method of parent contact is email. Of course, I am also available to talk over the phone or set up a conference. After reading this with your parents, you both need to sign below, stating that you both have read the syllabus. You can always check out the team website as well to keep up to date on homework assignments, projects, etc for Language Arts. I will do my best to keep it updated on a daily basis! You can also check www.teacherease.com for current class grades. Please keep in mind that, due to the nature of my course, grading may not be done right away. It often takes many hours to thoroughly read all of the essays, tests, literacy letters, etc my 80+ students must complete. If more than a week has gone by and a grade is still not posted to teacherease, feel free to contact me for more information.

My contact information is:

E-mail: jewell_demarco@sarasota.k12.fl.us Phone: 941.486.2171

Website: http://teachers.srqk12.net/JewellDeMarco

PARENT/STUDENT SIGNATURES NEEDED

Please sign the bottom of this form by Friday, August 26. Keep this form in the front of your LA binder at all times.

I have thoroughly read the Language Arts class expectations. I will contact Miss DeMarco with any questions or concerns. I am excited for a wonderful year!

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Student Signature Parent Signature