English 8 Regents: 2013-2014



English 8 Regents: 2018-2019

Mrs. Garrand

Van Wyck Junior High School

Dear Student,

Welcome to your final year of middle school and English 8. This is a year of maturity among peers, an increase in the quality of your coursework, and most importantly, self-responsibility. You can be successful in this class with the correct mindset and dedication to do well.

Everyone – your parents, your teachers, and your friends – want you to succeed and do well this year. We are here to help you succeed, but only you can do well in this course. The way to do so is to be in school consistently, to participate fully in class activities and discussions, to complete assignments, and to maintain a positive attitude. The last requirement cannot be graded; however, it will affect whether or not you can rise to the challenge of the other requirements and challenges set before you. Not just the requirements and challenges of my class, but in your own life.

Although you may feel overwhelmed at times, we are confident that you will be successful this year and take pride in what you have accomplished. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns as the school year continues.

Best wishes,

Mrs. Garrand

Team 8B

Course Requirements and Guidelines

English 8 Regents: 2018-2019

Mrs. Garrand

Van Wyck Junior High School

Course Content:

The 8th grade curriculum is based on literature, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. For each piece of literature that is read in class there will be a final assessment provided. These assessments will come in various forms (essays, journal responses, group projects, etc.).

Grading Policy:

This course is a literature and writing-based course. The breakdown is as follows:

Major papers, projects, tests = 40%

Quizzes = 30%

Homework = 10%

Class Participation = 20%

Classroom Rules:

Respect – This is an absolute requirement in my class. Respect should be given 100% of the time by me as a teacher and you as a student. Respect in class includes the following:

1. Tolerating/recognizing different beliefs, values, appearances, desires, and opinions that other people may have

2. Listening when the teacher or a peer is speaking or reading

3. No put-downs!

*The Dignity for all Students Act requires school districts to collect and report all data regarding incidents of discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

Passes – Passes will be given either before we get started for the day or at the end of the class period. All other passes will be given at my discretion. When you leave the room, you will sign out on the clipboard located at the front of the class.

Behavior – I expect that the behavior in the classroom will be one of respect and tolerance toward classmates and the teacher. If I deem it necessary, a referral will be written for incidents in my classroom or the hallways. I reserve the right to call or email a parent/guardian at any point to discuss the progress, or lack of, concerning a student’s work or relating to his/her attitude in class.

Lateness and Class Participation – Being late to class is a disturbance to your peers and the teacher, but mostly it affects your education. Being prompt to class is essential to making the most of the time you are given. You are expected to be in your seat and ready to begin (materials out) when the bell rings. If you are late three (3) times your parent will be contacted by phone or email. If you are late four (4) times a referral will be written and given to administration.

Cell Phone – Teachers may allow or permit students to utilize cell phones or other electronic devices for educational purposes. At all other times during the school day, cell phones must not be visible and be OFF (not merely on vibrate). Use of a cell phone for any other use is subject to disciplinary action per the code of conduct.

Plagiarism – If ANY of your work is plagiarized, then you will receive a zero on the assignment, and your parents and administration will be notified. Take pride in your own work because you are fully capable of completing any task assigned to you.

Work missed due to an absence:

You are expected to keep up with any work you miss. If a student is going to be absent or has been absent, it is the responsibility of that student to get missed work and have it completed. To obtain missed work contact guidance, have a friend get it, or email me at laura.garrand@.

If a major paper or written assignment is due on a certain date and you cannot be in class, submit it to me via email or have a parent/guardian drop it off in the main office (Life lesson #1: Always have a plan B). This ensures that you will receive full credit for the assignment.

Late assignment policy:

• Late homework assignments –Late homework and in-class assignments will be accepted after their due date up until the last day of the marking period. However, each day that the assignment is late 10 points will be subtracted from the final grade. I will stop taking away points after three (3) days of the assignment being late in which the final grade will not exceed 70%.

• Essays, papers, or major assignments – Major assignments will be accepted after their due date up until the last day of the marking period. However, each day that the assignment is late 5 points will be subtracted from the final grade. I will stop taking point off after five (5) days in which the final grade for the assignment will not exceed 75%.

• If a marking period should end, and the student has not handed in the assignment, they will receive a zero and will not be able to hand the assignment.

Quiz Corrections

I do allow corrections for all quizzes and multiple choice tests. Students are able to earn back half the points lost, but cannot receive a grade higher than 85%. Students who receive a grade of an 85 or higher on a quiz when it is initially given are not eligible for quiz corrections. Quiz corrections require a student to write out each question that is marked incorrectly on a sheet of loose-leaf paper, and then write the correct answer. The loose-leaf paper with the questions and correct answers should be attached to the quiz and handed in within the time frame given by the teacher. Students may not be granted additional points if they do not follow these directions.

Inquiry Project

Students will write a history based essay/research paper in conjunction with Social Studies. There will be time given for students to go to the library to research and learn more about the topic they choose to write about. Students will receive more detailed instructions in regards to this assignment during the school year.

Summer Reading

At the end of the school year, each ELA teacher discussed with their classes WCSD’s summer reading program. It was asked that all students read one book of their choice. Please know that students will be completing an assignment for the book that they read over the summer. This assignment will be a quiz grade during the first marking period. The assignment will ask students to focus on specific literary elements that appear within their book, and we ask that they print or draw pictures along with the assignment. This assignment will be completed by attaching their writing and pictures to a tissue box. Detailed instructions will be provided as well various examples of previous students’ work.

iReady

iReady is a diagnostic tool that we will be using this year to help students make gains in reading. It is a comprehensive assessment program that allows the teacher to gauge their instruction based on student growth and performance. Students will be asked to complete iReady three times within the school year.

Materials needed: (all materials are to present each day in class)

- Loose-leaf paper - Pens/pencils

- Ear buds - 2” loose-leaf binder (with tab dividers)

- Composition notebook

My Contact information:

Email: laura.garrand@

Phone: 845-227-1700

If you have a problem with an assignment or with something that affects your performance in class, please see me. I want this to be a productive and rewarding year for you.

Course Requirements and Guidelines

English 8 Regents: 2018-2019

Mrs. Garrand

Van Wyck Junior High School

English Language Arts 8 Code E241 Full Year

Prerequisite: None

Grade 8 ELA builds along the developmental continuum of skills and strategies previously studied. More complex materials as well as more sophisticated writing skills are required.

Areas of Study Include:

• Literature

- Short stories

- Drama: The Diary of Anne Frank

- Poetry

- Independent Reading

- Essays & Non-Fiction

- Novels may include:

← The Boy Who Dared

← The Giver

← Uglies

← Flowers for Algernon

• Literary Terms and Devices

• Reading Skills and Strategies

- Predicting - Using context clues - Making inferences - Making connections - Cause and effect - Summarizing

- Sequencing - Drawing conclusions - Paraphrasing

- Making generalizations - Compare and contrast - Author’s Purpose

- Discovering the main idea

• Critical Thinking Skills

- Making judgements - Analyzing - Speculating - Interpreting - Expressing opinions

• Research and Study Skills

• Writing

- The Writing Process - Argument - Narrative

- Descriptive - The Writer’s Workshop

• Listening, Speaking, and Viewing

• Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Contact Information Form (please return)

Student Information (please print):

Name ____________________________________________ ID# __________________

Parent/Guardian Information (please print):

1) Name ________________________________ Email __________________________

Home # ______________________________ Work # ____________________________

Cell # _______________________________ Best time to call _____________________

2) Name ________________________________ Email __________________________

Home # ______________________________ Work # ____________________________

Cell # _______________________________ Best time to call _____________________

Comments or Concerns: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please sign below and return

I have read and understand the attached course requirements.

Student signature __________________________________________ Date __________

Parent/Guardian signature ____________________________________ Date _________

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