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August, 2019

Dear Students, Parents and/or Guardians,

Welcome to MARK TWAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL! My name is Lynn Novatt and I will be your child’s 6th grade English teacher this year. I have been teaching at Mark Twain for the past 19 years, and I am looking forward to a fantastic and successful 2019-2020 academic school year.

If you or your child would like to contact me, you can do so by emailing me at lnovatt@ or by writing a message in your child’s Agenda Planner. I encourage you to look over your child’s Agenda Planner often. Also, please visit the Mark Twain Middle School website () where you can be updated as to the activities happening at Mark Twain. On the website, you may click on the Passport link to find information about grades, etc. Schoology is the place to find out about assignments and grades.

2019-2020 School Year Objectives:

Our goal is for your child to participate in the Common Core California Standard test that is administered in May, 2020. We will do this by accomplishing the following:

READING

• Students will learn strategies to become better readers

• Students will read informational texts

• Students will read class novels (Boy of the Painted Cave, Cleopatra VII, Homeless Bird, The Lightning Thief), as well as independent reading books (chapter books)

• Students will keep a READING LOG to track the amount of pages/books read

• Students are required to bring a silent reading book to class, EVERYDAY!!, That’s EVERYDAY!!! Let me say that again - EVERYDAY!

I understand that not everyone loves to read. I get that. But, I also know that the skill of reading, and reading well, is immeasurably helpful in all aspects of a person’s life. SO……….

• Students are required to read 30 minutes everyday. R.E.D. – Read Every Day

WRITING

• Students will write LAUSD required writing assessments

• Students will increase their writing skills through the new Common Core Standards

• Students will be required to write multi-paragraph essays

• Students will strengthen their vocabulary and grammar skills

• Students will learn Greek and Latin roots to help them define words

• Students will have the opportunity to write creatively

• Students will participate in a Warner Bros Studio / Story Lab writing program to create their own comic strip superhero!

PORTFOLIO

• Students will maintain a portfolio showcasing their work

HOMEWORK

• Students are expected to complete homework every night MONDAY-FRIDAY. When I say this, I am talking about the Reading Log which is a 7 day a week ongoing assignment.

• Additional assignments/homework will be posted on Schoology

• Assignments/Homework is to be copied in students’ Agenda Planners

• If a student is absent, they are still responsible for turning in their assignments:

1) they can call their Study Buddy, 2) they can check with the Homework Monitor,

3) they can check Schoology, 4) they can look in the Handout Hanging folder for any worksheets or handouts, 5) they can ask the teacher

EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE!!!!!!

• LATE HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS will receive credit, however, points will be deducted for late homework, or late assignments. Students are responsible for placing their late work in the Late Work folders.

GRADES

Grades are no longer 4’s, 3’s, 2’s, and 1’s, but instead consist of A’s, B’s, C’s, and D’s. Grades are based on a point system. Everything Counts!!!

The percentage breakdown is:

• Writing Assignments= 25% 100 -90 = A

• Reading = 20% 89-80 = B

• Homework=10% 79-70 = C

• Tests/Quizzes= 25% 69-60 = D

• Notebook Check= 20% 59-0 = F

SUPPLIES

In addition to the Shark Binder, please bring to class EVERYDAY, a spiral notebook.

Also, blue and black pens. Colored pencils/pens are a valuable asset to the classroom.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

Everything stated above regarding academics can only work if there are strong classroom management procedures in place. If students misbehave during class time, there will be Natural and Logical Consequences for their behavior, such as Community Service, Time Out to another classroom, teacher conference, a phone call home, a note written in the student’s Agenda Planner or a conference between child, parent(s) and teacher.

Student Print Name Parent Signature

________________ _________________

Sincerely,

Lynn Novatt

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