THIRD QUARTER:

 Spelling and Vocabulary in class Workbook and handouts for Homework

Short Stories and Poetry from the Textbook

        ~ All students should have a purple literature book at home to complete homework out of

Persuasive Multiple Paragraph Essay

Grammar Worksheets

3rd Quarter Benchmark for Sylvan

3rd Quarter Benchmark for District

California State Writing Assessment (March 2nd)

General Information:

Welcome to Sylvan Middle School!

Congratulations! You've made it to the turning point of your educational career!  There are some basics you need to know to get the most out of your 7th Grade experience with me.

Always do all of your classwork and homework

Come to school on time and be prepared with materials and the right attitude about your educational success

Write your weekly assignments in your agenda so that you stay accountable to the work that you must do

Some of the things we'll be doing this year are:

Reading novels: Beowulf and The Outsiders

Writing Four Major-Process Graded Essays (one per quarter)

Testing with the District Each Quarter (Standards Based Benchmark Test)

Testing with the State (STAR Testing in late Spring)

Testing Sylvan Benchmark Test (three per year)

Poetry (involves project)

Greek Mythology (involves project)

Textbook short stories (remember those questions are homework if you don't finish them in class)

Grammar (handouts, overhead lectures, notes, games...)

And many other educationally appropriate, standards-based assignments!

GRADING POLICY:

100% = 70% Personal Points

          10% Sylvan Benchmark Tests

          10% Essays

          10% District Benchmark Tests

Points accumulate and become a percentage that converts to the percentage grade for that category that adds up to create a total grade for each quarter.

100%...A+  99%-91%...A   90%...A-  

89%...B+   88%-81%...B   80%...B-

79%...C+   78%-71%...C   70%...C-

69%...D+   68%-61%...D   60%...D-

59% and below...F

HOMEWORK POLICY:

Homework is random and related to the unit or lesson taught in class. If a student is unable to finish an assignment in class, it automatically becomes homework that very night and is due the follow day.

It is the student's responsibility to turn the missing work into the appropriate inbox for his or her class. I will not ask for it. Although, I often have students pass papers forward and collect them from the front or circulate a reliable student to collect papers.

I do not accept late projects--no exceptions.

If a homework assignment is given and a student fails to return it completed the next day, he or she will be given an additional two days to complete the work and turn it in for 30% less credit. After the 'second chance days', I will not take late work.

If a student is absent, he or she has as many days to make up the missing work as he or she was absent. It is the student's responsibility to come to me when they return and ask for the missing work, so that it can be made up in a timely manner.