7th Grade English Language Arts Syllabus
General and Honors Classes
Academy for Academics and Arts
Huntsville City Schools
2016-2017
Teacher Information
Teacher / Email / Conference TimesMrs. Lynda Gaines / / 10:30pm-11:00am M, T, TH
11:00am-1:00pm T, F
Room 142
General Information
Description
English expands and develops listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and communication skills. Students will develop and exercise higher order thinking skills. “Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers.” The Academy for Academics and Arts will be implementing a new Language Arts curriculum called Expeditionary Learning.
Expectations and Goals
Students are expected to come to class prepared and on time, have a positive learning attitude, complete assignments, be a productive citizen of the class, and put forth their best effort at all times. Honors students will be required to complete projects and assignments with a more rigorous rubric to demonstrate a deeper understanding of material.
Procedures
Classroom procedures and routines are critical to the success of a student, teacher, and class. Therefore, procedures will be taught starting the first week of school and reviewed as needed throughout the school year.
Discipline
A classroom discipline protocol will be shown, reviewed, and enforced throughout the school year. Students will be made aware of the consequences of their actions should they choose to not follow classroom, school, and district policies for behavior. A behavior log will be kept by teacher. Students will be able to earn start and rewards for exhibiting good choices. Also, the following consequences will be enforced is a student decides to go against set procedures and/or expectations.
- Warning and Student/Teacher conference
- Teacher/Parent Contact (initial contact via phone call).
- Choices and Consequences Essay (will be sent home and must be signed by parent/guardian)
- Parent/Guardian Contact/Conference (Teacher team).
- Referral to Administration
Required Materials
Laptop
Writing Utensils (2 Pencils/Mechanical Sharpener OR Pens/Correction fluid) and 2 Highlighter Markers
2 Folders (Plastic/Poly vinyl) with pockets and brads (No paper folders, please)
Expeditionary Learning Student Materials Workbook (AAA will provide each student a copy)
Personal Copy of the novel: The Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Technology
Technology will be used in class every day. Students are responsible for bringing their fully charged laptops to school daily. Textbooks are available on the student’s laptop and will be used daily. All students will also be responsible for keeping up with all usernames and passwords to all accounts. Website codes will be given out on the first day of class for each class.
Attendance
Absences
Huntsville City Schools takes student attendance seriously. Please refer to the 2016-2017 HCS Handbook for specifics on required documentation for an absence to be excused and the attendance policy.
Tardiness
Tardiness will not be tolerated in this class. To have a tardy excused, the student must bring appropriate documentation to the teacher and follow procedures when entering class. If the student has been excessively tardy without documentation, then consequences will be enforced or referral to administration.
Grading
Huntsville City Schools has implemented the model in which all assignments will be categorized and weighted in a given course. A point system will be used in this class along with the following HCS model.
· 60%: Summative Assessments that directly reflect course standards and may include:
§ Performance based assessments
§ Mid-Unit/End-Unit Tests
§ Projects
§ Writing assessments
· 40% In-Class assignments that directly reflect course standards and may include:
§ Workbook Note-Catcher grades
§ worksheets
§ quizzes
§ collaborative work
§ assignments given and due during class time
Homework assignments that reinforce daily standards and/or introduce standards that may include:
§ Reading assignments
§ Research outside class
Grades can be obtained by logging onto the iNow portal through the Huntsville City Schools’ website. Login credentials can be obtained through the school office. Grades will be updated regularly on the iNow portal by teacher.
Grade Discrepancy
If there is an issue with a grade assigned, the following procedures will be followed to resolve the matter.
· teacher/student conference
· teacher/parent/student conference
· teacher/parent/administration conference
Late Work
Students will be given ample time to complete assignments in class or as homework. Turning in an assignment late is not acceptable. If a student decides to turn in the assignment after the due date and/or time, then 5-10 points will be deducted for each day assignment is not completed and/or submitted. Students will also sign a contract acknowledging that they understand the penalty and terms for turning the assignment in late. The contracts will be sent home to be signed by the parent/guardian as well. The terms of each contract will be at the discretion of the teacher.
Make-up Work
It is the student’s responsibility to acquire all assignments and information when they are absent. Students will be given 3 days to complete any assignments missed for the following reasons.
· Excused absences
o See 2016-2017 HCS Handbook for specific guidelines on excused absences.
· Excused absences due to school-related activities
· Excused absences due to religious purposes
Students who have extenuating circumstances, and will be out for more than 3 days, please contact the teacher immediately to discuss how assignments will be made-up.
If you know that your student will not be at school due to a pre-planned event, please contact the teacher to have assignments done before the student will be absent.
Unexcused absence make-up work will be at the discretion of the teacher.
Heading Format for Assignments
The below heading is to be used for all assignments that are submitted for grading unless otherwise stated by teacher. Students who do not follow directions will have points deducted from grade for having an improper heading format.
Student’s Name
Subject
Period/Student Class #
Date
Title of Assignment
Parent or Guardian/Teacher Communication
The teacher will contact parents or guardians when necessary to discuss issues concerning a student’s behavior or academic record. If there is a question, concern, or issue where parents/guardians need to contact the teacher, please send a note, email, or call the school. Conferences must be pre-arranged with teacher at least 24 hours in advance. Parents/guardians who need to conference before or after school, will need to contact teacher at least 48 hours in advance. Please give the teacher at least 24 hours to respond to any communication request from parents/guardians. Parent codes for websites used by teacher and students will be given on the first day of class.
Parents are strongly encouraged to sign up for Remind 101 to receive text updates regarding projects, assignments, and activities. Text @h6687 and send to 81010
Student/Teacher Communication
If a student has a question, concern, idea, etc. that takes place outside of class, please use one of the following methods on Edmodo.
· a private message
· comment on a post/assignment
· message on class page to teacher
Teacher Wish List: Disinfectant wipes, Hand wipes, (Luxury Item) Bath Body Works Wallflower Plug-in refill
Scent-Eucalyptus Mint
7th ELA Syllabus
General and Honors Classes
Mrs. Lynda Gaines
Academy for Academics and Arts
Huntsville City Schools
2016-2017
Please sign the document to show that you are aware of the syllabus and what will be expected of the student this year in 7th Grade English Language Arts. Please sign and return by the student no later than August 9, 2016.
Student Name (Print):______
Student Signature: ______
Date: ______
Parent/Guardian Name
(Print):______
Parent/Guardian Signature:
Date
______
PARENT/GUARDIAN/STUDENT COLLABORATIVE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Please Google Struggle For Smarts? By NPR and listen to this audio recording in its entirety. Please dialog with your student about this topic. As your student progresses into the school year, please keep this piece in mind as we forge ahead in our class studies. Please encourage your students to practice using a growth mindset and embrace the struggle. J
Parent/Guardian Initial ______Student Initial ______
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