Dorothy McElhinney Middle School

Mr. Petchers

7th Grade Language Arts and History

Welcome to Mr. Petchers’ 7th grade Language Arts and History class. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of my students and their families. My goal is to provide a challenging curriculum that includes higher-level thinking and real world application while delivering it in fun-filled way.

The first few days of class will be spent building community and the attributes required for a positive and professional learning community, which include respect, consideration, effort, communication, working with others, personal responsibility, and a positive attitude.

BE-havior Expectations:

· Be Respectful: Every student has the right to learn and every teacher has the right to teach. Treat everyone with respect by being positive and helpful to your classmates. In life, we may not like everyone we meet, but it is important to respect them.

· Be Prepared: Be in your seat when the bell rings, ready to learn with all required materials and completed assignments.

· Be Productive and Hardworking: Use your time wisely and be diligent in everything you do.

· Be Responsible: You are responsible for you, no excuses. This includes turning in work on time, getting the work when you are absent, maintaining binders, studying for tests, and if you need help, asking for it.

Consequences:

For students who choose to violate the above expectations, one or more of the following consequences will be applied at the teacher’s discretion, and not necessarily in this order.

· First Offense – Warning

· Second Offense – Conversation after class

· Third Offense – Detention – Parents notified

· Fourth Offense – Lunch detention and/or Saturday school – Parents notified

· Fifth Offense – Send to administration – Parents notified

Any Fighting, Bullying, Vandalism, and Outright Defiance will not be tolerated and immediately handled by administration.

Required Materials:

• LOTS of Pencils (sharpened) or mechanical with lead and personal covered pencil sharpener.

• Colored Pens or Colored Pencils – 4-in-1 pens are great!

• Good quality, 3-ring binder, 2" (minimum) rings with pockets

• 5 to 6 colored dividers with tabs to separate each class

• Zipper pouch to store supplies (3-hole punched)

• Filler paper - college ruled, to be replenished all year

• 3 X 5 Index Card (to be replenished throughout the year)

• Highlighters

Classroom Donations: Any of the following donations are GREATLY appreciated for students to share in the classroom.

· Printer Paper (lots please)

· Lined Paper (college ruled)

· Construction paper

· Expo markers, colored pens or pencils

· Glue sticks, lots and lots of glue sticks!!!!

Grading and Homework/Classwork Policy:

Grades are based on a cumulative point and percentage-based system. Students are expected to complete and turn in assignments on time. Late work will be accepted with the following penalties; 20% the first day, 40% total the second day, 60% total the third day, and after that. Work will not be accepted after that and will result in a zero. The assignment is still expected to be completed because it is likely a part of their Interactive Notebook grade. It is NOT my responsibility to remind your child their work is missing. If your child is absent, they will have an appropriate amount of time to make it up (usually one day for each day absent). Missed tests should be scheduled with me to be made up and usually not done during class time. Grades are accessible on the ABI website.

Grading Scale

Language Arts History

Writing/Essays/Journal Tests/Quizzes 40%

Test/Quizzes 60% Projects 20%

Interactive Binder 25% Interactive Binder 25%

Class & Homework 15% Class & Homework 15%