Ms. Natividad

(click “Teachers and Staff” to find me!)

Curriculum – Standards Based Education

Textbooks (keep at home, covered)

Holt Literature and Language Arts

Holt Handbook (Grammar)

Thematic Novel Units

The Outsiders

The Year of the Hangman

Additional Reading (found in textbook or as printed copy distributed in class)

Scary Stories Unit includes “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Landlady,” and “The Tell Tale Heart”

“Flowers for Algernon”

“Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl”

Poetry

Various Forms and Authors

Poetry Project

Writing

We will be using the Jane Schaffer Method (currently used at WHS)

  • Persuasive Essays, Response to Literature, Autobiographical, and Narrative

Independent Reading

Accelerated Reader

Grammar and Mechanics

Capitalization and Punctuation

Sentence Structure

Spelling through Root Words, Suffices, and Prefixes

Listening and Speaking

Oral Presentations

Persuasive Speech Unit

Classroom Expectations

Be responsible and be accountable. The bottom line is you know how to behave in a classroom. Your goal is to make individual progress in your learning. You need to do this without causing a problem for someone else. If you do cause a problem, solve it! If you can’t, or won’t, solve the problem, I will make a decision based on the situation and solve the problem myself.

Homework

Homework assignments are expected on the due date. EXCUSES will NOT be accepted. Any late or missing homework will result in a note sent home. The note and the completed assignment will be accepted the very next day as late for 50% credit. Any assignment worth more than 50 points will have 10% of the points deducted for each late day. Refusing to do homework is considered defiance and will result in detentions. Learning is essential. Choosing not to do the work is not an option.

Absences

If you are ill, please do not attend school. You will receive the same number of days to complete an assignment as you were absent. If your first day of absence is the day an assignment is due, then the assignment will be expected the first day you return to school. Absences during a long-term assignment does not mean you will have an extended due date. Exchange phone numbers or email addresses with some classmates whom you can contact if necessary to find out about homework. In the event of an absence, it is your responsibility to check my website for any and all assignments.

Accelerated Reader

Accelerated Reader is an independent reading program. You will read novels at your reading level, as determined by a test given during the first few weeks of school. After completing the novel, you will take a short computer-based comprehension test on the novel. Based on your score on the test, you will receive points for the novel. Each student will be expected to earn 30 AR points each quarter.This will be 15% of your grade! Before any novel is read, however, you need to make sure it is on the AR list, get parent approval and, last, teacher approval. No student will be allowed to test for a novel that they did not get approval for first. The two novels we read together as a class, along with some of the short stories, will be eligible for AR points.

Holt On-Line Writing

We will be utilizing the Holt Textbook website,my.hrw.com, for essay writing and grammar practice. You will be assigned online essays throughout the year. You will submit your writing online and it will be returned to you immediately with a score from 1 to 4, with 4 being best. The goal is to achieve a score of 3 or 4. In addition to the score, there will be suggestions on how to improve your writing. You will be given the opportunity to revise, edit, and resubmit your essay in attempt to earn a higher score. Your classroom grade will be based upon your best attempt.

Classroom Supplies

You are expected to be organized in the way that works best for you. You need to have supplies to complete daily assignments. Some suggestions are:

Notebook with dividers (one for every subject)

Lined notebook paper (okay, this one is mandatory)

Pen and pencils (oops, this one’s mandatory too!)

Index cards

Binder reminder (we will use this DAILY)

Parent Contact (for the folks)

We are an alliance with a common goal – to educate your child’s mind and soul. I encourage close contact between us to reach our goal. There are several ways to reach me:

  1. Email – (this is the BEST way to reach me)
  2. Phone – 909-594-1657 ask for Ms. Natividad’s voicemail, NOT classroom
  3. Notes – please, write a letter or jot down a note in you child’s binder reminder
  4. Parent conferences – scheduled through the office

I try to respond as quickly as possible. Email is the most assured way to get a quick response.

Please sign below and detach to acknowledge receipt of the language arts course description and the attached letter to students and parents. Thank you for discussing with your child the task ahead of us this year, and the importance of getting off to a good start.

______

Date:Period:

Student Name (print) ______

Student Signature ______

Parent Signature ______

If you wish to write me a note about your child, please do so. Thank you.