Name ______Hour______

Language Arts – Mrs. Laabs

Second Quarter Expectations 2009

Please note- expectations will change every quarter.

Writing Workshop -Odd Days Reading Workshop– Even Days Flex Days - Friday

Materials - Pens (Black or and red) and pencil, paper (loose-leaf), notebook, textbook, USB drive, active G-mail account for academic use only.

Writing Workshop

This quarter students will…
  • Finish at least 4 pieces of writing.
  • Hand in one “best piece” for grading (by the 8th week of the quarter). This should demonstrate your progress as a writer. A piece can be both a finished and a best piece.
  • Show evidence of proofreading, editing, revision, rewriting in all your finished pieces. Recopying is not the same as revising!

Reading Workshop

This quarter students will…
  • Write seven good quality Literary Letters …
  • Three to teacher.
  • Four to classmates.
  • Respond comprehensively to Literary Letters you receive.
  • Lit Letters will be graded on a 1-4 scale. A score of one (1) will require a rewrite.
  • Complete a Reading Log of books completed or abandoned.
  • Read outside of class for one hour a week or more. More reading is highly recommended. Less reading leads to poorer quality lit letters.
  • Attempt to read more minutes or more pages than last quarter.

In addition, students will…

  • Complete a behavioral Self Evaluation.
  • Complete other homework as assigned.
  • Students will NOT hand in any papers torn from notebooks with “schnibbles” on them. Language Arts in a SFZ – Schnibble Free Zone.

You will be graded calculated using the following breakdown:

Literary Letters (7)20%

Finished Pieces (4)20%

Best piece (1)15%

Reading Log5%

Self Evaluation of behavior 10%

Exams and other assignments30%

Behavior Expectations

  1. You must have all tools, books, reference materials and drafts with you when class begins.
  2. You must be engaged in some part of the writing process for the entire period on Write Days. On Read Days, you may write or respond to a Lit Letter and/or read for the entire period. (You must read a book that tells a story. No Magazines, Newspapers, or Non-fiction without prior approval.)
  3. You cannot do homework for another class. This is writing or reading time not a study hall.
  4. You may not talk or disturb others.
  5. You may sit where you like as long as feet are not on the furniture and rules #2 and #4 are maintained. Use of beanbag chair may be prohibited if problems arise.
  6. Hall passes are discouraged. If a problem arises, see me with a filled out agenda. Do not interrupt a conference with another student.

Use the following table to help you keep track of what you have done, and what you need to do.

Due Date / Date Turned In / Notes (title or description)
Lit Letter to Teacher #1 / 11/13
Lit Letter to Teacher #2 / 11/20
Lit Letter to Teacher #3 / 11/25
Lit Letter to Peer #4 / 12/4
Lit Letter to Peer #5 / 12/11
Lit Letter to Peer #6 / 12/18
Lit Letter to Peer #7 / 1/8
Finished piece #1 / 11/20
Finished piece #2 / 12/4
Finished piece #3 / 12/11
Finished piece #4 / 12/23
Best Piece #1 / 1/8