• Classroom Expectations

    Before you walk in the classroom...

    Before even entering the classroom, I expect that all students are:

    1. Ready to learn with a positive attitude

    2. On time

    3. Well rested

    4. Nourished from a healthy breakfast/lunch

    5. Prepared with materials/supplies/homework needed for the day

     

    When you’re in the classroom...

    During class time, I expect that all students:

    1. Respect and value all members of the JMMS community and visitors

    2. Follow directions of adults the first time they are given

    3. Raise hands and wait for permission before speaking or leaving their seat

    4. Remain focused and listen to peers and adults

    5. Participate actively and give their all to the lessons

     

    Classroom Management Plan

    In our class, students will be recognized for their positive behavior as well as receive consequences for disruptive behavior.

    Students who consistently demonstrate appropriate behavior will be positively rewarded with praise, positive notes sent home, small rewards, and other special privileges. On the other hand, students who demonstrate distracting, disruptive, or Disobedient behavior will have consequences as follows

     

    1st Offense - Verbal Warning

    2nd Offense - Email or Note Home

    3rd Offense -Verbal Contact with Parent

    4th Offense -Formal Discipline Referral

     

    Homework Policy

    Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday and should take students no more than one hour to complete. Some long term projects may require time on Friday or weekends. Also, students will be  required to read at least  25 minutes every day(ELA Period).Why I assign homework: I believe that learning happens everywhere, and in order to reinforce the day’s lessons and achieve mastery of our objectives, it will be crucial for students to spend time after school with their  homework. I will not give homework just for the sake of giving homework –like our lessons, homework will be purposeful

     

    Homework Punctuality:

    It is a student’s responsibility to turn in homework ON TIME. If an assignment is one day late, the homework grade will be docked by 50%. Any assignment that comes in more than one day late WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. In the event that your student has an EXCUSED absence, they will be given an alternate due date.

     

     

    Grading System

     

    Grades will be determined with the following weight:

    Test and Quizzes 35%

    Class work 30%

    Homework 20%

    Participation 15%

     

    If you find that your student needs extra help, please have them attend after- school tutoring with me ­ Tuesdays and Thursdays after school or by appointment.

     

    I highly encourage parents to regularly use ABI to view their student’s grades in very specific detail. This will help with parent teacher communication and put students on the right track

     

    At Home Expectations:

    In order to reach the maximum learning potential, students will be expected to complete regular homework assignments (see homework policy) and they should have a quiet place and designated time for this. I strongly recommend parents regularly consult their student’s planner to understand what students are accomplishing and what needs to be turned in. I also expect that each student is reading AT LEAST twenty five minutes each night. Reading is vital for success in all subjects and I expect students and parents to take this very seriously.

     

    Education happens both at school and at home! Let’s work together to achieve success!

      

    Field Trips:

    Learning happens everywhere! I am a firm believer in learning through experience, so I am very excited for the field trips we will take this year! The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade team is in the process of planning these field trips and they will be meaningful, purposeful, and based in academic content. You will receive ample notification regarding donations, permission slip due dates, chaperone opportunities. Please make sure to abide by the due dates. In the event that a student does not turn in a signed permission slip, they will not be able to attend. Verbal permission is not allowed per JMMS policy.

     

    Parent Visitation Policy:

    If your visit will be 10 minutes or less (without having to talk to the teacher) there is no appointment required. However if your visit will be longer than 10 minutes, you must

     Attend to the main office and obtain and visitors pass.

     

    Detention

     

    Although I don’t anticipate any problems, it may be necessary to issue detentions for missing assignments or behavior concerns. Students that are given detention will receive a detention slip. In addition, a phone call will be made to the parent(s) alerting them of the detention and date attendance is required.

     

    What We’ll Be Learning

     

     

    ELA 

    Spelling

    •   Spelling Words Correctly
    •   Understanding the Meaning of Spelling Words
    •   Phonetic Skills
    •   Prefixes and Suffixes
    •   Homophones and Compound Words

    Grammar

    •   Kinds of Sentences
    •   Simple and Complete Subjects and Predicates
    •   Run-on Sentence Fragments
    •   Subject Verb Agreement
    •   Parts of Speech
    •   Mechanics

     

    Literature

    •   Story Structure 
    •   Making Inferences
    •   Making Judgments
    •   Understanding Cause and Effect
    •   Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion
    •   Understanding/Using Methods of Classifications
    •   Comparing and Contrasting

     

    •   Literature Discussions
    •   Understanding and Identifying Sequence
    •   Studying Different Literature Genres
    •   Studying Different Novels Writing
    •   The Writing Process
    •   Using Topic Sentences, Details, Descriptive
    •   Language, and Closing Sentences

     

    •   Poetry
    •   Letter Writing
    •   Personal Narrative Writing
    •   Persuasive Writing
    •   Research and Report Writing