Welcome to Language Arts

1
Welcome to Language Arts

• Mrs. Butler
• 7th and 8th grade LA

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Purpose

• This year in language arts, everything we learn
  will make us better readers, writers, and
  speakers of English. Youll never need to ask
  Why do we have to know this? because the answer
  is the sentence above!

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Expectations

• My expectations are that everyone will do his
  or her best, and that we will have a great year!

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Course Content

• This class is actually two in one
• You/your child will receive two grades from
  meone in English and one in literature

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English

• MUGSmechanics, usage, grammar and spelling
• Writing

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MUGS

• 40 of grade
• Includes homework and quizzes
• MUGS will be taught during daily Mug Shots,
  through writing, using a text, and using
  multimedia

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Writing

• 40 of grade
• Focus is on revision
• All brainstorm activities, peer editing sheets,
  and rough drafts must be completed by the due
  dates and turned in with the final draft to
  receive full credit
• Final drafts must be typed and may be either
  placed in a specified folder, emailed to me, or
  turned in as hard copies.

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Writing continued

• Papers are due at the beginning of class
• Ample time is provided for each writing
  assignment
• Computer lab time will not always be provided in
  class
• Encourage your student to plan ahead
• Writing is graded using a rubric

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8th grade research paper

• In addition to quarterly writing assignments, a
  research paper on a topic of interest is
  completed during the 2nd or 3rd quarter.
• This paper, from note-taking to final draft
  typing is completed solely in school. Students
  may not work on these papers at home.

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English Curriculum Test

• 20 of grade
• Includes the following from the current quarter
• Writing
• Grammar

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Literature

• Vocabulary
• Reading

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Vocabulary

• 30 of grade
• Taught using Vocabulary Workshop and taken from
  novels
• Vocabulary book must be brought to class daily
• Homework is due the day of the test and is graded
  for accuracy
• Tests are given approximately every other week

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Vocabulary continued

• Keys to success in vocabulary
• Student should complete one section per night
• Complete the work alone as much as possible
• Study a little bit each night
• Some students benefit from making vocabulary
  cards and studying from them

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• Vocabulary Extra Credit
• Find a vocabulary word (from any lesson) from any
  source
• Write it down in the sentence you found it
• Put the piece of paper with your name on it in
  the basket for vocabulary extra credit
• You will receive one extra credit point for each
  word

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7th grade vocabulary

• Students must make vocabulary cards for the first
  unit
• Subsequently, those not achieving a 90 on the
  unit test are required to make vocabulary cards
  for the next unit (worth 20 points)

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Reading Curriculum Test

• 20 of grade
• Standardized test format30 questions
• Encourage your student to take the time to do his
  or her best. Every question counts!

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Reading Comprehension

• 50 of grade
• Includes homework, quizzes and tests
• Taught using novels and short stories
• Nightly reading assignments are given
• Some type of response is often assigned

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Reading continued

• Keys to success in reading
• Keep up with reading and response work nightly
• Bring novel to class everyday
• Use class time wisely
• Keep track of all assignments to turn in at the
  end of the novel unit
• Keep track of your book!

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Novel Tests

• Keys to success
• Know the characters and what they might say
• Remember the sequence of events
• Use post it notes as you read to record questions
  you have
• Participate in class discussions about the book
• Review study guides

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Homework

• Worth 10 points unless otherwise specified
• Student receives 5 points if turned in one day
  late
• No credit is given for homework more than one day
  late
• This does not apply to vocabularyit is not
  helpful to complete this homework after the test
  is taken.

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Long Term Assignments

• Includes written papers and projects
• Long term projects lose 10 for each day late
• Ample time is providedPLAN AHEAD!!

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Communication

• Assignments are written on the board and must be
  written in students agendas daily
• Reading assignments are listed on a syllabus
  and/or calendar
• All assignments are posted on the web

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Communication cont.

• I will call you if I foresee a problem or if a
  long term assignment is not turned in.
• Email is the best way to contact me quickly. I
  check it often throughout the day.

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Email

• butlerm_at_wyomingcityschools.org
• I will be gathering your contact information

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Classroom Rules

• Follow school rules
• No gum, no fighting, be on time, etc.
• Be respectful of others
• Dont talk while others are talking
• Detention given for infractions
• Referrals to Mr. Barre for repeated infractions

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What do I do when Im done?

• If a student finishes work early, I will expect
  that he or she will read or work in the writing
  folder.
• Students should ALWAYS have a book to read in
  classa record will be kept as to novels
  completed.
• Students are not permitted to do work for another
  class during language arts.

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8th Grade Novels

• Stargirl Jerry Spinelli
• Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred D. Ta
• No Promises in the Wind Irene Hunt
• Swallowing Stones Joyce McDonald
• Monster Walter Dean Myers
• And Then There Were None Agatha Christie
• Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes
• I Am the Cheese Robert Cormier
• The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury
• The House of the Scorpion Nancy Farmer
• I Am David Ann Holm
• The Endless Steppe Esther Hautzig
• Jacob Have I Loved Katherine Paterson
• The Wave Todd Strasser
• Out of the Dust Karen Hesse
• Gentlehands M. E. Kerr
• Parallel Journeys Eleanor H. Ayer

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7th Grade Novels

• Looking Back Lois Lowry
• The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place E.L. Konigsburg
• A Day No Pigs would Die Robert
  Newton Peck
• Interstellar Pig William Sleator
• The Outsiders S. E. Hinton
• Turnabout Margaret Peterson Haddix
• If I Should Die Before I Wake Han Nolan
• Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick
• Tom Sawyer Mark Twain
• Tears of a Tiger Sharon Draper
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond Elizabeth George
  Speare
• Arsenic and Old Lace (play) Joseph Kesselring
• The House of Dies Drear Virginia Hamilton
• The View from Saturday E. L. Konigsburg