Welcome to Open House!

1
Welcome to Open House!

• Driftwood Middle School
• Mrs. Brooks
• 8th Grade Advanced Reading

2
Welcome to Your Childs Reading Class
Im delighted YOU joined us this evening. YOU
are the most influential factor in your childs
success in school. I am here to help ensure YOUR
childs success this year.
3
Whats in The Course This Year?

• Development and refinement reading, writing and
  oral skills
• Comprehension and evaluation of Informational
  Text
• Vocabulary enrichment
• Development of critical reading skills such as
  critiquing arguments and evaluating sources
• Substantiating their opinion via discussions and
  presentations
• Providing text-based evidence while avoiding
  plagiarism.

4
Available Student Resources

• Textbook Collections
• further explore the collection topics
  compare and contrast traditional texts with
  contemporaries delve into more complex
  texts expand students' reading of poetry
  expose students to established traditional
  authors such as Shakespeare, Dante, Dickens,
  Eliot, Austen, Dickenson, Wells, Wadsworth,
  Whitman
• Supplemental materials publishers online
  activities, various websites
• Additional reading materials fiction and
  non-fiction texts
• Students MUST read independently because they
  need more information than they can possibly gain
  in class!
• Required Supplies
• 1 3-prong folder (plastic is more durable) to be
  brought to class every day
• 1 green ink pen
• Paper and pencils

5
My Teaching Style

• Teacher and student-led discussions prompted by
  questioning (Collaborative Discussions)
• Students learn to write by both group activities
  and individual work I provide ongoing feedback
  on progress
• Vocabulary activities, enrichment through writing
  and oral activities, individual and group
  projects and presentations
• Student focused activities

6
Expectations for Homework

• Read and prepare at least 30 minutes each night
  whether there is homework or not!
• Planning of long-term assignments is critical
• Work to be completed on time for full credit. 25
  will be taken off for each day homework is late
  down to 25. (Exceptions students absent when
  assignment was given have 2 days for each day out
  to turn in assignment. Students present when the
  assignment was given, but absent when assignment
  is due must turn in the assignment the day they
  return to school.)
• All homework is evaluated and recorded.
• Homework is directly related to topics covered in
  class

7
Absence Policy for Homework
What To Do After An Absence?

• Access the online textbook to catch up on reading
• beep.browardschools.com
• Check the Missing Work Binder and Tray for
  distributed worksheets and missed assignments.
• Check my wikispaces for weekly activities
• sbrooksdriftwood.wikispaces.com
• There is also an extra credit assignment here
  each week!
• Copy notes from a classmate. (I have a copier, I
  will immediately copy the notes for students when
  requested)
• Arrange make up for missed assessments.
• Ask questions for clarification.

8
Official Reporting Dates

• Report Cards 11/13,1/21,4/15 and 6/24
• Interims 9/18,11/20, 2/10 and 4/30
• Conferences Call the Eighth Grade Center to make
  arrangements.
• Phone [phone]

9
Ongoing Home-School Communication

• Reach me
• By phone[phone] and leave a message. I will
  return calls within 48 hours or earlier if
  possible.
• By email sherwood.brooks_at_browardschools.com

• To reach you, I will use
• Emails
• Phone calls
• Note sent home

10
How to help me communicate

• Share your home and work email
• Identify the best phone contact number and send
  in a new number when applicable.
• Monitor your childs grades regularly in
  Pinnacle.
• gradebook.browardschools.com/piv
• Set up conferences with me, guidance counselors,
  or other teachers whenever you feel its
  necessary. We are here for YOU.

11
Be Involved

• Help your child learn at home (designate a quiet
  study area and set time restrictions)
• Be a team player and offer to help with review.
• Encourage your child to use the online review
  activities as an extension of the classroom
  learning.
• Seek assistance from me or the guidance counselor
  when your child is having difficulty
• Show interest in your childs successes and offer
  encouragement in times of failure

12
Thanks and Keep Involved

• Research shows that when all 3 partners
  (teachers, students, and parents) make a
  commitment to teaching and learning, student
  success is sure to follow.
• As one-third of the partnership, I will do my
  part to make this a successful year for your
  child.
• Stay involved and committed to your childs
  education.
• Thank you for coming this evening.