Informational Letter
Welcome back to school! I am excited about this school year, and I look forward to working with each of you.
Literature
The literature class will be reading from Glencoe’s freshman-level literature textbook. We will also read Treasure Island, and we will discuss The Adventures of Tom Sawyer from the summer reading. All 8th graders will also be reading the young reader’s edition of Irena's Children: A True Story of Courage. This Holocaust novel will coincide with the WWII unit in history. Students in the honors class will take increased responsibility for discussions, and they will at times need to prepare for Socratic Seminar.
Reading workshop will also be an important part of our literature class. During reading workshop, students will choose books from the Accelerated Reader program, and we will use this computer assessment program to help evaluate comprehension. In addition to reading books and taking tests, during reading workshop students will also be working on book reviews and giving book talks. The honors students will have an increased expectation to encourage them to read classic literature. Students were given a list of books that they are required to select from for a portion of their AR requirement. Students need to read and pass a test on four of these books during the course of the school year. Students will be allowed to test on any book from the list in advance of the nine weeks that it is required. However, if a student has not taken and passed a test from the classics list by the end of each nine weeks, their AR score will be reduced by 20%. Honors students will be required to earn twenty-five points each nine weeks for AR. Their AR score will be averaged into their grade at the end of the nine weeks. (This score typically equals two test grades, so it is very important!)
Language Arts
Students in the honors language arts class will be held to higher expectations in their writing. While covering many of the same topics as traditional classes, they will explore them in greater depth. Assignments will include fictional stories, research papers, and literary analysis essays. We will also focus on developing vocabulary and strengthening critical thinking through logic-based activities. Students will participate in formal debates, research presentations, and a variety of journal writing activities, including responses to mentor texts. Major writing assignments will follow a process-based approach, with opportunities for feedback and revision before final evaluation.
Please bring the following items to class on a daily basis:
Headphones
Chromebook
Pen and pencil
Assignment notebook/agenda (provided by the school)
Loose-leaf paper
One spiral notebook OR composition notebook OR section in binder for journaling
Reading workshop novel – BOTH classes
Literature textbook (as needed)
Homework assignments
Three-ring binder with clear overlay (1”) and 5-tab dividers for the binder. (The binder will stay in the classroom.)
Optional – Water bottle with a lid or cap
Grades
The middle school grading scale is as follows:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
Below 60 = F
Grades will be taken as percentages and averaged. For all major assignments, rubrics (criteria used in evaluation) will be provided to the student at the time the assignment is given.
Rules
Students need to read the “Student and Parent Handbook” and be aware of all the school rules and policies. All of the rules and policies in the handbook will be in effect in the classroom. The PAWS rules, which are school-wide rules, are as follows:
Please follow directions the first time given.
Always keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Walk inside the building.
Speak appropriately.
In addition to the school rules, I have three basic classroom rules.
1. RESPECT your education.
This includes being in your seat with your finished homework and materials when the bell rings as well as participating in class.
2. RESPECT your classmates.
This includes no name-calling or put-downs.
3. RESPECT your teacher.
This includes being obedient and polite.
Behavioral Infractions
I want the classroom to be a positive learning environment for all students. In this class, students will be allowed only one warning per class for behavioral infractions, unless that infraction is severe enough to merit an immediate consequence. For example, cheating on homework would be an automatic detention. However, the typical progression for discipline is as follows:
Warning
Detention
Removal from the classroom
Student sent to the principal
Conference with parents
Each additional infraction per class will merit an additional consequence. (Language arts and literature are considered two separate classes.) Please see the “Student and Parent Handbook” for information on the accumulation of detentions. The handbook also has information regarding how severe behavioral infractions are handled, as these infractions are not handled at the classroom level.
Locker Passes
Students need to be prepared for class. If a student needs to return to their locker during class for materials, they will need to use one of their two locker passes. Students who do not use their passes will receive extra credit at the end of the nine weeks. If a student forgets materials after they have used both of their passes, I will meet with the student to brainstorm ways to help the student become more successful in this area. If the student still struggles to find success, I will contact the parent or guardian to set up an individualized plan to more successfully address the issue. The individual plan may potentially include lessons designed to develop executive functioning skills or consequences such as detentions, depending on what is determined to be the best course of action.
Students will have one homework pass per subject per quarter to utilize on occasions when work is incomplete. The homework pass will excuse students until the start of the next time the class meets. (For example, if they forget their homework on Monday second hour, the homework will be expected to be turned in by the start of second hour on Tuesday.) If the work is not turned in at the start of the next time the class meets, the work will be considered late and subject to a grade reduction.
All late work will be reduced by 20%. Work is considered late if it is not finished at the start of the class period when it is due, and the student does not have a homework pass to use. Each grade reduction will be noted for parents in the parent portal of the PowerSchool program, so parents will have direct and immediate access to their student’s grades and late assignments. I will regularly review the PowerSchool program for any work that is late and still not turned in past the extra school day given. When I do this, I will give each student one final verbal or email/online notice to turn in the late work. At that time, the grade will turn to a zero and be part of the student’s official average. I will still accept the work for up to 80% credit through midterm and then again through when my final grades are due, but the student will not be reminded again. Students will also be given the date that the zero becomes permanent. Again, parents will have access to see any grade reductions or zeros in the PowerSchool parent portal.
I believe the grade reduction should be enough to deter honors students from habitually turning work in late. If a student is struggling with the basic expectation of homework completion, I will meet with the student to brainstorm ways to help the student become more successful in this area. If this plan doesn’t lead to success, I will contact the parent or guardian to set up an individualized plan to more successfully address the issue.
Please note that the absent work policy outlined in the “Student and Parent Handbook” will be in effect in the classroom. However, if a student is ever unable to complete their homework when it is due because of extenuating circumstances outside the student’s control, please send a note with the student. I will waive the homework pass use or late work grade reduction due to extenuating circumstances. Please note that this does not apply to family vacations or travel for events.
Academic Honesty
In accordance with the seventh and eighth grade rules, if cheating occurs, all students involved will receive a zero on the assignment (or test/project). The student will also be given a detention, which the parents will be asked to sign so that they are aware of the situation. Please note that giving and/or receiving answers is considered cheating.
In my classroom, a large portion of a student's grade comes from homework. It is imperative that the students do their own work unless they are explicitly told that they may work with a partner or group. Otherwise, it isn't a reflection of the student’s progress or learning.
Examples of situations that may occur that would constitute academic dishonesty are as follows:
*Receiving or giving an answer to ANY question on an assignment.
*Directly copying answers.
*Comparing answers on ungraded work.
*Plagiarizing from the internet or another source.
*Using AI-generated or enhanced writing or answers.
Students will, at times, be required to complete and submit their work during class time to ensure that it is being done independently. Drafts of writing assignments will also need to be completed on Google Classroom on the provided documents that allow for teacher access.
Good alternatives if a student needs help:
*Ask Mrs. Garrison or another middle school teacher for assistance on anything you don't understand for re-teaching.
*Ask Mrs. Garrison to spot-check your work if you are not confident in your understanding or direction on an assignment.
*Have your parents assist you on your homework (re-teaching or spot-checking) without giving you the answers. (However, this should be done on a very limited basis. If a child frequently does not understand how to complete the homework, please let me know. My assignments are designed for the students to be able to complete them without parental assistance.)
Good communication is extremely important -- and at the middle school level, it is a responsibility shared between the teacher, parents, and student.
As a teacher, I have made it a goal to keep families as informed as possible. If you would like to participate, I will send out a mass email periodically. (Some of these emails will be written and edited by students to give them a real audience and purpose for writing.) My main goal for these emails is to help support communication between you and your child; please note that your child will still ultimately be responsible for all rubrics, due dates, etc. The school also has a parent portal to our grade book so that parents have complete access to their child’s records. I update students’ grades frequently so that parents always have up-to-date access to the grades taken in literature and language arts.
Parents/guardians, please feel free to contact me with any concerns you might have about your student. I truly believe that together we can have the strongest impact on your child's success. All students are given an assignment notebook, and they are required to have their assignments written in it on a daily basis. Your child should be able to show you this assignment notebook on a regular basis, and at times, he or she may be asked to get your signature. In addition, your child should always be reading a book for Accelerated Reader/reading workshop. You can view your child’s Accelerated Reader points online, and your child should be able to give you their login and password information. (I will also be providing parents with a printed copy of the login information as soon as possible.) Once you log in, you can sign up to receive an automatic email every time your child takes an Accelerated Reader test. This will easily allow you to monitor their progress throughout the nine weeks so that there are no surprises at the end of the nine weeks. Also, note that students are allowed to print progress reports when you request them, so if you want an update, ask! I additionally recommend that you monitor your child’s grades through the parent portal to our grade book program.
Students, I will be trying my best to keep close tabs on each of you. But, there may be times when I am not aware of everything that is affecting your school performance; it is important to keep me updated. Your success is my number one goal, so do not be afraid to ask for extra help. Students, also make sure to let your family know how you are doing on a daily basis. Keep them updated on what you are studying, what you enjoy about school, and if you are struggling in any area. Try to think of it as a team comprised of you, your teacher, and your family—each part wanting you to be the best you can be!
Thank you,
Mrs. Garrison