Curriculum
Our English Language Arts curriculum includes reading, writing, speaking and listening, according to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, which is based on the Common Core standards. For more information on the curriculum standards please see:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/curriculum/languagearts/scos/extended-k12_2010.pdf
We will be reading informational and literary selections together as a class, in small groups, with partners, and independently. This year our district purchased a new curriculum that is based on the learning management system called StudySync. The following is the list of curriculum units for the year:
7th Grade
Q1 - "Conflicts and Clashes"
Focus on fiction and plot elements, summative writing assignment is a narrative essay
Q2 - "Highs and Lows"
Focus on poetry and short stories, focus on figurative language and poetic structure; summative writing is an argumentative essay/literary analysis
Q3 - "Chasing the Impossible"
Focus on argumentative text
8th Grade
Q1 - "Everyone Loves a Mystery"
Focus on fiction and suspense stories, summative writing assignment is a narrative essay
Q2 - "Past and Present"
Focus on poetry and short stories, focus on figurative language and poetic structure; summative writing is an argumentative essay/literary analysis
Q3 - "No Risk, No Reward"
Focus on informational text
Assessments/Grading
Culbreth’s school-wide grading policy requires that teachers apply the following weights toward types of graded student work:
25% Tests
25% Projects
10% Benchmarks
40% Classwork/Artifacts
Behavior Policy
We use a Restorative Practices Behavior system, which means that we focus more on teaching, modeling, and practicing good behavior with students rather than punishing them when they make a mistake. This method has been effective in other schools in our district in reducing missed class time because of office referrals.
Parent Communications
I encourage two-way communication between myself and parents. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns you have about your child. I am looking forward to getting to know all my students and working with you this year. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. If you have a chance, please take my Parent Survey, which you can find on my Culbreth webpage, accessed through the Staff Directory on the Culbreth webpage. Let me know if you need a printed copy.