Course Information

The Language Arts program at all CUSD middle schools is called Units of Study by Lucy Calkins and Colleagues from TCRWP (Teacher's College Reading & Writing Project). Throughout the year-long program, students will:

read, write and discuss engaging and rigorous literary and informational texts
write in a range of genres including text-based explanations and arguments
develop skills for real world reading, writing, and discussing
engage in small and whole group text-based discussions

Textbook

There are no textbooks involved! We work on writing based off of Units of Study. Along the way we will be reading short stories, novels, as well as studying mentor texts to help us become better writers.

Units

Narrative

Information

Argument

Grading Breakdown

Classwork & Homework 40%

Projects & Assessments 60%

Year-round Information

Homework Policy

Homework will be assigned on a weekly basis and will include work that is done in connection to what we're doing in class as well as language practice exercises. Homework will be due on the day specified by the teacher. Also, anything we do in class that you do not finish will be expected to be completed as homework.

Assessments

You will be expected to study for tests and quizzes. Tests and quizzes may be based the content in your notes, classwork, group work, lectures, class discussions, and any texts we are reading through. You will be told in advance anything that will be covered on assessments. Any quizzes or tests that score lower than 60% may be re-taken for a higher grade. You may receive a different version of the assessment when you re-take it, and you will only have this one chance at a higher score. It is recommended that if you do poorly the first time around, find out what you missed points on, go home and review the material some more, then come back and re-take the quiz/test.

Latest Updates

Language Arts Work

Most writing assignments will be done on Google Docs, accessible via Google Classroom or your Google Drive. On the occasion that we take notes in class, please have loose binder paper available to use. You may also opt to take notes in an existing notebook you have for another class. In short, you DO NOT need to get a separate notebook just for Language Arts!