Syllabus

7th Grade Language Arts Syllabus

Ms. Machcinski

Phone (240) 566-9283

Melanie.Machcinski@fcps.org

Website: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/ms-machcinski-website/home

LINK TO STUDENT HANDBOOK:

https://education.fcps.org/ums/sites/ums/files/UMS%20Student%20Handbook%202017-18.pdf


GOOGLE CLASSROOM CODES:

P2: joowpz2 P3: bf4fjqf P4: m7bwsx P5: v6hfli7 P7: intqrvw


Dear Parents and students,


Welcome to 7th grade English Language Arts! I am so excited to have you in my class this year, and look forward to your personal and academic growth. The outcomes of our course are aligned with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum Frameworks. Students will further develop reading, writing, language, listening, and speaking skills through informational and literary texts. Students will also complete a variety of writing assignments that focus on both the narrative, analytical, and research aspects of writing. We will participate in a variety of instructional approaches that focus on active reading, process writing, academic vocabulary, and grammatical structures.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:

  • Be on time, seated, and engaged in our assignment when the bell rings.
  • Be respectful to yourself, others, the teacher, and all classroom materials.
  • Be responsible and organized.
  • Be prepared with appropriate materials.


Urbana Middle School follows the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) program, which is a school-wide approach to discipline. Our goal is to change change behaviors that are disruptive to the learning environment. In accordance with the PBIS program, students will be rewarded with “talons” for positive behavior and there will be consequences for failure to follow behavior guidelines and expectations. For the 2017-2018 school year, consequences are accumulated PER STUDENT and not within each classroom. Therefore, you may hear from different teachers regarding your child’s progression through the steps. The progression is as follows:

  • Verbal Warning & Re-state Expectation
  • First Classroom Reflection & Parent Contact
  • Second Classroom Reflection & Parent Contact
  • Lunch Detention & Parent Contact
  • After School Detention & Parent Contact
  • Staff Conference with Administration & Parent Contact

Disruptions: physically or verbally abusing anyone, using inappropriate language, throwing anything, abusing materials/equipment, and eating in class.



REQUIRED MATERIALS

  • 5 subject notebook with enclosed folder OR binder with 5 dividers and loose leaf paper
    • Journal/Warm-Ups
    • Vocabulary
    • Reading
    • Literary Devices
    • Grammar & Writing
  • Pen/Pencil
  • Chromebook


OVERVIEW OF UNITS

  • Truth *(1st Term)
  • Risk and Exploration *(2nd Term)
  • Identity *(3rd Term)
  • Values *(4th Term)

*These thematic units will be the focus of each term. Various skills dealing with reading, writing, listening and speaking will be used throughout the school year.

GRADING

Students have the responsibility to complete every project/assignment and participate in class to earn a successful grade. Incomplete work can have an impact on the overall grade. County benchmark exams are required for this course.. Each benchmark will count as a regular project (60% category) grade in the term in which the benchmark is administered. Students are expected to meet project and homework deadlines, and will need to request homework within two days of their return to school. Late work will be reduced by no more than one letter grade per day. For instance, if a student hands in an assignment three days late and meets all of the criteria for the assignment that would have earned them a 100%, they will lose 30 points because it is three days late. The recorded grade, however, will be marked as a 70.1%. The .1 designates lateness, not a hole in the understanding of content. Tutoring is available during ELT (Extended Learning Time). Students with a D or F are required to attend tutoring. Students with an A, B, or C must request tutoring from the teacher.

  • 60% - Summative Assignments (tests, projects, essays, presentations)
  • 30% - Formative Assignments (classwork)
  • 10% - Homework


Homework will be assigned periodically. I will post homework assignments on my website. Urbana Middle encourages parents to regularly monitor grades on HAC (Home Access Center). The following list of codes is provided to help parents better understand the HAC grading program.

  • An “E” is issued to excuse work. (This neither hurts nor helps a student’s grade).
  • A “Z” is used by teachers to let parents know that an assignment has never been turned in. (The “Z” counts as a zero in the student’s grade in order to give an accurate reflection of what the grade will be if the assignment is never turned in).
  • An actual “0” in a grade book signifies that a student earned a zero on the assignment.


PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism will be addressed by administration at the town hall meeting for students during the first week of school. This portion of the syllabus will then be updated.

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Once you have finished reading this syllabus, please fill out this google form:

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