Class overview

My name is Melissa Durham and I am your 6th or 7th grade ELA teacher at Northside Middle School.  I am so excited to help you grow in your reading, writing, and speaking skills this year!  We will read several exciting novels, improve your writing skills by creating personal narratives, analyzing literature, composing poems, and researching various topics.  We will also improve your grammar skills and deliver class presentations.  This should be a great year to improve your English skills!

Grading Policy: 

According to Greenwood School District 50 Policy:

                                           Tests/Projects          35%

                                           Quizzes                   25%

                                           Homework              10%

                                           Daily Grades           30%

Tests will be given on material and reading passages covered in class.  I will give notice a week prior to each test.  

Quizzes will be given on class notes, vocabulary, and assigned reading passages. 

Projects will be assigned throughout the year; one per quarter.  A project rubric will be provided for each assignment.

Homework will be assigned on a regular basis.  Homework can be found on the classroom board.

Daily Grades will be given for in-classwork and class participation.

All late assignments will receive partial credit.  Any missing grades will receive a  0 until it is turned in. Any late work will be deducted 10 points per day for each day it is late.

                  Grading Scale:

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 60-69

F: 59 and below

 Useful links:

Powerschool: https://bit.ly/3g31Hrp

Google Classroom:  classroom.google.com/u/0/h 

Weekly Homework:   24-25 Homework

SCHEDULE:

1st Period-- 6th grade MM ELA Google Classroom Code:  p2vbmtn

2nd Period-- 6th grade MM ELA Google Classroom Code:  6hzwrh5

3rd Period-- 7th MM  ELA        Google Classroom Code:  op64fph

LUNCH

4th Period-- 6th Adv. ELA         Google Classroom Code:  qmx4a3n

5th Period--Planning TEACHER PLANNING

6th Period--7th MM ELA         Google Classroom Code:  7x25est

Melissa G. Durham   

durhamm@gwd50.org   

864-941-5780

  About me

My name is Melissa Durham.  My husband and I live on a farm in Abbeville, SC with cows, pigs, chickens, honeybees, and a huge garden.  Matthew, and I have four children, two grand-daughters, and one on the way.  I have taught in Abbeville School District 60, Palmetto Christian Academy-Greenwood (ELA 6th-8th), and currently I teach as a 6th and 7th grade Medical Magnet ELA teacher at Northside Middle School.  I love to teach my students (the next generation) how to read, write, and speak effectively because they are our future!

I graduated from Lander College in 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and from Clemson University in 1992 with a Master's degree in Reading.  

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Athens, Georgia, so I am a proud Georgia Bulldogs fan. GO DAWGS!!!  Yes, I love college football, especially Saturdays in the fall!   My husband has been a spotter for the stadium announcer at the home Clemson football games.  He and I love the beach, camping at the lake, and snow skiing in the Rocky Mountains.  We also love spending time with our family.  Our oldest daughter, Caroline, is married and has two beautiful girls.   Savannah, our next daughter, is married and runs Aromas Uptown, a local coffee shop in uptown Greenwood.  Meredith, who is 23, is a full time esthetician in Greenville at Oase Day Spa and was married to Lloyd Nelson in May of 2024.  Finally, our youngest, Noah, is a rising senior at Lander University where he is a business finance major.  Family is important as are my students who become like family throughout the year.