Supplies students will need to purchase for ELA include: 

• One three-pronged folder with pockets (the plastic kind are the most durable)

• Pens or pencils of any kind and lots of them!

• Loose leaf lined paper - college or wide rule

• Personal wired headphones/earbuds

I will have items such as highlighters, colored pencils, markers, and crayons for students to use if they do not have their own, but they are welcome to bring their own. 

Not required but highly suggested: 

• Mouse

• Reusable water bottle

• A small personal planner

Many people say that it takes a village to raise a child, and I believe the same stands for educating them! If you feel led to contribute in some way to your student's ELA class, the following supplies are always greatly appreciated and needed: 

• Tissues (most wanted)

• Hand Sanitizer (most wanted)

• Pencils (most wanted)

• Lined Paper

• Lysol Wipes

Within my ELA Class, there are three main rules that cover all behaviors and actions. Students are expected to be: 

1. Responsible

2. Respectful

3. Resilient

As a class, we will discuss what each of these words means for us as we operate together as a learning community. Students are held to high expectations in my class because I know they can meet those expectations and excel beyond them. My goal as a teacher is to push my students to always better themselves, in ELA concepts, other academic areas, and social-emotional areas of life. I want my students to know that they are world-changers and wave-makers and they must behave as such, both inside my classroom and out. Mrs. Roberson's students will be known as leaders within the WRMS community. 

As far as disciplinary action is concerned, I follow the school-wide disciplinary program that is aligned with PBIS principles. I believe in an open line of communication with families, so should your student need disciplinary correction, I will warn the student and contact home before assigning a disciplinary strike. Disciplinary action should be a learning opportunity for the student with chances to correct their mistakes. I also believe in acknowledging students who are excelling in behavior and class expectations. Various positive behavior rewards and acknowledgements may happen throughout the year. 

**Our class will determine what it means to be responsible, respectful, and resilient as Mrs. Roberson's leaders. 

The ELA Curriculum is centered around HMH's Into Literature program. Each student will have access to their own digital copy of the textbook. Students will be able to type in and annotate through highlighting and adding notes in their digital textbook. The textbook can also be found by clicking on the "Ed" icon within the SSO portal. A hardcopy of the textbook will be available within the classroom if needed. Classwork will consist of many types of writing, reading, and discussion.

Classwork will be done within the digital textbook, assignments posted in Canvas, or on paper. Students will keep all paper assignments and handouts in their three-pronged folder. 

Canvas will be accessible through the SSO portal. Each unit will have its own section within Canvas that will feature unit summaries, anchor charts, assignments, links, and digital copies of certain handouts. All typed work will be done via Google Docs and Drive. Another section will feature Early Finisher links, class documents, and a link to the Google Form for Request to Redo assignments. 

All grades and/or missing work notifications will be found on Infinite Campus. Minor and Major grades can be redone/retaken 1 time. If a student wishes to redo/retake an assignment, they will fill out the Request to Redo Google Form in Canvas, and I will provide them with what they need. 

Students in Mrs. Roberson's class are expected to be reading something outside of class at all times. Be prepared to be asked what you are reading at any point. Reading is fundamental for excelling not only in Language Arts, but in all other school subjects. 

Students will be also be asked to continue unfinished classwork at home, which should be turned in the next class day. They will also be asked to review the concepts taught in class at home. 

I will also post additional resources such as videos, anchor charts, and supplemental lessons on Canvas for students who need extra support. While some extra help can be given during class or during Tribe Time, it is the student's responsibility to use the resources posted online for them at home if they know they need more practice. 

Reminders will be posted on the whiteboard in the front of my classroom. Due dates and reminders about homework will be sent out via Remind and Canvas. 

Students in Mrs. Roberson's class are expected to be reading something outside of class at all times. Be prepared to be asked what you are reading at any point. Reading is fundamental for excelling not only in Language Arts, but in all other school subjects. Students are expected to be reading a book outside of class, but there will be no grade attached to the student's progress. Each student will keep a reading log in their ELA folder to track the books they have read and the books they would like to read. The main point is to encourage students to read outside of required reading and to fall in love with books. I ask that all families encourage this in their students and have conversations with their students about what they are reading. 

We will have a class bookshelf display in my classroom. Once a student finishes reading a book, they will take a paper book spine from the display, fill out the short book review on the spine, and decorate the spine however they would like. The spine will be added to our paper class bookshelf as a way to keep track of how many books all of my classes have read throughout the year. I cannot wait to watch it grow! Our goal is to fill the paper bookshelf by December and again in the second semester! 

Lastly, I believe in reading choice. While there may be times where students will be assigned reading, I would like all students to choose their own books for independent reading. My class library features over 500 books available to students, and I will also offer resources such as recommendation lists and personality type quizzes for students to use to help them find the perfect book. I love talking books with students, and I will do my best to help them fall in love with reading. We will start each class with 10 minutes of reading and adding to some type of reading log. We will also participate in First Chapter Friday, where I will share a book with the class every Friday by reading its first chapter. Those books will also be available for students to read either in my classroom library or the school library. 

**Due to the expansiveness of my classroom library, I have yet to read every title on my shelves. I want you to know I am sensitive to having appropriate reading material in my classroom library. That said, what is considered “appropriate” may vary from one parent to another. Some parents do not mind their child reading Stephen King; other parents object to the horror genre. Please be aware that the selections in my classroom library, just like any other public library or school library, range from elementary-level to university-level reading material. As a parent or guardian, I ask you to remain aware throughout the year of the books your student has chosen to read and assist in gauging appropriateness. Rest assured the books in my classroom library and literacy center are never assigned. They are checked out on a voluntary basis only. If at any point you do not approve of the book your student has chosen from my classroom library, please feel free to contact me, and I will help your student find a different book. 

In accordance with the state Board of Education policy, Houston County Board of Education establishes the following guidelines for gifted classes: 

GRADES - Satisfactory is required for enrollment in the Houston County Gifted Program and for continued services in the gifted education classes. 

• The student shall demonstrate satisfactory performance with a minimum of 70 average in each gifted education class in each grading period (six-week grading period). 

• When a student earns a grade of 75 or less in a gifted/honors education class, then the student is placed on Academic Watch for that individual class. 

• Any student failing to meet continuation criteria shall be placed on academic probation for a minimum period of six weeks for that individual class.