Syllabus

Anthony W. Ochoa 

Kimberly Kean

  Language Arts 8

Welcome to English Language Arts 8 2023-2024 school year!  This course is designed to give students a strong foundation in English Language arts using the Common Core strategies.  My goal is to help keep everyone calm, stress-free and hopefully have some fun and enjoy yourself while doing it.  If you don’t understand or need help, please make sure to send me an email or come to one of my office meetings. (We will discuss this in our first week meetings)  That is what I am here for.  I am really looking forward to this new and challenging year.  I am so excited to be back and making my 27th year as exciting if not more then my 1st!

 Teacher’s Philosophy: I hold the following beliefs, which drive my instruction and classroom environment:

Every student has the ability to succeed in and outside of school.

Ø  Every student has the right to learn in a safe environment.

Ø  Every student deserves to be treated with respect by their teachers and peers.

Ø  Every student can and should ask for help.

Ø  Every stakeholder (student, parent, teacher, family) can and should be involved in students’ education.

 Overview: In this class, students will read, write, argue, laugh, struggle, fail, try again, and together find their way.  They will speak in front of their peers regularly and share their learning with partners, small groups, and in whole group discussions.   Students will gain the ability to think critically and make academic success as we will work through this very interesting and exciting year together.

 In this class, students can expect to read: Novels, graphic novels,  biographies and autobiographies, poetry,  and expository text related to both Language arts and their other classes.

 In this class, students can expect to write:  Daily journals,  arguments, informative papers, narratives/ short stories, poetry

You are expected to attend class everyday!

What to bring every day:  Great attitude, chromebook,,  notebook for writing and one for note taking, pencil/pen, and colored pencils.  These can be a spiral notebook or a composition book. 

Homework Policy: Students can expect homework when their daily classwork isn't completed or they need to prepare for an activity in class the next day.  Reading 20 minutes and journaling can ALWAYS be done to become a better student.  

Grading Policy: The students will be graded on the following based on a point scale:

-        Assessments (tests, papers, quizzes, presentations)  30%

-        Projects 30% 

-        Participation 20%

- Classwork homework 10%

- Warm ups/exit slips 10%

The grading system will be done with a more equitable approach working towards getting all students to mastery of the concepts and skills in 8th grade to prepare them for high school.  This will be discussed at Back to School night in more detail.  

A 100-90

B 89-79

C 78-68

D 67-57

F 55-0