Language Arts Syllabus
“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.”
-Malala Yousafzai
Welcome to Newton Middle School! I am looking forward to working with you this year in Language Arts. Below are a few things that are important for our class this year.
Classwork:
Most classwork will be posted on Google Classroom. Click on the “classwork” tab to find assignments. Work will be posted under each week. There will also be agenda slides for each week. If you are absent please check those to see what you need to make up. If you have questions on an assignment and have already asked a classmate, feel free to ask me in class or to send me an email.
Class expectations:
Follow the CODE (Newton’s behavior policy) inside and outside class.
Be Caring
Be Open Minded
Be Disciplined
Be Engaged
Grading:
All grades will be posted in Infinite Campus. Work Habits and Content Knowledge will be graded on a Standards-Based Grading Scale of 4-1.
Late Work:
I will almost always accept work late. If something is not finished on time, you may work on it until it is finished. Quitting on yourself is not the answer. If you are struggling with something, please come and talk to me and we will work through it together. You will work on and complete all class assignments. I expect your work to be turned in on time regularly and that this policy is not misused. I can only grade work from the quarter. After the quarter is over, I cannot grade it.
Writing Revisions:
Revisions are welcomed! Writing is a process and revisions are part of that process. Talk to me before submitting revisions so that we can discuss what revisions need to be made.
Class Materials:
Please bring the following materials to class every day:
Chromebook (charged)
Pencil or pen
Markers or colored pencils
Choice reading book
Planner (this is provided by the school)
Plug-in headphones
Optional materials:
Writer’s Notebook (composition or spiral-bound notebook)
Folder
Scissors
Glue stick
Reading:
Students will be greatly encouraged to read at home. We will get to go to our school library every week as a class. They will find books to read that are within their general reading skill level, but will also challenge them to improve their reading. There will be a book project due near the end of each quarter.
Units:
We will be exploring several units this year.
-Fractured fairy tales with a focus on plot and theme. Students will create their
own fractured fairy tale.
-The Outsiders book with a focus on plot and character development. Students
will write an argumentative essay based on a character.
-Memoir excerpts with a focus on descriptive narrative writing.
-To Kill a Mockingbird with a focus on comparing and contrasting characters, themes, and plots to one of the book club books of their choosing.
-Poetry varieties with a focus on figurative language and other descriptive writing techniques.
-We will also have several weekly routines that will involve grammar and mechanics, building up writing stamina, and improving technical writing skills.
Contact me:
The best way to contact me outside of class is by emailing me at bmoore@lps.k12.co.us.
Opt-Out Link
Here is a link to the opt-in/opt-out district procedure.