Welcome to
7th Grade Language Arts with Mrs. Hendershott
lhendershott@wcpss.net
This handout should answer most of your questions about my grading policies and expectations in Language Arts this year.
Communication
Parents and students: PLEASE reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or comments. Email is the most efficient and preferable method of communication. Students may also send messages through Google Classroom.
Parents: If you would like to schedule a conference, please email me, and we will work together to schedule a date and time that’s convenient for everyone. All conferences will be conducted through Google Meet or by phone.
Please check Canvas frequently as I will be updating it daily with information about what we are doing in class, upcoming assessments, and resources that might be helpful to you and your families.
What supplies do I need for Language Arts? For class you will need the following items each day:
Post-it-Notes
Spiral Notebook
Pencils/Pens
Highlighter
Markers and/or colored pencils
Pocket Folder
Module Novel (I will provide)
Module Workbook (I will provide)
All students will be provided a module novel and module workbook when materials are distributed to students the first week of school.
What are we learning? Language Arts will be broken up into four Modules this year with a theme for each module. The themes are the following:
Journeys and Survival
Working Conditions Then and Now
Slavery and the concept of freedom
Screen Time and the Developing Brain
Each module will cover units over the course of nine weeks. We will study poetry, literature, non-fiction texts, vocabulary, and writing. Each unit will have a mid-unit assessment and summative assessment (project, essay, or test).
How will I know what I have for homework? Homework is directly tied to work that is completed in class. It is important to take homework seriously in order to do well on class work, quizzes, and tests. All assignments will be posted in CANVAS. Please check the board in class every day and record assignments in your agenda. You can also check Canvas daily to make sure you are keeping up with all assignments. Homework will usually consist of novel reading. On some nights you will also be required to respond to the reading through quick writes and short answer questions. There will be homework before quizzes and tests, typically reviewing notes or terms.
Grading
Grades will be determined by a simple points system. To determine a student’s grade, the number of points the student has earned for the quarter is divided by the overall number of points available that quarter. For example: if a student earns 180/200 pts total for the quarter = 90% (A). The more skills and objectives an assessment covers, the more points it will be worth. Assessments and projects will be common across all 7th grade Language Arts classes. Students and parents are encouraged to regularly check the online grade book via PowerSchool to access a student’s most current grades. Please refer to Mills Park’s Grading Policy located on the Mills Park Website for more information on grades. FOR CREDIT, ALL LATE WORK MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE UNIT.
What do I do if I am absent? It is Wake County policy that students will have 2 days to make up missed work for every 1 day they are absent. As a student, it is YOUR responsibility to complete the work you missed without reminders. All homework will be posted on my classroom website and daily classwork will be posted on Google Classroom for you to access. Please do not hesitate to ask me for help if you need it! If you missed a test or quiz, please reach out to me to set up a time to make up the assessment or assignment.
PBIS & S.P.O.T.S
In order to promote a positive school environment and help students be successful, Mills Park Middle School uses the SPOTS positive behavioral intervention and support system. This is a school-wide program used to encourage respect and accountability among students.
SPOTS tickets are given to students as a reward for exhibiting these traits:
S= Shows Respect
P= Possesses a Positive Attitude
O= Owns Actions
T= Thinks First
S= Stays Safe
I look forward to a wonderful year with you!
Mrs. Hendershott