Philosophy
I view teaching as a partnership between the teacher and the student. While some students may have a head start on others, I believe all people have the ability to learn whatever they want put their mind to. I will do my best to teach the skills that are needed for you to be an proficient reader but it is your responsibility to take the information, help, and resources available to you apply them. I personally don't care what your grade is, I care what skills you learn, improve, and develop throughout this year so everything I do will be directed at learning those skills.
Class Structure & Expectations
Most Days we will begin class with 15 minutes of silent reading, so I expect you to be at your desk reading when the bell rings unless I tell you different. We will then have a skill lesson, and then time to work on the assignment.
Other Expectations:
- I will treat you with respect and I ask you do the same for me.
- If discipline is needed to correct a behavior, I will treat you fairly, but not necessarily equally.
- It is very hard to get me mad unless you are bullying others or treat any of my substitute teachers poorly.
- If you are occasional having a rough day because of something at home and will have a little trouble focusing please let me know.
- Everyday you are expected to have a pencil, free reading book, and your assignment book. (Red Folders will stay in the room)
- You are in 8th grade, you don't need to ask me to sharpen your pencil or get a drink....... but please don't do it while I'm talking.
- I will give you 3 passes to quickly go the restroom/locker/get a drink per quarter, after 3 you will make up any class time missed during your lunch.
- If you are going to throw up, get to the restroom asap, I'll figure out where you went, you won't get in trouble.
- I shouldn't see or hear your cell phone/electronic device or headphones unless we use them for class.
- I don't care if you have gum as long as it doesn't end up under my tables, please get up and go throw it away when you are done with it.
- No candy due to it usually having loud wrappers.
Other Expectations:
- I will treat you with respect and I ask you do the same for me.
- If discipline is needed to correct a behavior, I will treat you fairly, but not necessarily equally.
- It is very hard to get me mad unless you are bullying others or treat any of my substitute teachers poorly.
- If you are occasional having a rough day because of something at home and will have a little trouble focusing please let me know.
- Everyday you are expected to have a pencil, free reading book, and your assignment book. (Red Folders will stay in the room)
- You are in 8th grade, you don't need to ask me to sharpen your pencil or get a drink....... but please don't do it while I'm talking.
- I will give you 3 passes to quickly go the restroom/locker/get a drink per quarter, after 3 you will make up any class time missed during your lunch.
- If you are going to throw up, get to the restroom asap, I'll figure out where you went, you won't get in trouble.
- I shouldn't see or hear your cell phone/electronic device or headphones unless we use them for class.
- I don't care if you have gum as long as it doesn't end up under my tables, please get up and go throw it away when you are done with it.
- No candy due to it usually having loud wrappers.
Classwork & Grades
All assignments will be built around the skills that we have been learning in class. Everything we do has a purpose, and I won't give you work just to give you work. Because we only have one set of textbooks you will have class time to do much of the work I assign so if you use that time wisely you won't have that much to take home. Assignments will count for 40% of your grade.
We will have quizzes from time to time, these will count for 20% of you grade.
We will have reading journals over the skill covered in class applied to your free reading book, there will be roughly 1-2 per week, these will count for 20% of your grade.
We will have one book report due every three weeks, so technically free reading is your homework each day. The next due date will always be posted on my board. Quarters 1&2 we will be reading fiction, Quarter 3 will be non fiction, and Quarter 4 is free choice. These will count for 10% of your grade.
And last but not least, we will have one Marking Period Exam at the end of each quarter that will count for 10% of your grade.
If you happen to need an extra copy of something there is a link to it above under the drop down tab "assignments."
Because I am focused on you "getting" it. You will have the opportunity to redo anything you got wrong within a week (for half credit) to improve you grade. For late assignments, I take 20% per week for any late assignment.
We will have quizzes from time to time, these will count for 20% of you grade.
We will have reading journals over the skill covered in class applied to your free reading book, there will be roughly 1-2 per week, these will count for 20% of your grade.
We will have one book report due every three weeks, so technically free reading is your homework each day. The next due date will always be posted on my board. Quarters 1&2 we will be reading fiction, Quarter 3 will be non fiction, and Quarter 4 is free choice. These will count for 10% of your grade.
And last but not least, we will have one Marking Period Exam at the end of each quarter that will count for 10% of your grade.
If you happen to need an extra copy of something there is a link to it above under the drop down tab "assignments."
Because I am focused on you "getting" it. You will have the opportunity to redo anything you got wrong within a week (for half credit) to improve you grade. For late assignments, I take 20% per week for any late assignment.
Missed Days
If you miss a day of school it is your responsibility to ask me what you missed or get the assignment at the beginning of class, it's not my responsibility to hunt you down. You may need to work on some stuff during the silent reading time or take stuff home to get caught up.