Class Calendars
General Class Information
Course Description
Students will develop mastery of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through a variety of long- and short-term assignments, both individually and collaboratively. Also, we will focus on the reinforcement of standard grammar usage skills and the application of those skills to writing projects. We will complete four novel units throughout the year (one per quarter). In addition to our four novel units, we will be completing one honors project per quarter.
Necessary Supplies
One 100 sheet, college-ruled composition notebook
Pencil and black pen
Class Culture
A classroom culture is the foundation of our classroom environment. My expectations and rules are designed to empower YOU and make YOU feel comfortable in our room.
What I Expect
Every student is responsible for his/her own learning.
Every student is prepared for class daily.
Every student tries every day to achieve greater mastery.
Every student supports his/her classmates.
Additional Honors Expectation
Every student fulfills his/her Honors contract.
Class Rules and Behavioral Consequences*
#1: Follow directions the first time.
#2: Follow all classroom procedures.
#3: Stay in your space and keep it nice.
#4: Come to class on time and prepared to work.
#5: Treat others and equipment with respect.
Positive Consequences
Praise
Music time earned
Choose your seat one day
Positive notes home
Play an appropriate LA game with a friend
Negative Consequences
Warning
Responsible Thinking + Parent Contact
Responsible Thinking + Teacher Conference + Parent Contact
Behavior Contract + Parent Contact
Administrative Referral **
*Please remember you choose your consequences by your actions.
** Severe Disruptions = Immediate Administrative Referral
Grades
This year we are continuing to transition to Standards-Based Grading. We will still have traditional letter grades, but we will be shifting the bulk of our grading to mastery assignments. Here’s our weighted scoring for the year:
Our letter grades will be determined on the following scale:
A 85-100 B 67-72 C 49-54 D 31-36
A- 79-84 B- 61-66 C- 43-48 D- 25-30
B+ 73-78 C+ 55-60 D+ 37-42 F 0-24
Late/Missing Work
Under a mastery grading system, there is no room for either extra credit or late penalties. Both distort grades so that they no longer give an accurate picture of what a student can do. Instead of extra credit, students will have the opportunity to redo assignments from all grading categories in order to achieve a higher level of mastery.
Late penalties will not be applied to grades for work that is past due--but students will be held accountable on their citizenship grades. More than 3 late assignments in a term will drop their citizenship down to the next level. More than 5 late assignments per term will drop citizenship two levels.
Students can get help before school, after school, and during RTI. If a student is absent, he/she will be able to pick up work in class from our make-up crate in class or download work off the class website. Any classwork not finished in class becomes homework.
Cheating
Cheating will never be tolerated. Cheating includes plagiarism and copying another student's work. The student cheating will need to redo the assignment for a maximum of 50% credit and will receive a drop in citizenship.
Important Deadlines
Please make sure to have all work for the term turned in by these dates. It ensures that I have time to grade everything accurately.
1st midterm cut-off: Monday, September 25 1st term cut-off: Monday, October 23
2nd midterm cut-off: Monday, December 4 2nd term cut-off: Monday, January 8
3rd midterm cut-off: Monday, February 12 3rd term cut-off: Monday, March 19
4th midterm cut-off: Monday, April 30 4th term cut-off: Friday, May 25
Chromebooks
We will receive a class set of class Chromebooks this year! In order to keep these Chromebooks in top, working shape, each student will be assigned to a Chromebook.
Google Classroom/Class Website
Visit our class website at crossleyela.weebly.com. I upload work and post daily agendas to the 8th Honors grade page at least weekly. We will also be using Google Classroom for multiple assignments throughout the year, after we receive our Chromebooks. This is convenient for students who miss school, because they will be able to make up work anywhere they have internet access. Parents can also monitor assignments and progress through Google Classroom; parents can also access assignments through our class website.
Media
Our learning standards this year include comparing, contrasting, and analyzing printed versions of literature alongside their movie counterparts. In class, we may show either clips or entire feature films for the following titles: Hook, Fox & the Hound, Little Women, and The Invisible Man. If I feel inclined to add a movie to this list, I will send an email via Skyward informing guardians of any changes.
Students will develop mastery of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through a variety of long- and short-term assignments, both individually and collaboratively. Also, we will focus on the reinforcement of standard grammar usage skills and the application of those skills to writing projects. We will complete four novel units throughout the year (one per quarter). In addition to our four novel units, we will be completing one honors project per quarter.
Necessary Supplies
One 100 sheet, college-ruled composition notebook
Pencil and black pen
Class Culture
A classroom culture is the foundation of our classroom environment. My expectations and rules are designed to empower YOU and make YOU feel comfortable in our room.
What I Expect
Every student is responsible for his/her own learning.
Every student is prepared for class daily.
Every student tries every day to achieve greater mastery.
Every student supports his/her classmates.
Additional Honors Expectation
Every student fulfills his/her Honors contract.
Class Rules and Behavioral Consequences*
#1: Follow directions the first time.
#2: Follow all classroom procedures.
#3: Stay in your space and keep it nice.
#4: Come to class on time and prepared to work.
#5: Treat others and equipment with respect.
Positive Consequences
Praise
Music time earned
Choose your seat one day
Positive notes home
Play an appropriate LA game with a friend
Negative Consequences
Warning
Responsible Thinking + Parent Contact
Responsible Thinking + Teacher Conference + Parent Contact
Behavior Contract + Parent Contact
Administrative Referral **
*Please remember you choose your consequences by your actions.
** Severe Disruptions = Immediate Administrative Referral
Grades
This year we are continuing to transition to Standards-Based Grading. We will still have traditional letter grades, but we will be shifting the bulk of our grading to mastery assignments. Here’s our weighted scoring for the year:
- Mastery Grades - 80% - Tests, large projects, exit tickets, quizzes, and anything else used to gauge mastery. These are graded on ‘correctness’ to help me determine how much each student has learned and when they’ve ‘mastered’ a skill.
- Assignments - 15% - Classwork and homework to help practice skills and standards. These are practice and will be graded on completion.
- Starters - 5% - We will have a starter every day in order to start class on time and review content
Our letter grades will be determined on the following scale:
A 85-100 B 67-72 C 49-54 D 31-36
A- 79-84 B- 61-66 C- 43-48 D- 25-30
B+ 73-78 C+ 55-60 D+ 37-42 F 0-24
Late/Missing Work
Under a mastery grading system, there is no room for either extra credit or late penalties. Both distort grades so that they no longer give an accurate picture of what a student can do. Instead of extra credit, students will have the opportunity to redo assignments from all grading categories in order to achieve a higher level of mastery.
Late penalties will not be applied to grades for work that is past due--but students will be held accountable on their citizenship grades. More than 3 late assignments in a term will drop their citizenship down to the next level. More than 5 late assignments per term will drop citizenship two levels.
Students can get help before school, after school, and during RTI. If a student is absent, he/she will be able to pick up work in class from our make-up crate in class or download work off the class website. Any classwork not finished in class becomes homework.
Cheating
Cheating will never be tolerated. Cheating includes plagiarism and copying another student's work. The student cheating will need to redo the assignment for a maximum of 50% credit and will receive a drop in citizenship.
Important Deadlines
Please make sure to have all work for the term turned in by these dates. It ensures that I have time to grade everything accurately.
1st midterm cut-off: Monday, September 25 1st term cut-off: Monday, October 23
2nd midterm cut-off: Monday, December 4 2nd term cut-off: Monday, January 8
3rd midterm cut-off: Monday, February 12 3rd term cut-off: Monday, March 19
4th midterm cut-off: Monday, April 30 4th term cut-off: Friday, May 25
Chromebooks
We will receive a class set of class Chromebooks this year! In order to keep these Chromebooks in top, working shape, each student will be assigned to a Chromebook.
- Always carry your Chromebook with both hands
- Treat it like you spent 250 dollars on it
- Use it for school purposes only
- Report any damage or vandalism immediately
Google Classroom/Class Website
Visit our class website at crossleyela.weebly.com. I upload work and post daily agendas to the 8th Honors grade page at least weekly. We will also be using Google Classroom for multiple assignments throughout the year, after we receive our Chromebooks. This is convenient for students who miss school, because they will be able to make up work anywhere they have internet access. Parents can also monitor assignments and progress through Google Classroom; parents can also access assignments through our class website.
Media
Our learning standards this year include comparing, contrasting, and analyzing printed versions of literature alongside their movie counterparts. In class, we may show either clips or entire feature films for the following titles: Hook, Fox & the Hound, Little Women, and The Invisible Man. If I feel inclined to add a movie to this list, I will send an email via Skyward informing guardians of any changes.
Class Procedures
Entering / Exiting
Passing In/Out Papers
Getting into groups
Getting into rows
Group supplies
Attention Signal
Make-Up Crates
Passes
Doorman / Lights
Emergency / Drills
In-Class Library Checkout
Student Work Wall
RTI Device Checkout
Exit Tickets
No Name Papers
Passing In/Out Papers
Getting into groups
Getting into rows
Group supplies
Attention Signal
Make-Up Crates
Passes
Doorman / Lights
Emergency / Drills
In-Class Library Checkout
Student Work Wall
RTI Device Checkout
Exit Tickets
No Name Papers