8TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS Molalla River Academy Brandon Workentin, Teacher bworkentin@mra-k8.

com (503) 829-6672

Welcome! Im excited to be here with you during my second year at MRA. I look forward to working with you as you transition from your last year of middle school and prepare for your first year of high school. I feel extremely lucky to be your instructor and am looking forward to having a very successful year. Please feel free to contact me at any time in order to discuss this syllabus or to address any other questions or concerns that you may have.

COURSE DESCRIPTION MRAs Language Arts course for 8th-graders is designed to help students become more thoughtful and critical readers, more deliberate and skilled writers, and more involved and responsible human beings. This course is based on American literature and non-fiction, to go along with the 8th-grade Social Studies curriculum. It is writingintensive and asks students to participate actively, whether individually or in groups. CLASS WEBSITE Visit http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/brandonworkentin/mra/home.html to see our class website. I know its a long address, but I have free web hosting from Boise State, yet one more reason to root for the Broncos . You will find homework information, upcoming schedules, newsletters, and other great information. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS 1. Respect others and yourself. This includes respecting their property as well as their physical space. 2. Be Safe. 3. Be Responsible. 4. Be a worker. 5. Participate. Raise your hand when you do. 6. No food or drink in the classroom, except water. CONSEQUENCES 1. Verbal Warning 2. Move and Write Reflection 3. Conference with Teacher 4. Community Service 5. Conference with Teacher and Parent 6. Conference with Teacher, Director, and Parent Note: Depending on the incident, a consequence from further down the list may be given without first getting a verbal warning.

DAILY REQUIRED MATERIALS Pen or Pencil-Do not just rely on the classroom supply. Sometimes it runs out. Language Resource Book Student Binder- To include extra paper, assignments that are in-progress, homework, and planner.

 Personal Reading Material- Books or magazines of your own choosing. Any Books or Reading Materials which may be assigned REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK TO BE TURNED IN All work that is turned in must have a heading modeled after the MRA Middle School Heading. Any paper with a due date more than three days after the assignment is given must be typed. All other assignments may be typed or neatly handwritten. Typed papers must be in Times New Roman font, size 12, double-spaced, and 1-inch margins. GRADING AND ONLINE GRADEBOOK We will be using Engrade as our online gradebook this year. You can access Engrade at http://www.engrade.com/user/login.php. You are able to see missing assignments as well as grades for assignments that have been completed. Grades are earned on a 4-point scale. In general, a score of '3' means that the work meets expectations. Projects will have a rubric which will be given to students at the beginning of the project and will have details on what describes each category. Some assignments will have multiple aspects which are assessed. In this case, the assignment will have a score higher than 4, but the overall score possible for the assignment will be both on the rubric and in the gradebook. In addition, tests will usually be reported as a percentage score. LANGUAGE RESOURCE BOOK One of your binders will be used as a Language Resource Book. This notebook needs to be brought to Language Arts class every day. We will set it up as a class in the coming days and weeks. PRIME TIME The beginning of class will be Prime Time. It will last 10-20 minutes, starting when you come in the door. During this time, you are expected to do the warm-up, fill out your planner, and begin silent reading. Prime Time should not be used to go to your cubby, use the restroom, or ask to leave the room for any reason. INDEPENDENT READING Students are expected to do independent reading of books of their own choosing. Each month, you will make a goal of how many books you would like to read, although each student is required to do a minimum of one book review each month. If there is a time you do not think you have homework, this is something you can work on as there will be minimal time provided in class for this project. HOMEWORK CLUB Homework Club will be on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:00-400. It is available for any student who wishes to have a quiet place to work. The location will rotate between the

three Middle School classrooms, and there will always be at least one teacher available to provide help. In addition, you may be required to attend Homework Club if you have missing assignments. In that case, you will receive a note to be signed by your parent, and at least one day prior notice. If you are required to attend Homework Club, you are expected to attend the assigned day even if the assignment which prompted the required attendance is completed by the day of Homework Club. If a student misses more than three assigned Homework Club days, then a meeting will be set up between the teacher, parent, and Executive Director.

PLEASE FILL OUT AND RETURN BY COMPLETING THE INFORMATION BELOW, I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO THE INFORMATION AND POLICIES OUTLINED IN THE 8 GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS SYLLABUS.
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DATE: _________________ ____________________________________ PRINT STUDENT NAME ____________________________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE ______________________________________ PRINT PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME ______________________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE

Email:_______________________________________________________________________ Phone: (Home)__________________ (Cell)_________________ (Work)_________________ Which phone is best to use to contact you? Home________ Cell________ Work________ Which is the best way to reach you? Phone___________ Email____________ Which method do you prefer your classroom newsletter? Paper_______ Electronic _______