Syllabus for Mr.

Israel Garcia’s
8th Grade Language Arts, 2019-20
Miami Arts Studio @ Zelda Glazer
Academic Year 2018-2019
Mr. Israel Garcia
israelgarcia@dadeschools.net
Website: www.mrisraelgarcia.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The eighth grade Language Arts class is designed to help students become more thoughtful and critical
readers, as well as more deliberate and skilled writers. The class will focus on reading, writing, listening,
and speaking, with an emphasis on reading and writing.

We will also learn and employ the grammar of standard American English as used in academic writing
(i.e. essays). This is a writing-intensive class that requires students to participate actively, whether
individually or in groups. We will be implementing the new Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS)
this year as defined by the Florida Department of Education. These Standards represent what it means to
be a literate person in the twenty-first century.

READING MATERIALS:
This year the students will be reading the following long works:

 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

 Animal Farm by George Orwell
 A third long work (TBA)

Students must use the paperback version of the books above because the students will be writing
copious notes and manually highlight them. These books will be collected at certain times to make sure
the students are highlighting and annotating the books.

In addition, the students will be reading shorter works from a variety of genres including short stories,
non-fiction texts, and poetry.

GRADING/ASSESSMENT:
Grades are given for a range of assignments from formative and summative assessments, online
differentiated instructional programs, District and State assessments, homework, visual projects,
presentations, essays, creative writing pieces, quizzes, and tests.

Students receiving a D or below are at risk of failing the course. Please check your parent portal to be
aware of your child’s grades and progress.

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Syllabus for Mr. Israel Garcia’s
8th Grade Language Arts, 2019-20

MATERIALS REQUIRED IN CLASS EACH DAY:

 A large (approximately 1 ½” 3-ring) binder and dividers with pockets so as to separate the
various papers the student must store. The student should divide the sections into practical
categories including…
o Handouts used for notes
o Homework
o Writing assignments that will be turned in.
o Blank, loose leaf paper
o Student may create more divided sections if it helps.
 white loose-leaf paper
 2 black or blue pens
 5 highlighters (yellow, blue, green, pink or orange—light shades to allow one to read through
markings)
 a green, red, or purple marking pen (no pink or other very light colored inks.)
 LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT COLORED STICKY NOTES. The sticky notes should be
no smaller than one-inch-by-one-inch.
 A small USB/flash drive/jump drive

The items below are neither mandatory nor required. However, if you are able to donate any item
from the list to the class, we would ALL be extremely grateful as they make our students healthier
and happier.
1. A box of Facial Tissue (Kleenex, Puffs or generic brands)
2. Hand Sanitizer to prevent the spread of bacteria and colds.
3. Clorox wipes to clean the desks off each day to prevent the spread of bacteria.

WEBSITE:
Please check the website, www.mrisraelgarcia.com daily for updates.

HOME COMPUTERS:
There will be many writing and online-reading assignments throughout the year. The student must have
daily access to a computer and printer. Today, the computer is as basic and necessary as the telephone
was during the latter 20th century. Contingency plans should be made in case of an unforeseen
problem with a home computer.

ONLINE PROGRAMS
This year, we will be working with I-Ready, NoRedInk.com, and Vocabulary.com. Other online
activities may be included throughout the year.

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Syllabus for Mr. Israel Garcia’s
8th Grade Language Arts, 2019-20
HOME LEARNING:
 Homework will be assigned every class period, even if a homework assignment is not due the
following class session. Homework will be assigned to…
o Practice reading and writing skills in an individualized, differentiated approach.
o More deeply analyze, synthesize and evaluate the reading and writing done in class
o To review basic information for the next class session.
 Homework will be checked for completion, comprehension, and quality. Please check your
child's agenda to ensure the homework assignments are written in order to avoid missing any
assignments.
 In addition, students should read for 30 to 45 minutes of sustained independent reading with a
book of their choice every night.
 Missed or late homework due to a class absence will not be accepted unless it is due to an
excused absence. The missed assignment must be made up by the next class period, or it will
result in a zero.
 Please check the website www.mrisraelgarcia.com to check for homework. Also, students
should choose some responsible peers to exchange phone numbers and other means of
communications in order to remind about homework.
 You will need access to a computer, a printer, and access to the internet to do much of your
homework. If you do not have a computer at home, you will need to make arrangements to
find and use a computer with internet access.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:

A variety of objective and subjective assignments will be given, and grading value will vary accordingly.
Typically grading value will be assigned as follows:
 Short online homework assignments (such as NoRedInk and I-Ready): .5 grade each.
 Short and pop quizzes: one grade each
 Longer Tests: two grades each
 Writing assignments: two-to-three grades each, based on…
o organization and clarity of thought
o reasons/examples
o conventions/grammar/mechanics
 Projects: two-four-grades each, depending on the rubric.

The different categories of the writing assignments and projects will appear as separate grades in the gradebook. For
example, the grades on an essay on the poem The Raven will appear as such…
 The Raven Essay (organization/clarity)…A
 The Raven Essay (reasoning/examples/evidence)…B
 The Raven Essay (conventions)…B
The essay received three grades, each for a category that is interdependent to the others.

Grading will be on a 4.0 scale.

 3.5—4.0=A
 2.5—3.49=B
 1.5—2.49=C
 1.0—1.49=D
 .99 and below=F

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Syllabus for Mr. Israel Garcia’s
8th Grade Language Arts, 2019-20
ABSENCES:
Absences greatly affect learning. English class requires student engagement through class discussions,
group work, collaborative work, oral presentations, and so forth. Since classes do not simply consist of a
number of worksheets being completed independently, make up work due to an absence becomes very
difficult because the class lessons cannot be duplicated for the student in a short period of time.

If a student is late to or absent from class, it is up to the student, not the teacher to find out about the
missed assignment. It is recommended that each student attain a list of responsible classmates' phone
numbers and e-mail addresses in order to find out what was missed when an absence occurs. Students
may also go onto the website www.mrisraelgarcia.com in order to check on current assignments.

Make up assignments will be accepted as long as the absence is excused by the main office and the work
is made up in a timely manner (48 hours from the absence).

MAGNET REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCE CONFLICTS

Although this is a magnet school for the arts, it’s still a school where one must succeed in academic
subjects if one is to stay in the magnet. Because we have so many different performing arts programs, I
will give some leeway in assignments turned late depending on the individual circumstances. Some
performances are only one night, some are three nights; some intense dress rehearsals are two days long,
some are a week long. It is your responsibility to time-manage yourselves. I am flexible to a degree,
but I will not bend too far.

BEHAVIOR AND CONSEQUENCES:

Classroom time is for instruction and learning. I do not tolerate disrespect or misbehavior in the
classroom. If a student fails to adhere to the set guidelines and rules outlined in the Student Code of
Conduct Handbook, appropriate punitive measures will be taken.

The simplest way to describe my expectations is “Do what you should have learned in Kindergarten: Be
good to each other and yourselves.” To be a little more specific…

1. Come to school prepared for learning (supplies and completed assignments).

2. Conduct yourself in a manner which will create and maintain a safe and positive learning
environment.
3. Demonstrate respect for yourself, classmates and teachers at all times.
4. Act responsibly and accept consequences for your actions.

AGENDA BOOKS:
Students should have some kind of agend to write their homework assignments daily and to take home
any important papers for parents to see or sign.

BATHROOM PASSES:
Students will be given a bathroom pass as needed and will be allowed to go one person at a time. If your
child is on medication or has a condition that requires frequent visits to the restroom, please bring a
doctor’s note.

COMMUNICATION:
Please contact me directly through my email (israelgarcia@dadeschools.net) if you have any issues
related to health, academics, or any other issue of importance of which I should be aware.