English 8 Grade Book

Keep this syllabus information in your binder as reference. Turn in the next page and letter to Mrs. Davis

Units of Study Title Content Assessments

Appearances “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara -Unit Reading Exam Can Be “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe -“The Landlady” Argumentative Body Deceiving “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury Paragraph “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers -Theme Multi-Paragraph Expository “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl Essay Jamestown Critical Reading Series Deceptions -Narrative Essay The Pursuit of The Pearl by John Steinbeck -Unit Reading Exam Happiness -Multi-paragraph Essay Rebellion and The Giver by Lois Lowry -Unit Reading Exam Resistance “Is it Okay to Lie” Scholastic Scope -Narrative Essay “Should we Erase Bad Memories?” Scholastic Scope Utopia by Thomas More Absolute Power Animal Farm by George Orwell -Unit Reading Exam Corrupts Upfront Magazine -Argumentative Essay Believing There “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Goodrich and Hackett -Unit Reading Exam Is Good in the One Survivor Remembers Video -Bystander Seminar World “The Boys Who Fought the Nazis” Scholastic Scope Jamestown Critical Reading Series Heros Growing Up -Biography/Oral History Information -Narrative Oral History Essay -Interview Skills -Oral History Presentation English 8 Grade Book 35% Writing Assessment (Final Writing Assignments, Essays) 35% Reading Assessment (Unit Final Exams) 30% Assessment Prep. (all assigned and graded work other than assessments, Quizzes)

Required English Materials ● College-Rule 1 subject notebook, 70 pages ● 3 ring binder with English section clearly marked with the following materials inside: ○ Lined, college-rule notebook paper ○ Pencils (and a sharpener or lead) and erasers ○ Blue or black ball point pens ○ Highlighter (any color) ○ Red correcting pen ○ 1 package of Post-Its (any size or color) ○ Flash Drive/Thumb Drive/USB Drive (to save documents) or email account ● Recommended Supplies ○ Colored pencils ○ Tissues (Get extra credit if give to class) Online Grades and Teacher Contact: We use Skyward Family Access, an online grade book to stay in touch with home. Please make sure all your information is entered and updated. 1. Go to the school website ( www.upsd.wednet.edu/cjhs ) 2. Click on Grades in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. This will take you to Skyward Family Access 3. Enter your Login and Password (if you don’t know these, they are available through the Curtis Junior High main office 566-5670) 4. Click on Login 5. Under General Information, click Student Information 6. Choose Account Information 7. Select what updates you need (ie: Change my Email) 8. Add your new or updated information

Late Assignments : Assessment Prep. assignments turned in late will receive no more than 70% credit. All late work must be turned in before the end of the current unit of study. ● Late Essays: Due to the high emphasis of points for essays, you will still be required to turn them in to get credit for the class. There is no late penalty. However, if it is late, you will be required to come in after school until your assignment is completed to the best of your ability.

Absences: If you are absent, you will NOT get an extension on your work unless you follow these steps: 1. Make sure your absence is excused in the office or by parent contacting the teacher (no late work will be accepted for full points without an excused absence) 2. Ask another student what activities and due dates you missed while you were gone. Find any extra handouts in the Absent Work File by the windows. You can also check Mrs. Davis’ website. 3. Complete all assignments within a week of the day you return. The assignment will be considered late after a week. If you were gone longer than a week, you can arrange for longer time. ● Absent for Test or Quiz: You must make arrangements with the teacher to make up the test or quiz immediately upon your return. The test/quiz will stay a zero until you make it up.

Classroom Expectations ● Be On Time: You must be in the room when the first bell rings and completing the directions on the board by the time the second bell rings. If you fail to meet this standard, you will be marked tardy on the Skyward for parents to see. Tardy 1-2, you will be issued a warning. Tardy 3-5, you will receive a lunch detention. Tardy 6+, you will be given an after school detention and parents will be called. At the beginning of second semester, you will start back at 0 with your tardy count ● Begin Right Away: Come prepared, turn in any assignments, and start the Entry Task posted on the board ● Respect Classroom Environment: The drinking fountain, books, tissues, pencil sharpeners and other materials are available to you to use quietly and respectfully at times that do not interrupt instruction. ● Use Hall Passes: Mrs. Davis will sign your agenda so you can use a hall pass during appropriate class times (Not during class lectures, discussions or during the 15/10 rule).

Classroom Rules : (CJH rules will be followed in our classroom at all times. Please know them – check your agenda.) ● Give Full Attention to Teacher or Speaker ● Use Appropriate Voice and Language ● Keep Body and Materials to Self ● Stay on Task Discipline Policy When Rules are Broken 1. Verbal Warning 2. Change of seat, Teacher-student discussion, Parent notification, and/or Lunch detention 3. Referral to Vice-Principal Parent Sheet and Dear Mrs. Davis Letter Due Monday, September 11th Parent Sheet

Student’s First and Last Name:______Parent/Guardian Information: Mrs. Davis will use information from Skyward Family Access to contact you about important due dates, progress of the student, and other information.

Student’s Email Address: Students will need an email address to establish accounts on Turnitin.com and Quizlet.com. Please make sure your student has an email account or is okay using your account. (Gmail accounts are preferred) My student’s academic email is: ______

Please check all that apply: If you have comments or questions about online options, write them under the statements below.

_____Our family has updated our contact information into the Skyward system.

_____I know my Parent Skyward Password.

_____My student knows his/her Student Skyward Password (different than Parent Skyward Password). Students will need to have their own Skyward password and will be asked to bring it to class to access Skyward to reflect on grades.

_____I have signed myself up for Remind texts and/or downloaded the app to my smart phone or computer.

_____My student has signed up for the Remind texts and/or downloaded the app on their smart phone.

Additional Online Resource Information:

____My student has access to a computer either at home or through the public library for use on school projects.

____My student has access to the Overdrive app on a smartphone, computer or tablet device to download public library ebooks and audiobooks.

“We have read the syllabus together and understand the classroom expectations.”

Student Signature:______Date______

Parent/Guardian Signature______Date______

Thanks for being a part of your child’s school success. You are appreciated. Please see backside for further instructions.

Dear Mrs. Davis Letter Parent/Guardian/Family Member: Please tell me about your child. What are your dreams for your child? What are his/her best qualities? What are his/her favorite activities? What should I know about your child so that I can help him/her reach his/her potential?

Student (Your Student already started this in class on the first day): Please tell me about how you learn, what helps you learn, and your goals for English this year. What else should I know about you?

Instructions: 1. Neatly write or type 2. Approximately one page long 3. Include parent and student name in the letter 4. If you have ANY concerns about this project (for example, English isn’t spoken at home), please talk with Mrs. Davis ASAP. Thank you.