Mrs.

Tweedy

Reading

8th

Zillah Middle School Grade Reading Course Syllabus Mrs. Tweedy, Room #111
2012-2013

____________________________________________________________ Contact Information: School Phone: School Email: Personal Email: Website: Facebook: 509.829.5511 tweedy_s@zsd.wednet.edu stweedy0055@gmail.com www.zmstweedy.blogspot.com Search Mrs. Tweedys Classroom

Please feel free to contact me at any point during the year if you have any questions or concerns. I make it a point to respond to all emails or phone messages before leaving work (usually by 4pm). I use the class website and Facebook pages as a place to post weekly assignments, test dates, updates, pictures, and other information pertaining to my classes. Please check it frequently as it is updated several times a week. If you provide me with a current email address, I will email you weekly updates about homework and assignments. This year I am piloting a new program, Remind101. This is a way for me to send short, quick updates to your cell phone (via text message) or to your email about assignments changes or due dates. It is completely confidential my phone number will not be shared with you and I will only see your name, not your phone number. Standard text messaging rates do apply, but there is no other fee to sign up. I have attached a handout explaining how to sign up on the last page of this document. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity as last minute assignment changes often happen and I would like to keep you as up to date as possible. For more information, visit remind101.com _____________________________________________________________ Overview of the Course: This course is designed to help students become proficient in key areas of reading, speaking, listening, and vocabulary as determined by the Common Core State Standards (see below). Students will read challenging text to determine main idea and theme and give evidence from their reading to support their responses. Students will also build vocabulary by learning new words in context and analyzing how word choice shapes the authors message. By comparing and contrasting a variety of texts, students will address the issues of themes, bias, and validity of arguments. Students will be assessed in a variety of ways including essays, book reports, comprehension exams, reading prompts, and reading response journals. The standards on the following page define what students should understand and be able to do by the end of 8th grade.

Mrs. Tweedy

Reading

Key Ideas and Details 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. 2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. 3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. Craft and Structure 4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. 5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole. 6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.1 8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. 9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take. Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently. _____________________________________________________________ Grading and Assessment: Students will be evaluated in many ways during this course. A large majority of their graded work will be written but I may also ask students to present their work in skits, PowerPoint presentations, brief speeches, and poster presentations. If a student misses an assignment, quiz, or project due to an excused illness they will be able to make up the work upon their return for full credit. Late work will only be accepted per the handbook policy. Assignment Category Assessments Daily Work Participation 90-100 80-89 70-79 65-69 Below 65 A B C D F % of Final Grade 50% 40% 10%

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Reading

Participation: Students will start each week with 7 (a C) participation points. Students can earn an additional 3 points (for an A) for participation - being prepared for class, regular attendance, and being on task. Points may be lost during the week for unexcused absences or tardies, not having needed materials, not following class rules, or other disciplinary issues. Extra Credit: There will be limited extra credit opportunities during the school year. These assignments are intended to be in addition to the students normal work load; therefore, only students who have turned in all required work will be eligible for extra credit projects. _____________________________________________________________ Mrs. Tweedys Class Expectations: 1. Have all materials and be in your seat before the bell rings. 2. Use respectful verbal language and body language. 3. Keep your hands to yourself dont touch other people or their materials. 4. Mrs. Tweedys desk and all items on and behind it are off limits. 5. NO hats, electronics, food, or drinks allowed in classroom. _____________________________________________________________ Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as ones own original work. Plagiarism is unacceptable and will be treated no differently than cheating. Proven cases of plagiarism and/or cheating will result in a 0 grade for the project and student will not be able to make up the missed points. This class will cover the appropriate way to use another authors work without plagiarizing and all students will be responsible for citing their sources in each written work. _____________________________________________________________ Classroom Library Policy: Books are available for checkout in Mrs. Tweedys room as a convenience to students. These may be used for book reports, assignments, or pleasure. Most books, but not all, have been read or skimmed for content. This form is to inform the parent/guardian that not every book has been personally reviewed by the teacher. Parents/guardians are the final monitor of their son or daughters book choice. Books for assignments may always be brought from home or borrowed from a library as long as they meet the requirements of the task assigned. Students are expected to return the books within 6 weeks and in good condition. Lost or damaged books will be added to the students fine list at the end of the year. The cost of a replacement book will determine the fine.

Mrs. Tweedy

Reading

Parents and Student: Please sign below that you have read this information. Please return only this page. Keep the rest for your reference. - Mrs. Tweedy, Language Arts Teacher _______ _______ Please feel free to use my students photo in school related blogs. I would prefer my students photo not be used.

By signing this syllabus, I acknowledge that I understand the course expectations, discipline procedures, grading, and library policy of this class. Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________________ Student Signature: _______________________________________________________ Grade and Class Period: _______________________________________________________ Parent Email Address: _______________________________________________________ Parent Home Phone: _______________________________________________________ Date: __________________ Please return by Friday, August 24, 2012.