Welcome to Mrs. Demarest's English Class!

Welcome to Mrs. Demarest's English Class!

So I don’t forget…… MGJH Lunch Schedule • A – 11:28-11:51 (565) • English • Science • B – 11:57-12:20 (559) • Math • Social Studies • World Language • EL • C – 12:26-12:49 (537) • Art • FACS • Music • PE/Health • Tech Ed

School Rules • BE PROMPT: Class starts when the bell rings, and you are expected to be in the room and ready to learn. If you come in late, show your pass to the teacher. If you do not have a pass, you are tardy. • The building wide tardy practice that will be in place for the 2014-15 school year is as follows: • First tardy: verbal warning • Second tardy: phone call home, conference with student • Third tardy: teacher detention • Fourth tardy: office referral

School Rules, cont. • BE PREPARED: • Every day you will need your folder, notebook, pen or pencil, planner, English homework and choice reading book. • You will not be allowed to go back to your locker for missing materials. • Ask for help when you need it; help others when they need it. • Keep track of your belongings and take responsibility for your own work, grades and actions.

School Rules, cont. • BE POLITE: • Keep a positive attitude while in class, and if you do become discouraged, ask for help and do not whine! • Respect the rights and property of others; don’t borrow anything without asking. • Keep all of your materials and all of yourself within your assigned space. • Keep your voice low, wait your turn and raise your hand. • If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all, and never talk badly about others. • Finally, remember to say, “please” and “thank you”.

Curriculum • Our curriculum this year follows the Minnesota State Standards for 8th grade English. The complete list of Minnesota Language Arts standards for 8th grade can be found on the Department of Education web page at: • education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/StanCurri/K-12AcademicStandards

Writing • creating and supporting arguments • explanatory texts • narrative • poetry • literature analysis • six trait writing skills

Reading • Core Curriculum - Flowers for Algernon, Diary of Anne Frank, Night • Supplemental (not all will be taught) - The Pearl,Call of the Wild, Grapes of Wrath, Old Man and the Sea, Twelfth Night, Of Mice and Men, Twelve Angry Men • poetry, short stories from the literature book, non-fiction pieces when appropriate and independent reading outside of school

Language • grammar and mechanics practice • Latin and Greek root words with corresponding assignments • figurative language as used in fiction, non-fiction and poetry • word acquisition

Speaking, Viewing, Listening and Media Literacy • rehearsed and spontaneous speeches • skits and/or presentations in front of class • notes • critical viewing • research (informal) • technology – whoohooi-Pads!

Grading • 20% of your grade will be based on formative assignments (assignments that are practicing a skill, concept, or idea) • 80% of your grade will be based on summative assignments (assignments that show mastery of a skill – papers, tests, final projects, etc.) • Standards Based Grading format: 4 - 0 scale (not A – F). • You will have the opportunity to re-do summative assignments for a higher score if you score a “2” or below. This must be completed within one week after the assignment has been returned to you and after all formative assignments have been completed.

Independent Choice Reading • Simply put, choice reading is time spent inside and outside of class reading books you choose. • Books can be any genre of your choice. • Books should be at least 150 pages. NO EXCEPTIONS! (Books 300+ pages will count as 2 books) • Ten books are required each trimester. The required curriculum we read together in class will count toward your requirement. Summed up, the basic rule is “a book a week.” • You will be given 60 minutes of classroom time for choice reading each week. The rest of the reading requirement will need to be read outside of the classroom.

Independent Choice Reading, cont. • Choice Logs (signed by parents/guardians)and reading reflections are due Wednesdays. These formative assessments are NOT accepted late. • Library time is scheduled every two weeks. The library is also open after school, Monday-Thursday. • When in-class CHOICE days are misused, the minutes must be made up after school to get full-credit. • You will complete three summative assignments each trimester related to your choice reading. Due dates will be announced.

Passes • Passes will be given to the bathroom only on an emergency basis and only if you have your own planner with you in class. No passes will be given during the first 20 minutes of class and passes will not be given to your locker.

Office Hours • My hours are from 9:15 – 4:30. I am available for after school help Monday – Friday until 4:25. Please prearrange this in case I have an unexpected scheduling conflict.

Contact Information • You can find my e-mail on the school web page. It is: demarestb@district279.org • You can also review daily activities and find class materials on my web page, also found on the school web page.

Emergency Information • Tornado Evacuation Drill go to: D141 (choir room) • Fire Drill go to: Felix the Fire Tree (field trip coming soon)

Miscellaneous Items Wanted…… • kleenex • hand sanitizer • magazines (for cutting up and reading) • paperbacks for classroom use • jokes and Friday funny video ideas • cool tricks for the i-Pad

Welcome to Mrs. Demarest's English Class!