Welcome to room 127!

1. Welcome to room 127! Language Arts & Social Studies Mrs. Poort & Ms. Ioannides Ms. Fink-Intern

2. Please keep in touch! • Mrs. Joia Poort • 206.252.5010 • jcpoort@seattleschools.org (preferred method) • afioannidesb@seattleschools.org • www.mrspoort.com • Best time to reach me-after 2:20pm • Expect a reply within 24 business hours • If you’d like to meet in person, please make an appointment. Wish List: • Sticky Notes, Books (new or used!), Purell, Kleenex, Clorox wipes, Black fine-tip markers, colored pencils, tape.

3. Guest Speaker? If you have any special skills, interests, or abilities you’d like to share with the class, please drop me an email or write down your name, contact info and “skill” on a sticky note!

4. Welcome to EMS! • I’ll introduce myself • I’ll tell you about what we do in here • I’ll tell you how I assess progress • I’ll tell you about my goals for the class • You’ll write your goals/a note to your student

5. Eckstein Annual Campaign • Class library • Stools • Sticky charts • Sticky notes • Pens, markers • Every year the Humanities department submits a request for funds from the Eckstein Annual Campaign. • The classroom libraries are funded in part by EAC. • The campaign has just begun – please consider supporting this event. It is the major fund raising event at Eckstein. • The other funding for classroom libraries comes directly from teacher’s pockets. Please consider donating any books that you have that are appropriate for middle school readers.

6. About Mrs. Poort • 8th grade LA/SS teacher (French) • 15th year teaching • WEB teacher leader • Masters Degree in Teaching • B.A. University of Washington-GO HUSKIES! • Quarter abroad at the Universite de Poitiers in Poitiers, France • Interests: Travel, sewing, dance • Favorite job? Mom to 2 girls.

7. My vision and teaching philosophy • I envision my classroom as being a safe, enjoyable environment for students to enrich their views on the world, USA, writing, reading, Washington state, and each other. • My goal is for all of my students to succeed (personally, academically, etc). • To make the class FUN as well as informative. • To daily push students to achieve their personal best. • To make learning fun! • To set high, but attainable standards in all areas of learning.

8. Anna Ioannides • Have one son, Aleco who is a senior at the University of Oregon • Have a dog named Lilo • I love to exercise, kayak, watch soccer, and read • This is my 26th! year of teaching • BA from the UW in Bilingual Education and Spanish Literature. Masters work in ESL and Mathematics • Firmly believe in the power of education and the duty we have to try to understand and respect others

9. Ms. Fink • Master in Teaching student at Seattle University, B.S., Michigan State University • Interests: Yoga, most outdoor sports, reading, music • Previous career: Non-profit development, Founder of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro. Portland • Favorite Place to visit: OR Coast • Proud accomplishments: Riding the S-T-P, completing a marathon and 3 triathlons, and being a mom (still working on that one!)

10. Why do we have High Standards ? • 15 years of teaching students who were able to work at this level. • Preparation for High School (no late work). • Colleges are getting more challenging to get in to. • The global market is more and more competitive. • Literacy is paramount to success in high school, college, and the global job market. • The pressure to perform on standardized tests is high. • Scrutiny on American education (and SSD). • These are the reasons why I hold kids accountable to high standards. I want them to succeed and it’s my job to give them the tools and opportunities to learn these skills.

11. Class Information • Website: www.mrspoort.com • Instructions and tour • I do not use Fusion

12. Grades • Grades in this class are based on Standards: • Grade is based on if a student is exceeding, meeting, approaching, or below a standard. (A, B, C, D respectfully). • A student should only have an “E” if they are not doing their work. • 0% Effort (mainly On-Time Grades-OTG, homework, group work, etc) • 0% Responsible Scholar (self-graded weekly-behavior, being prepared, etc) • Grades of missing “mi” or incomplete “inc” • Count as a 0. • Students need to turn it in or revise for a higher grade. • Grades are now posted at least every 2 weeks. You can check your progress as frequently as you’d like. • Please ask your child questions about a grade before contacting me. All assignments have a rubric and they should be able to tell you why points were lost.

13. The 5 P’s Live by the “5 P’s” • Prompt-be on time • Prepared-be ready with all supplies (including homework and a reading book) • Polite-be kind to yourself and others • Proud-do your best work • Participate-be an active part of the class (but, don’t blurt!)

14. Humanities • A blocked class of Language Arts and Social Studies. Blended subjects as often as possible.

15. Language Arts Curriculum Ongoing throughout school year: • Modified Readers and Writers Workshop • Focused reading and writing instruction • Outside Reading Program-ORP due monthly • Vocabulary – lists derived from Greek and Latin roots and affixes and Social Studies curriculum. • Practice in listening and speaking • Group Skills

16. Outside Reading Program • Students are expected to have a book to read at all times. • The book needs to be at their level. • They are expected to read 500 pages per month. • Book talks happen with an adult. • Worksheets and are on my website. • 10% of grade!

17. Outside Reading Math • A “just right book” should be read at a rate of 1 page per minute. • 30 minutes of reading=30 pages read. • It would take ~9 days to read 250 pages at that rate. • It would take 18 days to read 500 pages (that leaves 12 days of “not” reading to work on book talks and write-ups). • I give ~50 minutes per week of class time for reading and 30 minutes in HR weekly.

18. Writing Program Examples of Writing Projects – • Well-constructed paragraphs • Literary essay • Informative and Persuasive essay • Research projects • Short fiction • Poetry

19. Social Studies Curriculum First Semester: • Washington State History (Graduation requirement). • Constitution, Economics, History, Geography of WA state. Includes Tribal information. Second Semester: • World Geography • Middle East, Africa, Latin America

20. Homework • Effort grades are mainly determined by work being turned in on-time (OTG) and complete. • It is the responsibility of the student to ask for and get all make-up work. • Website, Student File. • Late turn-in box up front • Re-take policy requires students to show that they did something to learn the material. (Note from home or attend a tutoring session here).

21. How much homework? • 30 minutes of reading. • Occasional additional work on typing or writing a paper, editing, a worksheet, make-up work, etc. • Daily maximum should be an hour for a normal day (this is for 2 classes).

22. How you can help • Edit your child’s work (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, complete sentences, neatness and presentation) • Read their writing aloud to them. • Reminders to put homework in backpack at night • Create a place to do work daily. • HIGH expectations! • Know the absence policy!

23. Now that I’ve told you my goals: • Take a moment to write a note to your child. • Think about your goals for your child in this class. Next, think about how you can help them attain my goals in this class. Write your goals down and how you plan on helping them actualizing their goals. • Or, just write them a note! • Put in their “return-to-work” file on the table, stick to their name on the sticky chart, or put in the box up front. • THANK YOU for coming and supporting your child!

24. Homeroom/Advisory Most often Homeroom is a Study hall. • 30 minutes of silent reading time • 15 minutes of homework time • Time available to check-in with teachers, get make-up work from absences, make-up or complete tests • Wednesday Morning

25. Homeroom/Advisory Sometimes Homeroom serves as an Advisory. • Discuss issues and resolve problems related to school • Set goals and monitor progress • Prepare for high school and beyond • Prepare for Student-led Parent Conferences