Welcome to Curriculum Night

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night English/Language Arts Block

2. Objectives of Language Arts • Enhancing Language Arts Skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) • Implementing the 2010 English/Language Arts Standards (ELAS)

3. What Are “Common Core Standards’? • The Common Core Standards are a common set of learning expectations developed by participating states to address common problems all states are facing. • Over time, good standards should evolve from research, from educators in the field, and from student assessments. • Higher education and business leaders across Arizona and nationwide support the standards. They recognize that students who master the expectations found in the Common Core will be college and career ready. The demand for these higher, more rigorous standards began with the business and higher-education leaders.

4. Why Common Core Standards? • Preparation: The standards are college and career ready. They will help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in education and training after high school. • Competition: The standards are internationally benchmarked. Common standards will help insure our students are globally competitive • Equity: Expectations are consistent for all- and not dependent on a student’s zip code • Clarity: The standards are focused, coherent, and clear. Clearer standards help students (and parents and teachers) understand what is expected of them. • Collaboration: The standards create a foundation to work collaboratively across states and districts, pooling resources and expertise, to create curricular tools, professional development, common assessments, and other materials.

5. What is Language Arts? • All 7th and 8th grade students are enrolled in a Language Arts Block. • Students will receive about 70 minutes each school day focused on enhancing and strengthening reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. • Students will be analyzing fiction and non-fiction passages, writing assignments will accompany these passages.

6. Materials • Elements of Literature ( First Course) • Prentice Hall (7th grade) • Exploring Non-Fiction Kit • Jamestown Critical Reading Series • Supplemental Articles

7. Homework • Students will have homework if/when assignments are not completed during class time . • Projects will be assigned each quarter and should be completed at home. • Check the website assignment calendar for assignments. • Check your child’s portal to ensure completion of assignments • Students should always have a book at their independent reading level to read when time permits.

8. Grading Procedures • Grades will be taken from assessments and classwork/homework. • Assessments and projects will be weighted at 80% and classwork/homework at 20% • Students may redo any assessment as long as they have received additional instruction.

9. Absent/Make-up Policy • Students who are absent have two days to make-up missing work for every one day missed. Students will receive full credit. • Students who take longer to make up assignments will have points deducted. • It is the student’s responsibility to ask for and turn in any missing assignments.

10. Staying Informed • Planners—Will have homework assignments and due dates for major tests/projects. • My MPS—Will have grades posted as well as attendance records. Please check this site often as it is updated regularly. • Teacher website calendars—Will have classroom topics and major due dates.

11. Contact Information • Thelma Franco 480 472 8344 tlfranco@mpsaz.org • Teaching Hours: 8:15-4:15 (Mon.-Fri.) • Tutoring Hours: 8:20-9:00 (Tuesdays) or by appointment

12. Thank You!!!!! • Thank you for taking time to come to Curriculum Night.