Back to School Night 2013

1. Back to School Night 2013 Ms. Erickson P-2 Reading and English 8th Grade/Gateways Warren Junior High Panama Buena Vista Union School District

2. Ms. Erickson • Third year at Warren  • Taught 7th/8th at Thompson • Taught in BCSD prior to that year • Experience with children here and overseas • Education (Go Beach!) • Family (teachers, nurses, pastors)

3. My Family

4. Quick Shameless Plug: • Homeroom is 5th period—your delightful children! • Our college is UCLA • We use this during Earthwars, Relay for Life, and for various activities throughout the year • I plan to really encourage college this year, and I’ll use UCLA to help me do that. • My UCLA décor needs help! • Ok, moving on….

5. Classroom Rules: • If it’s in the handbook, students are accountable to know it and follow it. • Students must: • Be prepared and prompt. • Stay in assigned seats. • Raise hands to talk. • Be polite and respectful. • Keep hands, feet, and negative comments to themselves. • Consequence: Action Ticket

6. Policies: • If a student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to find out what he or she missed and make up the work immediately. If a test is missed, the student must make an appointment with me to make up the test (during CATS) • Students will write their assignments in their student planners daily. Please check with your child each day to ensure that assignments are being written down and completed.

7. Policies cont. • Class work, homework, tests, and quizzes may be made up or retaken UP UNTIL the deficiency mark and then the quarter mark each quarter. • Grades are weighed based on the following: 80% for tests/quizzes and 20% for class work/homework (may be changed to 90/10). • AR—Accelerated Reader • How does a football player become better? PRACTICE!!!!!!!!

8. Accelerated Reader • Your student will be tested to assess his or her reading level. • Based on that, your student will select a book from the library, within their reading level, to read every TWO WEEKS (yes, they will be reading a book EVERY TWO WEEKS). • At the end of the two week period, your student will test on that book to ensure that he/she read it and comprehended it. • arbookfind.com • My AR Book Plan • Million Word Race • Incentives • Point totals: Period 5 (15 points) Period 8 (20 points) • Your Job: Check the book plan EVERY NIGHT!

9. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): • 1. Do you offer extra credit? • No. I believe that a student’s grade should be based on what he or she has learned throughout the quarter. It should not be about how many points a student can gather at the last minute. I am about learning, not points. • That being said, a student is allowed to re-take a test or quiz (after logging an hour of study time) to bring up his or her grade. That will show me what he or she has learned. The MAXIMUM grade on a retake will be 75%.

10. 2. What supplies does my student need for this class? • Pencils—preferably more than one (they break, get lost, etc.) • Pens • RED pen or pencils for correcting (we use these EVERY SINGLE DAY!) • Binder • Dividers (ONE for English and ONE for reading) • Reading Book (from the library or from home) • Water, tissue, etc.

11. 3. How can my child keep his/her grade up? • (THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I SHOWED MY STUDENTS ON THE FIRST DAY) • Stay ORGANIZED! • ALWAYS write in your planner and CHECK your planner when you get home. • Do your homework EVERY night—not when you feel like getting around to it. • STUDY EACH DAY for upcoming tests and quizzes—don’t cram the night before. • Make up work and tests and quizzes RIGHT when you return from being absent. • RETAKE tests and quizzes if necessary, and don’t wait until the END of the quarter to do it! • Set GOALS and STICK TO THEM!

12. 4. What is the best way to reach you? • EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL • Email is the BEST way to reach me (especially now that I’m not moving too quickly) • I am only able to answer the phone from 8:00-8:25, during my prep period (various), and from 3:25-3:30—and that’s only if I’m in my room and not on yard duty, in the office, or collaborating with another teacher. • I can respond to emails during passing periods, lunch, prep period, etc. (it’s SO much easier!) • aerickson@pbvusd.net

13. Holt, Rinehart and Winston • Literature and Language Arts • Specifically created to match the CA content standards, yet we are now moving towards Common Core Standards • Each chapter includes fiction and non fiction passages • Focus on vocabulary, literary skills, and reading skills • Warriner’s Handbook • Focus on grammar, usage, mechanics, sentences

14. What to expect each week: • Homework will normally consist of (but is not limited to): • Work not completed in class • Spelling/Vocabulary • READING AR BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Studying for tests and quizzes • Tests will normally be given on Fridays in English and reading. In the event that a story or chapter needs more attention and takes longer than planned, tests may be given on alternative days. Please do everything in your power to make sure that your child is not absent on Fridays especially.

15. What will a typical week look like?

16. Thank you so much for coming! You may now go to your child’s next class!