2020Nexus

MS. SHANKS’ CLASS NOTES & NEWS                          File Cabinet

Fall, 2011-2012 School Year

Be sure  to check the content page for your class as well as this News page.  I have separated Social Studies and Computers onto their own pages.

My new schedule is as follows for 1st Semester (it will change 2nd Semester):

• Per. 1 Personal Planning Time

• Per. 2 American History, Rm 22 (Mrs. Rich will teach in Rm 6 at this time)

• Per. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 Digital Technology Electives, Rm 6

• Per. 5 Lunch

• Per. 8 Team Planning Time

This is the Mann School Supply List. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting a new or used 1GB+ USB memory stick—you’ll need it. You can borrow one from a parent, a friend who doesn’t have me this semester, etc.

Summer, 2011

My 1-year temporary position filling in for Mrs. Kanatzar’s leave of absence in 8th Grade English at Jenkins is now complete.  I am very grateful for the learning opportunity that it was and I am thrilled to be returning to my 6th-8th Grade Digital Technologies Electives and American History teaching position at Mann!

School Year 2010-2011 JENKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS 

QUARTER 4 DEADLINE FOR LATE, ABSENT, OR EXTRA CREDIT WORK IS TUESDAY, MAY 17.

NATURALLY I WILL STILL BE ASSIGNING/ COLLECTING ON-TIME WORK AFTER THAT DATE.

SHAKESPEARE UNIT

THE STUDENTS’ SCRIPTS AND PERFORMANCES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN WE EXPECTED SO WE WILL PROBABLY FINISH PERFORMING ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 18.  THE STUDENTS APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT MAY CAUSE PARENTS WHO PLANNED TO ATTEND ON THE 20TH OR 23RD.

 THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MAY 19 AND 20 - Final 4th Quarter Reading and Writing Exams/Benchmarks.

Wednesday, May 18 - PowerPoint Agenda 85.  PDF Agenda 85

Tuesday, May 17 - As announced for the last 4 weeks: TODAY AT 4PM IS THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR LATE, ABSENT, AND EXTRA-CREDIT WORK - Performances by Period 2, Mr. Kulbacki’s; Period 4, Ms. Shanks’; Period 5, Miss Shanks’, Period 7, Ms. McCue’s.   Agenda 84 PowerPoint

Monday, May 16 - Performances begin with Period 2, Ms. McCue’s; Period 4, Mr. Kulbacki’s; Period 5, N/A, Period 7, Miss Shanks’.  Agenda 83 PDF

Friday, May 13 - Dress Rehearsals per announcements for the past 2 weeks.  Agenda 82 PowerPoint

Thursday, May 12  - Agenda 81 PowerPoint for Mastery and L.Arts. PDF Agenda 81

Wednesday, May 11 - Agenda  80 PowerPoint for Mastery and L.Arts.  PDF Agenda 80

Tuesday, May 10 - Mastery: continue DOLPHINS Reading Activities.  L.A.: continue re-writing our scenes. Agenda 79 PDF. 

Actors’ Parts as of 5/11:  PER. 2, PER. 4, PER. 5, PER.7 and

CHANGES TO SCENE ASSIGNMENTS:

Monday, May 9 - No Daily Agenda - In Mastery we started DOLPHINS Reading Activities.  In L.A. we got our parts and scene summaries, then began re-writing.

Friday May 6 -  NO STUDENTS.  TEACHERS ARE WORKING ON I.L.P.’S TODAY.  The Weekly Reader Assignment is duE at 4 (dropped off to me on paper or sent via email.  ShAnkLs@d11.org.  Feel free to turn it in today!

Thursday May 5- New Seating Charts for 5/5/11 - Daily Agenda 77 (including Mastery)  PDF VERSION The Weekly Reader Assignment is due tomorrow at 4 on paper or via email.  ShAnkLs@d11.org.  Feel free to turn it in today!

Wednesday May 4 - Daily Agenda 76 (including Mastery) PDF VERSION The Weekly Reader Assignment is in this Agenda. If you missed the video:  Shakespeare’s Life, Times, Writing, and the Globe Theater.   If you didn’t finish taking notes on this material:  The Purpose of the Theatre Intro Show

Tuesday May 3  -Daily Agenda 75 PPT (including Mastery) PDF Version  Learn About Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.  Learn About Drama:  The Purpose of the Theatre Intro Show

CLASS SECTIONS / CLASS PLAYS

We will work on 3 different plays in different classes.  Click on the link to jump to your period’s section and study the table below for details:

• TWELFTH NIGHT - Shanks’ Periods 2 and 7
• KING LEAR - Shanks’ Period 4
• THE TAMING OF THE SHREW - Shanks’ Period 5

LAB ACTIVITIES

1.  Visit the PowerPoint Agenda to get the assignments and directions. It is in the usual place—in my  U:\shankls\agendas\4th Quarter folder:  AGENDA75 050311.  Pay special attention to assignments, deadlines, and lesson requirements.

2.  Weekly Reader Activities

Simply go to www.weeklyreader.com and click on Subscriber-only content. 

See Miss Shanks for our classroom’s Magic Word.

 When you get to the Subscriber-only content page  it should look like this.  Click on SHAKESPEARE 

Weekly Reader’s Subscriber Only Content Page

PERSUASIVE FINAL POLISHED PIECE Due Thursday, Feb. 17 by 4 PM.  The Agenda below  has the directions and links for how to make an online outline and/or bibliography.

• AGENDA26 021411 in PowerPoint 

• AGENDA26 021411 in PDF format

• My Persuasive Planner in Word

• My Persuasive Planner in PDF format

New Poetry Assignments

1.To prepare, make sure you have located the meaning of the following terms in your literature book, grammar book, or dictionary:   Narrative Poem  Repetition 

  Rhyme  Speaker

2. Now locate a narrative poem in the literature book.  Write down the title and page number.  Identify and describe the SPEAKER of the poem in a sentence or two.

3.Read “The Closing of the Rodeo”on Page 405 in your Literature book.

a.Use the setting web onpg. 399 as a guideline to create

a setting web for this poem.

3. (continued)

a.Identify each figurative language device in the poem. Explain what effect the device has on the poem and reader.  (Use your Cornell Notes) b.What is the tone (mood, atmosphere, and attitude)  of the poem?  Answer in R.A.P.P. format on one half of the hot pink sheet OR your own paper. 

4.Read “The Choice” on pg. 37.  Answer Critical Thinking question #2 OR #3 using the R.A.P.P. format  on the other side of your hot pink sheet. 

5.Read “The Road Not Taken” on pg. 35 and choose  one of the following on printer paper: a.  Project #7 Pg. 39 Illustration OR   b.Project #6 Pg. 407 Poster

Poetic Devices Web Quest - Please complete all the activities for the devices listed in my directions.  You do not have to fill in every box on your Cornell notes or BINGO grid yet. 

Click here to download the PDF file

Click here to download the PowerPoint File

The home page for the original Quest is here:  http://www.blackgold.ab.ca/ict/divison2/PoetryDevices/. Thanks to S. Mackey of Black Gold Regional Schools for the majority of the content.

Algernon Projects Help Slide Show with Links to Samples and Instructions  (PowerPoint)

 Algernon Games & Sites

• http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm

• http://www.proprofs.com/games/crossword/flowers-for-algernon/

• http://www.proprofs.com/games/word-search/flowers-for-algernon-voacbulary/

• http://www.quia.com/cb/45277.html

IQ Test:  http://www.intelligencetest.com/

November 15 - 23

Because of the short week next week, we will flip Reading and Writing on Thursday, 11/18, instead of waiting for Monday.  There will also be no R4 due for any classes until after Thanksgiving Break.

Reading classes are studying Narrative Poetry and Edgar Allen Poe. Every group has the choice to work alone or in a pair.  Period 2 chose to study The Black Cat.  Period 4 students can choose from the following:  The Highwayman, The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado, or The Charge of the Light Brigade.  The assignments associated with these texts will be due on the last day of the Reading “week.”

Writing classes are continuing our study of Grammar, specifically Parts of Speech and the 4 Sentence Types.  There will be a quiz on this material on the last day of the Writing “week.”  Polished pieces are due on the last day of the Writing week.

Week of November 8

Nov. 8 [Day 52] PowerPoint

Nov. 9 [Day 53] PowerPoint

Week of November 1

Mastery Reading Period 1 is working on Second Step Character Education Lesson 11 on Goal Setting, plus we will work on Glogster.edu and in the “Eccentrics” Jamestown reading series.  Study Island Nov. 1 starts today and is due on Nov. 15.

Periods 2 and 4 are on a READING week.  We will continue the Plot Map Projects from your last reading week.  The project is due on Friday by 4 pm.  Study Island Nov. 1 starts today and is due on Nov. 15.

Periods 5 and 7 are on a WRITING week.  We will having Mini-Lessons, Workshop, and Share-Out as usual. Your polished piece is due Friday by 4 pm.  Study Island Nov. 1 starts today and is due on Nov. 15.

Week of October 10, Mastery: 2nd step less. 7, cyber bullying & bystandard power tasks. weekly Reader 5, Goal: Setting for Q2 Period 2 & 4: Writing piece due Thursday,T: Goals, prep for Confs, Finish Q1, writing mini lessons. P: Finish dumbest gen. Socratic Seminar. Hw: R4 not due this week, Period 5/7: reading, T: Goals, prep for Confs, Finish Q1,Goals, prep for Confs, Finish Q1, Finish dumbest gen. P: thieves, nonfiction strategy. Signal Words. Hw: R4 IS due this week.

Week of October 4th. Mastery: Topics: Goals, bullying, cyberbullying, Bystandards, stereotypes, Prejudice. Practice: Bitstrips, 2nd step: Finish 5/6, weekly reader3 homework: Bitstrips. Per.2 & 4, Reading Week, T: Goals, amnesty, nonfiction text strategies. P: Amnesty, Deadlines, etc. H: R4 due on Reading weeks only! Per: 5 & 7, Writing week, T: Amnesty, short constructive responses. p: Amnesty, Deadliness, etc. H: R4 only due on reading weeks now.

UNIT 2 VOCABULARY - Do Steps 2 and 3 of Six-Step Vocabulary on each word.  For example:  for each word draw a bubble. In the bubble represent the word with text—write the definitions, meanings, examples, descriptions, and synonyms.  Then draw a box for each word. In the box DRAW a pictorial representation of the word’s meaning, definition, synonym, example or concept.  Use at least a half a page for each vocabulary word.

hyperbole
simile
metaphor
personification
macabre
camouflage
predisposed
capricious
stealth
subtle
habitable
infusion
eddy
fungus
eaves
intricately
bivouac
apertures

9/20 -  9/24  Mastery:  We’ll be in the 8th Grade Lab as much as possible this week for completing your Sept. 13  Study Island Assignment and Tween Tribune.  Topics: Study Island (due Friday by 4PM), Tween Tribune(due Friday by 4PM),  Commenting Online, 2nd Step Lesson 4: Negotiating /Compromising.  Practice:  Study Island Rotations, NEW  TweenTribune Stories,  Learning to Be an Effective Commenter. Homework: Only if you haven’t finished your classwork.

Language Arts Periods 2/4:  Although it’s a Reading Week, on Monday we had a Polished Piece due and we took a quiz from last week:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DLL5F2M.  We used the netbook carts on Monday for completing the Sept. 13 Study Island Assignment. 

Topics: Study Island (due Friday by 4PM), Style, Main Idea, Non-Fiction, Shift, Figurative Language, Metaphors, Similes, Personification,  and  “Why Leaves Change In The Fall” and “Animal Craftsmen” are our stories this week. 

 Practice:  Study Island Rotations, 

Period 2 chose this activity:  1.Ackerman opens the passage with a series of questions.  List one or two examples, and discuss the effect of asking these questions. 2. Ackerman uses many figurative language devices (metaphors, similes, personification) in her writing.  List 2 or 3 examples and discuss the effect of using these devices in her writing. 3.“Why Leaves Change Colors in the Fall” is a nonfiction piece that uses precise, scientific language to describe the natural process of leaves changing colors.  The piece also employs the use of personal observations and whimsical imaginings.  Choose a quotation from each type of writing (scientific and creative).  Explain how the quote holds the reader’s attention and draws the reader in, while providing information and explanation. 4.Use the flow chart to show the process that causes leaves to change colors.  Use specific information and complete sentences. 5.What type of writing is this selection?  Explain your answer. 

Period 4 chose this Marzano’s Six-Step Vocabulary activity:  Vocabulary: macabre, camouflage,  predisposed, capricious, stealth, subtle, habitable, infusion, eddy, fungus, leaves, intricately, bivouac, apertures.  Go to Dictionary.com, visualthesaurus.com, and  snappywords.com/  to find the meanings and synonyms of this week’s vocabulary.  Make a separate page or half-page for each of the words in your READING BINDER/ FOLDER (not R4) and (also for each word) write all the meanings, definitions, synonyms, explanations, and examples you can in a Word Bubble. Then in a Drawing Box make a visual, pictorial representation of the vocabulary. Try not to use any words in the Drawing Box.  

 Homework: R4 Reading Journal and whatever you haven’t finished in class.

Language Arts Periods 5/7:  Although it’s a Writing Week, we finished a Reading quiz from last Friday:   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DKVQYHP.  We used the netbook carts on Monday for completing the Sept. 13 Study Island Assignment. 

Topics: Study Island (due Friday by 4PM), Paragraph and Piece Unity, More on keeping a Writer’s Notebook, Sentence Parts and Types, workshopping, Peer Conferencing.  POLISHED PIECE DUE FRIDAY AT 4.

Practice:  Study Island Rotations, Home Writing Inventory, Unity Paragraph Activity, workshopping, etc.

Homework: R4 Reading Journal, Polished Piece due Friday,and whatever you haven’t finished in class.

9/13 - 9/16 (NO SCHOOL FRIDAY - 9/17 - STAFF WILL BE IN CLASS ALL DAY WITH SPENCE ROGERS)  We started Study Island on Monday. Master is working on Second Step, Lesson 3 about resolving grievances. We are reading Flight 847 from the HEROES book, The Necklace by Guy deMaupassant,  and some articles from TweenTribune. Reading Week for Periods 5 and 7—we  will have a Unit 1 Test on three stories:  Hokusai, Not To Go With The Others, and Barrio Boy at the end of the week.  Material covered will be author’s purpose, main ideas, types of expository writing, and other details covered in class.  It will be in RAP format.  Writing Week for Periods 2 and 4.  We are learning what Writer’s Workshop is all about and what to do with A Writer’s Notebook.  Writers need to have a polished piece submitted by next Monday at 4PM.  (I’m out of school 9/15 getting the Smart Car repaired.)

9/7 - 9/10   We will try to start Study Island if we can get all the password and login issues worked out.  I have posted information about Study Island on my blog at this site.  Just click on BLOG at the top of this page to find it.

All classes will try to discuss diagnostic testing results and set goals. 

This week Periods 5 and 7 are writing, Periods 2 and 4 are reading.  Readers will have a Unit 1 Test on three stories:  Hokusai, Not To Go With The Others, and Barrio Boy at the end of the week.  Material covered will be author’s purpose, main ideas, types of expository writing, and other details covered in class.  It will be in RAP format.  Writers need to have a polished piece submitted by next Friday at 4pm.  Writers will be studying types of sentences, mini-lessons on writer’s craft, how to conference about writing, and more about what to do with the Writer’s Notebook.

9/3 Writers history due by 4pm. P.2 R4 due Monday, P.4 R4 due Tuesday, P.5 R4 due Wednesday, P.7 Due Thursday

9/2 Mastery: Finish Christopher Reave story, turn in letter. LA: MAPS testing. Wednesday and Thursday R4’s are extended to Friday because of MAPS

9/1 Mastery: comprehension questions LA: MAPS testing. Wednesday and Thursday R4’s are extended to Friday because of MAPS

8/30 and 31  Mastery: Assembly and finish weekly reader. LA: P.2 and 4 Launch writers workshop.P. 5 and 7 Hokusai, started main idea stairs,  We graded comprehension questions on 9/1. 9/2

 8/28 and 29  Weekend.I have caught a bad cold so I’m not operating at full efficiency, but here’s what I’m trying hard to enter into the gradebook and data systems on Saturday and Sunday:  Reading and Writing Benchmark scores, AIMS web fluency scores, and grades for 4 diagnostic and getting-to-know-you activities. Of course I’m planning for and honing next week’s lessons.  Next week will be a READING week for periods 5 and 7.  It will be a WRITING week for periods 2 and 4. Mastery class will continue working on reading skills and hopefully study our CSAP scores.

8/27  No School for Students- This is an Assessment Day for teachers to compile/compare diagnostic testing data and plan instruction according to their classroom populations’ needs. Here’s what I did with our “day off”:  Took a mini-training on the Alpine Achievement Systems data program, wrote ILP’s for every student on my rosters who needed one (approximately 40), taught a mini-training on SchoolNotes, and taught a mini-training on wikis.   Don’t forget to read and respond in your R4 Journal over the weekend.  See R4 Due Dates below.  Period 2 Journals are due on Monday.

8/26   OPEN HOUSE 6-8 PM.  In-Class R4 and AIMS Web Fluency Testing in Mastery.  Mini-Quiz in LA Reading.  More on Topic Sentences and Leads in LA Writing.  Agenda.

8/25     8th Grade Expectations Assemblyin Mastery.  Hokusai and Not To Go With The Others in LA Reading. Stones in a  River and Topic Sentences in LA Writing Workshop.  Agenda

8/24 R4 Journal Due Dates Announced Today:

Period 2 = Mondays

Period 4 = Tuesdays

Period 5 = Wednesdays

Period 5 = Thursdays.  

Mastery: Superman + Questions C and D.  LA Reading: Hokusai Vocabulary and Main Ideas. LA Writing:  Writing History and Stones in A River.  Agenda

8/23 R4 Home Reading Starts Tonight. Reading Week for Periods 2 and 4. Writing Workshop Launch for Periods 5 and 7.  Agenda

8/20 Agenda- License plates, Contacts form, and Expectations Form due

8/19 Agenda

8/18 Agenda

8/18  Return your Expectations and Contacts Forms as soon as possible.

Important Dates

1. 8/19 and 20 BENCHMARKS IN READING AND WRITING
2. 8/23 and 24 TOWRE tests
3. 8/26 Open House
4. 8/27 No Students – Assessment Day
5. 9/1 and 2  Maps Tests
6. 9/4-6 3-Day Weekend
7. 9/17 No Students -  Teachers Go To School
8. 10/7 Deadline for Late, Makeup, Extra Credit, or Absent work
9. 10/14 Quarter Ends
10. 10/15 Teacher Work Day
11. WRITING WORKSHOP WEEKS:

Periods 2 and 4     Periods 5 and 7
8/30                        8/23
9/13                        9/7
9/27                        9/20
                               10/4 

What to Bring EVERY day to EVERY Class:

Reading Book, E-book, or Audio Book;  Loose leaf notebook paper or a notebook; Pen or Pencil; Have your USB memory stick with you for every class (perhaps in your pencil case);  Agenda (Please make note of all assignments and due dates on a daily basis); Positivity and Preparedness; If you have been absent, please make it your responsibility to get your missed work or notes and make arrangements to make up missed quizzes and/or tests.

What to Bring EVERY DAY to Mastery:

A folder or binder dedicated to Mastery; notebook paper; Personal Choice Reading Book, E-book, or Audio Book.

What to Bring EVERYDAY to LA Class on a Reading Week:

A folder or binder dedicated to READING; A spiral or composition book dedicated to READING only; Personal Choice Reading Book, E-book, or Audio Book.

What to Bring EVERYDAY to LA Class on a WRITING WORKSHOP Week:

A  folder or binder dedicated to WRITING; A spiral or composition book dedicated to WRITING only; Personal Choice Reading Book, E-book, or Audio Book;  If you are absent, please make it your responsibility to get your missed work or notes and make arrangements to make up missed quizzes and/or tests.

We will begin the year by studying nonfiction and expository reading and writing.  We will then move on to fiction and poetry, as we work through a variety of writing styles and techniques.  Each Language Arts class (not Mastery) will alternate reading weeks and writing weeks.  Mastery is always about improving our reading skills.

Although I do allow many electronic devices into the room because we will use them sometimes for learning, I will confiscate any items that represent a distraction to the learning environment.  This may involve parent/guardian contact in order for the item to be returned.

I will use the citizenship rubric in your agenda to determine your citizenship grade for each quarter.  I will usually post the Citizenship in Zangle/Parent Connect as a non-credit item so you can see how you are doing.

Current grades will be posted in class at least every two weeks.  Grades will also be updated at least once a week on Zangle/Parent Connect.  It is the student’s responsibility to check his/her grade and to bring any concerns to me.  I expect you to make up missing assignments in all circumstances, so please make it a priority to turn in late or missing work as soon as possible.  An agenda of the day’s activities will be posted in a binder in our classroom, on my Jenkins Teacher Drive  (SHANKLS), and usually on my website (http://www.2020nexus.org/myclassroom) as well.

8th Grade Language Arts Course Expectations 2010 - 2011*

Miss Shanks, Room F020

Welcome to 8th Grade English! This document is designed to help you be successful in our class. Please read it carefully and don’t hesitate to ask questions if there’s anything you don’t understand.

About Me:  Mr. TerHorst invited me to Jenkins late last spring based on my educational background and 15 years of teaching experience ranging from Kindergarten P.E. to 8th Grade Computers. I have a K-8 Colorado teaching license, a BA from the University of Colorado, and a Masters in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology from The Colorado College.  My most recent school home was Mann Middle School here in D11, where I taught Digital Technologies electives for 7 years.  I loved that position and that school, yet I wanted to grow with and interact with adolescents in a regular classroom again.  (The legacy of my technology experience is that we will be using digital tools often to facilitate our learning.)  I was drawn to Jenkins because of its high standards of excellence in all areas. I am very excited and grateful to be here. Middle school students are my favorite age group!  We are going to have a great year!

Contact Information
Google Phone for Calls/Text Messages/Voice Mail: 719-357-5837 (I prefer you use this number)
District Email: shankLs@d11.org
Email for Google Apps: MissShanks@gmail.com
Class Twitter: MissShanksClass
Class Facebook: MissShanksClass
Class YouTube:  missSHANKSclass
Skype: Suzanne1381
Delicious Bookmarks: www.delicious.com/suzanne31381
Class Website/Blog: http://www.2020nexus.org/myclassroom
Classroom Phone:  719-328-5385 (This phone will be on silent mode during the school day)

Study Hall/Help Labs
My conference or meeting times are normally by appointment; however, I’ll be holding regular Help Labs on Tuesdays after school from 3:40 to 4:40 p.m. and on Thursday mornings before school from 7:40 to 8:40 a.m. If I have to cancel a Help Lab I will announce it in class a day or two ahead of time whenever possible. I will always allow students to call for a ride home if the afternoon lab is cancelled suddenly.

Supplies

We will be flexible about supplies in my room for the first week or so because I was not involved in authoring the school supply list last spring.  

BRING: a pocket folder each for reading and writing, about 1” of notebook paper, a composition book for writing, writing utensils, and a spiral.

Course Goals
•    Content Goal: Become better readers and writers by meeting the 8th Grade Colorado Reading, Writing, Listening and Oral Expression standards.
•    Collaborative Goal: Become better at working together to achieve a common objective.
•    Metacognitive Goal: Learn more about yourself as a learner, reader, and writer — then use that knowledge to become a better learner, reader, and writer.
 
Homework
You will have homework almost every night, but it will rarely be a large assignment if you are keeping up in class. Homework will include activities such as reading and responding to literature, keeping a writer’s notebook, reflecting on your learning, and/or other purposeful activities that will help you succeed in our class.  I will never knowingly give busy work.

Grades
There is a difference between assessment and grading. Assessment is about finding out where we stand, then getting better at what we can do. Not all of your work will be graded, but all work is used to assess your learning.

Your grade will be comprised of the following three categories:

Preparation (includes, but is not limited to, homework, in-class activities, practice, drafts, etc.)
Formative Assessments (assignments, projects, reflections, keeping up your writing and reading Notebooks etc.)
Summative Assessment* (tests, quizzes, final writing pieces, etc.)

Your overall grade will be computed from the weights given to those categories using the standard D11 grading scale (A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F: 59% and below).  If your learning and work habits warrant it, I will bump your grade upward if you come within .5% of the next grade.

Routines
We will be studying reading and writing on opposite weeks (aside from the R4 Home Reading—handout to follow). You will be producing at least 4 final writing pieces per quarter. We will have pre- and post-assessments often to discover what and how much you are learning.


Classroom Policies
Here’s the one rule I have for myself and my students:  Do the next right thing.

That’s all you have to remember. Of course you’ll have to follow all the rules in the Jenkins Student Code of Conduct, as well as all D11 policies but all will be well if you do the right thing. You probably will always know what the right thing is, but if you are ever unsure, ask me or a trusted adult.

If you want a longer list, here is one:
•    Be a self-starter and a problem-solver who contributes to the overall success of our school.
•    You may engage in any behavior that does not create a problem for you or anyone else.
•    If you find yourself with a problem, you may solve it by any means that does not cause a problem for you or anyone else.
•    You may engage in any behavior that does not jeopardize the safety or learning of yourself or others.
•    Unkind words or actions and dishonesty will not be tolerated.
•    We will also develop a list of expectations and norms for each other in class.

Attendance and Tardies
This is pretty simple as well. All district and Jenkins policies apply, including the rules regarding make-up work. But, in general:
•    It’s very important to attend class every day. There’s a high positive correlation between attendance and success in school. Obviously if you are very sick, coming to school is a bad idea but, otherwise, you should be here. If you are absent, you are expected to check online before coming back to school (or immediately upon your return) to see what you’ve missed — and to begin working on it as soon as possible.  I will help you, but I will not seek you out and track down your absent work for you. This will provide you the best opportunity to be successful.
•    If at all possible, don’t be tardy. You should be in class, on time, every day. Being late under normal circumstances (excluding snowstorms or other unusual events) is disrespectful to your classmates, your teacher, and yourself, and it makes it more difficult for you to be successful in our class, so please don’t be late.

In the unlikely event that attendance or tardies become an issue, then we will have a conversation and an appropriate plan will be developed to fix the problem.

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me. Once you feel like you completely understand these expectations, please fill out and return the form below to indicate your understanding. Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully consider these expectations, and I’m looking forward to our time together.

___________________________________________________________________________

Miss Shanks’ English Course Expectations  2010-2011

I have read and I understand the course expectations for Miss Shanks’ 8th Grade English class for 2010-2011

Student’s Full Name__________________________Signature_______________________________Date:____________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

*A big thank you goes out to Mr. Karl Fisch, who so generously shared his wiki about his course expectations online.