SYLVAN HILLS COURSE SYLLABUS
8th grade ELA
Semester/Year: Fall & Spring 2018-2019
Teacher Name: Mr. Murray
Class Location: 3024
Tutorial Day and Time: Wednesday, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Telephone: 404-802-6200
E-mail: [email protected]
Vision:
Sylvan Hills Middle School will provide a nurturing and safe environment where students become critical thinkers, problem solvers, lifelong learners, and productive citizens.
Mission:
Our mission is to provide a nurturing, yet challenging, learning environment that ensures high expectations for all students while implementing instruction that fosters individual learning styles through real-world applications and technologies in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and skills based on Common Core State Standards. We commit to a comprehensive system of support to ensure this outcome.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is English Language Arts. Each APS ELA unit is grounded in recurring standards that emphasize textual evidence, academic vocabulary, effective communication, and narrative writing experiences. The curriculum is designed to ensure that students are building the necessary skills to be competent readers, writers, critical thinkers, and decision makers. Students will receive a holistic, quality learning experience that moves through the gradual release model of teaching. This model will allow ample opportunities for students to see content and skills modeled; students will have plenty of time to practice in small groups, and finally show their understanding through independent work. Embedded within the unit are ample formative assessment opportunities (discussions, constructed responses, and short sustained writing tasks.) It is the goal that students will leave prepared for a quality high school learning experience and be equipped with the skills to place them on a trajectory towards college and career readiness.
Classroom Rules:
Classroom Expectations:
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learning outcomes are derived directly from the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Feel free to browse the following web address for more information about the standards. https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Frameworks/ELA-Grade-8-Standards.pdf
TEXTS, READINGS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Required Text:
Useful Websites: newsela.org readworks.org
Evaluation Procedures:
The school-wide assignment tasks and assigned weights include the following: Homework (10%), Classwork/Participation (30%), Quizzes (15%), Projects (25%), Tests (20%).
It is our school policy that a minimum of two (3) grades per week will be entered into the Infinite Campus Grade book and available for you to review on the Parent Portal (see Counselor for further details). Progress reports will be sent home monthly.
Grading Scale:
A: 90 – 100%; B: 80 – 89%; C: 70 – 79%; F: Below 69%.
Grades 6-8
Weights
Classwork/Participation
30%
Tests
20%
Quizzes
15%
Projects
25%
Homework
10%
CLASS OUTLINE/CALENDAR (Tentative)
Duration:
Units:
Themes:
Reading Text:
9 weeks
1
“Ever Changing Identities”
Book:
Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers
Supporting Text:
“I Have a Dream”
“The House on Mango Street”
“Raymond’s Run”
9 weeks
2
“Georgia Living”
Books/Excerpts:
The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Henry W. Grady
“Henry Grady and the New South”
“The Secret Life of Bees”
“Everyday Use”
9 weeks
3
“Coming of Age”
Books/Excerpts:
Excerpts from To Kill A Mockingbird
“Bonne Annee” by Jean Pierre Benoit
“What to Bring” by Naisha Jackson
“Physics of Baseball”
9 weeks
4
“The Meaning of Success”
“When Do Kids Become Adults”
“What the Brain Says about Maturity”
“A Dark Brown Dog”
“The Three Questions”
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses or purchases ghost-written papers or products. It also occurs when a student utilizes ideas or information obtained from another person without giving credit to that person. If plagiarism or another act of academic dishonesty occurs, it will be dealt with in accordance with the academic misconduct policy as stated in the Atlanta Public Schools Handbook.
Supply List:
•2-3 composition notebooks (preferably with paper that can easily be removed)
•Pencils/pens
•Pocket dictionary
•Highlighters
•Loose-leaf notebook paper
•Small- individual pencil sharpener
8th grade ELA
Semester/Year: Fall & Spring 2018-2019
Teacher Name: Mr. Murray
Class Location: 3024
Tutorial Day and Time: Wednesday, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Telephone: 404-802-6200
E-mail: [email protected]
Vision:
Sylvan Hills Middle School will provide a nurturing and safe environment where students become critical thinkers, problem solvers, lifelong learners, and productive citizens.
Mission:
Our mission is to provide a nurturing, yet challenging, learning environment that ensures high expectations for all students while implementing instruction that fosters individual learning styles through real-world applications and technologies in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and skills based on Common Core State Standards. We commit to a comprehensive system of support to ensure this outcome.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is English Language Arts. Each APS ELA unit is grounded in recurring standards that emphasize textual evidence, academic vocabulary, effective communication, and narrative writing experiences. The curriculum is designed to ensure that students are building the necessary skills to be competent readers, writers, critical thinkers, and decision makers. Students will receive a holistic, quality learning experience that moves through the gradual release model of teaching. This model will allow ample opportunities for students to see content and skills modeled; students will have plenty of time to practice in small groups, and finally show their understanding through independent work. Embedded within the unit are ample formative assessment opportunities (discussions, constructed responses, and short sustained writing tasks.) It is the goal that students will leave prepared for a quality high school learning experience and be equipped with the skills to place them on a trajectory towards college and career readiness.
Classroom Rules:
- Be respectful to yourself and those around you. (Classmates, teachers, etc.)
- Raise your hand for permission to speak.
- Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
- Be responsible for your own learning.
Classroom Expectations:
- Be punctual, prepared, and ready to learn.
- Be confident in yourself and your ability to achieve excellence.
- Give 100% every day; Do Your Best and Work Hard.
- Never Give Up.
- No excuses.
- As a classroom, we are a family away from home. Encourage yourself and classmates.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learning outcomes are derived directly from the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Feel free to browse the following web address for more information about the standards. https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Frameworks/ELA-Grade-8-Standards.pdf
TEXTS, READINGS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Required Text:
Useful Websites: newsela.org readworks.org
Evaluation Procedures:
The school-wide assignment tasks and assigned weights include the following: Homework (10%), Classwork/Participation (30%), Quizzes (15%), Projects (25%), Tests (20%).
It is our school policy that a minimum of two (3) grades per week will be entered into the Infinite Campus Grade book and available for you to review on the Parent Portal (see Counselor for further details). Progress reports will be sent home monthly.
Grading Scale:
A: 90 – 100%; B: 80 – 89%; C: 70 – 79%; F: Below 69%.
Grades 6-8
Weights
Classwork/Participation
30%
Tests
20%
Quizzes
15%
Projects
25%
Homework
10%
CLASS OUTLINE/CALENDAR (Tentative)
Duration:
Units:
Themes:
Reading Text:
9 weeks
1
“Ever Changing Identities”
Book:
Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers
Supporting Text:
“I Have a Dream”
“The House on Mango Street”
“Raymond’s Run”
9 weeks
2
“Georgia Living”
Books/Excerpts:
The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Henry W. Grady
“Henry Grady and the New South”
“The Secret Life of Bees”
“Everyday Use”
9 weeks
3
“Coming of Age”
Books/Excerpts:
Excerpts from To Kill A Mockingbird
“Bonne Annee” by Jean Pierre Benoit
“What to Bring” by Naisha Jackson
“Physics of Baseball”
9 weeks
4
“The Meaning of Success”
“When Do Kids Become Adults”
“What the Brain Says about Maturity”
“A Dark Brown Dog”
“The Three Questions”
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses or purchases ghost-written papers or products. It also occurs when a student utilizes ideas or information obtained from another person without giving credit to that person. If plagiarism or another act of academic dishonesty occurs, it will be dealt with in accordance with the academic misconduct policy as stated in the Atlanta Public Schools Handbook.
Supply List:
•2-3 composition notebooks (preferably with paper that can easily be removed)
•Pencils/pens
•Pocket dictionary
•Highlighters
•Loose-leaf notebook paper
•Small- individual pencil sharpener