Yeager Middle School 7^th & 8^th grades ELA

Course Syllabus 2019 – 2020

YMS Website: http://yeager.dcm.schoolinsites.com/

Teacher Name:  Demitra Bryant

Email: [email protected]

Planning Periods: 1^st and 2^nd periods

Tutoring Times: 7:50-8:10 am and by appointment

Goal:     

The middle school ELA course is designed to give all students an understanding of the standards, evidenced by narrative writing, response to literature, research/expository writing, and persuasive writing in essay format, housed in their writing portfolio that remains with their ELA teacher until completion of 8^th grade. This course will prepare the students for the End of Grade test in ELA that will be aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards.

The primary objective for this course is to assist students in discovering new ideas or solutions to situations by using their own thinking processes along with cognitive and affective learning experiences. Students will discover the joy of exploration and discovery that will make them lifelong learners and encourage them in taking ownership of their learning and help them become creative and independent thinkers, readers, and writers.

Content:                                                                    Grading Weights 
Narrative Writing                                                        50% Classwork
Response to Literature                                 35% Assessments/CDA's/Projects
Research/Expository Writing                 10% Homework                
Persuasive Writing 5% Participation
Creative Writing      

Textbook:                                                                                 Grading Scale
Various Novel Studies                                                               A- 100-90  
Informational Texts                                                                    B- 89-90 
Literature Textbook                                                                   C- 79-81
                                                                                                  D- 70
                                                                                                  F- 69 and below                                                                                       
ELA Notebook: The students will keep all assignments for each unit of study in the ELA section of their binder. The notebook will be used as a reference guide for writing, which includes classwork and homework.

Late Work and Make-Up Work Procedure:  Late work will be accepted one school day after the due date and assessed a penalty of 20 points per day after that. After 5 school days this assignment will be worth zero points and therefore cannot be made up at that time.

 Make Up Work Procedure:  If a student must be absent, it is his/her responsibility to obtain make-up work and complete it in a reasonable amount of time, with a minimum of 3 days for each day absent.  If a student needs to make up an assignment that must be completed in the classroom, they should come before school, during homeroom, or during connections break. 

Homework:  Homework will be assigned and used as a meaningful tool to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom and to allow parents/guardians to actively engage in their child’s education. 

General Expectations​ 

Be Safe

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Specific Expectations

Be prepared for class with all materials

Follow directions the first time given

Raise your hand before speaking

Follow all classroom and school procedures