Ms. Noisey's Eighth Grade Syllabus

Textbook- Glencoe’s Reader’s Choice

Supplemental Textbook- Great Source: The Reader’s Handbook

Materials- Students should have loose leaf paper, note cards, blue or black ink pens, red ink pens, highlighters, and independent reading material.

In this class, students will read and experience literature in a variety of genres. Approximately 7-10 book reports will be assigned throughout the school year. Students will be expected to read many novels, short stories, poetic works, and various expository texts, as well as participating in a year long study of language structures and word analysis. Students are expected to participate in class activities and discussions. Completion of classroom assignments and homework is mandatory to pass this course.

Please refer to the school’s absence work policy in your child’s assignment notebook. Students are responsible for obtaining work missed due to absence. To avoid falling behind in class work due to an extended illness, parents may call in and request the assignments. Assignments will be placed in the office to be picked up during the school day. As a reference weekly lesson plans and homework assignments will be placed on my web page. The most accurate reflection of homework should be your student’s assignment notebook.

It is the eighth grade policy that late work receives only 50% of the grade earned, and must be turned in by the next day. Work received more than two days late will receive a grade of "0" as per the eighth grade team policy. Any missing work, even if due to absence, is recorded by the grading program as a "0". This will be replaced with the grade earned once the work is turned in to the teacher.

All written work should be written or typed legibly using complete sentences. A complete heading is expected on every paper. When provided, the product descriptor should be followed and turned in with the completed assignment.

I will monitor reading selections that are assigned for group reading based on the appropriateness of subject and audience maturity; however, it is the parents’ responsibility to monitor their children’s individual reading selections (i.e. library selection, free time reading, etc.)

Grades will be made available to students on Mondays. Grades in my class will be based on a point system. Tests are worth 100 pts., quizzes 50 pts., reading logs 20pts., daily assignments and activities points are shown on the product descriptors as the values will vary. I reserve the right to assign completion points to occasional assignments. Refer to the student handbook for the school’s grading scale.

After the first progress report, no paper will be accepted without a name. Papers that are turned in with no names will be discarded. Students may redo the work for late credit only.

I firmly believe that the only way to grow as a reader or writer is to participate in the reading and writing processes. I want my students to discover the joy of reading by reading what interest them and learn to view writing as an art of self-expression. As a reflection of this, I will provide the opportunity for choice in regards to reading selections and project assignments as often as possible.