rms open house 8th grade language arts melissa sony
TRANSCRIPT
RMS Open House
8th Grade Language ArtsMelissa Sony
lived in Houston for most of my life - in Kingwood for 8 years
taught at Riverwood for 7 years
married with three children - son, 2014 KHS grad - off to - daughter, 10th @ KHS - son, 7th @ RMS
enjoy reading, running, movies, & outdoor concerts
Course Syllabus: First Course Syllabus: First SemesterSemesterLiterature: Literature: short stories, poetry, non-short stories, poetry, non-
fiction, and dramafiction, and dramaStudents are expected to evaluate, analyze, and Students are expected to evaluate, analyze, and critique these selections in writing and oral critique these selections in writing and oral discussion with increasing depth and complexity.discussion with increasing depth and complexity.
Writing: Writing: creative (short story), argument creative (short story), argument (persuasive), research, and literary analysis. (persuasive), research, and literary analysis. Students are expected to incorporate Students are expected to incorporate blended quotations, concrete details, blended quotations, concrete details, commentary, and MLA format.commentary, and MLA format.
Grammar: Grammar: applied grammar, sentence applied grammar, sentence composing, and varying sentence structure. composing, and varying sentence structure.
Vocabulary: Vocabulary: SAT vocabulary words through SAT vocabulary words through Knowsys weekly word lists and quizzes. Knowsys weekly word lists and quizzes. Students will also study new words in Students will also study new words in context of reading assignments.context of reading assignments.
Literature TextbookHolt McDougall Literature - Holt McDougall Literature -
Grade 8Grade 8We will use a class set.We will use a class set.Online Textbook info to come.Online Textbook info to come.
RELA 8 - Interactive RELA 8 - Interactive Reader workbook Reader workbook
in addition to class set of in addition to class set of textbooks and online textbooks and online
textbook.textbook.
Class Novel
Night Night – – by Elie Wieselby Elie WieselNightNight is Elie Wiesel’s masterpiece, a candid, is Elie Wiesel’s masterpiece, a candid,
horrific, horrific, and deeply poignant and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his autobiographical account of his experience experience as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. And as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. And in a in a substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate
dedication to ensuring that the world never forgets dedication to ensuring that the world never forgets man’s capacity for inhumanity to man.man’s capacity for inhumanity to man.
** It is a good idea for students to have their own ** It is a good idea for students to have their own copies copies of novels to practice annotating, but it is not of novels to practice annotating, but it is not required.required.
Knowsys VocabularyKnowsys VocabularyVocabulary program used throughout Humble ISD in grades Vocabulary program used throughout Humble ISD in grades
6-86-8
New word list assigned each Friday (10 wordsNew word list assigned each Friday (10 words)) Quiz each Friday (formative)Quiz each Friday (formative) TEST (summative) after each five groups of wordsTEST (summative) after each five groups of words Quizzes and Tests are cumulativeQuizzes and Tests are cumulative
Word Group Lists and Alphabetical List with definitions Word Group Lists and Alphabetical List with definitions are available on my websiteare available on my website
Pre-made vocabulary cards are available for purchase Pre-made vocabulary cards are available for purchase @ myknowsys.com@ myknowsys.com
iPhone and Android apps also available at iPhone and Android apps also available at myknowsys.commyknowsys.com
Accelerated ReaderAccelerated ReaderNovels are on a point value system. Students need Novels are on a point value system. Students need to earn 20 points per nine week grading period.to earn 20 points per nine week grading period.
Due dates are posted on my websiteDue dates are posted on my website
AR is a summative (test) gradeAR is a summative (test) gradeAll tests must be taken on a computer in my room.All tests must be taken on a computer in my room.
AR is an ongoing homework assignmentAR is an ongoing homework assignment
Grading InformationGrading Information
Formative Assessments: Formative Assessments: 40%40%
Daily Work, Homework, and QuizzesDaily Work, Homework, and Quizzes
Summative Assessments: Summative Assessments: 60%60%
Tests, Projects, and A.R. Tests, Projects, and A.R.
Testing days Tuesday and ThursdayTesting days Tuesday and Thursday
RMS Grading PolicyRMS Grading PolicyAll assignments will be accepted up to 4 days late. All assignments will be accepted up to 4 days late. It is It is worth 80% of the earned grade the 1st day late; the 2nd day worth 80% of the earned grade the 1st day late; the 2nd day is 60% credit of the earned grade, the 3rd day is 40% credit is 60% credit of the earned grade, the 3rd day is 40% credit of the earned grade, and the 4th day is 20% credit of the of the earned grade, and the 4th day is 20% credit of the earned grade . After the fourth day late, no credit will be earned grade . After the fourth day late, no credit will be offered (“0” in grade book).offered (“0” in grade book).
Grade book CodesGrade book Codes:: A – student absent; needs to complete for makeup work – student absent; needs to complete for makeup work X – student exempt from assignment – student exempt from assignment O - f - final grade; teacher has requested missing work inal grade; teacher has requested missing work & student has not complied& student has not complied blank space blank space – teacher has not yet entered grade– teacher has not yet entered grade
Make-up Work – district policy is 1 extra day per Make-up Work – district policy is 1 extra day per
excused day absent excused day absent
TutoringTutoring88thth Grade Grade
Wednesdays7:45-8:20 a.m.Wednesdays7:45-8:20 a.m.Other days/times by appointmentOther days/times by appointment
*Anytime your child is absent, he or she needs to *Anytime your child is absent, he or she needs to come to tutoring on the first morning back to come to tutoring on the first morning back to check the “Absent” student file & to ask for check the “Absent” student file & to ask for clarification on missed assignments. clarification on missed assignments.
**I encourage students to come to tutoring as **I encourage students to come to tutoring as much as needed. They can use that time to finish much as needed. They can use that time to finish incomplete work, ask for help for help with incomplete work, ask for help for help with certain assignments, or to catch up on reading. certain assignments, or to catch up on reading.
****Testing days are Tuesdays and ThursdaysTesting days are Tuesdays and Thursdays
Contact InfoContact InfoWeb SiteWeb Site
http://www.humbleisd.net/rms/msony
Remind 101Remind 101To receive text message reminders To receive text message reminders
for ReLA tests & essay/AR due dates, sign up at:for ReLA tests & essay/AR due dates, sign up at:Enter: (832)924-7664 Text: @66c58
Classroom PhoneClassroom Phone281-641-4856281-641-4856
How Parents Can HelpHow Parents Can Help• Check planners.Check planners.• Check grades online.Check grades online.• Make sure students are reading.Make sure students are reading.• Make sure students are reviewing Make sure students are reviewing
vocabulary words.vocabulary words.• Proofread essays, but don’t write or re-Proofread essays, but don’t write or re-
write.write.• Check the teacher’s website when absent.Check the teacher’s website when absent.• Check the website to see if information is Check the website to see if information is
posted that will answer your question.posted that will answer your question.• E-mail questions.E-mail questions.• DON’T bring their “forgotten homework” to DON’T bring their “forgotten homework” to
school.school.• Encourage independence.Encourage independence.
IT’S GREAT TO BE A
LONGHORN!
Thanks for coming! It’s going to be a great year.