Fall 2020
Course Name | 8th Grade English Language Arts | Course Code | 23.2130001G 23.0130001M |
School Name | Chamblee Middle School Room# A230-Team 8C | Teacher Name | Ms. F. Cheffen |
School Phone Number | 678-874-8202 | Teacher Email | [email protected] |
Teacher Website | http://chambleems.dekalb.k12.ga.u/FatimaCheffen.aspx | Social Media Sites | Follow our class pages: Twitter: @TeachLife_inMid Instagram: @iTeachLife_inthaMiddle |
Course Description: In this course we will integrate the different domains of Language Arts (Reading, writing, speaking, grammar, etc.) through the development of basic skills and critical thinking. The course will cover the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (www.georgiastandards.org) and prepare students for the Georgia Milestones Assessment. Each semester is divided into 9 week units during which students will learn, practice, and master skills and knowledge that will allow them not only to succeed in Language Arts, but also to see how the subject relates to their life and the world around them.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW |
Unit 1: Perseverance Focus: Narrative Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird by author Harper Lee |
Unit 2: Freedom, Obstacles, and Challenges Focus: Informational/explanatory Novel: Independent Novel Study, Student selection according to criteria Speaking and Listening Skills: Students will participate in virtual/classroom discussions, debates, and seminars, as well as presentations to the class. |
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title | No online ELA Textbook provided by county |
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
GRADING CATEGORIES | *GRADE PROTOCOL |
Formative and Diagnostic Assessments – 0% Assessment Tasks (Skills & Homework) – 25% Classwork (Guided, Independent, and Group Practice) – 45% Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 30% | A 90 – 100 ~P (pass) B 80 – 89 ~F (fail) C 71 – 79 D 70 F Below 70 |
Notes:
*English Learners (ELs) must not receive numerical or letter grades for the core content areas in elementary and middle school during their first year of language development. A grade of CS or CU must be assigned. This rule may be extended beyond the first year with approval from the EL Studies Program. English Learners must receive a grade for ESOL courses.
~Elementary schools will utilize P (pass) and F (fail) in Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
STUDENT PROGRESS | Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH. |
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY | Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook. |
HOMEWORK | Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB. |
MAKE-UP WORK DUE TO ABSENCES | When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA. |
SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS | - Be prepared each day (complete homework, have materials, passwords and links are accessible).
- Be respectful of yourself and others when interacting in-person or on digital platforms.
- Provide effort. Push yourself to try! It is OK to make mistakes.
- Communicate. If you have questions, ask the teacher. Feel free to send an email to [email protected]
- VERGE: Students can always send an IM in the message box on Verge.
|
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | This semester, students will read the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Students will need to obtain copies (electronic or paper) by August 31st , 2020. Publisher: Grand Central Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-446-31078-9. - A Working Device (Chromebook, Laptop, iPad)
- Pencils, pens (blue/black only)
- Composition notebook (only used for journaling)
- (1) Spiral notebook, a 1 or 2 subject notebook
|
EXTRA HELP | Ms. Cheffen is available for additional help in the afternoons after 2:30PM and on Wednesdays. Students or parents should reach out to Ms. Cheffen to ensure availability and to receive a virtual meeting code, if necessary. |
PARENTS AS PARTNERS | Communication between parent and teacher is crucial. My methods of communication are: Email: [email protected] REMIND: Class links and codes can be found on my website and under the Files tab in Teams. |
Virtual Learning Expectations
Attendance | Students with technology will be expected to participate in all synchronous and asynchronous activities and earn attendance through VERGE, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and/or Zoom. Students without technology will be put on an individual plan as developed by the classroom teacher for additional support and contacted daily via an alternate communication plan. |
Late and Missing Assignments | It is the expectation that students submit assignments in a timely manner. All assignments will have a pre-determined deadline. If a student does not complete the assignment by the pre-determined due date, a M will be recorded for the assignment with a score of a zero. The student will have three opportunities to complete the assignment after the original due date with a grade penalty established by the local school. If there are extenuating circumstances that can be verified, the penalty may not be applied. The teacher must receive the request for the work within one week of the original deadline. |
Zero Policy | A student will receive a zero for the assignment only if the student has missed the deadline and the parent/guardian has been successfully notified of the deficiency to complete the assignment. A successful notification is defined as the parent/guardian as confirmed receipt of the notification verbally or in writing. Recovery day will be instituted at the end of the semester to all students the opportunity to replace up to three zeros in the gradebook. |
Virtual platform for assignments | Assignments for this class will be posted in the MS TEAMS platform. Links to each 8th Grade class period can be found on Ms. Cheffen’s website, http://chambleems.dekalb.k12.ga.u/FatimaCheffen.aspx |
Virtual Weekly Schedule |
|
*Tuesday/Friday - 0 period – not on the actual schedule. This is designed so teachers can offer additional tutorials and office hours for individual students and small groups. CMS will also conduct sessions for Student Advisory (wellness checks, social emotional visits, relationship and team building activities). *Students will be expected to complete asynchronous tasks during the zero period, on Wednesdays and after 2:15 p.m. when they are not meeting in a live session with a teacher. |
After reviewing and signing the syllabus, ask your parents to read and SIGN the acknowledgement page (last page). Scan it or place a signed (by a parent) copy in the Assignments tab. Parents can also send me the signed last page via email. I ONLY need the last page returned—this is your grade!
Permission to Take Photos or Videos for Classroom Use
I would like to take digital photos of students for use in the classroom. Photos might be used to illustrate a student’s own work or our professional portfolios or presentations. They may also appear on the class social media site or shared on the Dekalb County School’s social media sites. The students’ names will not be identified in such uses. The purpose is to share some of the instructional experiences we have in class/online with parents, staff, and other colleagues.
I understand that Ms. Cheffen may be taking photos during the school year that may include my child’s image. I give permission to Ms. Cheffen to use my child’s image in classroom projects or professional portfolios/presentations/grant proposals as described above. I understand that I will not be compensated for use of my child’s image. I understand that my child can refuse to have his/her picture taken and that he/she will not be penalized in any way for that choice.
____ I agree to the above statement.
____ I do not agree to the above statement and do not give permission to Ms. Cheffen to take photos of my child for the purposes described above.
Please sign below to acknowledge the following statement:
I have read the syllabus and I understand the expectations for this 2020-2021 academic school year.
Parent’s or Guardian’s Signature: __________________________ Date: _________
Student Signature: __________________________________ Date: _________