Welcome to Curriculum Night

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night English/Language Arts Block

2. Objectives of Language Arts • Enhancing Language Arts Skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) • Implementing the 2010 English/Language Arts Standards (ELAS)

3. Why Common Core Standards? • Preparation: The standards are college and career ready. They will help prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in education and training after high school. • Competition: The standards are internationally benchmarked. Common standards will help insure our students are globally competitive • Equity: Expectations are consistent for all- and not dependent on a student’s zip code • Clarity: The standards are focused, coherent, and clear. Clearer standards help students (and parents and teachers) understand what is expected of them. • Collaboration: The standards create a foundation to work collaboratively across states and districts, pooling resources and expertise, to create curricular tools, professional development, common assessments, and other materials.

4. What is Language Arts? • All 7th and 8th grade students are enrolled in a Language Arts Block. • Students will receive about 70 minutes each school day focused on enhancing and strengthening reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. • Students will be analyzing fiction and non-fiction passages, writing assignments will accompany these passages.

5. Materials • Elements of Literature ( First Course) • Prentice Hall (7th grade) • Exploring Non-Fiction Kit • Jamestown Critical Reading Series • Supplemental Articles

6. Homework • Students will have homework if/when assignments are not completed during class time . • Projects will be assigned each quarter and should be completed at home. • Check the website assignment calendar for assignments. • Check your child’s portal to ensure completion of assignments • Students should always have a book at their independent reading level to read when time permits.

7. Grading Procedures • Grades will be taken from assessments and classwork/homework. • Assessments and projects will be weighted at 80% and classwork/homework at 20% • Students may redo any assessment as long as they have received additional instruction.

8. Absent/Make-up Policy • Students who are absent have two days to make-up missing work for every one day missed. Students will receive full credit. • Students who take longer to make up assignments will have points deducted. • It is the student’s responsibility to ask for and turn in any missing assignments.

9. Staying Informed • Planners—Will have homework assignments and due dates for major tests/projects. • MyMPS—Will have grades posted as well as attendance records. Please check this site often as it is updated regularly. • Teacher website calendars—Will have classroom topics and major due dates.

10. Contact Information • Brenda Frank 480.472.8354 bmfrank@mpsaz.org • Teaching Hours: 8:00-5:30 (Mon., Tues., Thurs. 8:00-4:30 Wed. & Fri.) • Tutoring Hours: Before and after school as my schedule permits or by appointment

11. Thank You!!!!! • Thank you for taking time to come to Curriculum Night.