Middle School ELA Expectations and Grading

Classroom policies

• Every student is required to have a notebook and an independent reading book, fiction or nonfiction, to read after tests and quizzes, among other times. Graphic novels (with comic-strips, etc.) are not allowed.

Assignment Policies

• Late work is not accepted, barring absence or special circumstances.
• Regarding absences: Daily, class-based assignments on Google Classroom do not need to be made up. However, students should make sure to copy notes from a classmate in order to prepare for any relevant quizzes, tests, or writing assignments coming up.

• • • • • Note that my weekly plans for each grade are posted on the "Assignments/Tests & Quizzes" tab

Grading

• Weights/Breakdown:
• Independent work, 10% (Edmentum and Membean)
• Daily assignments, classwork, 15% (Lit questions, diagramming sentences, draft and revisions)
• Participation, 20% (class discussions, questions, self-advocacy)
• Quizzes, 25% (written response in lit, Freckle articles, grammar quizzes, Membean quizzes, writing notes)
• Tests, 30% (multiple choice in lit, final copy in writing, midterms and finals, expectations grade)
• Late work: 10 points deducted per day that an essay is late; regarding absence, students have the same number of days they were absent to make up all work upon their return. (This applies only to writing assignments)

Midterm/Final Exams

Midterm and Final exams are cumulative. The midterm and final are included in your grade as a test score in addition to 4% for 6th grade, 6% for 7th grade, and 10% for 8th grade.

Expectations Grade

• Reflects each student’s performance relative to expectations for respect and positive contributions to the learning environment.

• We anticipate that all students understand these expectations and are capable of meeting them. All students begin the quarter with a 100% score. The score will be negatively impacted by any behavior that interferes with others’ learning or disrupts the classroom environment, including, but not limited to

• Disruptive behavior
• Disrespectful behavior toward classmates or teachers
• Failure/refusal to follow directions
• Inappropriate use of technology during class time
• Lack of required materials for class
• Talking during class lessons or daily assignment work
• Uniform violations

Academic Honesty / Devices

• Cheating, including the use of apps and websites during a test or quiz, is not permitted and will result in a grade of zero on the assignment. 
• Plagiarism is also unacceptable and will result in a zero. Note that each class reviews plagiarism and should be aware of what plagiarism means and how to avoid it.
• Chromebooks / laptops and headphones are not to be used unless directed to do so.

Extra Help

Extra help is offered after school on Tuesdays until 3:00. I use a round-robin format in order to accommodate each student’s needs, so students should come to extra help prepared to ask specific questions.