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     SLPS District Homework Policy

     

    Mrs. (Anne) Haley Porter

    8th Grade English Language Arts

    Anne.Porter@slps.org

    314-652-9282 School Phone

    English Language Arts 2024-25

     

    Course Description:  The SLPS English Language Arts department will use the MyPerspectives curriculum through Savvas for the 2024-25 school year. Students will have both an online version and a hard copy of this textbook. The curriculum is designed to promote higher achievement and develop the competencies needed beyond middle school and high school. Students will be engaged in lessons that focus on social collaboration as well as individual ownership of learning through goal-setting, choice, and reflection. Through a teacher-led, student-centered classroom, students will learn to improve comprehension in reading and to develop and improve writing skills. Students will become collaborative and self-directed learners. Short poems, narratives, essays, and letters are some of the writing skills used to practice the “author in them”.  Novels will include both fiction and non-fiction in various forms.  Students read from self-selected novels in addition to assigned reading during class.  My goal this year is to promote all students reading all the time. To accomplish this, we need students to read books at home that they enjoy. The novels we will read in class are as follows:

    • How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
    • The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
    • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

    A variety of short stories and reading passages throughout our district curriculum

     

    Methods of Instruction: There will be a variety of instruction integrated into the class. They include, but are not limited to, teacher-led instruction, teacher-led small group work, cooperative learning, independent work, workstation activities, peer tutoring, and research. The work is rigorous and requires students' focus throughout the class to avoid falling behind in instruction. Therefore, students must come with the mindset to do their best.  To that end, one area I will reinforce with my students is that everyone can learn, and they must understand that learning is a process, and sometimes it will require more effort.

     

    Course Objectives: Based upon SLPS standards, students are expected to show mastery of grade-level content in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Doing so will require them to read from a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, as well as write for a variety of audiences and purposes.  In doing so, they will acquire valuable textual analysis, reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Finally, students are expected to read in and out of the classroom. Reading homework is assigned daily; students should read self-selected novels at home. The class will visit the school library on a regular basis to allow students to check out books. Library books are the responsibility of the student. If a book is lost or damaged, the student will be charged for the book. Outstanding book fees can result in delays in report cards and grades.

     

    Assignments: The assignments consist of a daily Do Now, classwork, participation, exit slips, homework, independent reading, and other activities.  Classwork is expected to be completed daily unless otherwise stated. Guidelines must be followed when an assignment is accompanied by a scoring guide.

     

    Exams/Tests/ Quizzes: Assessments will be given throughout each term.   It is important for students to come on time daily daily, prepared to complete all assignments to the best of his or her ability. By keeping up with assignments, students will be prepared for any assessment given.

     

    Grading Criteria:  Compton-Drew ILC uses a whole school policy consisting of the items listed below:

    Classwork                 35%                                           Grading Scale:       100-90%        A

    Class participation    15%                                                                            89 -80%        B

    Homework                 20%                                                                            79-70%         C  

    Tests                           15%                                                                            69-60%         D

    Projects                      15%                                                                            59% below   F

     

    Course Requirements:

    Required reading texts (see texts listed above)

     

    Attendance Policy: All students are expected to attend school daily and to be on time to class as outlined in the Compton-Drew Student and Parent Handbook.

     

    Homework Policy: Homework is due on the due date, which is the following day unless otherwise noted. Late work will be accepted by Friday of the week assigned, with points deducted. Work is late when it is not turned in on the due date and time. Students are expected to adhere to the SLPS District policy regarding homework, which is as follows:  

    It is the policy of the St. Louis Public Schools that the teachers regularly assign homework that enhances the educational development of students.  Each family is asked to set aside approximately ninety minutes (90) each evening for academic excellence.  At the middle school level, at least twenty minutes per core subject should be allotted for homework each evening.  Also, please remember our belief is that Reading Is the Key That Opens the Doors to Success. Daily reading is required for all students.

     

    Make-Up Work Policy: In the event of an absence, it is the student's responsibility to secure all missing assignments within two (2) days and return them within the time frame given by the teacher. For long-term illnesses (2 days or more), parents are required to contact the Main Office at 314-652-9282 and arrange to pick up their child’s homework assignments. 

     

    Written Assignments and Academic Misconduct: All written work submitted must be the student’s original work and conform to the guidelines provided by the teacher. This means that any substantive ideas, phrases, sentences, and/or published ideas must be properly referenced to avoid even the appearance of plagiarism. It is the student’s responsibility to know all relevant school policies concerning plagiarism. Any documented cases of plagiarism can and will result in a failing grade.

     

    Classroom Routines & Procedures

     

    Bring to class daily:

    • IPad is fully charged each day with the charging cord.
    • Sharpened pencils
    • Textbook or workbook (this will be kept in the classroom)
    • Assigned novel.
    • ELA notebook
    • Composition book (remains in class)
    • Independent novel student is reading.
    1. Entering the classroom – Enter silently and politely. Immediately sit down and begin the
      Do Now. Be sure to have all the necessary items for class. Students will not be allowed to go to their lockers during class time.
    2. Exiting the classroom- Students should gather all their belongings at the end of class and line up with their class outside the classroom by the lockers. Classes move together to the next class in an orderly manner. They are to go directly to their next class and not be hanging out in the halls.
    3. Leaving the room – Students need permission to leave the classroom. They will receive an assigned hall pass which allows them to be in the halls during class periods.
    4. Leaving your seat—Students should raise their hand for permission before leaving their seats to avoid unnecessary class disruptions.
    5. Tardiness – Students are late to class if they are not in class when the Do Now begins. Excessive tardiness will result in a referral.
    6. Absences – Students are responsible for making up any assignments in a timely manner. All missing work can be found in the designated homework area. Check with me for assignments in the last ten minutes of class. When absent, students are given an extra day to complete missed assignments.
    7. Cell Phones/Electronic Devices-Per district policy, cell phones are not permitted in the building.  If seen in class, phones will be confiscated and given to administration. Parents will be contacted to pick up the cell phones in the office.
    8. Handing in finished work/homework – Check to make sure your name is on your paper, and then place the work in your appropriate class basket. Classes have designated bins for their classwork and homework. I will not accept any work that is left on my desk or in any other area of the classroom.
    9. Restroom - Restroom breaks are before school, before or after related arts (Period 2), and during lunch. Students may not leave the room for the first and last ten minutes of class.
    10. Using the classroom library - When you complete your classwork, you can read silently. I will allow students to check out books from our class library through our classroom library app. They must return the books within 2 weeks and will be held responsible for lost/damaged books. Students will be allowed to read in the reading area of the classroom. This area is a privilege and will be used only with permission. Students will be given permission when they have completed ALL work, including any late or missing work. There is no eating or drinking in this area. The reading area is limited to 2 students at a time.
    11. Fire drill/ Other drills—Stop everything. Stand up and assemble in a line at the door quickly with the teacher, but without running or pushing to exit the building. Do not cover your ears. Do not make any side trips. Wait patiently, calmly, and quietly in your designated area in line outside until we are allowed to go inside. Remain with your group while waiting.