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- Will every student be challenged?
- Will there be homework every night?
- What kinds of things will students do in class?
- What is Co-teaching?
- What are the classroom rules?
- What is the Handouts From Class section on the homepage of this site?
- What is the Book Challenge?
- How can a student earn extra-credit?
- How can I reach Mrs. Smith after the school day?
- What does each student need for class?
- How can parents help?
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Will every student be challenged?
Yes! The course is designed with differentiation in mind. Through small
group work, Literature Circles, an assortment of novels, some individualized
reading, personalized instruction, and a variety of assessments, the needs
of all students are addressed. In addition to that, the students will be
participating in Writing Workshop. The workshop will be process-oriented as
students compose their many pieces of writing while Mrs. Smith guides them
through daily mini-lessons on grammar, voice, conventions, organization, and
writer's techniques. One-on-one reading and writing conferences will also
be held throughout the year to individualize instruction to meet each and
every student's unique needs.
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Will there be homework every night?
Yes! Students will have daily homework. The entire week's homework
is posted on the board first thing Monday morning, and it is on this site as
well. The Language Arts course covers all of the areas of literacy
development: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, so assignments will
cover those items. We will continually be adding to our collection of
written pieces with our Writers' Workshop, most of the written work is done
in school, but some polishing of final drafts may need to be done at
home. Students will always be reading a book (most of the reading for
this course will be completed at home), and there will usually be some kind
of written response attached to the reading of each chapter/section. At the
conclusion of each unit, there will be several project-based assessments
(with written components) for students to choose from to show their mastery
of a given unit.
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What kinds of things will students do in class?
Students will practice a variety of skills related to the comprehension and
analysis of literature as well as skills related to writing and speaking.
Some of the activities will include journal writing, entrance work, debates,
large and small group discussions, shared inquiry discussions, oral
presentations, word analysis, acting skits & reader's theater, literary
analysis, creative writing, academic writing, Writing Workshop, Reading
Workshop, grammar exercises, Literature Circles, and much more!
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What is Co-teaching?
Co-teaching is the best possible scenerio for a student. It is when
teachers work together to plan and deliver instruction. In Language Arts
class, there are a variety of co-teaching situations going on. First off,
Mr. Juliani (the other Warrior Language Arts teacher) and Mrs. Smith work
closely together to ensure that all Warrior students get a similar,
excellent education. Both Miss Sommers (special education teacher) and Ms.
Whelan (enrichment teacher) will be co-teaching with Mrs. Smith daily in the
classroom. Additionally, once a week, the theme reader will be in to
conference with students regarding their writing. All of this collaberation
results in differentiated and individualized instruction which in turn
results in student success.
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What are the classroom rules?
1. Bring all necessary materials to class.
2. Follow directions the first time they are given.
3. Be quiet while others speak and during reading/writing time.
4. Do your own work.
5. Respect the space, opinions, feelings, and belongings of others.
**All WMS rules as outlined in the student handbook apply as well.**
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What is the Handouts From Class section on the homepage of this site?
The Handouts From Class section is a valuable resource for students and
parents. Handouts regarding most assignments and projects can be viewed
from this section. You may need to check the Homework section for due dates.
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What is the Book Challenge?
The Book Challenge is a friendly (grrr...) competition between Mrs. Smith's
and Mr. Juliani's Language Arts classes. Each student is required to read a
minimum of 1 extra non-assigned book of their choosing each marking period
(reading more is highly encouraged, but only one is required). After the
book is read, a teacher/student conference will be held to discuss the
book. This is worth points in their classwork/homework grade. A chart in
the classroom will keep track of the pages read by the students. At the end
of the marking period, the pages are tallied up and the winning side (Smith
or Juliani) is announced. The winning side will receive bragging rights and
some kind of special reward (pizza party, etc.).
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How can a student earn extra-credit?
There are 2 core ways to earn extra-credit:
1. Read up to 2 additional books for pleasure and complete story boards on
the book(s). There is a handout in the classroom with further
explanation.
2. Earn Bonus Point slips. These are given out in class for excellent
work, positive peer interactions, thoughtful comments during
discussions, etc. Students must keep their bonus points and then
submit them at the end of the marking period for extra-credit.
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How can I reach Mrs. Smith after the school day?
That is simple! Mrs. Smith checks her school e-mail account
(jsmith1@wsd.k12.pa.us) several times once home; if you e-mail, she will
more than likely get back to you that same evening. There is a link for e-
mail on the homepage of this site. If e-mail is not an option, call her at
school (215-619-8110 ext. 2226) and leave a message on her voice mail; she
will get back to you the next day. Parents, guardians, and students are
all encouraged to contact Mrs. Smith whenever the need arises.
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What does each student need for class?
Each student needs a writing implement, a compostion book, a binder for all
class materials and notes, some looseleaf (for the binder), 5 dividers (also
for the binder), some post-its, and the willingness to have fun while
working hard!
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How can parents help?
There are many ways that parents can help:
1. Communicate with Mrs. Smith.
2. Volunteer in the classroom as a guest reader or writer.
3. Make sure you see your child reading at home.
4. Have specialized knowledge that would enrich the curriculum? Let Mrs.
Smith know!
5. Encourage your child to share what he/she is writing/reading in class
with you.
6. Volunteer as a chaperone for field trips and/or pod days.
7. Donate books/old games/ art supplies/tissues to the classroom.
8. Check your child's agenda book regularly.
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