August 3, 2006
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Hello! I will be your child’s 7th grade Language Arts teacher this year, and
I would like to express my enthusiasm about having your child as a student
in my class.
In Language Arts this year, we will be focusing a great deal on the
importance of writing. Students will be expected to keep a journal in my
RICA class, and will also be composing a number of expository essays, as
well as doing a good deal of creative writing in Language Arts. We will also
explore mythology, drama, poetry, and short stories throughout the year, and
spend time on grammar and vocabulary development. Students will be expected
to read several novels in class this year, and will be encouraged to read
outside of class as much as possible. I will provide a lending library in my
classroom, and students will also have opportunities to visit the school
library. All of the books in the library are appropriate for middle school
students; however, as parenting styles differ, if you do not approve of a
book your child brings home, please let me know and we will work together to
find a more appropriate book for your child.
In accordance with Team 7B’s discipline plan and the objectives of Wilson
County Schools, the dress code, tardiness, and missing/incomplete homework
will be strictly enforced this year. Your child should have brought home a
team letter describing these policies and procedures. Please see the
following page for my individual classroom rules and expectations. These
rules are meant to serve as positive guidelines for your child and
ultimately to aid in his/her educational success. Please sign this sheet and
return it to me in order to verify that you have read and understood my
expectations for your child this year.
I hope that we will have an opportunity to meet during the Team 7B Open
House on August 9, from 6:30-7:30 pm. Feel free to contact me through the
Guidance Office to schedule a conference at any time, or you may contact me
via email at jacksonk@wcschools.com. Please visit
http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietMiddleSchool/MsJackson/ if you would like
to keep track of your child’s homework assignments for my class. I will be
updating the site weekly.
I hope that we can form a strong collaborative effort to make your child’s
educational experience as meaningful and memorable as possible.
Thank you,
Ms. Kristin Jackson
7th Grade Language Arts
Email: jacksonk@wcschool.com
Teacher Web: http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietMiddleSchool/MsJackson/
Your child will need the following supplies for Language Arts:
-1 3-ring binder
-Loose-leaf notebook paper
-Pens (blue or black ink) and/or pencils
-1 notebook (journal) for RICA class
-$8 check for the Vocabulary book (checks made payable to Mt. Juliet Middle)
Grading Scale:
A 100—93%
B 92—85%
C 84—75%
D 74—70%
F 69% and below
Classroom Rules:
1. Always raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking.
2. Always come to class prepared. You should bring your agenda, books,
notebooks, and several pens/pencils to class EVERY DAY.
3. Be in your seat when the bell rings EVERY DAY.
4. Clean up after yourself.
**Students are also expected to abide by school-wide rules and regulations,
which are outlined in your student’s agenda.
Missing homework
In accordance with school policy, students will only have one class period
to make up or turn in missing/incomplete homework assignments for partial
credit. If an assignment is due on Monday, and the student fails to turn it
in by Wednesday, it will automatically be counted as a zero. If your child
has three or more missing/late homework assignments in my class, I will
notify you in the form of a note in your child’s agenda, an email, or a
phone call. Please check your child’s agenda regularly. Missing/late
homework can be very detrimental to your child’s grade and educational
progress, so please discuss with him/her the importance of turning in work
complete and on time.
Discipline problems
I will keep a discipline sheet on each student recording any problems that
may arise in the classroom. Discipline problems include but are not limited
to the following: writing/passing notes in class; bringing food or drink
into the classroom; leaving trash on the floor; tardiness; backpacks, games,
or toys in the classroom; continual talking out of turn; disrespect for
authority figures and/or peers; destruction of other people’s property; name-
calling; rough-housing; lack of preparedness; and any other disruptive
behavior. For the first offense students will receive a verbal warning; for
the second offense, students may be detained after class and/or asked to do
a write-off and parents will be notified; for the third offense, students
will attend a Friday morning detention from 7:15-8 am; and for the
fourth offense, students will be referred to the office for further
disciplinary action.
Book reports
Students will be expected to complete two book reports per nine weeks. These
book reports will be over books that the students will read outside of the
classroom. The books must be AR or approved by me. Please check my
teacherweb site for due dates. In the coming weeks, I will give the students
a book report rubric, which they will use all year to construct their
reports. Please encourage your child to read a little of their book every
day, rather than waiting until a few days before the report is due and
struggling to get finished.
Make-up Work
If a student is absent, he/she will have an opportunity to make up any work
they missed. It is the student’s responsibility to check the folder in my
room labeled “MAKE-UP WORK” to see if they have any assignments to complete.
If the student fails to check the make-up work folder, they will receive
zeros for any work they do not complete. Please remind your student to check
this folder when they return from being absent.
Please sign and return if you have read and understood the rules and
procedures as outlined in Ms. Jackson’s Parent Letter.
Student Name: _______________________
Parent Signature: __________________________ Date: __________
If you have an email account that you check regularly, please write the
address below in order to facilitate parent/teacher communication regarding
your child’s progress.
