September 4, 2008
Dear Parent/Guardian
The following information is policies and procedures for Ms. Ward’s Language
Arts class. Information on how students will be graded can also be found in
this packet. Please take this opportunity to review this packet with your
student in order to ensure a successful school year. When you have had a
chance to review this information, please sign and date the bottom of this
page and have your son or daughter return the signed sheet to me by Monday,
September 10th. Your child should keep this packet in his or her binder for
the remainder of the school year. I have included the supplies that
students are required to have by Monday, September 11th. I also maintain a
website where I post daily assignments and this site can be accessed at
www.teacherweb.com/ma/kingphilip-north/ward. Thank you for your help and
please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding these policies
either by calling the school or by sending me an email at
wardl@kingphilip.org. Thank you.
Ms. Ward
Supplies:
A three-ring binder filled with white-lined paper
A flash drive for storing work on the computer
Several sharpened pencils/pens
Access to a working computer and printer (available at KP Middle School)
Access to a stapler
A highlighter
A two-pocket folder (preferably one that is 3-hole punched and will fit into
the binder)
A novel for the Read 24/7 program
Three (3) divider pages for binder
Parent Signature _______________________________ Date ________
Student Signature ______________________________ Date ________
Rules, Expectations, and Procedures in Ms. Ward’s Class
* BE ON TIME FOR CLASS!! Please make every effort to report to class BEFORE
the final bell so that we may begin class on time. If you do report late to
class, you must have a valid hall pass from your previous teacher giving you
permission to come to class late. If you are tardy three times without a
pass, I will assign you a detention for each infraction.
* As soon as you enter the classroom, class has started. Please take your
seat as soon as you enter the room and check the front screen for any posted
assigments or announcements. If the class period begins with a bellwork
assignment, you should begin on this assignment immediately. Bellwork is
generally collected in the first 10 minutes of class and graded.
* If you need to leave the room, you must raise your hand to ask for
permission. Additionally, you are required to sign in and out of the room
every time that you leave. Please do not ask to use the bathroom unless it
is an emergency; take care of all personal matters in between classes. You
may not go to your locker once class has started, even if you must retrieve
an assignment due that day.
* If you are absent, it is your responsibility to locate your make-up work.
Each day that you are absent, I will fill out a “While You Were Out” sheet
and place it in the folder in the front of the room. As soon as you return,
check the folder that corresponds to your class color to find your missed
work. You have five days to make up all work missed while you were
absent.
* If you are absent on the day that a long-term assignment is due, you must
turn in that assignment ON THE DAY YOU RETURN FOR FULL CREDIT. For each day
that an assignment is late, I will deduct 10 points from the final grade.
If an assignment is later than three days, I will not accept it. If you are
absent on the day of a quiz or a test, you have five school days to make up
the test or quiz. If the work is not made up, you will receive a zero. I
am available every Wednesday afternoon from 2:20-3:00, or by appointment.
* Any out-of-class assignment that is graded (test, quiz, writing
assignment) must be turned in on the day it is due – NO EXCEPTIONS! If you
do not turn in an assignment on time, I will deduct 10 points for each day
that it is late. Assignments not turned in after three days will result in
a zero. ****NOTE: IF AN ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON A FRIDAY AND YOU DO NOT TURN
IT IN UNTIL MONDAY, I WILL DEDUCT 30 POINTS FROM THE ASSIGNMENT.****
* Homework is an important part of your learning and I will never assign any
homework that I do not feel is beneficial to you. Keeping that in mind, I
expect homework to be completed each and every day. Homework assignments
are graded on a daily basis. Each assignment is graded out of 5 possible
points. The criterion used to grade homework is the following: 1) the
assignment is present at the start of class; 2) every question on the
assignment is attempted; 3) the assignment is neatly handwritten or typed;
4) complete sentences are used (when necessary); 5) there is a high degree
of effort. I will not accept late homework and you will not be permitted to
leave the room to get an assignment.
* Each day you must bring the following materials to my classroom: Elements
of Literature textbook (or the novel we are currently reading), the homework
assignment due for the day, a three-ring binder, blue/black pen, your Read
24/7 novel, and anything else I may have requested for class. Do not come
to class unprepared.
* There is absolutely no eating or drinking, ESPECIALLY GUM CHEWING, in my
classroom. I will assign detention to students who chew gum during class.
* Once class has started, you must remain in your seat until I have
dismissed you. If you must leave your seat for any reason, please raise
your hand and ask for permission to do so.
* Your comments and thoughts are an important part of the learning process
and I encourage you to participate and engage in discussion each and every
day. However, in order to make sure that everyone has an equal voice, you
must raise your hand to share a comment with the rest of the class. Please
show your classmates and myself respect and courtesy, and we will do the
same for you.
* All out-of-class writing assignments must be typed in black, 12 point
Times New Roman font and double-spaced. All writing assignments must have
the proper heading in the correct place. I will not accept any writing
assignments that do not follow these guidelines. If you do not have a
working computer/printer at home, you will need to make the necessary
arrangements at school to complete your work. Since King Philip Middle
School has many computers and printers, there is no excuse for not
completing a typed assignment. I will not accept late work due
to “computer/printer malfunctions.”
* Portfolios are kept for every student throughout the year. I will store
your formal writing assignments, as well as in-class writings. I will keep
the portfolios in my classroom until the end of the school year. If at any
time you or your parents wish to see the material kept in your portfolio,
please let me know and you may sign out the portfolio for up to three school
days. If you do not indicate to me that you would like to sign out the
portfolio, you will not have access to this graded material once I collect
it.
Grading Policies for Ms. Ward’s Class
Tests – 25%
* All written tests will be announced in advance.
* Written tests, essays, long-term homework assignments, and any other
assignments can be graded as tests.
* If you are absent on the day of a test, you will have 5 school days
to make up the test. If the test is not made up in 5 days, a zero will be
recorded for the assignment.
Quizzes – 20%
* The majority of quizzes will be announced in advance, but there is
always the possibility of a “pop” quiz on material that we are covering in
class. Make sure that you do not wait to seek help if you are struggling
with class material; you never know when a pop quiz is around the corner!
* Homework assignments, classwork and bellwork assignments, and any
other assignments can be graded as quizzes.
* If you are absent on the day of a quiz, you will have 5 school days
to make up the quiz. If the quiz is not made up in 5 days, a zero will be
recorded for the assignment.
Homework – 15%
* Homework assignments are an important way to ensure that you are
learning the fundamental concepts taught in class. Each assignment is
graded out of a possible 5 points. No credit will be given for late
homework assignments.
* Homework is largely an effort grade; be sure to complete the
assignment every night that it is assigned.
* Homework assignments are posted online each and every day – there
should be no excuse for not completing the assignments!
Writing – 15%
* Each term, I will assign multiple writing assignments. These
assignments include, but are not limited to, a formal research paper,
compare/contrast essays, character analyses, in-class writing, and nightly
writing homework.
* All writing assignments that are collected will be graded based on
provided criteria. After a writing assignment is graded and returned, I
will collect it again and store it in your portfolio for the remainder of
the school year.
Read 24/7 – 15%
* Each term, I will collect your Read 24/7 assignment and grade it according
to the provided scoring rubric.
* You are responsible for turning in this assignment on the given due date.
* These responses are due on the date provided, and each Friday you will be
given class time to read your chosen Read 24/7 novel in class.
Bellwork, Classwork, & Participation – 10%
* Often, bellwork and classwork assignments are collected and graded. It is
important to always fully complete these assignments during class.
* Class participation is a vital part of learning. You will be graded
on your participation throughout each term. This will include: raising your
hand to participate in a class discussion, coming to class daily with all
necessary materials, actively engaging in the lesson by completing
independent and group assignment efficiently and to the best of your
ability, and remaining on-task during every lesson.
