Beginning of School Information
7th Grade English Goals and Expectations Ms. Gough’s Class-
NJMS- August 2007In order to be successful in English 7 this year...
What you need to do…
1. Be present and on time. Be seated and quiet when the bell rings.
2. Be respectful.3. Pay attention.
4. Bring ALL MATERIALS to class EVERY DAY.5. Do all your work every day and turn it in on time- classwork and homework. NEVER ACCEPT A ZERO on any assignment.
6. Prepare to do your best on tests. This will require effort in class and at home. Listen carefully when I teach a new skill and when I review. Take notes if you need to whether I tell you to or not. Create your own study sheets for tests.7. Ask questions about the lesson if you need help.
8. Learn the spelling and definitions of all spelling and/or vocabulary words.9. Read! We will read novels, stories, and poems, usually together in class. If you are absent, it is up to you to read what you missed.
10. Make up assignments and tests you miss as soon as you return to school. This is your responsibility. 11. Write your assignments in your agenda. (Parents: Frequently check the agenda at home. This is the easiest way to know what is going on!)What you need to bring to class every day… (besides a good attitude)
Textbook (I’ll let you know which one!) Three-ring binder with lots of loose leaf paper and a pocket inside You should keep all the work we do in class, all handouts, and all graded papers I return to you in your binder until the end of the grading period.NJMS Agenda
Pencil pouch or box with the following items inside:
sharpened pencils (a small pencil sharpener is handy)
black penscolored pens- any color besides red (These are needed everyday to correct your work!)
2 or 3 highlighters and 2 or 3 markersWhat you need to know…
Your GradeYour grade is made up of bell work, classwork/homework points, 100 point tests in grammar and literature, spelling and/or vocabulary tests, writing assignments (including prewriting, rough drafts, and final copies of five paragraph essays and creative writing stories), nine weeks exams, and any other special projects or presentations.
(*Much of what we do in English 7 is in preparation for the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing in February!)
Bell Work
Bell Work are short assignments that are on the board at the beginning of the period. You will do bell work every day as soon as you enter the classroom. On Fridays, we will correct the bell work for the week and turn it in for points. In order to receive full credit, you must do the bell work each day, and make sure to make all corrections on Friday before turning it in. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the bell work that you missed.Classwork/Homework Procedure
Generally speaking, once five classwork/homework assignments have been completed, students will staple their work in order with a cover sheet on top with a list of the assignments that are included, and the packets will be collected. Packets are usually worth 100 points (20 points per assignment). Students must have the completed assignment the day it is due and the day packets are collected. Much of this work is graded based on effort, not accuracy; however, students are expected to correct their mistakes with a colored pen when I go over the answers in class. You will not receive full credit for your work unless you have corrections. These points are easily earned and there is no excuse for accepting a zero!Paper Heading, ETC.
Every assignment should have your first and last name on the top blue line in the top right-hand corner, your class period on the second blue line, and the date on the third blue line. Do your neatest work every day. Use whole pieces of loose leaf paper only. You will be assigned a student number. Write it neatly in the very top right-hand corner of your papers. Always label every assignment by topic, textbook name, and page number. I highly recommend that you type all final copies of formal essays. (Essays may be neatly handwritten in black ink if a computer is not available.)Discipline
Follow all school and classroom rules. Show good character and respect the teacher, other students, and yourself. Help me to maintain a peaceful classroom environment where everyone can learn. I will let you know when you have permission to talk; otherwise, be quiet. Do your best to keep out classroom neat and clean. Treat school property with care. Failure to comply with the code of conduct will result in a call to your parents, written assignment, or referral to the office.
Donations of Kleenex, paper towels, baby wipes, post-it notes, dry erase markers, copier paper, or any other useful classroom supplies are not required, but they are greatly appreciated!
E-mail/ Website-Very Important:
Parents: Please e-mail me at ms.gough@yahoo.com. Put your child's name in the subject line. This should come from the parent's e-mail account, not the student's!
Also view my website at www.schoolrack.com/lfields. Subscribe to the mailing list there. I have handled my e-mail with parents via a yahoo account for the past two years, so the website and mailing list are new to me at this point. If this proves to be an easier way to handle mass communication, I will use it more in the future. The website will be updated from time to time, so check it often for more class information.
