WELCOME TO MRS. MCKINLEY'S LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING CLASS
 MY GOAL IS FOR EVERY STUDENT TO MAKE ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF GROWTHCurrent Notes and Reminders
11/22/11 -
I hope that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday. Please be sure your students are working on their SURF logs and book summaries.
11/9/11 -
1st/2nd/6th Periods - Folk Tales test on 11/18/11
3rd/4th Periods - "Dark They Were and Golden-eyed" Test on 11/18/11
11/2/11 -
Students should be working on SURF Logs and Book Responses. SIX book responses are due by the end of the second nine weeks.
There is no school Monday, November 11th.
Please participate in the I.M.P.A.C.T club's Day of Thanks and Remembrance. For $10 you will receive a t-shirt supporting your cause and can turn in a list of names of loved ones who have survived cancer, passed away from cancer, and fought in the military. Their names will be placed on signs that will line the field on November 21st as we walk in their honor.
10/26/11 -
ALL GRADES for 1st Nine Weeks have been finalized.
All students should be submitting book responses when they have completed 100 pages of a book.
Report Cards go home 10/31/11.
10/19/11 -
ALL GRADES will be finalized on 10/21/11.
1st/2nd/6th Periods - Test on "The Monkey's Paw" on Friday 10/29/11.
3rd Period- Test on "The War od the Wall" on Friday 10/29/11.
10/12/11 -
EVERY STUDENT has until 10/19 to turn in all seven book responses for this nine weeks. Reminder: a book response is two paragraphs (1 paragraph summarizing book and 1 paragraph reflecting). I sent home slips to be signed by the parent indicating how many book responses I have received. A book response should be completed after EVERY 100 PAGES READ :)
ALL students (except 5th period) have DISTRICT QUARTER EXAMS Monday 10/17/11.
ALL students received personalized extra credit packets that address their specific needs. The packet can be completed and returned by Monday 10/17 and will replace the lowest test grade.
3rd/4th Period: Test on "A Retrieved Reformation" Friday, 10/14/11.
6th Period: Test on "Rules of the Game" Friday, 10/14/11.
10/11/11 -
The Bridge to Terabithia projects were a success. Thank you for all of the time you put into being creative and thoughtful. A few projects can be seen below:
10/5/11 -
1st/2nd/6th Period: Test on "The Rules of the Game" 10/14 and District Quarter Exam 10/17.
3rd/4th Period: Test on "A Retrieved Reformation" 10/14 and District Quarter Exam 10/17.
5th Period: Bridge to Terabithia Projects (parts 1 and 2) due 10/7. You can drop them off in my room before school.
9/28/11 -
1st/2nd Period: Projects due 9/30. Unit 1 Test is 10/4! ("Raymond's Run," "Jackie Joyner Kersee")
3rd/4th Period: Projects due 9/30. Unit 1 Test is 10/4! ("Rikki Tikki Tavi" and snake articles)
5th Period: BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA TEST 10/4! Projects due 10/7
6th Period: Projects due 9/30. Unit 1 Test is 10/4! ("Raymond's Run," "Jackie Joyner Kersee")
Please be sure your children are completing AND TURNING IN their SURF logs. Log in to Parent Assist to see if they are receiving zeros for not completing homeowork.
9/21/11 -
REMEMBER that 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th and 6th period have 9 weeks projects due FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH!
5TH PERIOD: Bridge to Terabithia test is 10/4 and Study guide goes home 9/30. ALSO your project is due OCTOBER 7th!
3rd/4th PERIOD: Unit 1 Test is 10/4 "Rikki Tikki Tavi," and snake articles
1st/2nd/6th: Unit 1 Test is 10/4 - "Raymond's Run," "Jackie Joyner Kersee"
9/14/11 -
Please be studying for the test Friday! Also, parents - please check the class calendar. It lists EVERY learning goal for EVERY class for EVERY day! Come see what your student is actually learning in my class.
9/8/11-
ALL CLASSES - The common prefixes test will be Friday September 16th, 2011. Please take advantage of the study guide you have!
9/7/11 -
6th GRADE INTENSIVE READING STUDENTS (5TH PERIOD). Your Bridge to Terabithia project will be due October 7th, 2011. I will give out the guideline and scales for the project in class on 9/8/11, and you can also download them from the Documents section of the website.
2nd/4th/6th PERIOD LANGUAGE ARTS STUDENTS: Your Autobiographical Essay project will be due September 30, 2011. l will give out the guideline and scale for the project in class on 9/8/11, and you can also download them from the Documents section of the website.
8/22/11 -
I am so excited to have such wonderful students this year and I look forward to working with each of them. If you have any questions or need to get in touch with me regarding your child, the best way to do so is through email.
Please be sure to ask your students for a syllabus. Much of the general information can also be found below. You can print another copy of my syllabus from the Documents section of my page (see bar to the left).
I will update the homework as often as possible. Check to see when big projects are due so that there are no big surprises!
If your child lost his or her SURF Log, you can download and print another one from the documents section of my page (see the bar to the left).
Several of the powerpoint presentations I have used in class can also be found in the Documents section of the page (including the presentation that introduces me and tells a little about myself). If you need more information about a topic, please have your child view the powerpoint again for added understanding.
General Class Information
MY CLASSES AND COLOR CODING SYSTEM
1st/2nd Period 8th Grade Language Arts and Reading - YELLOW
3rd/4th Period 7th Grade Language Arts and Reading -PINK
5th Period 6th Grade Reading -ORANGE
6th Period 8th Grade Language Arts - GREEN
You will turn your work into the drawer in the plastic storage container that is marked with the color for your class period. I will also provide color coded stickers for your binders and TILT Journals.
SUPPLIES - What do you need for my class?
3 Ring Binder with clear plastic display
Dividers
Ink Pens (I do not allow pencils in my classroom).
College Ruled Paper
Composition Book
Markers or colored pencils
USB/Jump Drive (Language Arts students only)
CLASSROOM RULES
Show respect to all others .
Stay seated unless you have permission to move.
Stay quiet unless you have permission to talk.
GRADE PERCENTAGES
LANGUAGE ARTS
10% Class Participation
10% Homework
10% Notebook/TILT Log Check
20% Writing/Essays
20% Tests, Quizzes and Projects
30% Classwork
READING
10% Class Participation
10% Homework (SURF Logs)
10% Notebook/TILT Log Check
20% Silent Reading
20% Tests, Quizzes and Projects
30% Classwork
HOMEWORK
In Language Arts, homework will be assigned several times per week. Please check your student’s planner and my website for updated homework information.
In Reading, students must read for 20 minutes per night and complete their SURF Logs.
MAKEUP WORK
After missing one or more days of class, it is the student’s responsibility to print and sign their name in the “Makeup Work” 3-ring binder along with the date or dates absent. I will collect makeup assignments and give them to the student, at which time he or she must initial the final column in the “Makeup Work” binder indicating receipt of the packet. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to fill out the form in the “Makeup Work” binder.
TUTORING
I am available before and after school to offer extra help to my students if I have advance notice. Please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or email if you need assistance. I am here to HELP YOU LEARN, and I am happy to help you one-on-one. Please don’t wait until the end of a grading period to ask for help if you are struggling.
25 BOOKS
Students are required to read 25 books this year.Research has shown that students who read approximately one million words per year increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension. Twenty-five books is the equivalent of one million words. In order to accomplish this, students must be reading in class and at home. Seven books must be completed by the end of the first nine weeks, and six books should be completed for each nine weeks period that follows. After finishing a book, each student is responsible for writing a 2 paragraph book response. The completion of the required amount of books each nine weeks counts as a test grade.
EXTRA CREDIT
I will provide extra credit for students who bring in tissues, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, EXPO whiteboard cleaner, or any color computer paper.
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