What is it? What is required?

How will it be graded?

Writer’s Notebook

This composition notebook will be used in school as a place for students to try out their writing. Occasionally, it may get sent home for an extension of what was taught in school, but it will be mainly kept in the classroom.

This is a place for students to take risks for their writing. It will be graded on whether or not they complete the assignments, not on the quality of their work, as it is continuously a work in progress. Students will receive a work habits rubric that will chart their progress and efforts.

Writing Pieces

We will have a number of writing pieces including: narrative, research, poetry, and craft study. We will also be doing a unit on grammar and sentence composing. For each unit, students will come up with a seed for their topic using their writer’s notebook, then draft the piece, and finally, publish it (most likely at home). Please follow the guidelines for typing that are attached.

Students will be given a rubric as well as comments on their piece. No number grade will be given on the paper, but you will be able to see one on Parent Resources. For each piece, they have the chance to make changes using the comments provided and turn it in for a better grade.

Independent Reading

Students must have a book of their choice to read at all times. This book must be in class every day with a stack of post-it notes. In addition, students will be required to read each night for 15 minutes using the same book and post-its.

Students will be required to complete a Thursday Letter once a month so that I can check up on their thinking about their reading. Please see the guidelines attached. In addition, each marking period, students must do a project based on one of the books they have read over the course of the marking period.

Literature Circles

We will be doing a number of Literature Circles meetings. During this time, students will choose a book from the ones provided and will need to read and be prepared to discuss the reading at each meeting.

Each meeting will require students to complete a self-assessment of their contributions. There will also be a final project that will be graded with a rubric and work habits rubric.

Word Study

Each cycle will last 1 week. During this time, students will need to practice their words as the cycle will end with a quiz.

Students will be given a quiz every Friday and will be given a work habits rubric to show their progress.

What is it? What is required?

How will it be graded?

Interactive Notebook

This spiral notebook will be used in school for students to take notes on Social Studies concepts. Occasionally, it may get sent home for an extension of what was taught in school, but it will be mainly kept at school in the lockers.

There is a rubric that will grade students on the quality of their reflections and completion of the assignments. There will also be a study skills rubric.

Quizzes/

Tests

There will occasionally be a quiz or test to check up on the material taught in class.

Most of these are weighed based upon the importance of material. Students who score lower than a 70 on a test will have a chance to make up the test.