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Home | Letter to My Students | Grades | Homework | Supplies | Minimum Standards | Independent Reading | Absent Work | Extra Help | Tardy Policy | Classroom Rules & Student Responsibilities | Honor Code | Bullying | Consequences | Writing Format
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Home | Letter to My Students | Grades | Homework | Supplies | Minimum Standards | Independent Reading | Absent Work | Extra Help | Tardy Policy | Classroom Rules & Student Responsibilities | Honor Code | Bullying | Consequences | Writing Format
Welcome
to seventh grade English. This is my sixteenth year teaching English
at Benicia Middle School. Even though I have been teaching for
twenty-four years, I learn new things all the time. That‚s one
of the best things about teaching -- being able to share what I learn
with my students.
In my class, effort leads to success. Every day in class is a new
day-- a new chance to do your best and learn all that you can. this
web site I hope you‚ll visit throughout the year. You will find
the daily agendas, links to your grades, worksheets and hand-outs,
vocabulary words, and lots more. If you have any questions about your
class work or your grades or any other concerns, you can send me an
e-mail at:
karen@mrshatzi.com
I am looking forward to an enjoyable, productive, and challenging
year with you. Please don‚t hesitate to ask me for help
anytime.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hatzigeorgiou
All
assignments receive points. The points are converted to
percentages.
100 - 90% A
89 - 80% B
79 - 70% C
69 - 50% D
49 - below F
Grades are weighted into five categories:
Grades can be accessed 24 hours a day on the internet through Power School. Grades are updated by Tuesday evening every week. It is your responsibility to keep track of your grade and contact me with any concerns or questions. All daily work is returned to you within a week. I strongly suggest that you save all your work so that you can show it to me if you encounter any grading errors.
Students have English homework Monday - Thursday nights for 30 minutes. In addition, you are expected to read independently for at least 15 minutes a day. Homework is usually started in class and due the following day although long term papers and projects are also assigned.
Assignments
are given because they relate to concepts being dealt with in class.
The assignments help reinforce ideas discussed or skills being
developed. If you choose not to do an assignment on time, you miss an
opportunity to interact with the teacher and classmates about the
material being covered. Since 90% of the assignments we do are
corrected and reviewed by you in class, if you don’t have your
work, you miss the chance to receive feedback on what you've done, as
well as a step in the sequence of learning. In addition, completed
homework is one of the best ways of assessing your progress and
mastery of the standards. It's a way for me to determine if you're
understanding what you're supposed to be learning in class.
Daily Work: Students who do not have an assignment
completed when it’s corrected in class will have two days to
turn in the assignment and will lose 30% for each day it's late.
Projects & Papers: Students who do not have a
project or paper completed on the day it’s due will have two
days to turn in the assignment and will lose 10% for each day it’s
late.
Make-Up Academy: Students missing three daily
assignments or one project / paper during the grading period may be
assigned to Make-Up Academy to complete their
work.
lined
3-hole paper
All student work must meet minimum standards or it will be returned with an RD (Re-Do). No credit will be given for the assignment unless it is done in an acceptable manner and turned in for re-grading.
Research has shown that children who read regularly do better in all aspects of learning. As part of your reading grade, you are expected to read 600 pages from grade appropriate books each quarter. After finishing a book, you need to enter the title and other information in an Independent Reading Log that will be turned in at the end of each quarter.
There are lots of books available for check-out in my classroom, as well as at the school and public libraries.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class and to make-up any missing assignments or tests. You should:
I am available to help students after school on Thursdays from 3:10 to 3:45 p.m. In addition, I am available to help students after school on most Fridays from 1:20 to 2:00 and before school on days when I don't have yard duty.
The following rules are posted in my classroom:
1.
Cooperate with your teacher and classmates.
2. Respect the rights and property of others.
3. Carry out your student responsibilities.
Carrying out the following student responsibilities will help you to be successful in my class:
1.
Keep track of your own books, assignments, and supplies.
2. Use class time to complete assignments.
3. Ask for help when you need it.
4. Do your own work.
5. Turn your work in on time.
6. Accept responsibility for grades or other consequences.
Tardy
#3 - warning
Tardy #4, etc. - after-school detention
All students are expected to do their own work. Please be aware that copying another person’s assignment, asking someone to do your assignment for you, giving a classmate your work to copy, or asking a classmate to read you his/her answers is CHEATING. There is a difference between asking for help and simply copying someone else’s work or helping a fellow student to understand an assignment and simply allowing that person to copy what you’ve done. If students are found cheating, the assignments will be taken away and both students will receive a “0.” This applies to work from other classes as well as English.
In order to make B.M.S. a safe and secure place for students to learn, the bullying of students will not be tolerated. Bullying occurs "When an individual (or group) intentionally or repeatedly over time attempts to inflict injury or discomfort on another." This includes intimidation, harassment, or belittling either directly or indirectly. Please be considerate of other people's feelings.
Every effort will be made to resolve classroom problem with students individually before involving your parents or administrators. Students who choose to disregard the classroom rules face the following consequences:
Students demonstrating good behavior and academic achievement may receive the following:
Two of the main goals of 7th grade English are to write a confident, well-organized essay in several genres and to prepare for the STAR writing test in the spring. This is a timed test which must be handwritten. Because of that, all essay first drafts must be handwritten. Once students have completed a handwritten first draft, they may choose to type the final copy. Below are the requirements for handwritten and typed drafts:
HANDWRITTEN DRAFTS
•
heading in upper right hand corner: first and last name, date,
period
• dark blue or black ink
• writing on every other line
• writing on one side of paper only
• title on the top line
• 1” margins on both sides of paper
• legible cursive or printing
TYPED DRAFTS
•
heading in upper right hand corner: first and last name, date,
period
• black ink
• double line spacing
• printing on one side of paper only
• title on the top line
• 1” margins on all sides of paper
• 14 point, simple font
