8th Grade English
Policies and Procedures
Materials: The following items should be brought to class every day: organizer, binder with loose leaf paper (binder may be shared with other classes), pens and pencils, folder, highlighter and Post-it notes.
Homework Policy:
1. Homework must be complete on the day it is due to earn full credit.
2. Any incomplete homework must be made up the next day for half credit.
3. If you are absent, homework must be turned in upon returning to school in order to receive full credit.
4. You are entitled to one late assignment per semester for which you will not be penalized, but that assignment must be handed in one day late.
Extra Help: Extra help is available during lunch every day or before school by appointment.
Grading:
Grades are recorded in PowerSchool as follows:
- Tests, projects, and essays-- 50-100 points each
- Homework-- 10 points each
- Quizzes-- 10-30 points each
New York State Expository Writing Evaluation Rubric Equivalents:
4= 98
3= 85
2= 72
1= 60
0= 50
School-Issued Laptops: You will be using your laptop in class on a regular basis. Please remember to charge it every evening and bring it to class with you each day. Valuable instructional time is lost when you have to go to the library for a loaner, so a printed copy of the assignment will be provided. Tests and quizzes will be administered on the laptops.
Cell Phones: Cell phones will be kept in a pocket chart at the front of the classroom. Please make sure your ringer is turned off. You will collect your cell phone on your way out.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as your own. This includes (but is not limited to) copying text from the Internet, copying the work of another student, having a parent/sibling complete the work, or using an online tool to generate writing. Students who plagiarize will not be given credit for the assignment. Additionally, students who provide the plagiarized material will not be given credit for the assignment.
Absentee Make-up Work: If you are absent, the notes and work you missed will be placed in a red pocket folder at the front of the room. Please check this folder upon your return to school. If a homework assignment was collected during your absence, you may receive a zero in PowerSchool until the assignment is turned in. Such a zero will be marked with a yellow "M," indicating that you were missing from class when the assignment was collected. Both the zero and the missing icon will be removed when you return to school and submit the assignment.
Class Rules:
1. Follow directions.
2. Come to class prepared.
3. Be respectful and kind.
4. Arrive on time.
5. Stay in your seat.
Bathroom Privileges: The bathroom sign-out sheet and pass are to be utilized during independent or group work; not during instruction. Only one student at a time is allowed to use the bathroom.
Web Site: The class web page is updated nightly with homework assignments, documents and links. If there is an assignment on Google Classroom, it will be posted on the class homework page.
Participation Grade: Each quarter, students start with a participation grade of 100%. This grade will remain 100% as long as your laptop is charged and brought to class every day, you are prepared with all required materials to participate in the day's lesson, your behavior is appropriate and not adversely impacting your own learning of the learning of others, and you are not using your phone. Five points will be subtracted from your participation grade whenever these criteria are not met.