ELA Parent's Guide

Welcome! I am extremely excited about this upcoming school year.  Let me 
first start off by telling you that your child is about to embark on many 
interesting learning experiences.  I have worked extremely hard to prepare 
lessons that will help to enhance your child’s education experiences.
In order to help make sure that your child gives his/her personal best in 
every way, I am sending you this information regarding my language arts class 
and many of my procedures.
Please read this information carefully and review it with your child.  Once 
you have completed reading, please sign and return the bottom portion.  Keep 
the rest handy in case you need to refer back to it later in the year.  I 
look forward to the opportunity of getting to know you and your child.

Supply List:
Your child will need the following supplies for the school year:
•	3 ring binder (1 ½ inches) Writing Portfolio requirement
•	2 Composition Notebook
•	Loose leaf paper
•	Pencils/Pens
•	Highlighters
•	Post-it Sticky Notes
•	4 pocket portfolio

Our class also needs Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, and additional 
school supplies.  If you could donate any of these items, I would greatly 
appreciate it

Parent Conferences:
Parents and teacher have a lot in common in that we all want to make sure 
that your child has a successful experience this year.  For that to happen, 
we have to keep the doors of communication between home and school open.  If 
you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress, please feel free 
to contact me at 252-757-2160. The best time to reach me is during my 
planning time which is 10:14-10:59 and 1:04-1:49 Monday through Friday.  Due 
to our teaching responsibilities and other meetings, please call to schedule 
all conferences.  Calling will ensure that I am available to meet with you.  

Grade Sheets:
Each Wednesday your child will bring home a grade sheet.  This grade sheet 
will reflect what your child’s current average is in Language Arts.  This 
report will also provide information regarding your child’s behavior for the 
week.  Each Wednesday, please sign the grade sheet and return it to school on 
Thursday.   Please be sure to review the grade sheet so that you can stay 
posted about your child’s progress.  If your child returns all grade sheets 
on time, an additional 2 points will be added to their final nine weeks grade.

Homework:
During the normal school week, homework will occasionally be given Monday 
through Thursday.  Your child is expected to read EVERY night for at least 30 
minutes.  

Absences/Make-Up Work:
Each day is important to the learning process, but occasions may arise where 
your child must be absent.  If you know ahead of time that your child will be 
absent (especially for extended absences), please call me as soon as 
possible.  I will gather work for you child so that he/she will not fall 
behind.  When your child returns to school, he/she can find their make-up 
work in the “While you were Out” folders.  Your child will have 3 days to 
complete make-up work.

In order to guarantee that your child’s absence is considered excused, please 
send a note with your child on the day that he/she returns.

Late Work:
Homework and classwork will NOT be accepted late!  Papers, Quizzes and 
Projects may be turned in late with a penalty of dropping a letter grade for 
each day it is late.  If you have extenuating circumstances, please let me 
know.

Extra Credit:
No extra credit will be given, however if your child returns his/her grade 
sheet on time each week, an additional 2 points will be added to the his/her 
final nine weeks grade.

Grading Policy
Assessments/Test------------------------------------- 30%  
Final Writing Products--------------------------------- 25%
Reader’s Notebook/Response Journals----------------20%
CW/HW--------------------------------------------------15%
Accelerated Reading------------------------------------10%

Class Expectations/Class Procedures:
I have decided to promote the idea of respect in our classroom 
expectations/rules.  These expectations will be explained and discussed in 
great detail with your child.  Your child will be given a copy of these 
expectations and procedures and you should also go over these with your 
child.  My expectations are as followed:
1	Respect Yourself
2	Respect Others
3	Respect your school and its property
4	Respect your learning environment 
5	Respect your school work
6	Respect the property of others