August 3, 2006 Dear Parent/Guardian, Hello! I will be your child’s 7th grade Language Arts teacher this year, and I would like to express my enthusiasm about having your child as a student in my class. In Language Arts this year, we will be focusing a great deal on the importance of writing. Students will be expected to keep a journal in my RICA class, and will also be composing a number of expository essays, as well as doing a good deal of creative writing in Language Arts. We will also explore mythology, drama, poetry, and short stories throughout the year, and spend time on grammar and vocabulary development. Students will be expected to read several novels in class this year, and will be encouraged to read outside of class as much as possible. I will provide a lending library in my classroom, and students will also have opportunities to visit the school library. All of the books in the library are appropriate for middle school students; however, as parenting styles differ, if you do not approve of a book your child brings home, please let me know and we will work together to find a more appropriate book for your child. In accordance with Team 7B’s discipline plan and the objectives of Wilson County Schools, the dress code, tardiness, and missing/incomplete homework will be strictly enforced this year. Your child should have brought home a team letter describing these policies and procedures. Please see the following page for my individual classroom rules and expectations. These rules are meant to serve as positive guidelines for your child and ultimately to aid in his/her educational success. Please sign this sheet and return it to me in order to verify that you have read and understood my expectations for your child this year. I hope that we will have an opportunity to meet during the Team 7B Open House on August 9, from 6:30-7:30 pm. Feel free to contact me through the Guidance Office to schedule a conference at any time, or you may contact me via email at jacksonk@wcschools.com. Please visit http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietMiddleSchool/MsJackson/ if you would like to keep track of your child’s homework assignments for my class. I will be updating the site weekly. I hope that we can form a strong collaborative effort to make your child’s educational experience as meaningful and memorable as possible. Thank you, Ms. Kristin Jackson 7th Grade Language Arts Email: jacksonk@wcschool.com Teacher Web: http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietMiddleSchool/MsJackson/ Your child will need the following supplies for Language Arts: -1 3-ring binder -Loose-leaf notebook paper -Pens (blue or black ink) and/or pencils -1 notebook (journal) for RICA class -$8 check for the Vocabulary book (checks made payable to Mt. Juliet Middle) Grading Scale: A 100—93% B 92—85% C 84—75% D 74—70% F 69% and below Classroom Rules: 1. Always raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking. 2. Always come to class prepared. You should bring your agenda, books, notebooks, and several pens/pencils to class EVERY DAY. 3. Be in your seat when the bell rings EVERY DAY. 4. Clean up after yourself. **Students are also expected to abide by school-wide rules and regulations, which are outlined in your student’s agenda. Missing homework In accordance with school policy, students will only have one class period to make up or turn in missing/incomplete homework assignments for partial credit. If an assignment is due on Monday, and the student fails to turn it in by Wednesday, it will automatically be counted as a zero. If your child has three or more missing/late homework assignments in my class, I will notify you in the form of a note in your child’s agenda, an email, or a phone call. Please check your child’s agenda regularly. Missing/late homework can be very detrimental to your child’s grade and educational progress, so please discuss with him/her the importance of turning in work complete and on time. Discipline problems I will keep a discipline sheet on each student recording any problems that may arise in the classroom. Discipline problems include but are not limited to the following: writing/passing notes in class; bringing food or drink into the classroom; leaving trash on the floor; tardiness; backpacks, games, or toys in the classroom; continual talking out of turn; disrespect for authority figures and/or peers; destruction of other people’s property; name- calling; rough-housing; lack of preparedness; and any other disruptive behavior. For the first offense students will receive a verbal warning; for the second offense, students may be detained after class and/or asked to do a write-off and parents will be notified; for the third offense, students will attend a Friday morning detention from 7:15-8 am; and for the fourth offense, students will be referred to the office for further disciplinary action. Book reports Students will be expected to complete two book reports per nine weeks. These book reports will be over books that the students will read outside of the classroom. The books must be AR or approved by me. Please check my teacherweb site for due dates. In the coming weeks, I will give the students a book report rubric, which they will use all year to construct their reports. Please encourage your child to read a little of their book every day, rather than waiting until a few days before the report is due and struggling to get finished. Make-up Work If a student is absent, he/she will have an opportunity to make up any work they missed. It is the student’s responsibility to check the folder in my room labeled “MAKE-UP WORK” to see if they have any assignments to complete. If the student fails to check the make-up work folder, they will receive zeros for any work they do not complete. Please remind your student to check this folder when they return from being absent. Please sign and return if you have read and understood the rules and procedures as outlined in Ms. Jackson’s Parent Letter. Student Name: _______________________ Parent Signature: __________________________ Date: __________ If you have an email account that you check regularly, please write the address below in order to facilitate parent/teacher communication regarding your child’s progress.