Hi! I am Missy Burke. I am excited to continue working with this community to prepare students for their future. I am dedicated to using my passion for reading and writing to foster my students’ acquisition of skills. I’m pleased to have you in my Language Arts class.
Language Arts 7/8 Course Description
IMMS Language Arts seeks to continue the progress made by students in language arts using authentic practice and implementation in the following core areas of literacy: reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking. As students progress through the school year, they will work on two main objectives: independent reading and the Writing Workshop.
Independent Reading (40 Book Challenge)
In addition to the wide variety of books from which students will choose for our planned units of study, students will be expected to independently read forty books by the end of the school year. This is a lofty but achievable goal for every student if they read every day during independent reading time, for which everyone will have at least twenty minutes to read a book of their choice. What students read during this time will not be assigned, but they will be graded on number of books read and proof activities. The skills students learn in the planned units of study will be applied and practiced in their independent reading time.
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop follows the same philosophy as the 40 Book Challenge, in that more practice doing something leads to greater skill level. Students will be given writing prompts and objectives throughout the year and time in class to write. Ample time will be given to write, rewrite, conference with teachers and to practice skills taught in mini-lessons. Over time, a portfolio of student writing will be created.
Please Be Prepared. Items that students will need to bring to class on a daily basis
1. Book or articles to read during independent reading time
2. Writing utensil
3. Language Arts Binder
4. A notebook and loose-leaf paper
Grading Procedures:
1. Summative Assessments (80%):
Includes research paper and unit-ending reflections and final copies of papers
2. Formative Assessments (10%):
Includes in-class assignments, writing workshop check-ins, and IR essays
3. Independent Reading (IR) (10%)
4. Conduct and Effort:
Students will be given the opportunity to grade themselves on their conduct based on the school’s “We A.R.R.E. Spartans” rubric. Teachers will review these self-assessments and enter a final grade in Infinite Campus.
5. Late work:
Students will be given every opportunity to learn new skills and achieve the goals of class. Late assignments will be accepted the majority of the time, but a student’s conduct and effort grade may be affected.
Grading Scale:
7th grade teachers will employ a 4-point grading scale for all graded work in reading/ language arts. The 4-point grading scale:
4 – Excellent
· Full accomplishment -above grade level
3 – Proficient
· Substantial accomplishment -at grade level
· Errors are minor
2 – Progressing
· Increasing accomplishment
· Several minor errors and one or two
significant errors
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1– Marginal
· Partial Accomplishment
· Errors are significant
· Shows lack of understanding
0 – Unsatisfactory
· Little accomplishment and effort
· Accuracy is minimal
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Our Philosophy
Ms. Gould, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Meyer, and Mrs. Burke fully ascribe to the belief that to become better readers and writers, students have to have time to practice reading and writing. We aim to allow for plenty of time reading as well as discussing and writing about what we’re reading in class. Sharing the ideas that are generated from what we read leads to greater literacy and engenders excitement about new books. Writing assignments in Reading/ LA will be as authentic and real-world ready as we can make them. Writing is generative and will lead to students coming to a better understanding of themselves and their world. We will foster this greater awareness with diverse and thought-provoking writing opportunities.
How to Contact Me
You can contact me using email; my address is burkem@mcfsd.org. You may also call IMMS (608) 838-4500 ext. 4812.
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