Syllabus

Language Arts Syllabus

Kathy Vogel Conference Hours:   by appointment only

kvogel@nvps.net 6:30-7:30 a.m.

(616) 361-3430 2:35-5:00 p.m.

Website:   vogelkh.blogspot.com

Classroom Expectations

5 Be Ps…

-Be Prompt -Be Prepared -Be Productive -Be Polite -Be Proud

All students should strive to meet and uphold these expectations. If a student fails to meet these expectations he/she may receive a verbal warning, seat change, hallway visit, SRC visit, call home, or parent meeting depending on the situation.

Supplies

Students will need to bring the following items to class every day:

-Reading/Writing  Notebook (you will want a second notebook for 2nd semester)
-Choice Reading text
-Sticky Notes 
-Pocket Folder

-Pen/pencil

Reading

“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” Frank Serafini

We will increase our reading volume and stamina! The ultimate goal is for each of you to find joy in books and confidence in reading skills.  We will work on a variety of skills and strategies through independent reading, as well as shared reading.  Key skills include:

• making connections
• generating and using questions to drive reading forward
• noticing clues and using them to make inferences
• analyzing characters
• discussing literary elements
• understanding features and structures of non-fiction texts
• summarizing key ideas

Writing

“What you write might just change the world.”

We will also write volumes this year! The more you read, the better writer you will become. We will constantly be navigating through the writing process producing narratives, argumentative writing, and informational writing. You will create a variety of products and develop a range of skills. Key skills include:

• focusing ideas  
• sensory details
• dialogue
• show don’t tell
• leads that hook readers
• logical, coherent structure
• revising
• editing and applying appropriate grammar rules

Course Grades:

Assessments: 60%     Assessments will occur periodically throughout the semester and may take the form of a test, a project, or a written essay.revise and edit

*Note - If a student would like to have the opportunity to revise and edit an assessment, the original paper must have been turned in on time and a conference must be held with the teacher.

Assignments: 40% Assignments will occur more frequently and may also be known as daily work or “homework”

*Note - Final grades will be comprised of course grades (90%) and semester exam (10%).

Assignments:  All assignments must be turned in during class on the due date.  No exceptions. I will accept emailed assessments that are sent because of printing problems as long as they are emailed before class on the due date, if a hard copy is requested. Most assignments usually will be collected via Google Classroom or sharing a google document, limiting the printing errors.

Choice Reading:  Choice reading is a core expectation for this course. The most important preparation for high school and college, as well as for a successful life, is reading. Students will be expected to do extensive outside choice reading, which will be monitored through tracking weekly reading goals, teacher conferences and written responses. Grades will be based on both meeting the weekly reading goal and the periodic reading reflection responses.

Final Exams:  All students will take a semester exam worth 10% of the final grade.

Attendance

• During an absence (ex. illness, travel), that student is allowed the number of days absent in order to make-up work.
• Students are allowed one tardy  per marking period, after the second tardy they are sent to SRC.

Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

Please discuss this syllabus with your child.  In addition, please ask your child about what we are doing in Language Arts and have your child share what he or she is reading and writing on a regular basis.  Also, check out our Language Arts blog to stay informed with what we are learning and discussing: Thanks for your support!