Class Website: http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/rouillardr/

The highest result of education is tolerance. - Helen Keller

Textbooks

Glencoe. The Reader’s Choice

Rueda, Robert, et al. English

All hardcover textbooks must be covered.

Workbooks

English Workbook Plus

Sadlier-Oxford. Vocabulary Workshop

Additional Books

A good paperback dictionary and thesaurus

In-class Novels

7th Grade:

• London, Jack: Call of the Wild
• Lowry, Lois. The Giver
• Soto, Gary: Taking Sides
• Twain, Mark: Tom Sawyer
• Yolen, Jane: Devil’s Arithmetic

8th Grade:

• Dickens, Charles: A Christmas Carol
• Frank, Anne. The Diary of Anne Frank
• Houston, James and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston: Farewell to Manzanar
• Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird
• Shakespeare, William. Othello

Accelerated Reader (AR)

Each student is required to read a number of points worth of books determined by his/her STAR test outside of class each quarter. AR accounts for 10% of a student’s quarterly grade in English.

Class Description & Objectives

With emphasis on the California Content Standards, this class utilizes a collection of textbooks, workbook, novels, activities, discussions, technology-based tools, and writing as an effective method to enhance both learning and class-room performance. As a foundation for effective writing, this class also emphasizes the need to learn proper grammar usage and improve vocabulary skills.

Classroom Activities

• Daily journal writing in composition book provided
• Unit or chapter exercises, assignments, quizzes, and tests
• Discussions related to classroom readings
• Lessons in vocabulary, grammar, and literature
• Oral presentations, research, and technology-based projects
• Poetry reading, analysis, and writing
• CA Standards Writing assignments (both in-class and homework):
  • 7^th grade: Fictional or Autobiographical Narratives, Response to Literature, Research Report, Persuasive Essay, Summaries of Reading Materials, etc.
  • 8^th grade: Short Story, Response to Literature, Research Report, Persuasive Essay, Document Writing (e.g. business letter), etc.

Classroom Etiquette

• Students must abide by all school and classroom rules.
• Students must bring all necessary materials and textbook(s) to class.
• All assigned work—class work or homework—must be completed on time. Late work, unless excused, will not be accepted! Absent work must be made up immediately (see Parent Handbook for details).
• All work must be neat and legible. Essays must be typed (Arial or Times Roman, 12 point) and double spaced.

Grading:

Individual grades will be determined by the total points earned from all assignments turned in. Please check Gradelink periodically for updated grades. Grades will be updated at the end of each week.

•        Tests = 35%

•        Quizzes = 25%

•        Homework/Class work/Vocabulary Workbook/Workbook Plus/Journal = 30%

•        Accelerated Reader (AR) = 7% (points based on individual STAR test result)

•        Accelerated Reader (AR) = 3% (One Literacy Skills test per quarter)

•        Extra Credit = 2% (10+ points read beyond what is required per quarter)

•        Extra Credit = 1% (two vocabulary quizzes passed)

•        Additional Extra Credit = as assigned