Introductory Letter

 

Welcome to 7th Grade Language Arts. The purpose of this letter is to introduce you to the various activities and requirements which students will be responsible for throughout the school year. Since we meet for 2 periods each school day, these activities and requirements are broken up into these basic categories:

 

Summer Reading Requirements (ONLY APPLIES TO 7C & 7D)

Students are required to read Animal Farm and to complete two assignments. The first assignment is an open-book assessment, which can be downloaded from the Palmerton website. The second assignment is a Related Writing. Those two assignments will be collected Monday and Tuesday during the first week of school.

 

Powerschool

PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Please follow your child’s progress in class by logging into Powerschool and Mr.Kery’s website on a daily basis. Powerschool and the website are open to you 24 hours a day and seven days per week. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns you may have.

Class Procedures

         When the last bell rings...

1. Be in your seat ready to work quietly.
2. Place assignments on your desk so they are ready to be completed.
3. Begin the opening activity (directions are on the board or screen).
4. Wait quietly for the teacher’s instructions.

         When the dismissal bell rings...

1. Stop working & put away materials.
2. Stay in your seat until you hear the teacher dismiss you.
3. Leave quietly and in an orderly manner.

Class Website

Welcome to the 21^st century! Yes, there is a class website. On it, you will find links and information to everything that will help you succeed in school. Those links include access to Powerschool and the district website. Class information includes daily assignments accomplished in class that day and upcoming assignments. The address is: http://websites.pdesas.org/ckery/

Language Text

Although most of the class focuses on reading and writing, we will still be spending some time in the Language text. When we do complete units in Language, the text books will stay in class, unless you need to make up work that you missed. In that case, you can also access the Language text on-line. The web site is: http://my.hrw.com/. The user name is: palmerton2, and the password is: m6e9p.

Writing

This will be one of the first assignments that you will complete in class. You will eventually write a variety of essays throughout the year. The first assignment focuses on narrative writing. Eventually you will write a persuasive essay and a research paper.

 

Reading Resources

Our reading will be taken from articles, novels, plays, and short story collections. Outside the Independent Book Report Projects and the Independent Reading Assignments, the majority of reading will be accomplished in class. In some cases, these books are available for you to take home, but for most of the time, the books will remain in class. In either case, you are always responsible for what we cover in class for that day. Be prepared to make up what you have missed.

Portfolios

Your portfolio is a running record of what you have accomplished in class. You will set up your portfolio during the first few days of school. Every time that you receive a grade from me, you will have the opportunity to record that assignment and the grade in your portfolio. It will eventually be handed in for a grade at the end of the year.

Vocabulary Journal

Besides defining vocabulary words from the literature books, you will be required to keep a vocabulary journal. Throughout the school year, you will collect, define, and use up to 70 new vocabulary words. You will be supplied the journal with which to do this and will be taught the procedures in recording these words. Your vocabulary journal, for the most part, will, at times, contain different words than other students' journals. In addition, you will be given side projects to complete, such as teaching the class new vocabulary words. The vocabulary journal will be collected and graded four times during the year.

State Testing

The type of state testing seems to change from year to year. However, because they are inevitable, we will be looking at past tests and employing the strategy that has helped most professional athletes achieve their goals—practice, practice, practice.

 

Independent Reading Assignments & Independent Book Report Projects

During this first first week of school, you will receive the first of many Independent Reading Assignments. Later in the year, you will receive the first of two Independent Book Report Project. These assignments & projects will constitute your daily homework in this class. You are responsible for selecting an age-appropriate book (that book may come from home, the school library, our class library, or other sources), reading that book, recording your progress on the assignment or project, completing all activities, and submitting the assignment or project when it is due. When I distribute the first assignment, you will have a better understanding of what you need to do.

Being Unprepared

It is expected that every student will arrive to class prepared and with the appropriate materials, folders, books, and completed assignments. Your grade will depend on it. However, if students arrive to class unprepared, your final grade will be lowered. Please do not waste anyone’s time being unprepared.

Absentee Rule

If you are absent from school for any reason, it is your responsibility to ask for, make up, and hand in any missed assignments. The best time to do this is before I begin class. Please do not wait until after I begin class. I will allow you time in class to make up any missed quizzes, tests, and project presentations. Everything else is your responsibility. I will not ask you for any assignments and will immediately give you zero credit for all missed assignments.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Kery                        Language Arts 7

 

         Hopefully, this letter will give you and your parents/guardians an idea of what you will be accomplishing in Seventh Grade Language Arts. Please print your name in the space below to indicate that you have read and understood what is expected of you in this class. Also, as your first homework assignment, take this letter home to your parents/guardians and ask them to sign and to complete the information in the spaces indicated (only one signature is required, but there is room for two). Then return ONLY THIS PAGE to me no later than Thursday, September 1, 2016.

 

PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Please keep the other pages so that you are aware of what activities and assignments your child is responsible for in this class. Also, please stay in touch with me throughout the school year. Feel free to e-mail me in school at ckery@palmerton.org, or, if you prefer, you can call me at 610-826-2492. If I do not get back to you that day, then I will contact you by the following day. In addition, please indicate below where you would like to be contacted if the need arises. There is also room below if you would like to add comments. Thank you.

 

Student name (please print):______________________________________________

Parent signature:______________________________________________________

Parent signature:______________________________________________________

______ I wish to be contacted through e-mail (please provide your e-mail

                  address if it is different than what is listed on Powerschool):                                     ___________________________________________________

______         I wish to be contacted at my home phone number.

______         I wish to be contacted at work.

Comments:______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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