Welcome Parents & Students!

Thank you for visiting our class website. Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class. If you have any questions about 7th grade ELA please don't hesitate to contact me! I am looking forward to working with you this year!

Below is the syllabus for this school year: 

Miss Burcicki’s 7th Grade ELA Syllabus

2019-2020

SCA Middle School

Instructor:       Miss Janelle Burcicki

E-mail:             jburcicki@scasd.us

Website:          http://websites.pdesas.org/jburcicki/default.aspx

Phone:             570-356-3404 

Welcome to 7^th Grade ELA Class!

In seventh grade, ELA class is compacted into a daily double period of reading, grammar and writing.   This course will be aligned to the PA Common Core Standards.  We will be utilizing a variety of reading and writing resources with classroom instruction.  Please check my website frequently for links, due dates, homework and classroom happenings. It is equally important to check Sapphire and the seventh grade homework calendar on a regular basis.  I sincerely look forward to working with you and making this an awesome school year!

 

Students in this course will:

• Read, analyze, and interpret novels, short stories, informational texts, poetry and drama.
• Work collaboratively and independently on a variety of literary projects and presentations.
• Plan, write, revise, and edit several pieces of writing including text dependent analysis essays (TDA), personal narratives, descriptive and informative essays, persuasive essays, research papers (MLA format) and other creative pieces with a sharp, distinct focus. Students will experiment with sentence length, language and voice.
• Understand, appreciate and utilize a variety of literary elements and devices.
• Expand vocabulary skills through word study and development of word usage skills.
• Use language correctly and demonstrate knowledge of grammatical conventions and mechanics.

     Class Supplies—Bring Them Every Day!

• ELA notebook (single subject or a separate designated section of a multi subject notebook)
• ELA folder (2 distinct sections: year long papers/marking period papers)
• Pencils (sharpened before class begins) or black/blue pens
• Independent reading book (Accelerated Reader)
• Laptop (fully charged prior to class)
• Sticky notes
• Highlighters
• Agenda

*  Textbooks will remain in the classroom and can be accessed through “Classzone.com”.

*  Novels will be assigned to students throughout the year and should be taken home and brought back to school each day.

 

Your Success Will Depend On:

• Doing all assigned work with honest effort
• Seeking extra help and asking questions when needed
• Turning work in on time and consistently (late points will be deducted from assignments)
• Coming to class prepared, organized and on time
• Making up all missed assignments/tests (check the absent bin and come during Pd 11 to get caught up!)
• Behaving appropriately during class (see below for my discipline policy and rewards for positive behavior)

 

Helpful Hints for a Successful School Year:

• Write down ALL homework and upcoming due dates in your agenda!
• Consult your agenda when packing up for the day and when you are at home getting ready to complete assignments. Also, check the 7^th grade homework calendar! (can be accessed through the website of any 7^th grade teacher)
• Do your very best work each and every day! Having a positive attitude and trying your best will get you far!
• If you have any questions or find you are struggling with a concept and/or assignment, please see me for support. I will gladly set aside time to help you during a lunch period or during RTII at the end of the day. I look forward to helping you do your very best and to achieve success!

Accelerated Reader & Study Island

 

  We will be utilizing the “Accelerated Reader” (AR) program this year.  I will provide students with information and requirements on a handout sheet in the upcoming weeks.  “Study Island” will be used during instruction throughout the year as well. Dates for diagnostic testing on Study Island will be posted on my website. This program will also be used occasionally for quizzes and tests based on the current topics we will be covering during class time. 

Classroom Policies & Procedures

• Students must bring materials to class every day (notebook & folder, writing utensil, AR book, laptop, assignments/homework). You will not be permitted to go and look for materials from your locker once class has started. Come to class prepared.
• No outside food/drink is permitted in my class except for water (unless you have a medical note)
• Arrive to class on time—use the bathroom, water fountain and your locker before the bell rings. If you are late, you must have a pass.
• Be prepared to work at the bell. I expect students to be quietly seated with their needed supplies and working on the bell ringer assignment by the time the bell rings. Take out any homework that is due and have it ready on your desk.
• Respect for the classroom and materials
• Respect for teachers and classmates
• Safari stacks (positive behavior tickets) for purchasing my pencils, erasers, and bookmarks
• No cell phones/ear buds—they will be confiscated the first time they are seen and turned in to the office
• Signing out books from my room—use library sign out book on my shelf and fill out the required information. Books must be returned and shown to Miss Burcicki before putting them back where they belong on the shelf
• Quiet during announcements/when classroom telephone rings
• Remain seated until you are dismissed by the teacher, not the bell
• Check class website and 7^th grade Google homework calendar daily
• ELA is graded using a total points system (points earned/points possible). You should regularly check Sapphire to know where you stand with your grade and see me if you have any questions/concerns. I am here to help!

Laptops

*Must be charged prior to class—3 infractions will result in a lunch detention and a phone call/email home

*NO GAMES—follow district internet usage policy!

*Computers should NOT be on the desk or in use unless you are permitted to do so for an assignment. 

*If you are having trouble with internet or having “technical difficulties” at home when an assignment is due, please bring in a signed note from a parent/guardian or have them contact me through email.  If internet troubles are frequent, please let me know so we can come up with a plan.

My Homework Policy

*Students can use a homework pass (2 Tiger Tickets) once per marking period.  It will count as an “Excused” in Sapphire, meaning it will neither harm nor benefit your grade. (Note: This does not apply for projects and assignments that were assigned in advance with a due date.).

* 3 missed homework assignments will result in a phone call/email home.  After 3, students will be assigned a lunch detention (as per middle school homework policy)

*You are responsible for making up missed work when you are absent.  Always check the homework calendar and the “Absent folders” in the classroom for papers and assignments.  Check with a friend to get any notes that you missed.  I will be glad to help you get caught up during a lunch period or during RTII at the end of the day if needed.  We can also set up a time for you to make up any tests/quizzes that you missed. As per school policy, one day for each day a student is absent will be provided to complete make-up work, unless special arrangements have been established. 

Grading  

 

Grades will be calculated based on points within the following weighted categories: 
Tests- 40% ; Projects- 25%; Quizzes- 20%; AR- 5%; Classwork/Homework- 10% 
Student grades are available on Sapphire and should be checked routinely by students and parents/guardians. To receive full credit, all assignments must be complete and turned in on time. All homework and upcoming assessments are posted on the 7th grade homework calendar and on Miss Burcicki’s front board. 

 

Late work: You may submit late assignments for up to one week after the initial due date. All late work will receive half credit. Students must complete and attach a late work slip to the front of the assignment (found on the shelf on Miss Burcicki’s counter). As per school policy, incomplete assignments will be reported for disciplinary action via Sapphire. 

 

Extra Credit

*There will be several extra-credit opportunities each marking period.  Extra-credit assignments must follow all directions and cannot be turned in late.

*Notebooks/folders can be turned in for an extra-credit grade at the end of the marking period.  I will look to see that your notebook contains ONLY ELA materials and that all notes/assignments are written down and kept neatly in your folder.  Your notebook and folder must show all work from that marking period for credit.  There will be no partial credit as this is an extra-credit assignment.

 

Discipline Policy

For Level 1s:

• Verbal warning and level 1 slip (take home to be signed and returned)
• Further infractions and disruptions during that class session will immediately result in your name on my list for lunch detention and contact home.
• I keep record of level 1s using a checkmark system in my gradebook. Once you reach 3 in a marking period, you will receive a level 2 referral in Sapphire to Mr. Callahan, which will result in a lunch detention the following day and notification home.

For Level 2s:

For serious offenses, the issue will be entered immediately as a referral to the office through Sapphire (the 3 level 1 “checkmarks” do not apply for level 2 offenses). See the middle school handbook for more information on level 2 infractions.

*Positive behavior in my class will be rewarded every Friday for students that remained “checkmark free” that week! 😊

Let’s work together to make this an awesome school year!