Language Arts
McDaniel
Grading
Homework – Monday
through Wednesday you will have homework.
Sometimes I give homework on Thursdays or Fridays as well. You receive 10 points for each assignment, unless
you make too many errors or it appears that you are not trying. Homework is given so that you may practice
what you are learning in class. This is
when you’ll discover if you need more help from me or if you have mastered the
standard I am teaching. Please ask for
help in class, but if you are still having difficulty, come in at
lunchtime. If you turn in your completed
homework on time, this will help to “pad your grade” in case you have “test
anxiety” and don’t perform well. Also,
homework reinforces what you are learning in class without the teacher guiding
you through it. This will be about 30% of your grade.
Tests – I
schedule tests when I feel that the class is properly prepared. This
will be about 30% of your grade. Homework
is a necessary tool in preparing you to master the California State Standards. If you are diligent to thoughtfully complete
all of your assignments and ask for help when you need it, you should be able
to perform well on the tests I give.
Book Journals – You will
read four fictional novels of your choice on your own. A completed Book Journal will be due
toward the end of each quarter. Your
book should be around 200 pages and at a reading level that is comfortable for
you. Try to challenge yourself on
this. If I assess that the reading level
is somewhat below your ability, I will assign you another book. So, when you choose one keep that in
mind. Do not procrastinate!
Complete and turn this assignment in early to avoid a huge penalty if
you are late. Because it is a 6-7 week
assignment, I only allow two days late, and you will have to write a
responsibility essay that your parents will sign. The book journal is about 10% of your grade.
Benchmark Tests – These
tests are an indication as to how well-prepared you are to perform successfully
on the STAR exam which is taken in April. These are given toward the
end of each quarter. This will be about
10% of your grade.
Openers – You will be
asked to quietly work for 5 minutes on review of skills you should have already
acquired in the areas of grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. You will need to be organized because you
will add daily to the same page from Monday through Thursday. We will correct it on Friday and you will
receive 10 points for complete openers.
Be sure to ask questions if you are not sure if you understand the task
at hand.
Writing – We will
have a variety of writing assignments throughout the year. We will work on developing your skills from
basic paragraphs to seven-paragraph essays.
We will cover the California State Writing Standards 2.1 – 2.5. This includes the following: Fictional or
Autobiographical Narrative, Response to Literature, Research Reports,
Persuasive Compositions, and Summaries of Reading Materials. During our poetry
unit you will write three excellent poems and present them to the class. You will write at least one short story, and
if we have time you will have other opportunities to express yourself with
creative writing! This is about 10% of your grade.
Projects – We will
have a variety of projects directly related to the class novels or the poetry
we read. This will be about 10% of your grade.
Extra Credit – I do not
give extra credit assignments unless you have done all of the assignments and
have turned them in on time. Once a month I will have a drawing for those who
have not used their restroom passes. The
winners of the drawing receive 10 extra credit points or a homework pass.
Renaissance – This card
is issued to you based upon academic performance in all of your classes. You
may use it for extra credit or for a homework pass on specified days.
Feel free to contact
me!