Welcome to Moore West Junior High!

On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions.

1. What are you most looking forward to this year? Why?

2. What is something you are really nervous about? Why?

3. What questions do you have about your new school?

What to Expect

• Introductions

• Course Descriptions

• Required Materials

• Class Policies / Expectations

• Icebreakers / Get to know classmates

• Group work procedures

• Everyday procedures

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” - - George Washington Carver

Instructor Information

• Once a Tiger (East Central University Tiger) always a Tiger (Moore West Junior High)

• Very active: track, cross country, hiking, tennis . . .

• Captain in the Army Reserves (12 years)

• Loves to travel: Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Canada, most of the U.S. continental states, Italy, France, Spain, and Croatia

• Married, no kids, a ten-year-old brother

Course Description

Imagine that you could have a conversation with the characters and with the writers of the stories you read. Good readers do this—they interact with the text.

Each school day, you will receive an hour of reading and an hour of language-arts instruction. These courses will not only help you become confident and interactive readers, but they will also help you understand the power of effective communication.

Daily Schedule

• First Period : 7:55 – 8:52

• Second Period: 8:57 – 9:54

• Third Period: 9:59 – 10:56

• Lunch: 10:56 – 11:26

• Fourth Period: 11:33 – 12:28

• Fifth Period: 12:33 – 1:30

• Sixth Period: 1:35 – 2:32

Required Supplies

• Agenda

• 1-inch binder

• Four dividers

• Wide-ruled notebook paper

• Composition book

• Blue or black ink pens

• 1 package of red pens

Supplies to Share

• First hour – Kleenex

• Second hour – Highlighters, assorted

• Third hour – Markers/Colored pencils

• Fourth hour – Scissors

• Sixth hour – Play-doh

Discipline

• First offense: Warning

• Second offense: Plan of Action

• Third offense: Lunch Detention

• Fourth offense: ASD, Parent Contact

• Fifth offense: Saturday School

• Sixth offense: Office Referral

Tardy Policy

• First tardy – Warning

• Second tardy – One absence, Plan of Action

• Third tardy – Lunch detention

• Fourth tardy – ASD, Parent contact

• Fifth tardy – 3 Lunch detentions with Dr. Benn

Expectations

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Effort

• Courtesy

• Reason

Class Procedures

• Before class: Use the restroom; gather class materials

• Beginning class : Sit down; silently begin bell work

• Instructor’s attention: raise your hand

• Ending class: Wait for teacher dismissal; clear your area

• Absences: Take responsibility; check the basket; talk with

the teacher

Plagiarism

• Copying someone else’s words or ideas and presenting them as your own

• Plagiarized work must be redone; will receive a reduced grade or a zero if not redone

Late Work

• Late work = worked turned in after the due date

• Receives a deduction of 30% until the end of the week

• Will receive no credit after the next progress report is issued

Grades

Grade Scale Grade Distribution

A = 90 – 100% Participation = 20%

B = 80 – 89% Informal Assessments = 40%Book Talks

C = 70 – 79% Formal Assessments = 30%

D = 60 – 69% Semester Exam = 10%

F = 0 – 59%

Literature

First Semester Second Semester

“Amigo Brothers” Phineas Gage

Freak the Mighty Roll of Thunder

Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

Poetry, Mythology

The Blizzard Legends, Folktales

• Now it's your turn. Write a "Top Ten Things Mr. Grissom Needs to Know About Me". Include anything that might be important for me to know. See below for a list of ideas.

• Strengths in Language Arts

• Weaknesses in Language Arts

• Pet Peeves

• Important life changes you're going through

• Things that help you succeed

• Things that don't help you succeed

• Things you know you do well

• Things you know you need to work on

Bell work: Use the example biographical acrostic poem to create a similar poem for your last name. After you finish, do the same for your first name.

Marathon runner

Intrinsically motivated

Lifelong learner

Loves vacation

Energetic

Really excited about this school year

M&M Community Builder

• Using your piece of candy, match the color of your M&M with a question.

• Yellow: What is your favorite childhood memory?

• Green: Name your favorite movie or TV show

• Brown: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

• Orange: How many family members do you have?

• Blue: Who is your "TRUE BLUE" hero or best friend?

• Red: What is your greatest passion, hobby, or interest?

•Classroom Expectation Questions:

•1. What should students in our class be doing to make sure out class runs as smooth as possible?

•2. What do you hope to learn this year in Language Arts?

•3. What will you need to do in order to be successful this year?

•4. What will Miss Grissom need to do to help you this year?

•5. Our classroom should be ____________ every day.

•6. School is important because _______________.

• Reading Bell Work: In your own words, describe what “respect” means to you. Then, define “disrespect” and provide examples of actions that are respectful and those that are disrespectful.

English BW: Create your own “I Have a Dream Poem.”

•I have a dream that there will be no more violence in schools.

•Hallways will be cleared of danger.

•And students will follow all of the rules.

•Violence will no longer be acceptable in any form.

•Every student will feel safe.

•All teachers will respect the students, and all students will respect their teachers.

•Disrespect and drugs will stay out of the class.

•Respect and love will stay in the class.

•Each student will have a mentor to talk to when things get rough.

•And nobody will say no to their dreams.

•My dream is for school to be safe for us all.