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Welcome Back! 2018-2019 School Year!
December Update
7th Grade: We have finished reading The Outsiders but will continue to focus on the themes we identified in the novel and how these themes are universal and relevant today. Students will also be preparing a mocktrail/debate as our final project for the novel. Students will be required to make a claim whether they believe Johnny is innocent or guilty of murder. They will then work on finding evidence that best supports their claim. They will present in class and the judge (me) will decide which team has a stronger argument and the best evidence that supports their claim. I am really excited to see what they come up with!
8th Grade: We have finished reading The Face on the Milk Carton and are preparing to start our new novel The Maze Runner. Students will be focusing on the characteristics of utopias and dystopias. As we read the Maze Runner, students will pay close attention to how setting drives the plot, conflicts, and characters' motivation.
In both 7th and 8th grade, students picked out their new independent reading books that they are reading in class and at home. The due dates for their independent reading book is January 12th. Students are participating in a 40 Book Challenge and our goal is to try to read 40 books before the end of the school year. Students are keeping a list of the books they have read in the back of their journal and my list is hanging up in the classroom.
Both classes also worked on a fun and creative writing project that focused on symbolism and characterization. They had to design an ugly holiday sweater for a character in their novel. They had to pick specific colors and an image that represented the character and they needed to provide textual evidence to support their reasoning behind the colors and symbols they chose for their characters. I love how they came out and are displayed outside our classroom!
Contact Information:
E-mail: Ibacigalupi@neptunecityschool.org
School Phone: 732-775-5319
Welcome to Middle School Language Arts! I am looking forward to a productive and successful school year! To have such a year, you are expected to be an active participant in class. We will focus on analyzing and responding to various genres of literature and authentic texts (non-fiction texts). We will focus on different strategies to help us become stronger readers which ultimately will help us become stronger writers. Be ready to WRITE, WRITE, And WRITE!!
Materials & Supplies:
- 1 or 1 ½ inch binder
- Index Cards
- Pencils/Pens
- Highlighters
- Post-its
- Dividers
Grading Policy:
Tests/Projects: (60%) Includes: Tests, projects, major essays, writing assignments.
Classwork/Homework/Participation: (40%) Includes: Notebook & binder checks, journal entries, classwork, and homework
*You will be provided with a participation rubric and be given a participation grade each week. Your participation is the key to your success, which includes: classroom discussions, homework, staying on task, being prepared and having a positive attitude.
Classroom Expectations:
- Follow directions the first time they are given.
- Stay on task during all work times.
- Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
- Track the speaker, actively listen, and monitor your voice level.
- Come to class prepared (with homework, novel, and materials).
- Handle all classroom materials carefully.
Positive Behavior: Raffle System
I will be implementing a positive behavior system. You will be given raffle tickets for positive behavior displayed in class. You will write your name on the back of the raffle ticket and place it in your grade level bin. Every week, I will draw 3 raffles from the bin and those students will be able to pick a reward. The more raffles you receive, the better chance of being picked for the reward!
Consequences for Negative Behavior:
- You will be given three opportunities to change your behavior.
- If you do not take the opportunity to change your behavior, you will be given a teacher detention (15 minutes after school with me) and a phone call or e-mail sent home. If you cannot stay for the teacher detention the day it is given, then it will be scheduled for a day that you are available.
- If you receive 3 teacher detentions within a week, you will receive an Office Detention and a phone call home. Office detention is 1 hour.
Let’s have an amazing, productive, and fun year!!
