Teacher: Maureen Kubala
Grade/Subject: 7th and 8th grade ELA
Contact: m.kubala8@hotmail.com
Welcome to our new seventh and eighth graders. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the students in my classes and their parents. It will be a busy and exciting year for us. Hopefully, it will be enjoyable as well.
The English Language Arts Curriculum that I use is based on the learning standards for seventh and eighth grade adopted by the state of New York. These standards focus on Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills.
Texts/ Materials
We will be working from the Houghton-Mifflin text, Vocabulary Workshop text, McDougall Littell literature series, and many other ELA resources I have on hand in the classroom. Students can access the McDougall Littell textbook online by going to Classzone.com and registering.
Grading
I will be using a grading system based on tests, quizzes, homework, projects, classwork, writing assignments, and participation in class. The number of grades will vary depending on what we are covering that particular grading period. Please refer to the parent portal to keep track of grades as they are posted.
NYS English Language Arts assessment
The ELA assessment will be given in the spring. These tests are very important because they help us to identify the students who are below the New York State standards in reading, writing, and listening. Since these weaknesses need to be addressed, those students who scores are below average will receive extra help the following year to improve their scores. Students and parents need to understand the importance of these tests. They are indicators of future success in high school and beyond,so they need to be taken seriously.
Homework
Please refer to the new homework policy in the student/parent handbook. Copying any homework is unacceptable. When a student is found copying from another student, both will receive a zero.
Absences/Tardiness
When a student is absent or late it is the student's responsibility to make up the work/assignments missed. They can ask me or a friend what was covered in class or assigned for homework. If a student misses a test, it is his/her responsibility to see me to arrange a time to take a makeup test.
My expectations are high for all of the seventh and eighth graders. Good effort and motivation on their part, as well as mine, will result in a successful year. It will also make our jobs much easier. As always, thank you for your cooperation!