Eighth Grade Language Arts
Mr. Santa Maria, Room B-7
Murdock Middle School
Parents and students, please read the information below, and sign at the bottom of the page. You will be expected to understand each of the policies and procedures contained within. If you have a question, please ask, or contact me.
Classroom Expectations:
Be respectful
Be prepared and ready to engage in all classroom activities
Obey all school rules
Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before you speak
Supplies:
Students must come to class each day with the following supplies to be considered prepared:
Student Planner
Two #2 pencils
Two pens (Blue or Black ink only)
A spiral notebook that could be divided into 3 sections (classwork and notes, homework, and a journal that will be turned in at the end of the year for a major grade)
A novel that is appropriate to school
Classroom procedures:
Line-up outside of the classroom until the bell rings
Upon entering, copy your H.W. and Learning Objective into your Planner
Read the "Do Now" to understand what is expected of you at the start of each class
Quietly pay attention to instruction
Class work:
All class work will be posted on the board. Any work that is not finished in class will be considered as homework.
Homework:
All assignments will be due the next day at the start of class unless specified. Late work will not be accepted. If you are absent, you will have two days to make-up an assignment to receive full credit.
Make-up Work:
It is the responsibility of each student to find out what was missed when an absence occurs. Class work and homework will be posted on a board at the front of the classroom and on my website. Most make-up tests and quizzes will be administered on Friday. It is the responsibility of the student to be prepared to make-up a test on the designated day.
Material Taught and Assessed:
We will do a great deal of reading and writing this year. We will read and analyze various short stories, we will read two novels aloud in class, and we will read a two act play. Students will be tested on each piece of literature. Each test will mirror the FCAT Reading Test that the students will take in March.
We will also be doing a great deal of writing. We will write a short story, keep a year-long journal, and we will write many essays. We will learn, step-by-step, how to construct effective and exciting essays so that we are fully prepared to take The Florida Writes Exam in February.
We will also do a great deal of grammar work and apply it to our writing.
We will also do various projects throughout the year. Students will do their own work but sometimes will be required to work in a group of the teacher's choosing.
Grading Policy:
Tests are worth 100 points
Quizzes are worth 50 points
Essays are worth 100 points
Homework is worth 5 points
Projects are worth either 50 or 100 points
Classwork will be checked but not graded
Grade Distribution:
Tests, quizzes, essays, and projects will be worth approximately 85% of the grade
Homework and class participation will be worth approximately 15% of the grade
Teacher contact information:
941-255-7525 Ext. 221
http:mms.ccps.fl.k12.us/staff/santamf
| 
CCPS Home
|
