English Department Grade 7 & 8

7th grade - Mr. Valdez, Room #109

Contact : [email protected] 323-308-1700

Parents may contact me in the morning hours 7:50-8:15 or via email during school hours.

 

Seventh grade English is an A–G required class. The end goal of the class is for the student to improve their abilities in reading and in writing and speaking English. The class employs a variety of informational, narrative, and persuasive texts.. Students are expected to read the assigned text and show their understanding of what they read through discussion, written responses, and tests. Students are expected to improve their writing through revision, grammar instruction, and peer review.

 

All Common Core State Standards · Four or more complete essays and/or letters · Literary writing—providing text-based responses to literature and poetry · Responses to nonfiction articles and essays State Assessment: Students will take the reading and writing Smarter Balanced Assessment in the spring. Parents can check grades at any time on-line through Family Access (Schoology). Teachers will update grades at least every 2 weeks. · If you do not have on-line access, contact the Main Office for a hard copy of the progress report. · Report cards (official grades) are produced at the end of each semester (18 weeks), and are available through Family Access. If you do not have on-line access, contact the Main Office for a hard copy of the progress report. Re-do Policy Work assigned in class is important for learning and to determine student progress. Students are expected to complete ALL major assignments to standard, even if they turn in the work late or need to re-do the work. Late work will be accepted, and the grade may be reduced to reflect poor work habits. Work turned in on time and demonstrating full effort may be re-done for up to full credit. In order to re-do part or all of a major assignment, the student must: 1. Talk with the teacher to understand what needs to be done for re-do. 2. Demonstrate effort to improve or re-learn the material (determined by the teacher). 3. Complete the revised work within 2 weeks of receiving the original graded work. Students are encouraged to seek extra help on their own as soon as they recognize that they are struggling. Also, teachers may assign students to come in for extra help when they see a student falling behind or struggling. Teachers are available after school, during lunch and during nutrient time to provide extra help for students on a regular basis. Teachers will provide a schedule of extra help times that they will be available in their classroom. Special arrangements can be made by contacting the teacher directly via email or phone.

Grading: Grading will be based on the LAUSD Equitable Grading Process. The process will begin with a Pre-Assessment to identify the strengths and growth opportunities of the student. After the Pre-Assessment, students will be given data driven Initial Instruction. From the Initial Instruction, student will be given a Formative Assessment. From the formative assessment, teacher will either provide students more time, practice and feedback to master and demonstrate grade level proficiency or the teacher will provide student with an enrichment activity to deepen their comprehension of the standard.

 

All students that complete the Equitable Grading Process will master the standards based curriculum and receive the grade of

A 80%-100%

B 60%-75%

C 40%-50%

D 20%-25%

F 0%-10%

 

Tier 1 Behavioral Interventions (In Class Positive Behavioral Realignment Strategies)

· 1 on 1 Conference with the student

· Clear, consistent, and predictable rules and consequences.

· Allow Student to take a small breaks

· Call Parent, Send a note home, document all behavioral issues on MISIS

Tier 1 Academic Interventions

· Clear and consistent dates for submission of student work

· Data driven activities and assessments

· Allowing students more time to complete task

8th grade - Mr. Valdez, Room #109

Contact : [email protected] 323-308-1700

Parents may contact me in the morning hours 7:50-8:15 or via email during school hours.

 

Eighth grade English is an A–G required class. The end goal of the class is for the student to improve their abilities in reading and in writing and speaking English. The class employs a variety of informational, narrative, and persuasive texts.. Students are expected to read the assigned text and show their understanding of what they read through discussion, written responses, and tests. This class will include readings about the Holocaust in order for students to develop empathy and understanding for others. Students are expected to improve their writing through revision, grammar instruction, and peer review.

 

All Common Core State Standards · Four or more complete essays and/or letters · Literary writing—providing text-based responses to literature and poetry · Responses to nonfiction articles and essays State Assessment: Students will take the reading and writing Smarter Balanced Assessment in the spring. Parents can check grades at any time on-line through Family Access (Schoology). Teachers will update grades at least every 2 weeks. · If you do not have on-line access, contact the Main Office for a hard copy of the progress report. · Report cards (official grades) are produced at the end of each semester (18 weeks), and are available through Family Access. If you do not have on-line access, contact the Main Office for a hard copy of the progress report. Re-do Policy Work assigned in class is important for learning and to determine student progress. Students are expected to complete ALL major assignments to standard, even if they turn in the work late or need to re-do the work. Late work will be accepted, and the grade may be reduced to reflect poor work habits. Work turned in on time and demonstrating full effort may be re-done for up to full credit. In order to re-do part or all of a major assignment, the student must: 1. Talk with the teacher to understand what needs to be done for re-do. 2. Demonstrate effort to improve or re-learn the material (determined by the teacher). 3. Complete the revised work within 2 weeks of receiving the original graded work. Students are encouraged to seek extra help on their own as soon as they recognize that they are struggling. Also, teachers may assign students to come in for extra help when they see a student falling behind or struggling. Teachers are available after school, during lunch and during nutrient time to provide extra help for students on a regular basis. Teachers will provide a schedule of extra help times that they will be available in their classroom. Special arrangements can be made by contacting the teacher directly via email or phone.

Grading: Grading will be based on the LAUSD Equitable Grading Process. The process will begin with a Pre-Assessment to identify the strengths and growth opportunities of the student. After the Pre-Assessment, students will be given data driven Initial Instruction. From the Initial Instruction, student will be given a Formative Assessment. From the formative assessment, teacher will either provide students more time, practice and feedback to master and demonstrate grade level proficiency or the teacher will provide student with an enrichment activity to deepen their comprehension of the standard. All students that complete the Equitable Grading Process will master the standards based curriculum and receive the Grade of

A 80%-100%

B 60%-75%

C 40%-50%

D 20%-25%

F 0%-10%

 

Tier 1 Behavioral Interventions (In Class Positive Behavioral Realignment Strategies)

· 1 on 1 Conference with the student

· Clear, consistent, and predictable rules and consequences.

· Allow Student to take a small breaks

· Call Parent, Send a note home, document all behavioral issues on MISIS

Tier 1 Academic Interventions

· Clear and consistent dates for submission of student work

· Data driven activities and assessments

· Allowing students more time to complete task