Syllabus

Dear Parent(s) and Students, Welcome to seventh grade! I am **Patrice H. Mills**, your Language Arts teacher on **Team 702**. I am a committed advocate, teacher, and mentor for students, and I take each of these roles very seriously. I realize, however, that no matter how committed I am; I can’t effectively do this job alone. Each of us – teacher, parent, and student **//must//** equally commit and play an active role in this education process. Therefore, I seek your full support this year. Let’s, **TOGETHER**, make this year one of the most productive ones ever - “**//A year//** **//where anything can be//**.” **__ Supplies __** If you have not already, please purchase the following materials for this class: a **one-inch binder with pockets**, **4** **dividers**, a **composition notebook** for journaling, **pens** (black or blue) and pencils, a **two-pocket folder**, and a **thumb drive** for maintaining an electronic portfolio. Please purchase these items as soon as possible so that your child can get organized. **__ Grading __** Students’ grades are weighted in the following manner:  · **25%** Classwork/homework  · **25% Writer’s Workshop (Daily writing participation, Short/long term projects**, i. e. digital stories, eZines, blogs, wikis, google maps, PSA’s, research papers, portfolios, etc.)  · **30%** Tests (Objective and authentic assessments, i. e. end of unit/ end of course projects)  · **20%** Quizzes **__ Conference Hours __** All conferences are scheduled through the guidance office during the team’s planning period. Please call the school’s main number **(706) 565-3026** and ask for **Ms. Whitehead** to schedule conferences. If you can’t schedule a face to face meeting, contact me by email. To receive bi-weekly progress reports, include your email address at the **end of this document**. Please also communicate with me on our weblog and wiki. On these sites, you can keep abreast of **weekly calendars, projects and project dates,** and even leave comments on our **discussion boards.** ** Weblog Address: [|www.digitalnatives2010-11.blogspot.com] ** ** Wiki Address: [|www.digitalnatives2010-11.wikispaces.com] ** Finally, expect a letter //requesting your signature// for the use of the wireless lab in //this// writing classroom, also expect a letter requesting that your child(ren) create a gmail account. **__Email Contact__** To reach me by email, write pmills@mcsdga.net **or** mills.patrice@gmail.com. **__ First Quarter Course of Study __** During the first four weeks, students will cover a Self-Awareness unit titled: **“Who Am I?”** The writing focus will be the personal narrative. Students will begin building working portfolios from this genre and conclude the unit with an **//electronic//** product, so it is imperative that your child has computer access and a device for saving data electronically. Expect a rubric and project guidelines prior to the deadline. Again, welcome to seventh grade. I look forward to meeting each of you. ** Please sign and return this document as acknowledgement that you have read this letter. If you desire a copy for your records, please print one from this page. ** Parent Signature and Email address: Student Signature and Email address:
 * East** **Columbus Magnet Academy**  **6100 Georgetown Drive**   ** August 9, 2010 **