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Pershing Middle School Language Arts Department
Jason Mustachio
jmustach@houstonisd.org (713)295-5240 ext. 350
Aisha Crumbine, 7th grade LA Dean
Robin Lowe, Principal
I am excited to say welcome back to school for the 2008-2009 school year. This year should prove to be a great year for all our fantastic students at
Below you will find an overview of the Language Art department’s expectation as well as an explanation of the grading policy, the curriculum and the materials needed for this class. Please read carefully with your parents. Discuss all of the information and if something is unsettling for you, talk to me and I will make sure you will leave with a better understanding. Please keep the main portion as your guide. You never know if you have to bring my attention to a mistake made; it happens.
Overview of the LA expectations
This year we will embark our learning in Reader Writer Workshop. It is expected that you take your next step to become a lifelong reader and writer. The LA department expects for you to enhance your reading life. We want you to read a variety of text that deals with your interest, enjoyment, particular situations you are dealing with, motivational texts, inspiring text, guidance and even learn why certain text are hard for you to get through. These are all things that readers actually read, therefore we expect for you to read them all.
We expect for you to write EVERYTHING: thoughts, things you want to remember, sad moments, happy moments, anything that inspires you and the list goes on in your writer’s notebook. You will take a tour through you notebook at times and find a piece that you would want to develop and actually make it a published piece. We want to see this process in your notebook. We expect for you to embrace your thoughts and capture them onto paper and understand as well as celebrate your published pieces.
We are teaching you strategies to be able to read all types of text as well as be able to make a piece of literature become a mentor piece and inspire you to craft and publish your very own writing project. This is the big umbrella that the LA department will hold over all students. I know that you will be invested and accept our expectation as becoming a lifelong reader and writer.
Curriculum
This year I will teach you reading and writing. I have broken down the curriculum for the two so that you can understand what you will be taught in both contents.
v
Students will learn how to choose books, conquer through challenging books, build stamina, inferences, characterization, and study the big idea of some text. Throughout different books that you choose, you will be taught strategies that will show you how to master these things. The novels will be chosen by you and that will be your textbook for the year. That means you need to make sure that you bring your current book to class everyday to practice strategies that will be taught. All strategies taught will be located in your literacy notebook.
Ø Accelerated
Ø
v Writing/English
You will first work on building your writing stamina. Find topics you can write about and learn the process of a writer. From there, you will study and practice the process of writing through different genres: non-fiction, poetry, The Essay, etc. Throughout these studies you will study and practice conventions of writing. All of this work will be located in your writer’s notebook.
Grading
You will be assessed rather than just receiving a grade. Your assessments will be produced from rubrics. You will be assessed on your writer’s notebook (WNB), literacy notebook, conferences, AR, reading logs, drafting packets and your writing projects. These rubrics will be given to you and placed inside your WNB and your literacy notebook. These rubrics will actually allow me to learn who you are as a reader and a writer; isn’t that breathtaking!
Materials
I would like for you to have the following:
*2 3 subject spirals (WNB and literacy notebook)
2 filing folders with your name on them (they will be left with me)
Post-its (different sizes; they will be left with me)
You may need additional spirals throughout the school year, so may want to get a few extras the first go round.
Wish list
Extra Post its (different sizes)
Pre-teen books/magazines/sections of the newspaper (all genres)
Pillows
Bean bags
Book policy
Since the administrative team has embraced this type of work with the LA department, we have to show our appreciation to them. They have purchased the books that you will be reading for all of the LA classes. With that being said, it is important that we keep up with the books, return them and keep them in the best shape. We want them to know that we appreciate their support and effort in making this successful. You must follow the check out process for my class as well as the library. If at any time a book that has been checked out under your name is lost or extremely damaged, be prepared for the conversation of how you will solve that problem. Two options I can say for now will be replace the book from another bookstore or submit $5 so that I can re-purchase the book. However you solve the problem of coming up with the book is up to you; I only want the book back on the shelf for another student to experience that book. Plus we need to maintain a wide variety on the shelves for you and your classmates to choose from.
I know this was a lot, but I wanted to make sure that you and your parents are on the same page as me. Again, welcome and come to class ready to rock this school year out!
If you or your parent ever have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me at any time.
Jason Mustachio
(713)295-5240 ext. 350
