Welcome to
Moore West Junior High!
On a sheet of paper, answer the following questions.
1. What are you most looking forward to this year? Why?
2. What is something you are really nervous about? Why?
3. What questions do you have about your new school?
“Education is the key to unlock the golden
door of freedom.”
- - George Washington Carver
• Once a Tiger (East Central University Tiger) always
a Tiger (Moore West Junior High)
• Very active: track, cross country, hiking, tennis, etc.
• Captain in the Army Reserves (15 years)
• Wrote my first book this summer
• Loves to travel: Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, Cayman
Islands, Canada, most of the U.S. continental states,
Italy, France, Spain, and Croatia
• Married, no kids, a twelve-year-old brother
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Imagine that you could have a conversation with the
characters and with the writers of the stories you read.
Good readers do this—they interact with the text.
Each school day, you will receive two hours of
language-arts instruction. These courses will not only
help you become confident and interactive readers, but
they will also help you understand the power of
effective communication.
Course Description
• Pre-AP language-arts students must exhibit the
following qualities:
• An understanding that advanced grades must be
earned through superior effort and in-depth
thinking
• Respectfulness to others and attentiveness in
class
• A desire to read daily and analyze difficult texts
• A willingness to be punctual to class and to arrive
with a positive attitude
• A belief that homework and other assignments
must be completed on time
Pre-AP Students
• Pre-AP language-arts students will not be
allowed to display the following qualities:
• A feeling that advanced grades should be easy to
obtain—without superior effort and in-depth
thinking
• Disrespectfulness to others, which robs others of
their education; inattentiveness in class
• A tendency to read infrequently or to read texts at
a superficial level
• Tardiness to class and negative attitudes
Pre-AP Students
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Before class: Use the restroom; gather class materials
Beginning class : Sit down; silently begin bell work
Instructor’s attention: raise your hand
Ending class: Wait for teacher dismissal; clear your area
Absences: Take responsibility; check the folder; talk with
the teacher
Key Class Procedures
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Respect
Responsibility
Effort
Courtesy
Reason
Expectations
• First offense: Warning
• Second offense: One-on-one discussion /
Plan of Action
• Third offense: Lunch Detention
• Fourth offense: ASD, Parent Contact
• Fifth offense: Office Referral
Discipline
• First tardy – Warning
• Second tardy – Warning, reminder of future steps
• Third tardy – Lunch detention
• Fourth tardy – ASD, Parent contact
• Fifth tardy – Office Referral
(and beyond)
Tardy Policy
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First Period :
Second Period:
Third Period:
Fourth Period:
Lunch:
Fifth Period:
Sixth Period:
Seventh Period:
7:45 – 8:33
8:38 – 9:26
9:31 – 10:19
10:24 – 11:12
11:12 – 11:37
11:42 – 12:40
12:35 – 1:23
1:28 – 2:16
Daily Schedule
• MWJH Agenda
• Library book
• Wide-ruled notebook paper (enough
to last throughout the year for notes,
assignments, etc.)
• Something to write with
• At least one box of Kleenex
Required Supplies
•1-inch, 3-ring binder
•1 package of dividers
Recommended
Supplies
• Copying someone else’s words or ideas
and presenting them as your own
• Plagiarized will receive no credit
Plagiarism
• Late work = worked turned in after the
due date
• 30% deduction in grade
• Not accepted after the end of the quarter
Late Work
First Semester
Second Semester
“Amigo Brothers”
Phineas Gage
Freak the Mighty
Roll of Thunder
Monsters Are Due on
Maple Street
The Blizzard
Poetry, Mythology
Legends, Folktales
Literature
Score/Level
Description of Scores
Mastery Level Complete; accurate; advanced; superior effort; neat; organized; insightful
A = 90-100%
Practice Level Mostly complete; mostly accurate; above-average effort; mostly neat,
B = 80-89%
mostly organized
Practice Level Average in all areas: completeness, accuracy, effort, neatness, and
C = 70-79%
organization
Practice Level Mediocre to below average in all areas: completeness, accuracy, effort,
D = 60-69%
neatness, and organization
Introductory
Level
F = 40-59%
Mostly incomplete; mostly inaccurate; below-average effort; mostly messy;
mostly disorganized; Incomplete; inaccurate; well below-average effort;
very messy; disorganized
Grades
• Now it's your turn. Write a "Top Ten Things Mr. Miller
Needs to Know About Me". Include anything that might
be important for me to know. See below for a list of ideas.
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Strengths in Language Arts
Weaknesses in Language Arts
Pet Peeves
Important life changes you're going through
Things that help you succeed
Things that don't help you succeed
Things you know you do well
Things you know you need to work on
• English Bell Work: In your own
words, describe what “respect” means
to you. Then, define “disrespect” and
provide examples of actions that are
respectful and those that are
disrespectful.
Bell work: Use the example biographical acrostic poem to
create a similar poem for your last name. After you finish,
do the same for your first name.
Marathon runner
Intrinsically motivated
Lifelong learner
Loves vacation
Energetic
Really excited about this school year
M&M Community Builder
• Using your piece of candy, match the color of your M&M
with a question.
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Yellow: What is your favorite childhood memory?
Green: Name your favorite movie or TV show
Brown: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Orange: How many family members do you have?
Blue: Who is your "TRUE BLUE" hero or best friend?
Red: What is your greatest passion, hobby, or interest?
• Classroom Expectation Questions:
• 1. What should students in our class be doing to make
sure our class runs as smooth as possible?
• 2. What do you hope to learn this year in Language Arts?
• 3. What will you need to do in order to be successful this
year?
• 4. What will Mr. Miller need to do to help you this year?
• 5. Our classroom should be ____________ every day.
• 6. School is important because _______________.
English BW: Create your own “I Have a Dream Poem.”
• I have a dream that there will be no more violence in schools.
• Hallways will be cleared of danger.
• And students will follow all of the rules.
• Violence will no longer be acceptable in any form.
• Every student will feel safe.
• All teachers will respect the students, and all students will respect
their teachers.
• Disrespect and drugs will stay out of the class.
• Respect and love will stay in the class.
• Each student will have a mentor to talk to when things get rough.
• And nobody will say no to their dreams.
• My dream is for school to be safe for us all.