Mr. Mandl, English 7
Daniel Webster Middle School
Room 110
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Greeting and Objectives
Grades, Classroom Policies, and Discipline
Parents and Homework
Contact Information
September 13, 2010
Dear Room 110 Students and Families,
Welcome to the 2010 school year. I am proud to have you as part of my class, and
I am committed to teaching and helping in any way I can.
At Daniel Webster and in my classroom, I value and uphold the following
objectives:
1. High expectations for all work and behavior. Students will come to school prepared
and in uniform, just like I do.
2. The achievement of all students through the academic standards.
3. An inclusive learning community founded by mutual respect.
4. Creative, critical, and reflective thinking.
5. Strict compliance with classroom policies and procedures.
These objectives will provide students with the language skills and self-control to
advance through and beyond the academic world.
I am honored to be your teacher, and I’m looking forward to
our quest together for higher literacy and humanity.
Mr. Mandl
2. Grades, Classroom Policies, and Discipline
Academic Grade.
This is the grade students will receive every five weeks for classwork and homework:
A (4): 90%-100%
B (3): 80%-89%
C (2): 70%-79%
D (1): 60%-69%
F (0): <60%
Superior work. Student exceeds all standards and expectations.
Good work. Student meets most standards and expectations.
Fair work. Student meets some standards and expectations.
Poor work. Student meets few standards, and is in danger of failing.
Student is failing/not meeting standards or expectations.
The curriculum for 7th grade English is comprehensive and challenging, and requires
serious commitment from each student to achieve true English proficiency. We will be
focusing on ‘power standards,’ a concentrated series of objectives that align to the state
standards, which consist of vocabulary development and fluency, reading comprehension,
literary response and analysis, and various writing applications. During the year, there are
four major writing tasks, as well as four Secondary Periodic Assessments (the SPA).
Students will take the CST in May, and higher scores will help students achieve superior
placement in high school. Also, 7th graders will take the written state essay test in March.
This is how grades in my class are weighted:
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Classwork, including weekly student agenda check..................60%
Homework ...............................................................................20%
Essays and Assessments........................................................... 20%
Work Habits Grade.
Students have the same amount of absent days to make up missing work. That is, if you
miss two days, you have two days to turn in the work. Students must see me for missing
work, and I do not allow students to make up late work without an excuse. Per five week
grading period:
E: 0-1 missing assignments
S: 2-3 missing assignments
U: >4 missing assignments
Cooperation Grade. This is based on compliance with classroom policies:
1. No talking without permission. This includes profanity and insults.
2. Students must be in their seats when the bell rings, or they are tardy. This includes
lack of materials or agenda.
3. No food, drinks, or gum in class.
4. Students not working are off-task. This includes seat changes and restroom breaks.
5. Defiance: No arguing or talking back. This includes public challenges or complaints,
refusal to cooperate, and non-verbal disruptions.
E: 0-1 detention per grading period
S: 2-3 detentions per grading period
U: >4 detentions per grading period
Discipline.
Each violation will result in nutrition detention, a 15-minute loss of break privileges; for
example, if a student eats in class then argues about it, he or she will immediately receive
two consecutive detentions. Any student failing to come to room 110 within the first 5
minutes of nutrition will receive a second detention, and a phone call home. Detentions
that are not cleared will accrue, and will result in disciplinary action that includes team
interventions, parent conferences, office referrals, and lunch or after school detention.
3. Parents
For a student to succeed, everyone must be involved in his or her education. In my class:
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Students must copy the daily agenda into their agenda books every day without
exception. It is not only part of their grade, but parents can easily see what is
assigned, and communicate with me.
Students must keep their three ring binders with them each and every day. Webster
will provide them to all students, and binders should include:
o
o
o
o
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Blue or black pens
Pencils
Paper
Tabs to separate subjects
A thin spiral notebook (required for Cornell notes, thinking maps, and
various journal assignments)
o The Webster agenda
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Students must read a book of their choice every night for at least 30 minutes, and
bring it to school every day. Every student has access to our school library, an L.A.
library, or a local bookstore; there are no excuses for a student not to have a book.
 Homework. Besides daily reading, any classwork that is not completed is
homework. Each student will have a home textbook, and should expect to have
homework an average of three times a week.
Also…
Children who have a TV in their bedroom are more likely to gain weight, start
smoking, have trouble sleeping, and get lower test scores and grades. If you’re serious
about your student’s health and progress, remove the TV from their bedroom. Your
kids will sleep better, get better grades, and be healthier. They may complain, but they
don’t pay the bills, right?
Students who are truly sick should stay home and recuperate; the flu is still a
serious issue, and I want be here to lead your children, and make sure illness doesn’t
spread in the classroom. Please be considerate towards the health of others.
Thank you, and be well.