8th Grade Language Arts
Ms. Richards
Index cards on the tables may be used for the following:
• Write a message.
• Ask questions.
• Write about your child.
• Take notes.
• If you would like me to respond to you, write your name and email at the top of the card.
Leave the card with me as you leave.
• Please note my email: richardsj@issauqah.wednet.edu
• Thank you!
About Me
• Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington
• Master in Teaching from Seattle University
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Awarded the McCleary Scholarship for Teacher Excellence
• 9 years of teaching at Nelsen Middle School
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Rotary Teacher of the Month
Puget Sound Writing Project Fellow
School Improvement Committee
Standards Based Writing Committee
• Challenger Elementary ISF Liaison and Daisy troop leader
• Wife, mother of two daughters, trail runner, book club member, and lifelong adventurer
Supply List
Must Have Supplies
• Three-Ring Binder (2 inch or larger)
• Note-taking composition book
• Writer’s workshop composition book
• Notebook Paper
• Several Black/Blue/Red Pens and Pencils
• Green, Blue, Pink and Yellow Highlighters
• Electronic Storage Supplies (USB preferred)
• Colored Pencils, Glue Sticks, Scissors, Sharpies, Markers
• Sheet Protectors
• Novel to read in class
• Replenish supplies as needed (at least twice per trimester)
Support Beaver Lake Middle School
• Help your child sell magazines for our annual magazine drive
• Our first collection date is September 17th. The overall goal is for each student is to sell
7 orders. 7 orders = money for the school and a Mega Party!
• Join the BLMS PTA (I recently signed up)
• Contribute to the Issaquah School Foundation (ISF)
http://issaquahschoolsfoundation.org/ *When you log on via the site up to
8% of your Amazon purchase supports our schools and programs
Curriculum
Advanced Language Arts
Language Arts
• Novels:
• Novels:
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Tom Sawyer – 2nd trimester
Warriors Don’t Cry - 2nd trimester
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 3rd trimester
Grammar
Greek and Latin Roots – 20 per week
Outside Reading
Writing: Narrative, Literary Analysis, Expository,
Argumentative
The Outsiders – 1st trimester
Of Mice and Men – 2nd trimester
Tom Sawyer – 3rd Trimester
• Grammar
• Greek and Latin Roots – 10 per week
• Writing- Narrative, Literary Analysis, Expository,
Argumentative
Standards-Based Grading
• Communicates achievement of the individual student.
• Standards-based grading is a system of grading that reflects student growth
toward a specific learning target.
• Allows for clearer communication of student performance.
• Students who do not meet standard (score 75 or below) are expected to
correct homework, review notes, ask for help, and schedule a time to retest.
• Extra credit is not counted as it inflates the grade.
Why change the grading scale?
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Robert Marzano “Grades are so imprecise they are almost meaningless”
Common Core assessments are based on the standards based grading scale
It is hard to develop anchor sets or calibrate scoring with a large grading scale.
The purpose of grades is to communicate where a child stands in comparison to a standard
or group of standards
• Collaboration is key. Teachers align instruction and develop common assessments.
• What is it we want students to know?
• How will we know they have learned it?
• What will we do if they do not learn it?
Grading Scale
100 (4)
Student work exceeds
standard.
85 (3)
Student work meets
standard.
75 (2)
Student work is
approaching standard.
65 (1)
Student work is below
standard.
Grading
Academic Grade
Classwork/Homework
• The academic grade is the grade that goes
• Homework does not count as part of the
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on the report card
The grade is based on assessments
Learning targets are gradebook entries
Grades are based on the student’s
academic performance
Multiple opportunities to meet standard
academic grade.
• Counted as “effort/participation”
otherwise known as “work ethic”
• Review assignment(s) in small groups or as
a class
• Easier to take risks as a learner if work is
considered practice.
Absent Work
• Absent Work - Students need to check the planner and the missing work
crate.
• Website - Students also need to check my teacher site for assignments they
missed.
• Due Dates - For every day absent, students will have a day to turn in their
missing assignments including tests.
• Test/Quiz Make-up - If a student misses a test or quiz, expect s/he to
come in early or stay after school the next day. It is the student’s
responsibility to set up a time with me. I will not follow up with them.
Teacher Website
Homework, Daily Activities, and
Documents are posted daily on my Website:
Type: www.blms.issaquah.wednet.edu
Click on: Teachers’ Websites
Click on: Richards Language Arts Site