West Rowan Middle School

Teacher-Ms. Juliah Smith
Phone: (704) 633-4775 Extension 239

A NOTE TO STUDENTS: 

TO PARENTS: 
Thank you for entrusting me with the care of your child and giving me the opportunity to teach him or her. I truly learn as much from my students as they learn from me. I am dedicated to making this year a positive and productive year for our class, and I appreciate your efforts and those of your child, as well.
An open line of communication between parents, students, and teachers is vital to student success. I may be contacted by email at smithj@rss.k12.nc.us. You may also leave me a voice message at school by calling (704) 633-4775, extension 239, or you may contact me by writing a note in your child's planner. I check planners each Friday. 

If you would like to schedule a conference to discuss your child's achievement, please do not hesitate to contact me through the methods mentioned above. Thank you in advance for prearranging a conference. Unfortunately, I cannot entertain unscheduled conferences during the school day as it directly interferes with my instructional and supervisory duties. 

THIS YEAR IN LANGUAGE ARTS: 

We will be exploring a variety of genres in reading including short stories, myths, folktales, legends, poetry, fictional novels, and non-fictional works. We will continue to develop our grammar, writing, and problem-solving skills on a daily basis. Every week, we will be enriching our word base through vocabulary and spelling study. Additionally, we will be integrating technology, science, mathematics, and social studies into our studies in language arts.

If you are interested in reviewing the objectives for this class, please refer to the link to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study at the bottom of this syllabus.

Language Arts is a combined subject of five disciplines: 

If we are revising an assignment at home, please allow your child to do their own writing, so that I may assess their true ability level and work with them from where they are. Several writing assignments will be graded and kept at school in the writing folder, but grades will go home via the agenda or with a graded rubric in the graded work folder so that you may see your child’s writing performance.

I will give spelling words every other week on Thursday, beginning the week after Labor Day. The test will always be on the following Wednesday. I do assign homework with spelling, and students are required to study their words outside of class time. On the off weeks, we will do vocabulary.

The use of correct grammar in speech and writing is a primary skill in human communication, which is an essential for success in our modern age of service and technology. Learning it requires effort and discipline. Unfortunately, people often won't recognize intelligence if it is accompanied with bad grammar. Parents, please try to reinforce correct grammar at home with your own speech. Students learn what they hear:)  

Reminders:

Please remember to check your child's planner and sign it each Thursday night. You may want to look back through the week for notes from your child's teachers.

Regarding class preparedness: students are expected to come to class with at least two pencils and a supply of notebook paper every day. We need every minute of our class time for learning. It is disruptive when students come to class unprepared and interrupt instruction to ask for pencils and paper. 

I have a mailbox in the classroom for students to ask for help with school supplies if there is a financial hardship. The mailbox may also be used for confidential communication with me if a student is having difficulty in any area (social, academic, etc.) and doesn’t want to speak to me in front of others.

Thank you for supporting your child's opportunity to learn!
HOMEWORK

The Homework Hotline (704-633-9561 ext. 6200 after 4:30 p.m.) is available for you and your child to check on homework assignments. The Sandpiper extension is 6200 for all core subjects. If your child is absent, they may call homework hotline to hear important announcements or hear what was assigned for homework while they were out.
 	
Some Favorite Links:

Want to know how to support your middle-schooler? This page has great information- 
www.greatschools.net/content/backToSchool.page

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/languagearts/scos/2004/

A good article with tips to encourage the reluctant reader- 
www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/nc/320	

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(Please detach, sign, and return the bottom portion of this page to Ms. Smith 
by Friday, August 29, 2008.)

I have read and understand the class syllabus for Ms. Smith’s Language Arts Class for the 2008-9 school year.

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Child Signature					Date

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Parent Signature					Date