Welcome to Mrs. Brennan's
Integrated Language Arts page!
"We are a community of learners. The work of our community is learning"
This year we have an exciting new curriculum that combines reading and writing in a workshop model. Students will be reading and responding to a wide variety of texts, including their own self-selected literature. We will be analyzing author's craft and studying the elements of fiction in order to determine how literature is effectively organized to tell a story. As a community of learners, we will explore and discuss literature together.
Our main writing focus will be to develop our expository writing skills, particulary in the areas of organization and elaboration. Students will learn that good writing is a process, and will come to understand the benefits of editing and revising their work. In addition to writing in the expository genre, students will also be exploring and experimenting with writing narratives, poetry, and writing in journals. Students will also engage in word study, grammar, and spelling to further develop these skills for the writing process.
What are students' responsibilities?
Be on time and prepared with all necessary materials ( homework, SDR book, writing utensil, planner)
Be respectful of your colleagues, teacher, and environment
Listen and to follow directions
Use time wisely; do not disturb the learning of your classmates
Put forth your best effort and to always try your hardest
Read for 20-30 minutes every night
What happens if a student misses a class?
Check with me and copy your homework down from the board (if you are in school). If absent, check the Schoolnotes homework page or call a friend
Collect any missing handouts from the "Handouts" crate.
Ask me for help, if you need it.
How will students be assessed?
Class work and citizenship will be assessed according to the school rubric. Students will be held accountable for numerous responsibilities in class. They should be prepared, work consistently and thoroughly, and contribute to a positive classroom environment. Students will have many opportunities to demonstrate their understanding of language arts through discussions, daily assignments, and assessments. Achievement will be calculated using benchmark tests, editing and revising tests, and performance tasks.
Parents, you can support your child's reading habit by having regular conversations about the books they are reading. Don't hesitate to read to them or with them...it's a great way to spend time together!
Please check and sign your child's planner regularly.
I am excited to be working with this wonderful group of students!
Mrs. Brennan
