Last updated 05/06/2010
to
Mrs. Mary Lou Bettez's
English Language Arts Class!
Everything you need to know for English this year...
As you navigate through this site, you will find a newsletter, rubrics that
you can print to help guide you with your work at home and other
essential info. I will also from time to time post homework assignments.
Due dates for assignments will be located on the Homework Page.
Just click on the Homework Button, and you will be on your way!
NEWSLETTER
Welcome back Phoenix and welcome to all our new parents and students! Hopefully, this introductory letter will provide to you initial information that will help prepare you for the first few weeks of our new school year.
Reading/Writing Workshop:
Phoenix English is designed as a reading and writing
workshop. As such, students will be required to read books of their own
selection through the year. This occurs both at home and in school. To
help parents better support their students I have enclosed a syllabus of
anticipated assignments (both in class and homework) for you to post on your
fridge. The assignment timelines are approximate. Timelines will be
updated weekly. You will note that I expect students to read 30 minutes
nightly on the dates marked with an asterisk. This is their standard 
assignment.
Students shall continue to maintain reading logs. This year students will be required to read 20-30 minutes nightly at home. Students shall also engage in self-selected reading in school. This shall occur 3 times per week. During this time students shall engage in sustained silent reading at their independent reading level. Team teachers will conference with students during this time, monitoring individual reading progress.
The English department has converted the 25 book (150 pages per book equivalent) into page number expectations for each trimester. This will be sent home and posted to the website to help guide you in supporting your child's progress.
Writing assignments will be ongoing, as well. Homework within this area of English is a natural extension of the student's class work. Writing pieces are begun in class and sometimes continued at home. Students will practice the writing process approach. This includes the pre-write, rough draft, self-revision, peer and/or adult edit, and final copy. Each of these completed steps must be stapled together prior to submission to me. Students will keep a writing folder in class of their writing. Hopefully, this will assist them in keeping their writing pieces safe from loss.
Portfolio's/Student-Led Conferences
Several times during the year students will be required to complete a portfolio. It is imperative that students keep all their writing in order to accomplish required entries. PLEASE DO NOT THROW ANY WRITING WORK AWAY. After the portfolios are completed they are presented to parents during student-led conferencing. Parents are invited to assess their child's work through participation in this conference. After the presentation I will facilitate a discussion among the three of us designed to assist your child in goal setting and an action plan designed to achieve his/her goals. It has been my experience that parents fully enjoy participating in this process, and the portfolios and conferences provide to parents a deeper insight into their child's learning experience. The parent's reflection provides to me further insight in guiding individual children to reach higher expectations. '
Statewide Testing
Students will be participating in the statewide testing beginning October 5.
Materials Needed
You will need the following items daily:
An Engaged Mind
Get a good night's rest and eat a good breakfast:)
Participate-You must RISK being wrong in order to be right!
