Welcome Back!

First Day of School! First day of 8th Grade! I am happy you made it here!

- Ms. Albanese, Room 507

Get started.
Find your folder and be seated.  Open your folder and find your schedule on purple paper.  Copy your schedule onto the paper that says MAriner Middle School 8thGrade Schedule (with the boxes on the top and the times on the bottom).

Place your name in ink in your agenda. Copy your locker number and combination into a secret page in your agenda. Do not share it! 

Unpack your backpack.
White binder for Cores 1 and 2 in the morning is what you will need.  Also notebooks, paper, pencils and your agenda.

Make a NAME TENT with your first and last name on both sides of a folded paper
Fill out an index card with your first and last name and draw a pictures of what you like to do.

Language Arts Syllabus 14-15

Language Arts Syllabus

Course Description

Language Arts in 8^th grade is driven by the English Language Arts Common Core Curriculum which can be accessed on the Delaware Department of Education website. This course will consist of challenging levels of thinking, reading, writing and speaking. It includes many forms of writing, genres of literature, presentation, media, poetry and technology. 

Supplies

v    Pencils – always have 5 sharpened pencils ready to go

v    Blue or black ink pens for class

v    Highlighters – at least two or three colors

v    Composition book (black and white cover or equivalent)

v    Loose leaf paper- have at least 50 clean pages with you for class

v    Binder for handouts

v    Hand-held pencil sharpener

v    Agenda book

v    Plastic page protectors, have 20 available for use

v    If possible a thumb drive or flash drive to save work from class to home

v    Earbuds or earphones to plug into the computer

v    Dictionary to be kept at home for assignments

v    2 boxes of tissues – send into homeroom teacher

v    Germex for hand washing without soap and water

Classroom Expectations

Rule – Keep a positive and productive learning environment. Student will respect themselves, the teachers, each other and property.

Students are expected to work with each other, share writing, peer edit, and participate in classroom activities. Students will be held to high standards. Taking writing and thinking to high levels involves analysis, review, critical thinking and much revision.  Willingness to persevere will be rewarded.

Students are expected to treat the computers with respect and care at all times. See Computer Use Agreement.

Consequences

Students are expected to follow the Mariner Middle and Cape Henlopen School District code of conduct. Classroom consequences will include verbal warning, teacher/student conference. If the problem persists then time out, and office referral will follow.

Procedures and Policies

1.     Writing and reading is graded according to a rubric using points. Major writing/reading projects will be worth 300 points.  The written drafts, revisions and editing will earn additional points, usually 100 points each. Example: on any major writing/reading project you may earn 100 points for draft, 100 points for revisions, 100 points for editing and then 300 points for the final published piece.  Important point: save all of your work in your file on the network.  

2.     Homework - read for 30 minutes, five nights a week.  That equals 2.5 hours of reading a week. Plan your time to be able to accomplish this assignment. Other homework assignments are on the board daily and are to be written in the agenda.  Completed assignments showing effort will receive points toward a homework grade every marking period. 

3.     It is requested that all assignments be typed, font Arial, 14 point, except where noted.  If you work at home save all of your work on your hard drive or upload it to Google Documents. You may bring in a flash with work on it to transfer to your file at school.

4.     Students will create a Gmail account for use in LA/school this year. This will have blogs attached. 

5.     Word work- parts of speech, usage, vocabulary, and idioms and will be part of the language arts lessons.  Students are responsible for definitions, usage and spelling. 

6.     Reading the newspaper, non-fiction writings and accessing the news media through Internet will be a priority. They will be available in class, on line.  Written responses and analysis from current events articles and programs will count toward the marking period grade. 

7.     Reading Requirements – Each student will read 12 or more books this year both fiction and non-fiction. You will earn Accelerated Reading, AR points by taking a test on each book that you read.  Determine your own goal for AR reading points each marking period. Rewards for reaching certain Point Clubs: 25 point club, 50 point club.   You may read books that you like that are in your reading range based on your latest STAR tests. You will read at least 3 books per grading period and write book reviews on some of these books.   Read at home every night and bring your book to class every day for SSR.

8.     Please keep all handouts in your 3-ring binder.  Keep your writing and notes in your writing notebook.  

9.     Students are to check their grades and assignments online and make up the work in a timely manner. Let Ms. Albanese know if you need to make up work.  If a student has one day excused absence, that student has one extra day to make up missed work including homework, test, and/or quiz.  For an unexcused absence, missed assignments may not be made up and receive a zero.  A missed test must be made up within 5 days.   Extended excused absences will receive special completion due dates.  Late work will not be accepted.

10.  Use the restroom before/after class or before lunch or during Exploratories. No restroom during class.

11.  Use please and thank you. Be helpful in class. Find something positive to say!   The classroom is your home. Be respectful of each other and the teacher. 

A Special Note to Parents and Caregivers,

This marks my 36th year teaching!  I am delighted to be teaching students at the eighth grade level!  I have a love of children, language, writing, technology and reading.  These all merge to allow me the privilege of being your child’s language arts teacher at Mariner Middle.   

If you wish to contact me there are now many ways! Call the school at any time and leave a message on my voice mail.  Email me or write a note in your child’s agenda.  I will make every effort to call you back or contact you as soon as possible. Please leave your number, cell phone or other when you call.

This year we will be blogging to increase communication and other kinds of web sites to extend learning. The students will also be engaged in a research project.  I hope that you can get regular access to a computer and join in the conversation on my blog and eventually on your son or daughter’s blog. You can check your child’s grades on-line at all times on e-School Plus. I encourage you to check on grades often, at least once a week.  Every student will be given a free, working email address to be used for class work, communication and collaboration.  

Writing and reading are processes that your child needs to experience.  Not all finished pieces will be word perfect but this gives us clues as to what is needed in terms of instruction.  Please allow your eighth graders to write on their own. You may read and make editing suggestions at the end but do not alter the content.

I have a huge favor to ask. Please see to it that your child has quiet reading time for homework each night. My goal is for each child to read at least18 books this year, successfully take AR tests and kindle a love of literature. Talk to your child about the books they read and make reading a part of your family practice.

See you at the Open House. Thank you in advance for your support! 

Celebrate words!  Let’s have a great year!

Diane Saienni Albanese, NBCT

Parent Information Form – LA

Please fill out the information below and return it to Ms. Albanese by Friday.

Student Name ________________________________________________________

LA Core _______

Parent/Guardian(s) Name(s) ________________________________________________________________________
home phone ________________________________________

Cell phone(s)  __________________________________________________________

Email address ___________________________________________________________

Best time to call _________________________________________________________

Mailing address _________________________________________________________

Social Studies Syllabus 14-15

Social Studies Syllabus

Course Description

Social Studies in 8^th grade is driven by the Delaware Curriculum which can be accessed on the Delaware Department of Education website. This course will consist of challenging levels of thinking, reading, writing and speaking about American History, geography, and world events.

Supplies

v    Pencils – always have 5 sharpened pencils ready to go

v    Blue or black ink pens for class

v    Highlighters – at least two or three colors

v    Loose leaf paper- have at least 50 clean pages with you for class

v    Binder for handouts

v    Hand-held pencil sharpener

v    Agenda book

v    If possible a thumb drive or flash drive to save work from class to home

v    Earbuds or earphones to plug into the computer

v    2 boxes of tissues – send into Core 1 teacher

v    Germex for hand washing without soap and water

Classroom Expectations

Rule – Keep a positive and productive learning environment. Student will respect themselves, the teachers, each other and property.

Students are expected to work with each other, share information and projects, and participate in classroom activities. Students will be held to high standards.  Willingness to participate and persevere will be rewarded.

Students are expected to treat the computers with respect and care at all times. See Computer Use Agreement.

Consequences

Students are expected to follow the Mariner Middle and Cape Henlopen School District code of conduct. Classroom consequences will include verbal warning, teacher/student conference. If the problem persists then time out, and office referral will follow.

Procedures and Policies

1.     Students will be issued a text book, History Alive.  Many readings will be taken from this book. Students will take notes and outline chapters working in partners and individually.

2.     Grades will be taken from tests, quizzes, projects, classroom participation and worksheet completion.

3.     Major social studies projects will be worth 300 points. Each will include a rubric so that the requirements are clear.

4.     Students are required to take notes in class.  We will be using Cornell notes.

5.     Homework: review your notes from the day and the week. Reread the chapter and write reflection on what you have read. There will be Geography Country Projects to complete partially at home and you will need markers and crayons. Read, watch or listen to national and international news.  Plan to discuss the major news stories.

6.     It is requested that all assignments be typed, font Arial, 14 point, except where noted.  If you work at home save all of your work on your hard drive or upload it to Google Documents. You may bring in a flash with work on it to transfer to your file at school.

7.     You will create a special MMS gmail account to use for this class/year and a blog for projects and information/collaboration. 

8.     Geography Country Project will consist of researching a country and doing a series of lessons related to it.

9.     CNN Student News – We will watch ten minutes of commercial-free CNN Student News each day.  Students will fill out a graphic organizer with information from the news stories.

10.  Please keep all handouts in your 3-ring binder to study and for reference.

11.  Students are to check their grades and assignments online and make up the work in a timely manner. Let Ms. Albanese know if you need to make up work.  If a student has one day excused absence, that student has one extra day to make up missed work including homework, test, and/or quiz.  For an unexcused absence, missed assignments may not be made up and receive a zero.  A missed test must be made up within 5 days.   Extended excused absences will receive special completion due dates.  Late work will not be accepted.

12.  Use the restroom before/after class or before lunch or during Exploratories. No restroom during class.

13.  Use please and thank you. Be helpful in class. Find something positive to say!   The classroom is your home. Be respectful of each other and the teacher. 

A Special Note to Parents and Caregivers,

This marks my 36th year teaching!  I am delighted to be teaching students at the eighth grade level!  I have a love of children, language, writing, history, politics, technology and reading.  These all merge to allow me the privilege of being your child’s social studies teacher at Mariner Middle.   

If you wish to contact me there are now many ways! Call the school at any time and leave a message on my voice mail.  Email me or write a note in your child’s agenda.  I will make every effort to call you back or contact you as soon as possible. Please leave your number, cell phone or other when you call.

Please talk with your child about your own history and the news as much as possible

See you at the Open House. Thank you in advance for your support! 

Diane Saienni Albanese, NBCT

Parent Information Form – SS

Please fill out the information below and return it to Ms. Albanese by Friday.

Student Name ________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian(s) Name(s) ________________________________________________________________________
home phone ________________________________________

Cell phone(s)  __________________________________________________________

Email address ___________________________________________________________

Best time to call _________________________________________________________

Mailing address _________________________________________________________

Students' Reading Inventory

8^th Grade Language Arts, Mariner Middle School, Ms. Albanese, NBCT       

Student READING INVENTORY

Name: _____________________________________                                Date ________________________

1.     What are your best three school subjects?

2.     What do you do for recreation or entertainment?

3.     List the names of the three books and author or articles that you read over the summer. Be prepared to write reports on these. 

4.     What are your favorite TV programs?

5.     If someone handed you a newspaper, what sections would you be most interested in reading? (Circle)

front page news	comics	Youth Plus Section
product advertisements	employment ads	Weekend Section--movie, music reviews
sports	editorials

6.     Does your family get a daily newspaper?   If so, which one?

7.     Does your family subscribe to any magazines?  If so, which ones?

8.     What magazines do you enjoy reading?

9.     What is the best book you have ever read? Why did it interest you?

10.  On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your interest in reading? (circle)

Don’t like to read    1-------2---------3--------4-------5-------6--------7---------8--------9--------10   Love to read

11.  What type of books would you select to read? Circle as many as you like.

mystery	Historical fiction	animals
anime	supernatural	teen problems
biography	science fiction	adventure
music related--rock stars	romance	movie-based books