Wendell Middle

School
Ms. Chambers
Room 3511

2016-2017
CLASS MATERIALS

HOW TO CONTACT ME
Kchambers@wcpss.net

919) 365-1667

www.ChambersELA.weebly.com

Required:
3-ring binder to stay in the
classroom for a portfolio
Loose leaf paper
Multiple pencils
Two notebooks to stay in the
classroom
Two folders, one for classwork and
one for homework

Sign up for daily text or email alerts

about our class through Remind! This
website/app keeps your contact
information confidential, so you will
not see my phone number and I will
not see yours!
Text @866f86 to the number 81010
or go to www.remind.com and enter
the code 866f86

Classroom Wishlist:
Gently used childrens books and
magazines for our library
Colorful Expo markers
Glade Plug-in refills (Apple
Cinnamon is our favorite!)
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Sanitizing wipes
60 watt light bulbs for our
classroom lamps
Computer paper (white and colored)
Construction paper
Soft pencil cases
Any classroom supplies: pencils,
notebooks, folders, binders, lined paper,
crayons, markers, colored pencils, small
pencil sharpeners, pencil grips, erasers,
glue, tape

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR

CHILD?
Read at Home

Organization

Please ensure your child is

completing their word study
every night at least MondayThursday (beginning several
weeks into the year). Again,
see additional handouts and
my website for more
information or contact me
with questions.

35%

10%
Formative
Grades=
Word Study

55%

Minor Grades=
Regular Classwork

Independent Word
Study

*Whenever possible, have

a consistent time and
quiet place for your child
to read and do homework.
*Encourage your student
to use their agenda to
keep track of what they
need to accomplish each
day and over the week.
*Sign up for Remind
alerts and monitor teacher
websites and
PowerSchool frequently.
*I am available for
tutoring every
Wednesday from 3:154:15.

Major Grades=
Long-term
Assignments

Please ensure your child is

reading at least 20 minutes
a night, every night! See
the provided handouts and
my classroom website for
more information about
supporting your childs
reading development.

GRADES

Parents and students

are strongly encouraged
to check PowerSchool
on a weekly basis to
view the most current
grades for EVERY class.
Please contact me ASAP
for help with this!

LATE / INCOMPLETE WORK

ABSENTEE POLICY

YES, WE DID SOMETHING

*According to WMS policy, the following are the deductions to
IMPORTANT WHILE YOU WERE
be used for late assignments handed in within 10 school
ABSENT!
days of the original due date:
1 day late 10% penalty
*It is the students responsibility to
2-5 days late 20% penalty
2016-2017
check the While You Were Out bin to
6-10 days late 40% penalty
find any assignments missed. In this

*A student may still earn a zero if they fail to hand in the

assignment within the 10 day window. The original grade
should be on the assignment before deduction so the student
knows their level of mastery. Working Lunch may be
assigned to provide incentive for students to complete a
missing assignment. Working Lunch may be assigned until
the assignment is complete. If an assignment has been
corrected in class; an alternate, similar assignment may be
given.

bin students will find a note from me

explaining the days work and what he
or she needs to do to catch up.
* A student has two extra days to turn
in any work assigned on a day a
student was absent. If previously
assigned work was due on the day of
the absence, the work is due on the
first day the student returns.

CLASSWORK
*Literacy Connections is a resource language arts class that follows
the general ELA Common Core Curriculum but our lessons are
modified to meet student needs. Most days we will follow a workshop
format with either a reading or a writing focus. This method of
instruction has been proven effective by countless educators and
researchers.
*Each workshop will be launched with a 5-25 minute mini-lesson where
we will work as a whole group to develop a new understanding about
reading and/or writing. I may share some of my own writing or other
exemplar model texts and we will analyze the text together to learn
how to be a better reader and/or writer. We will also learn about
various strategies and how to apply them independently.
*After the mini-lesson, students will work independently or in small
groups to apply what they have learned. This will allow for the most
individualized instruction possible as I am able to rotate around and
work closely with students at their level. Students will also develop as
more independent readers and writers and will have more choice in
their learning than in a traditional teacher-led format.

RE-TEST
POLICY

*According to WMS
policy, students who
do not pass a test
will have an
opportunity to retest
provided they have
completed missing
work (classwork
and homework)
associated with the
unit and/or made
test corrections
within two weeks of
the original test
date.

HOMEWORK
*Students are expected to read at home for at least 20
minutes a night, preferably from a book that they bring
back and forth from school to home (since students
will have independent reading time in class!) Research
has shown this practice to be hugely effective in
creating stronger readers who enjoy reading.
*A few weeks into the year, we will begin word study.
On the first day of each week, students will choose 5
words to learn how to spell. These words will be
chosen from mistakes theyve made in their own
writing OR I will recommend appropriate words.
Students will use the word study procedure outlined in
class and on the website. Mastery of these words will
be determined through informal partner quizzes at the
end of each week (not graded) and review
assessments given periodically throughout the quarter
(graded).

*In order to respect students need for downtime and

family time, I will not ask students to do other
homework unless they have missing or incomplete
work to finish.
I have read and understand the rules and expectations for Literacy Connections. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to
contact my teacher if I have any questions or concerns. I know that this syllabus, along with class information and resources are
available to me on our class website (www.ChambersELA.weebly.com) at any time.

*All whole-class novels and movies will be approved by administration

and a parent permission slip will be sent home at least two weeks in
advance.

Student signature ________________________________

Parent signature ____________________________________

Wendell Middle
School
Ms. Chambers
Room 3511

2016-2017
CLASS MATERIALS

HOW TO CONTACT ME
Kchambers@wcpss.net

919) 365-1667

www.ChambersELA.weebly.com

Required:
3-ring binder to stay in the
classroom for a portfolio
Loose leaf paper
Multiple pencils
Two notebooks to stay in the
classroom
Two folders, one for classwork and
one for homework

Sign up for daily text or email alerts

about our class through Remind! This
website/app keeps your contact
information confidential, so you will
not see my phone number and I will
not see yours!
Text @1a708 to the number 81010
or go to www.remind.com and enter
the code 866f86

Classroom Wishlist:
Gently used childrens books and
magazines for our library
Colorful Expo markers
Glade Plug-in refills (Apple
Cinnamon is our favorite!)
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Sanitizing wipes
60 watt light bulbs for our
classroom lamps
Computer paper (white and colored)
Construction paper
Soft pencil cases
Any classroom supplies: pencils,
notebooks, folders, binders, lined paper,
crayons, markers, colored pencils, small
pencil sharpeners, pencil grips, erasers,
glue, tape

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR

CHILD?
Read at Home

Organization

Please ensure your child is

completing their word study
every night at least MondayThursday (beginning several
weeks into the year). Again,
see additional handouts and
my website for more
information or contact me
with questions.

35%

10%
Formative
Grades=
Word Study

55%

Minor Grades=
Regular Classwork

Independent Word
Study

*Whenever possible, have

a consistent time and
quiet place for your child
to read and do homework.
*Encourage your student
to use their agenda to
keep track of what they
need to accomplish each
day and over the week.
*Sign up for Remind
alerts and monitor teacher
websites and
PowerSchool frequently.
*I am available for
tutoring every
Wednesday from 3:154:15.

Major Grades=
Long-term
Assignments

Please ensure your child is

reading at least 20 minutes
a night, every night! See
the provided handouts and
my classroom website for
more information about
supporting your childs
reading development.

GRADES

Parents and students

are strongly encouraged
to check PowerSchool
on a weekly basis to
view the most current
grades for EVERY class.
Please contact me ASAP
for help with this!

LATE / INCOMPLETE WORK

ABSENTEE POLICY

YES, WE DID SOMETHING

*According to WMS policy, the following are the deductions to
IMPORTANT WHILE YOU WERE
be used for late assignments handed in within 10 school
ABSENT!
days of the original due date:
1 day late 10% penalty
*It is the students responsibility to
2-5 days late 20% penalty
2016-2017
check the While You Were Out bin to
6-10 days late 40% penalty
find any assignments missed. In this

*A student may still earn a zero if they fail to hand in the

assignment within the 10 day window. The original grade
should be on the assignment before deduction so the student
knows their level of mastery. Working Lunch may be
assigned to provide incentive for students to complete a
missing assignment. Working Lunch may be assigned until
the assignment is complete. If an assignment has been
corrected in class; an alternate, similar assignment may be
given.

bin students will find a note from me

explaining the days work and what he
or she needs to do to catch up.
* A student has two extra days to turn
in any work assigned on a day a
student was absent. If previously
assigned work was due on the day of
the absence, the work is due on the
first day the student returns.

CLASSWORK
*Literacy Connections is a resource language arts class that follows
the general ELA Common Core Curriculum but our lessons are
modified to meet student needs. Most days we will follow a workshop
format with either a reading or a writing focus. This method of
instruction has been proven effective by countless educators and
researchers.
*Each workshop will be launched with a 5-25 minute mini-lesson where
we will work as a whole group to develop a new understanding about
reading and/or writing. I may share some of my own writing or other
exemplar model texts and we will analyze the text together to learn
how to be a better reader and/or writer. We will also learn about
various strategies and how to apply them independently.
*After the mini-lesson, students will work independently or in small
groups to apply what they have learned. This will allow for the most
individualized instruction possible as I am able to rotate around and
work closely with students at their level. Students will also develop as
more independent readers and writers and will have more choice in
their learning than in a traditional teacher-led format.

RE-TEST
POLICY

*According to WMS
policy, students who
do not pass a test
will have an
opportunity to retest
provided they have
completed missing
work (classwork
and homework)
associated with the
unit and/or made
test corrections
within two weeks of
the original test
date.

HOMEWORK
*Students are expected to read at home for at least 20
minutes a night, preferably from a book that they bring
back and forth from school to home (since students
will have independent reading time in class!) Research
has shown this practice to be hugely effective in
creating stronger readers who enjoy reading.
*A few weeks into the year, we will begin word study.
On the first day of each week, students will choose 5
words to learn how to spell. These words will be
chosen from mistakes theyve made in their own
writing OR I will recommend appropriate words.
Students will use the word study procedure outlined in
class and on the website. Mastery of these words will
be determined through informal partner quizzes at the
end of each week (not graded) and review
assessments given periodically throughout the quarter
(graded).

*In order to respect students need for downtime and

family time, I will not ask students to do other
homework unless they have missing or incomplete
work to finish.
I have read and understand the rules and expectations for Literacy Connections. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to
contact my teacher if I have any questions or concerns. I know that this syllabus, along with class information and resources are
available to me on our class website (www.ChambersELA.weebly.com) at any time.

*All whole-class novels and movies will be approved by administration

and a parent permission slip will be sent home at least two weeks in
advance.

Student signature ________________________________

Parent signature ____________________________________