Andrews Middle School

3000 Mystic Valley Parkway

Medford, Ma 02155
781-393-2228
Mrs. Levy
6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Learning Disabilities Program
elevy@medford.k12.ma.us Septemberm, 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to an exciting, supportive, yet challenging 2017-18 school year! Eighth grade and 7th grade
parents, welcome back. This year I am teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade English and Social Studies in
Room 326.

My classroom provides the students with a positive, structured, learning environment where they can
share their ideas and opinions without fear of being criticized by me or their peers. This week we
created the classroom rules that we will follow for the entire year. Being polite and respectful to one
another is one of our most important rules.

Learning is difficult for most of us. I tell my students that when they are struggling and are frustrated,
its okay because thats how it feels when youre in the learning process. When something is easy, it
means youve learned it, you know it, and its time to move on to learn something else. Often I ask a
student who has grasped a concept to help a peer. I believe that you never learn as well as when you
have to teach another.

One of my goals this year is to help my students recognize their responsibility in their learning. They
need to realize that reading something once often isnt enough and that the notes they have
copied/received are to be used as a reference when completing class work and homework. Another one
of my goals is to help the students recognize how they learn best and to be able to advocate for
themselves.

Homework
I usually assign homework Monday through Thursday. Once in awhile, I will assign weekend homework.
I will give weekend homework as a consequence to students who are not completing their homework
during the week. Everyday students will be given time to copy the homework assignments from the
board into their agendas. If they are having difficulty doing that, Mrs. Cross or I will help them.
Please check the agenda everyday to make sure your child has completed the homework assignments.
The students do not have any study periods in their schedules so that they should not be telling you
that they completed their homework in school. Feel free to write notes to me in the agenda because I
will be checking it every day.

Grading
Below are estimated grading percentages. The percentages may change depending on the material
being taught that grading quarter. As a Special Needs educator, I also take into consideration the
students IEP and cognitive ability, as well as, the students motivation to do ones best.

Social Studies ELA

Content Tests/Quizzes 30% Writing Samples 20%
Spelling/Vocabulary 30% Tests/Quizzes from Reading book 25%
Homework 15% Spelling/Vocabulary 25%
Participation/Class work 25% Participation/Class work 20%
Homework 10%
Social Studies
The 6th and 7th grade students will use the text Exploring Our World, as well as, other supplementary
materials to study geography.
The 8th grade students will study four major concepts of American History: Colonization, Westward
Movement, Revolutionary War, and the Civil War.
The text they will use is The American Nation, as well as, other supplementary materials.

English
All grades will read material from the major genres of literature including novels, short stories, plays and
poetry. In addition to reading literature, the students will learn/review sentence structure/ grammar
using Framing Your Thoughts, study spelling, vocabulary, and the writing process.

This weekend I hope you have an opportunity to purchase the school supplies listed below . Please send
in your childs zippered binder, index tabs and loose-leaf paper, so that I can set-up their binders with
them. I have the students use this binder every day for all their class work papers, homework, notes
and study guides. Having everything in one binder is to help/teach the students to organize their
materials.

Materials
- 3 inch zippered binder
- three-hole loose-leaf paper
- two packages of index tabs
- three packages of small lined index cards
- pencils and pens
- colored pencils
- one or two boxes of tissues (kids with colds and/or allergies can use an entire box in a day)
- small pencil sharpener
- highlighters

Please E-mail or call with any questions or concerns you have. Its important that the students know
that you and I are working closely together. I am looking forward to working again with those of you I
know and to begin working with those of you I have yet to meet. This year will be exciting and
productive for all of us!

Regards,

Eleanor Levy

Please cut along the dotted line and have the student return the section below.
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I have read the above letter regarding Mrs. Levys class.

STUDENT NAME _________________________________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE_____________________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN EMAIL __________________________________________________