Language Arts Classroom Information Sheet

Heres some helpful information about Ms. Bacas 7th Grade Language Arts classroom!
Homework:
Expect homework 1-3 times per week.
Homework isnt busy work. Its necessary for success in language arts.
Continued independent work from class
Preparatory work for the next days class (e.g. Reading a short story to prepare for a class
discussion)
Homework is posted daily on my classroom blog.
My blog can be found on the RTMS website under the Homework tab.

Study Sessions:
My study sessions are Thursdays after school from 3:50-4:20pm.
Every teacher holds a weekly study session for students needing help with a particular aspect of the
class. This is not tutoring and should be attended on an as-needed basis.
If you feel that your student needs some additional help on a particular skill that they just havent quite
mastered, please encourage your student to attend a study session.
Please remind your student to send a courtesy email letting me know that they will be attending the
study session.
I may ask your student to attend a study session to make up missed instruction, complete an assessment,
redo an assignment, etc.
If your child needs to attend at a different day/time, please set up an appointment with me.

Absences:
When students are absent from school, they need to make up the missed instruction as well as the
class work. and any homework. It is the responsibility of the student to ask for what they have missed.
As soon as possible, students need to check the daily blog to see what instruction and class work they
missed. They need to follow any and all directions on the blog (i.e. directions for completing an
assignment) as well as checking in with me about what they missed.
Students should attend a study session in order to make up the missed instruction.
For predetermined absences, students should notify their teachers and make arrangements to make up
the missed instruction, classwork and homework upon return.

Snacks & Drinks:

Snacks will be limited in the classroom.
Water is allowed. It must be in a container that has a lid.
Soda and energy drinks are prohibited.

Cell Phones
If students bring a cell phone to class, it must be silent (not on vibrate) and face down on their desk -
not in their lap, pocket, etc.
Students may not take their cell phones with them to the restroom, office, library, etc.
Students do NOT need to have a cell phone in class.
If you need to get in contact with your child, please call the front office.

Chromebooks (Students):
Students need to make sure that their Chromebook is charged every day (especially for 1st and 2nd
period)!
Students need to bring their Chromebook and charger to school every day!
Students are expected to treat their Chromebook as a tool for learning. They will need to follow the
classroom guidelines for using their Chromebook. If students are misusing their Chromebook in class,
they may be given pencil/paper replacement tasks for a set time.
Chromebooks (Parents):
Know your students password and review the work they are doing often (daily/weekly). Most of our
assignments will be in Google Classroom. You can look at my homework blog to know the assignments
and homework your child is working on.
Just because an assignment is marked Turned In in Google Classroom doesnt necessarily mean that
the student completed the assignment. Open up the document and look for completed work..

Stay informed and Communicate

Check Homework Blog Daily
This will allow you to help your student stay on-top of completing assignments and homework
by asking specific questions (e.g. Did you finish the second paragraph of your essay? instead
of just, Do you have any language arts homework?.)
Check Infinite Campus Weekly
Dont wait for surprises at the end of the quarter, semester or year. If your student has
assignments that are missing, incomplete or received a score of 1, they can, and should, redo
them. They might need to also attend a study session for more help.
Infinite Campus is my way of communicating with you about how well your student is mastering
the standards of 7th grade language arts. When in IC, be sure to look at the grades for language
arts, not just the recent posts at the top. If you have questions about something, please contact
me.
Email is Best
Students:
I strongly encourage students to email their teachers if they have questions about
homework, class work or class-related issues. I do my best to return homework emails
right away. (Please email before 8:00 pm)
Now is the time for them to learn this self-advocacy skill.
Parents:
During the school day, I check my email periodically and will respond within 24 hours.
If you feel that it would be best to speak over the phone, send me an email with the
number for which you wish to be reached, and I will call you during my planning time or
after school.
Classroom supplies needed everyday:
Charged Chromebook
Pencils and pens
A pocket folder
Spiral or Composition Notebook
Highlighters
Headphones

Thank you for your support!

Three cheers for a great school year!
Ms. Bernadette Baca