January 15, 2014

Dear Parents and Students, Welcome back to Creekside Middle School for the New Year! 2014 brings new resolutions, ideas, and changes. This is no different in ELA 8. In order to create an environment wherein students can benefit the most from learning, adjustments have been made to classroom structure, management, grading, and organization. These changes have been implemented to foster positive student relationships, improve student work, increase class time for activities, and create a system whereby students may be rewarded for doing their work, studying, and acting appropriately in class. The following changes have been made: Line Up- Students are asked to line up alphabetically. This signals a transition from the social atmosphere outside the classroom to the work atmosphere in the classroom. Structure- Students now have a structured Silent Reading, Vocabulary, Review, and Lesson time. In addition, students have a 5 minute break as a reward for good classroom behavior. Discipline- Individual Level 1 (Warning) Non-verbal including eye contact, proximity to student Level 2 (Warning) Verbal including name of activity and/or name of student. Level 3 (Discipline) Student sent outside. Behavioral talk. Time After Class Level 4 (Discipline) Student sent outside. Parent contact made. After School Detention. Level 5 (Discipline) Student sent to office. Parent contact made. After School Detention. Level 6 (Contract) Continued behavior results in a contract made between student and teacher In some instances, large groups of students will exhibit bad behavior in class resulting in the following Losing time off of break Losing talking privileges during an activity Spending time after class

Grading- Assessments and Assignments will be split into the categories below Assessments Tests: 25% Assignments Classwork: 20% Assessments Reading Reports: 10% Assignments Homework: 10% Assessments Quizzes: 10% Assignments Participation: 10% Assessments Research Projects: 15% All grades are reflected on Powerschool within these categories. Students should also be keeping an up to date assignment log of their work in their ELA binder. Organization- Students should have a binder, notebook, folder, and paper at all times in class. Students are allowed to leave these items in class to prevent losing them or having to carry them around. Bi-weekly progress reports will be sent out and signed by parents in order to show student work and improvement. I will be sending out a schedule of important due dates for the rest of the semester before the end of the month. In order to communicate I will use letters home requiring signatures in addition to Power Announcements. If you have questions or would like to discuss any of these changes with me, please email me at ckingsland@patterson.k12.ca.us . Thank you for your time. We are off to a great start. Lets have a wonderful 2014. Mr. Kingsland ELA 8 Creekside Middle School Please sign and return to Mr. Kingsland to check off in the gradebook. Afterwards, this copy should be returned to and remain with the parent/guardian. I am aware of the above changes in ELA for Semester 2 Student Name: _______________________________ Student Signature: _______________________________ Parent/Guardian Name: _______________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________