Language Arts Year 1

FYI: Students who have made the 1,000,000 word goal will now have the option of choosing to do the weekly Reading  Log, or to not do it. Student who choose not to do it will be exempted from the grade. However, students still are required to take quizzes on three AR books, make their individual goals, and help the class reach the class goal.

Students who eventually do make the 1,000,000 word goal will also have the option of not doing a Reading Log as soon as the 1,000,000 word goal has been met.

Below is a link to free FCAT practice for reading and math.  All students are encoraged to take advantage of this free interactive web site.

 www.linkstolearning.com

The third quarter AR Report will be going home on Friday, April 5th. Please sign at the bottom and return by Monday, April 8th. Some students have received a weekly page increase. For those students only, a letter will be attached to the report.

The final draft of the Choose Your Own Adventure Story is due by Tuesday, March 19th. Ten bonus points can be earned by turning the project in before Tuesday, March 19th.

All AR goals need to be met by March 22nd. This includes meeting the 750,000 word goal, taking three AR quizzes, and meeting individual and class goals.

Welcome to the Howard Middle School magnet program! I am looking forward to this year, and I am excited to get started. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer, is refreshed, and ready to start an awesome year. We will be doing many different types of writing from paragraphs to creative stories. There will be one creative writing project each nine weeks. Besides writing, we will be reading a variety of different materials from short stories, novels and informational texts. Included in the reading will be different types of genre. Besides the reading and writing components, we will be covering grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary. Every student is required to do outside reading, take AR tests, reach an individual point goal, and reach a specific number of words read for each nine weeks.

On my teacher web page, there is the syllabus for Language Arts 1. Hard copies will be available upon request.

The summer project needs to be completed by the beginning of school. Please do not bring the completed project the first week of school.  I will start collecting the projects the second week of school. Before the project is collected, I will go over it, answer questions, and give time to make any major changes before it is collected for a grade. I will also let everyone know when to start bringing in the novels that were checked out from school. Please do not bring the books the first week of school.

 Please check the Parent Portal to check your child's grade in language arts. Most grades will be posted within five school days. Larger assignments, like projects and demand writings, will most often be posted in two to three weeks.

All students are required to read three new books during the first nine weeks and take AR reading tests on those books during the first nine weeks. All AR quizzes need to be completed by Friday, October 19. Please remember that taking three tests is a minimum requirement.  After meeting his or her individual reading  goal for the first nine weeks,  a student may read any book he or she  wishes, or may choose to continue to read the AR  books to achieve more points. After every AR reading test is taken, the test's result can be reviewed and the total number of words read will be shown.

In order to help ensure a year's worth of growth, all students should read a minimum of 1,000,000 by the end of the sixth grade.  In order to meet the goal of 1,000,000 words, a minimum of 250,000 words should be read every nine weeks.The total number of words read  for the the nine weeks will been sent home at the end of each nine weeks. The Words Read sheet should be reviewed, signed by a parent, and returned to Mrs. Fondots. (Only books on the AR list  can be counted toward the 1,000,000 word goal as the program keeps an up-to-date count of how many words have been read after a test has been taken.) The AR Reading Tests will count as quiz grades.

Class goals will be posted.  The classes reaching their set goal will be rewarded by having a popcorn/game day.

Individual  goals will be given each nine weeks.  These goals must also be met by the end of the nine weeks.  Meeting the individual goal will count as a test grade.

Please check the Language Arts/Homework folder for returned work. Also, check the homework planner to see if assignments are being written down. Homework is assigned twice a week. Planners may be stamped or a note may be written if a homework assignment has not been completed.  A parent signature is required if the planner  has been stamped or a note has been written. A letter may be sent home to be signed if the weekly Reading Log is not completed.

Please encourage your children to read. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

  IB  Community Service Project: Pop Tabs for the Ronald Mcdonald House for Mrs. Fondots' homeroom

Please save all pop tabs from home, work, friends, and from relatives. Please turn in  to Mrs. Fondots during homeroom. We were the school winner last year with close to 50 pounds of pop tabs.  Our homeroom won a pizza party.

Every pop tab counts! This contest will continue until the middle of April when the pop tabs will be weighed, and the winning homeroom will be announced. The winner will receive a pizza party. The tabs will be taken to Orlando, and the school's total amount will be weighed. As the winning school HMS received a gift card of $500.00 and a trophy.