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Welcome to Mrs. Haase’s classroom!! 

I’m excited for another year of fun-filled learning!!  Concepts that will be covered this year include the following:

    • Holt-McDougal English Literature textbook(6-8) (We will read many stories together in class which will focus on key Common Core Concepts. In addition to reading these stories, students will be filling out worksheets that correspond to the stories and then tested over them).
    • CCC Making Meaning/Being a Writer (5th) The Making Meaning program focuses on reading comprehension strategies and vocabulary development. The Being a Writer program develops students' capacity to write well in a variety of genres using a writing process model.
    • Writing Workshop (students will write several essays throughout the year: Patriot's Pen, Opinion, Comparison-Contrast, Short Story, Literary Analysis, How-To Demonstration, Personal Narrative, Persuasive, and Research Report.
    • Grammar Units (students will work on key grammar concepts daily through DGP-Daily Grammar Practice).
    • Daily Grammar Practice (students will apply and understand grammar concepts on a daily basis).
    • Daily Writing Practice (students will work on writing different kinds of sentences, introductions, thesis statements, body paragraphs, and conclusions).
    • Literary Elements/Devices (students will recognize these elements/devices each day at the beginning of class).
    • Vocabulary Worksheets (students will be given these at the beginning of the week and it will be due at the end of the week).
    • Fastbridge Learning (students will be tested on their reading comprehension at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to monitor growth).
    • Reading Counts Books (All 6-8 Middle School students will be required to read two “Reading Counts" books per 9-week period and take a test over each one ~ totaling eight books for the year. Reading Counts books are marked with specific reading levels in the library). EXPECTATIONS: students need to read a 150+ page novel of their reading level or higher, select a book from the school library--if a book is from home, it needs to be approved by the teacher--and no graphic novels. The test score received will be worth a test grade for the English Literature class. All tests will be taken in the classroom with Mrs. Haase.​​

Looking forward to an AWESOME school year!!!

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Classroom Syllabus

Class = Middle School English Literature

Teacher = Mrs. Haase

Telephone = 583-2237 ext. 237

Website = www.scotland.k12.sd.us click on “staff directory” to find my individual website page

Email = laura.haase@k12.sd.us

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Welcome to a new school year! I am excited to have you in class and I am excited about all of the wonderful educational material we will be learning about this year! A little about myself…this will be my 25th year of teaching and my 18th year teaching in the Scotland School District. I received my bachelor's degree from Mount Marty College. My husband is John and we have two daughters: Addison and Macee. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I look forward to helping you be the best you can be!! J

 

Classroom Expectations

  • Students will always show respect for other people's ideas, feelings, and possessions.  They will raise their hand to speak or to ask questions and listen when either the teacher or a classmate is speaking.
  • Assignments are to be handed in completed and on time!  It is imperative that students stay on top of their homework and turn it in on time. Please ask me if you do not understand this expectation. Thanks!
  • When students come to class, they should have all necessary items with them and should be in their seats and ready to go when the bell rings. Be prepared! J
  • Students should use their student planner/notebook to fill in assignments/tests, etc. for the day/week. Stay organized! J
  • If students know that they are going to be absent, they must let the teacher know and make up the work in advance unless otherwise arranged.  If students are ill on the day an assignment or project is due (and they were here for the assignment), then they will be expected to hand it in upon returning.  All assignments are located in Google Classroom.
  • Gum, candy, pop (including flavored water, Gatorade, Powerade etc.), or any kind of food is NOT allowed unless provided by staff on special occasions.  Only water is allowed in the classroom. 
  • The desks and floor are not for garbage.  Have pride in yourself and your school! J
  • Students are reminded to be respectful of the teacher's property.  Please do not go behind the teacher's desk or go into the closet. Please do not open/close the classroom windows/shades and do not touch/operate the air-conditioner in the classroom, the teacher will take of this. Thanks!
  • Keep in mind, the grades received this year will be the grades earned by the student.  Students need to stay organized, seek help, study, & hand in work completed and on time.
  • NO cell phones will be allowed in school. *If you need to bring it, it MUST stay in your locker at all times.
  • NO backpacks will be allowed in the classroom. Backpacks MUST stay in your locker. You are given 5 minutes between classes to take care of your personal needs.
  • LET'S LEARN TOGETHER!!

Required student material

  • This year ALL assignments, quizzes, and tests will be completed through Google Classroom. Therefore, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you have your Chromebook with you at ALL times. You are welcomed to bring reading material (book, novel) in case you finish your assignment early. Remember you will have TWO books to read EACH 9 week period.  Utilize your time!

Course Textbook(s)

  • Holt-McDougal Literature Common Core Edition textbook - All information is in Google Classroom.
  • CCC Making Meaning/Being a Writer – is in Google Classroom. Student workbooks are in the classroom.
  • Vocabulary Worksheets – are in Google Classroom. We will go through the expectations at the beginning of the week and these are due at the end of the week. Worksheets can be turned in earlier than at the end of the week. It is the student's responsibility to complete these worksheets on their own.
           **Structure Sheet (roots, prefixes, suffixes): Vocabulary Structure Sheet.pdfVocabulary Structure Sheet.pdf

·   Daily Grammar Practice – students will apply and understand grammar concepts through the DGP workbook. Each day, students will have a different task to complete with the week’s sentence. At the beginning of class, I will check student's completion, and then we will go over the sentence and correct any errors. Periodic quizzes may be given to check for concept understanding. Students need to come to class with the work completed in order to receive the point for the day.

                          5th grade DGP.pdf

                        6th grade DGP.pdf6th grade DGP.pdf                             7th grade DGP.pdf7th grade DGP.pdf                                     8th grade DGP.pdf8th grade DGP.pdf   

·     Daily Writing Practice – students will work on writing different kinds of sentences, introductions, thesis statements, body paragraphs, and conclusions.​ These worksheets are located and assigned in Google Classroom.

                

Grading Expectations

  • ·       Worksheets (for Literature stories) are worth 20 points each
  • ·      DGP (Daily Grammar Practice) is worth 1 point per day

  • ·      Weekly Vocabulary worksheets are worth 20 points each
  • ·      Reading Counts tests are worth 100 points each (2 books/9-week period is required ~ total of 8 books will need to be read for the school year)
  • ·      Random quizzes are worth 10 points each
  • ·      Essays are worth 50 points each
  • ·     English Literature Tests are worth 100 points each (if a D/F is received on a test, the student will retake an alternative test and the average of both tests will be the new test grade). It will be up to the student to make arrangements to come in and retake that test.​

Grading Scale

·         93-100 = A

·         84-92 = B

·         75-83 = C

·         66-74 = D

·         65 and below = F

*My website has copies of the DGP workbook, assignments, and vocabulary structure sheet

*All worksheets are located on Google Classroom as well​

Patriot’s Pen

Conducted nationwide, this VFW sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy with the prospect of winning U.S. savings bonds. The top 46 national winners all receive at least a $1000 savings bond. The first-place award is currently a $10,000 savings bond plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and a parent or guardian. All Scotland middle school students will participate in this competition and a grade will be given as one of their class assignments. The deadline for this competition is usually November 1st each year.

Spelling Bee

If students are interested in participating in the local Spelling Bee, try-outs will be held ​​​sometime in January. The regional Spelling Bee is sometime in February. Specific dates will be shared when I receive the information from the regional Spelling Bee coordinators.


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LET’S LEARN TOGETHER!!!                                                               

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