8th Grade Homeroom

Course Description

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I want to welcome your child to my homeroom class warmly. As we embark on this new academic year, I am optimistic and excited about the possibilities. I look forward to working with you to ensure a successful academic journey for your child.

I would appreciate your involvement in this process. Please take the time to review these together with your child. 

COURSE CONTENT

Our homeroom class plays a vital role in helping students succeed in their academic courses. We focus on improving their listening comprehension, independent reading comprehension, work habits, and cooperation skills. The content of our homeroom class will include the common core state standards for English and your child’s individual goals and objectives as in their Falcon Data Portfolio. The California Common Core State Standards will include the following skills:

English Language Arts Concepts such as:

  • Reading Fluency 
  • Vocabulary Development
  • Listening Comprehension
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management skills
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
  1. Follow directions immediately and respectfully. 
  2. Arrive on time with all required materials.
  3. Raise your hands and calmly wait for permission.
  4. Stay in your seat unless you have permission.
  5. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
  6. All snacks, food, and drinks are stored before entering the class.
INSTRUCTIONAL CONSEQUENCES
Instructional Consequences for breaking a rule may include:
  • Change of seat
  • Extra Instructional Time (nutrition, lunch, or after school)
  • Telephone call to parent conference
  • Family/Teacher Conference 
  • Referral to the Counselor/ Assistant Principal
  • Parent conference meeting to discuss behavior plan
  • Classroom suspension
EQUITABLE GRADING & INSTRUCTION RUBRIC
Each Homeroom task and Homeroom assignment is graded on the following scale:

Range 

Letter Grade

Points

Description

90%

A - Excellent 

4

Mastery

70%

B- Excellent

3

Proficient

50%

C- - Satisfactory

2

Basic Proficient

30%

D- Satisfactory

1

Limited Proficient

0%

Fail- Unsatisfactory

0

No evidence of Proficiency 

WORK HABITS

Work habit grades will be determined by the student’s ability to complete AR quizzes, Falcon Portfolio, Digital Tasks, and other Schoolwide assignments punctually, have materials with them at each class meeting, and participate on-task.

COOPERATION

Cooperation grade is based on students’ adherence to class rules, attitude, accountability for their charged device, and conduct towards teachers and other students. 

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is critical. Every day, we will learn new books, articles, and passages that build upon each other. Each day that is missed can cause your child to fall further behind. Please encourage them to come to school daily.  Our daily warm-up activities are a review and cannot be made up. Other assignments missed may be given to take home to complete. 

HOMEWORK POLICY

This class aims to help your child succeed in being accountable for their tasks, assignments, and classes. Our work is designed to assist them in completing their Reading assignments independently and accurately. Homework assignments include notes sent home for parent signature and makeup assignments—if students are absent, they should request makeup work.

Good work habits and good behavior will be encouraged. I expect each student to do their best in all areas. Cooperation, active participation, and a positive attitude are all essential.