Eighth Grade English!
Mr. Coward 			 Room D5 	             	Laguna Middle School		               Fall 2010

The Web Site!    
http://school.mrcoward.com 
Everything you need to know in one handy location! Every handout! Every quiz. ALL the homework. Check your grade! More! 
THE GREAT BOOKS!
Call of the Wild, Maus, Nothing but the Truth, more! (See page 2.)
THE TECHNOLOGY!
Clickers! Online Discussions! Moodle?
KBAR!
It’s fun! It’s every day! It’s the law! 
(See page 2.)
Late Work?
Don't Go There!  One day late = -20% Two days late = -30%  Three days late = -40%.
After that, don't bother.
Grades!
Do the work and the grade
will take care of itself.
Homework (including KBAR, vocabulary, reading questions, grammar sheets, etc.) is the major part of the grade. We will also be writing several major essays. Spelling/vocabulary/grammar tests will happen almost every Friday. There will be daily warm ups. We will be completing a research paper during the second semester. The various district assessments will also be considered part of the grade. Grading Scale:  A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%. Check your grade by clicking "What's My Grade?" on the web page. 
Please sign to show that you have read and understand these expectations.

Student Signature: ______________
Parent Signature: _______________
WELCOME!
This is English Eight. My name is Mr. Coward, and I have been teaching seventh grade at Laguna since 1993. This is a literature-based, standards-based class.  I emphasize thinking skills, vocabulary, and writing. We will use technology in a variety of ways, ranging from using CPS “clickers” for our warm ups, quizzes, and tests to writing wikis (web pages) and communicating through online discussion boards. This is also a skills class where practice makes perfect. Homework is the main part of the grade.  
(see “Seventh Grade English," page 2)
CLASS RULES!
 Luckily, there aren’t that many to remember!

1.	Always bring your spiral notebook and something to write with, EVERY DAY, because we will be writing every day. All classwork and KBAR goes in this notebook, and it will be audited for completeness from time to time.
2.	Always bring to class whatever book we are reading. (You'll need it, and there's a penalty if you don't bring it.)
3.	Always respect the opinions of others and their right to be heard. That means no interruptions or insults. (Also, no “This is boring!” or “That’s not Fair!” This class is neither boring nor unfair.)
4.	ALWAYS DO YOUR HOMEWORK! 
It is a continuation of what we do in class as well as an introduction to tomorrow.  (Also it is the single most important part of your grade!)
5.	LISTEN and WATCH and PAY ATTENTION! 
6.	
CLASS NOVELS! (Subject to Change!)
Nothing but the Truth  Avi
The Pearl  John Steinbeck
The Call of the Wild  Jack London
Flowers for Algernon  Daniel Keyes
The Pigman  Paul Zindel
*Maus  Art Speigelman
*Diary of Anne Frank
PAGE TWO…    
K.B.A.R.
K.B.A.R . stands for Kick Back and Read. KBAR has several purposes; namely to get you in the habit of reading daily and to improve your reading and thinking.
First: Get a book; one you like and will look forward to reading. If you get into a book and you don’t like it, get a new one. Ask me for suggestions, ask your sister. Ask the librarian.
Second: Read Monday through Thursday for at least 20 minutes (in a row) each day.
Third: Fill out your reading chart, and get it signed.
Fourth: Respond to your reading in your spiral notebook. These responses should be your thoughts, reactions, connections, and questions about what you are reading. The key here is to think about what you read; as long as you are thoughtful, you have much freedom in regard to how you respond. Read the “55 Ways to Respond to a Book” handout for more ideas.
    This notebook will be used for all reading responses and classwork, and should be a reflection of you as a reader and a thinker. 
It also figures heavily in your grade: approximately half.

K.B.A.R. RESPONDING:
DO NOT SUMMARIZE!
React.  Why do you love/hate this book? Why should someone else read it? What would make it better? What would you have done in the same situations?
Question.  What confuses you? Ask the author or main character 10 questions.
Evaluate.  How does this book compare with other books you’ve read? What is the author’s point?
Predict.  What will happen next? What makes you think so? What “should” happen next? Write a new ending.
Quote or point out. Quote an interesting or important part of the book. Why is this important? Why is it cool? What’s the point? Why is it a key line?

Rubric for KBAR Responses
•	Can tell you've read
•	Specific/uses examples
•	Shows thinking
•	Little Summarization
•	Effort
KBAR FAQ:  
Can I make up missing signatures? Ummm. No. You can, however, do extra KBAR over the weekend to make up (most of) the missing points. Read Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and get your chart signed, and you can get 15/20 points back. 
Can I get all four of my signatures on Thursday night?  
Ummm. No. The nightly thing is sort of the whole idea behind KBAR. You need to get your chart signed every day after you have read. If you forget, see question #1.
Can I make up missing responses? 
Yes. You can get up to 15 of the 20 points back by showing me your response on the following Monday. 
What if I finish my book in the middle of the week? 
You get one night off to look for a new one. Write, "Looking for book," on the  appropriate line in your chart, and get it signed. By the next night, you should  be reading a new book. 
If I do that, which book should I respond to? 
It doesn't matter. Either one, or both.
Can I do 2 KBARS per day to make up missing ones? 
No. Weekends and holidays are the only times to do make ups.

What to Do if You are Absent: 
Go Online!
1. Do your KBAR! You don’t have to call or ask anyone about this one. Yes, you have to do it if you’re sick.
2. Check the Web Page: school.mrcoward.com  or  lams.slcusd.org  The web page is updated every day by 7:30 p.m. If you have web access, you should be able to come back to class almost without missing a beat.(If you don't have web access, call your Study Buddy!) The web page is also available on all the computers in the school, so you can get to school a little early and find out what you’ve missed. Then come to me if/when you have any questions! Pretty much everything we do is available on the web page; from spelling tests to writing ideas to your grade.  Check it out!

SEVENTH GRADE ENGLISH 
(continued from page 1)
We will be enjoying many activities this year including: Web Page/Wiki  creation! MOODLE?! Research  paper�\YOU pick the topic! Jeopardy!  Science fiction! Writing with computers! Lively discussions―think on your feet! Fun with grammar, spelling, and vocabulary!