Welcome to ms. Amore’s 8th Grade Language and Literature class!

Meet your teacher  Hello, everyone! I am so excited to be your teacher! My name is Ms. Amore, and it is my first year here at KMS, so it is a big year for all of us! I was born and raised in New York, but moved to Arizona to go to college. I have a cat named Winnie, and Golden Retriever named Dooley, a loving family, and fiancé named Jack. My fiancé and I LOVE Disney! I went to Arizona State University before becoming a teacher. I love reading, writing, cooking, and traveling.

What can you expect this year? Pearson myPerspectives textbook focuses on student-centered learning: Unit Introduction Whole Class Learning Small Group Learning Independent Learning Novels tied to unit themes

8th Grade Language and Literature Additional Novel/Literature Study House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass Quarterly Projects Based on independently-read novels Multi-Media Menu of choices for analysis and presentation

Units this year Quarter One: Rites of Passage Quarter Two: The Holocaust Quarter Three: What Matters Quarter Four: Human Intelligence

Grading and Late Work Assignment Policies RAW scores translate into a percentage once entered as such in the grade book:         90 - 100% = A 80 - 89% = B 70 - 79% = C 60 - 69% = D 0 - 59% = F SCALE scores translate to a percentage once entered as such in the grade book: 4 = 100 3.5 = 95 3 = 90 2.5 = 80 2 = 70 1.5 = 65 1 = 60 Grade Weighting 80% = Assessments (including final writing assignments and projects)    20% = Classwork and Homework Posting of Student Grades Grades will be posted in the Parent Portal regularly. Please check student grades there on a regular basis.  Late work, unless absent or prearranged: Five points off per day late. Won’t be accepted after 1 week. (Special Circumstances may be arranged) Absent work: Extension for work accepted 1 day per each day absent.

Some other rules and procedures Like we said earlier…NO PHONES. If I or any other teacher or staff member on campus sees a phone, it is being taken to the front office. This is a school-wide rule! No food and drinks in class, and any drinks bought before school must be finished before you get to campus You will line up outside my door before class, and I will be the one to let you in  Backpacks should hang on the backs of your chairs When going to the restroom, give me one of your passes, and sign out! Always be prepared for class discussions on the things we are reading, and always respect your classmates’ opinions during those discussions

Let’s have an amazing year!! I want there to be a mutual respect between us all year long. If you follow the rules I and the school have set, and always come to class prepared to learn, I think we will have a fantastic school year together! I am here for each and every one of you, so please, never feel afraid to reach out to me with any sort of problem you are having. I want you to see me as not only your teacher, but as someone who truly cares for you. Let’s go 8th graders!!