M. Shepard Welcomes Parents and Friends To the Doral Academy OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, September 19, 2015

M. Shepard’s Class Schedule: Period 1 Period 6 Periods 2 and 4 Periods 3, 5, and 7 English I Grade 9 Regular Language Arts I Gr 7 Advanced Language Arts 2 Gr 8 Regular Language Arts 2 Gr 8 Advanced

The Main Areas of Schooling are reading, writing, grammar, speaking, listening, and language. We will also promote critical thinking, analyzing, and synthesizing skills through the use of a literary rich curriculum of fiction, non-fiction, and current events.

ThinkPads are offered to students in order to provide opportunities for- Research Collaboration with peers Publishing work Accessing curriculum (Study Sync) Literary skills (Reading Plus)

Student Materials: Everyday Writing Tools: BLUE, RED, YELLOW, and LEAD 3-Ring Binder with Dividers The novel for that nine weeks

Grading Criteria: Tests = 40% Projects/Essays =30 % Quizzes = 20% Class Work/Home Work = 10%

Class Projects and Bonus Work: As each lesson ensues, the teacher will give the student assignments for his or her BONUS PROJECT. Each project is due by a specific date for that nine weeks. It is up to the student to choose to do this, or not.

Weekly Academic Participation and Effort Grade Each student’s daily class participation is noticed and recorded. A grade will be earned each week for Completing work on time, Reading aloud, Focusing on classwork, Co-operating with others, Contributing to the lesson, and General respect and courtesy to people and property.

Class Rules: Show respect to yourself, to others, and to property. Seat yourself and take out your HW and prepare for the lesson. Use proper timing when raising your hand or speaking up. Be nice. Put away cell phones and other electronic devices. No eating (food, snacks, drinks, etc.) Clean up after yourself.

7 th Grade Novels: Quarter 1- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Quarter 2- The Giver by Lois Lowry Quarter3- HarrietTubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry Quarter 4- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

8 th Grade Novels: Quarter 1-Lord of the Flies by William Golding Quarter 2-The Diary of Anne Frank: a Play by France Goodrich Quarter 3-The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Quarter 4-The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass

9 th Grade Novels: Quarter 1-To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Quarter 2-The Odyssey by Homer Quarter 3-Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Quarter 4-TheTragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Computer Based Weekly Assignments READING PLUS Website: Click "Student Login" to log in Student username: mdcps(no spaces and the student ID # - example: mdcps ) Student password: Student's ID # (example: ) Site code: doral Reading Plus will be assigned weekly and must be completed BY SUNDAY at midnight. Reports will be printed Monday morning and will count as a weekly QUIZ grade. Below you will see the details for grading: A grade of an A is given for weekly assignments completed with an 80% comprehension score or higher. A grade of an F is given for weekly assignments completed but with a comprehension score below 80%. A grade of a Z (zero) is given for no completed weekly assignments. It is either an "A", an "F", or a "Z" grade. Nothing else. No exceptions.

Study-Sync STUDYSYNC StudySync is our new course textbook. It is an electronic data base of literature, grammar, vocabulary, and skills. StudySync is used in class everyday and homework assignments are assigned from here as well. Redemption Code F6ER-KO67-TFDO 1. Go to 2. Select "Create a new account" button. 3. Enter the Redemption Code shown above and click Register. 4. Enter your First Name and Last Initial then click Finish. 5. Write down your Username and Password.

I will always respond to you through or through your student

Expectations: I expect a professional, courteous, stimulating, yet pleasant classroom interaction. Please and Thank You are still magic words You are always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all- and don’t write it on FB, either! Be the type of person that you want to meet.

And remember the GOLDEN RULE- Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You!

Thank you for your interest and support in your child’s education! It is a pleasure to serve you!