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

2. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Grading and Late Work Assignment Policies
RAW scores translate into a percentage once entered as such in the grade book:        
% = A % = B % = C % = D % = 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.

10. 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

11. 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!!