1. Countdown  Grab a syllabus from a teacher on your way in!  One per child please.  Have a seat in any desk that looks comfortable.  Yes, I realize they’re all uncomfortable.

2. Welcome Parents! Ms. Mourdock and Ms. Abney’s Language Arts Class

3. Any Questions??  Feel free to jot any questions or comments down on a sticky and place them on the “parking lot!”  Please include contact information, so we can get in touch with you.

4. A little about Ms. Mourdock… HTMS Student 1999-2002 Kennesaw State University 2010 Returns to HTMS 2014! McCleskey Middle School 2011-2014

5. A little about Ms. Abney…  This is my 15th year in education.  I have taught at all grade levels and subjects.  This is my first year at Hightower Trail and my first year teaching at the middle school level.  I am an avid sports fan and spend much of my free time at sporting events with my family.  I come from a big basketball family!  I also love to bake and spend many hours in my kitchen trying new recipes as well as old ones, surprising friends and family with treats all the time!  I am excited to be here and look forward to teaching your kids!

6. Ms. Yura Kim  Graduate from Walton HS  Current senior at KSU  Bachelors of Science in Middle Grades Education  reading and language arts.  Student teaching at HTMS fall 2015

7. Expectations 1. Be present and ready to learn. 2. Have a positive attitude to achieve your goals. 3. Use respectful language and tones. 4. Always put forth your best effort. 5. Follow teacher directions.

8. Journaling and IAN (Interactive Notebook)  Students will use their journal/IAN on a near daily basis.  Unless needed for a specific reason, they live here.  Some journals are fun, some are thought provoking, but all serve academic purposes.  IAN is where we will take notes about the contents we’re working on.

10. How will my student be graded?  Essays/Projects/T ests  35%  Tests, essays, projects  Quizzes  35%  Academic Vocabulary, Writing Skills Grammar  Classwork  25%  Classwork, warm- ups, DLR, notebook checks  Homework 5 %  Primarily completion

11. How can I help my child?  Be aware of upcoming tests and help them study in a productive way for them as an individual.  How many ways is our class smart?  Based of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence.  Class activities!  Table Talk Ideas

12. Keeping In Touch  Agenda for homework  Blog for daily assignments  Reading and Writing with Huskies Reading and Writing with Huskies  Synergy for grades  E-mail either of us with any concerns  Autumn.mourdock@cobbk12.org Autumn.mourdock@cobbk12.org  Lucy.abney@cobbk12.org Lucy.abney@cobbk12.org

13. If you wish to donate…  Feel free to grab a sticky note from the door if you wish to make a donation.  All items are GREATLY appreciated.