WELCOME TO 7TH GRADE HUMANITIES AT
BEAVER LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear Students and Parents:
Welcome to 7th grade Humanities or LA in room B-3! I hope you all had a lovely summer and are ready for a fresh and exciting new year! We all will work closely together so each student reaches his or her highest learning potential.
Your 7th grader will be expected to have the following materials all year long for Humanities classes:
Black and blue pens (the darker the better) Lined notebook paper 1 spiral notebook
Colored pencils Red correcting pens Index cards ( have
Highlighters (blue, orange, green, pink) Ruler at least 5 with you
Pencils Subject dividers all times; more will
Pen or pencil pouch 3-ring Binder be needed for
Washington State road map (3rd tri) large eraser special projects
Sticky notes for literature study It is critical that students maintain good standing in Language Arts and Social Studies. Homework will usually be assigned five days a week with weekend assignments or projects as necessary to cover our yearlong curriculum. Please help your student develop a system for time management to achieve his or her learning goals. The BLMS Humanities team maintains a strict “No Late Work” policy. In the event of an absence, students have one makeup day for each day absent. If your student is absent for more than two days, I highly recommend that a friend pick up homework or call us to request that it be left in the office for pick-up. Homework assignments can be checked on my website at the BLMS homepage (www.blms.issaquah.wednet.edu).
The grading scale for Humanities is the scale used by all teachers at BLMS which can be found on page 22 of your child’s planner.
I look forward to a productive and enlightening year with your child and you!
Sincerely,
Michele Wells
Mrs. Wells’ 7th Grade LA/SS
2007—2008
Course Expectations
Room: B-3 Email: wellsm@issaquah.wednet.edu Phone: 837-6356
Textbooks: Language Arts—Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes; Social Studies: History Alive! Medieval Times, Washington in the Pacific Northwest
Novels: Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman, Blood Red Horse by Frances Temple, Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean, and Ghost Canoe by Will Hobbs
Homework Helper:
Mrs. Wells will post homework assignments daily on the website: www.blms.issaquah.wednet.edu
Class Expectations:
Mrs. Wells expects all students to use appropriate behavior in the classroom and to work to the best of his or her abilities at all times. Students will follow the rules and discipline procedures outlined in the student planner. In addition, all students are expected to follow these classroom rules:
1. Be in your seat when the bell rings. You are considered late one second after the clock turns to the starting time of class.
2. Bring all books and materials to class. (Including your planner.)
3. No personal grooming during class time.
4. Sit in your assigned seat daily.
5. Follow directions the first time they are given.
Classroom Procedures:
1. Mrs. Wells dismisses the class, not the bell or clock. Please do not pack up until one minute before the bell rings. Please do not line up at the door.
2. Please keep all corrected papers in your binder or at home when your binder is full. They are used to double check your grade printouts and to study for tests.
3. Please turn off all cell phones and leave them in your lockers.
4. Keep all legs of your chair on the floor.
5. Each student will be allotted three (3) hall passes for emergencies per trimester. Please use them wisely. Block classes will have a break when students will be allowed to use the restroom without using any passes. The break will NOT coincide with the bell schedule.
6. You will be asked to spit out your gum if Mrs. Wells sees it or it becomes a distraction.
7. You will be expected to follow all classroom rules, building rules in your planner and be cooperative no matter if Mrs. Wells or a guest teacher is teaching the class. Be sure your attendance is recorded accurately with the guest teacher. Whatever the guest teacher records for attendance or discipline issues goes.
8. If you are absent, you have one day for each absent to make up the work. Check the homework website, with other students, and the calendar for your assignments. You will find handouts in the folders on the wall in the back of the room.
9. Students may have a bottle filled with water in class. WATER—no bubbles, no color.
Grading:
Language Arts: Social Studies
Reading Assignments 30% Daily Assignments/Homework 40%
Writing Assignments 20% Tests/Quizzes 25%
Speaking and Listening 10% Projects 25%
Grammar/Mechanics 15% Participation 10%
Outside Reading 15%
Participation 10%
Mrs. Wells can be available to help students before and after school. Check with her for available times.
Participation Points and Discipline Consequences in Mrs. Wells’ Room
Participation Points
Students earn three points per day( one for attitude, one for materials, one for participation) which counts towards 10% of their grade. Also, students will earn additional points for discussions. To keep your participation points each day:
1. Have all materials and books needed in class each day. Just outside the door of B-3 you will find a mini-white board. The books you need each day will be posted on the white board before you come to class. Check your planner to see what assignments you need to bring.
2. If your grade printouts have a signature line on the bottom, have them signed by your parent or guardian. If you do not return these printouts signed to Mrs. Wells, your grade will be greatly impacted.
Classroom Discipline
Here are two guidelines for your behavior choices!
Always do your best! Manners Matter!
 | Consequences for Classroom Disruptions or Violation of BLMS rules: |
1st Disruption—Student and class receives a warning
2nd Disruption of any kind by any student—Student is asked to wait in hall for teacher conference and possible detention after school with Mrs. Wells
3rd Disruption of any kind by any student—student receives 101 Slip and/or visits the office
Please note that disruptions of a more severe or dangerous nature will be handled as explained in the BLMS planner.
Individual behavior plans for students will be honored.
| If students are tardy to class three (3) times, students will lose two (2) BLMS 101 points. |
| If students are inappropriately dressed for school, Mrs. Wells will ask the students to immediately remedy the situation. If the student cannot produce appropriate attire, s/he will be asked to wear one of |
Mrs. Wells’ spare T-shirts or call home for appropriate clothing from the office. The second time and any time thereafter that Mrs. Wells must ask the same student to wear appropriate clothing in class, the student will lose three (3) BLMS 101 points. See page 18 in the student planner for attire guidelines.
Computer Usage in Room B-3
Review the rules for computer usage at BLMS on Pages 16-17 of your student planner. All of these rules apply to Mrs. Wells’ classroom. In addition, here are more rules that are specific to our classroom:
| Always use the same computer your tech team is assigned. |
| No food or drink at computers. |
| Maximum three (3) windows open. |
| Be specific with clicks—no whining if you crash because of crazy clicking. |
| Desktops stay unchanged. |
| Be responsible for saving your files in the right place. |
If any of these rules are violated, students can expect to lose their computer accounts for at least one (1) week. If students continue to violate rules, students could lose 101 points and additional computer time. If a student does not demonstrate the responsibility needed to use school computers, the student’s computer account will be permanently terminated.