30 August 1999

Waldorf, MD

(Note: The contract sent home with students on 30 Aug. '99 had the wrong year, "1998." Please change it to 1999. Mr. Miller regrets the error)

 

Dear Students and Parents:

Welcome to a new school year at Stoddert Middle School. My name is George Miller and I teach reading and language arts. Although this is my first year teaching in the eighth grade, I have been teaching language arts and reading for fifteen years. I look forward to the challenge of a new grade level and hope that together your child and I will learn a great deal from each other.

Please post this notice in a prominent place for quick and easy reference.

Materials:

Pen (not a pencil)

Self-selected book to read (student choice of novel)

Lit. Log. (Available at the school store for $1.00)

Writing Folder (First one supplied free. Replacements- $ .25)

Classwork/Homework:

Most of the work will be done in the classroom; however, there will be instances in which students will have some work to do at home. Homework they get will not take more than 20 minutes to complete unless it's a major project. In this case, students will get plenty of time to accommodate the task. Call my homework hotline at 934-7200 ext. 2126 or click on to the school web site:

http://www.ccboe.com/stoddert/ for current information.

 

Grade based on:

    1. Class participation and effort……………. 50 pts. total
    2. Homework…………………………………. 25-30 pts. total
    3. Warm-up activity………………………….. 45 pts. total
    4. Projects…………………………………….. 50 pts. each
    5. Tests/quizzes……………………………… 10 - 50 pts. each
    6. Reports, papers, essays…………………. 20 - 30 pts. each

At the end of a given marking period, grade averages are determined by dividing the number of points accumulated by the number of points possible. Ex.:Points accumulated (320) divided by points possible (345) = 0.9275…= 93% which is an A.

 

 

Rules/Procedures:
    1. Be polite
    2. Be cooperative.
    3. Learn as much as you can as fast as you can.

Curriculum:

All classroom activities will be based on learning outcomes detailed in the Charles County Curriculum Framework, a copy of which can be obtained at the school.

We will follow the balanced literacy approach by devoting our time equally to self-selected reading and writing, guided reading and guided writing activities. The guided reading and writing activities will correspond to the theme "explorations." Throughout the year, we will focus on a particular subtheme each quarter. First quarter will be "aspirations and goals," 2nd "challenges," 3rd "commitment," and 4th "reflection."

Voice/ Electronic mail:

My voice mail box number is (301) 934-7200 ext. 2126. You

can also email me at gmiller@ccboe.com. I hope you will contact me soon if you have any concerns or questions or if there are any special needs of which you'd like me to be aware.

 

Please sign and return portion below to acknowledge receiving this correspondence. This is the first homework assignment of the year and is worth five points. It is due on Friday, 3rd of Sep. 1999.

Thank you

George Miller

Lang./Reading

Stoddert Middle School

  (Please cut along the line and return bottom portion by Friday, 3 Sep. '99)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We acknowledge receiving Mr. G. Miller’s introductory correspondence.

Parent___________________date____________ Student__________________date____________

Back to Eighth Grade Homepage