Welcome to 8th Grade!!

Ms. Alisha Powers

602.308.9417
apowers@msdaz.org

Room 50

Welcome to my class! I am very excited to start this important year with you. In order for our year to run smoothly, we
all need to be on the same page about some basic classroom information and behavior expectations. You will be held to
the expectations described in this packet, and I expect you to hold me to them as well.
Why Were Here
Write your thoughts on why youre here and what you think the point of this class is:
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_________________________________________________________________________Summarize the most
important things discussed in this section:
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Required Supplies
You must have something to write with. It is your responsibility to come prepared with a writing utensil. Do NOT sit
down in class without something to write with. If you borrow a pencil, you must return it by the end of the period. If you
choose to come to class unprepared on a regular basis, action will be taken by Ms. Powers.
Agenda and School Rules
You must have your agenda with you every day. You will be expected to have it signed at the end of every day. You will
be expected to follow all of the rules and expectations described in your agenda and student handbook. You will be
expected to follow the dress code and you will not be allowed to chew gum. In addition, you must follow the five
classroom rules with:
RESPECT ABOVE ALL
1. Follow directions quickly
2. Raise your hand to speak (Refer to the five hand signals)
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave you seat
4. Make intelligent choices
5. Respect Everyone
Discipline
Eighth grade is the most important year in middle school. Eighth grade symbolizes your preparedness for high school and
readiness for future challenges. How you behave in eighth grade prepares you for high school and college. If you choose
to misbehave in my class there will be appropriate consequences. The list increases in severity:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Verbal warning
Isolation
Detention
Phone Call Home
Referral to Office
I reserve the right to contact your parents at any time for behavior. If misbehavior is an ongoing issue, I will work with
you and your parents or guardian to figure out a resolution. We should never have to refer to the consequence list.

Write why you think it is important to behave in class?

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Warm Up/Entering Classroom
o You will be expected to come into class silently and on time. You will be expected to immediately get your
supplies out and start the Warm Up. It is your responsibility to read the Warm Up and get started on it.
o During the Warm Up, you will be expected to work, not socialize with other people. This is not a time for asking
questions or talking to the people around you. You will be responsible for the work assigned during the Warm Up
and your grade and ability to participate in class will suffer if you choose not to do the Warm Up.

o What is the purpose of having a silent, focused warm up?

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Curriculum
During this school year, we will be using the Engageny.org curriculum. We will be reading four specific books this year:
Inside Out and Back Again, To Kill a Mockingbird, Unbroken, and Omnivores Dilemma. Each quarter will focus on a
different thematic topic that will align with our history lessons. You can expect that we will be discussing difficult topics
this year from discussions about immigrants and refugees to discussions about the ethics of the atomic bomb.
Parents, you can ensure that your child is getting the most out of their learning by reviewing their homework and looking
for at least forty minutes of reading a night. Students will be expected to complete packets that align with their books, and
they will often be completing writing assignments in addition to their reading.
What questions do you have about the curriculum in this class?
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Getting Out of Your Seat
In this class, you will be moving around the room often. Transitions between activities are NOT a time to chat with other
people, as you will usually have an opportunity to do that in a focused and work-related way. As 8 th graders, you will be
expected to exercise self-control and self-monitoring, and getting out of your seat is one time that you will be asked
to do so. Please refer to the hand signals.
What do you need to consider before getting out of your seat?
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What is self-control?

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What is self-monitoring?
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Restroom Use
Only one person will be allowed to use the restroom at a time. Do not ask to go to the restroom during notes or in the
middle of instructions. Do not ask to go to the restroom if another person is already using the restroom. Please use the
appropriate hand signal. Finally, use your self-control and self-monitoring to guide your restroom useif you are
overusing the restroom, Ms. Powers may become worried about your health and take appropriate action.
When Your Classwork Is Done
There are a variety of things you may choose to do when you have finished all of the work in class. You may read a book
or a magazine or you may occasionally work on homework for another subject, work on a book report, take an enrichment
worksheet from the table. You may also work on Extra Credit or an Independent Project. You may not sleep or chat with
your friends. If you are unsure about what acceptable choices are and what unacceptable choices are, please dont hesitate
to ask.
Dismissal
You will be dismissed at the end of the morning and afternoon by the teacher, not by the bell. Please do not pack up until
you are clearly told to do so at the end of the day. You must check your table and the floor around your seat to make sure
it is clean before you leave the classroom.
o Why does it matter if you do this?
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Homework, Late Work, and Extra Credit
Homework
You will have homework in this class every night, and any assignments you dont finish in class will become homework.
You will be expected to turn all work in on time, NO EXCUSES.
If you have questions about how to complete the homework or something comes up and you will not be able to
complete it on time, you will be expected to email me with those questions. If I do not receive an email, then your
work will be considered unexcused. I dont understand how to do this, is not an acceptable reason for
incomplete work. You must at least attempt the homework. You may call my number for emergencies only.
If you come into class with an uncompleted homework assignment and have not emailed me the night before, you
will have an automatic lunch detention and 10 points off for every day it is not turned in.
If you think you might have problems with this policy, you should come speak to me individually.
Late Work
If you dont turn in an assignment on time, your grade may be lowered for each day the assignment is late. You will
have a set period of time from the date the assignment was due to turn it in. After that time, you
will not receive any credit for the assignment and your grade will be entered as missing.
Extra Credit
Extra credit will be available to anyone who is interested. Howeveryou may not do extra credit to raise your grade
unless all of your work is turned in.

What does this mean??

Work Turned In On Time

Work Turned In Too Late for Credit

--If you are unhappy with your grade, you may do --You must do the work for no credit and turn it
extra credit to raise your grade
in to erase the missing from your grade.
--You must do a replacement assignment to
replace the points you lost by not doing the
assignment to begin with.
-- If you are unhappy with your grade, you may
now do extra credit to raise your grade.

o What are the most important things to remember about the Late Work/Extra Credit policy?
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Communication
Telephone and Email
I have given you my telephone number for a reason if you are confused or need clarification, use it. However; for most
questions utilize the email that I have given you to ask me any questions you have. If you do not have access to email, use
the phone number.
o How do self-monitoring and self-control fit into the homework and communication policies?
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In Class
I expect to know about any problems you are having in advance, especially regarding homework or attendance. In life,
most problems can be avoided if communication is open and honest. You may come talk to me before school, after
school, or during lunch.
As a class, we will have many discussions over the course of the year about important and sometimes sensitive issues.
Disagreements are natural and can push us to be smarter, as long as they are handled respectfully and thoughtfully.
Rudeness and disrespect will not be tolerated.
Attendance and Absences
You must be in class every day. When you are absent, you are responsible for collecting all of the work you missed and
asking for help when you are confused. You are expected to complete the work you missed in a reasonable amount of
time!
If you are absent there will be a folder in the back of the room and the folder will have the worksheets and assignments
you have missed.
o Explain why its important to stay up to date on your work:
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What you can expect from me

o
A positive, safe environment
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High expectations!
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Any extra help you need to meet those expectations
o
Open conversation and empathy
I understand the expectations for 8th grade.
Signature: ________________________________________________________________________________
Date: _____/_____/_____
Parent: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: _____/_____/_____
Signed and returned by Friday, August 8 th.

____/20 points.