During this class students will be working on reading, writing, speaking, and grammar skills. For reading we read selections from the literature book and do novel studies. In writing we focus on the basic five paragraph essay, persuasive writing, personal narrative, descriptive writing, literary essay, and research writing. I stress rewriting so students will go through several drafts to keep improving their writing. Grammar is also an area of focus and I use whole group instruction and a computer program called No Red Ink where students are drilled on their areas of weakness in grammar.

Absent Policy: Students have the same amount of time they miss school to make up assignments. For planned absences, parents and students fill out the Planned Absent form available in the office a week in advance of a planned absence that is longer than a couple of days.

Grading Policy: Grades are weighted: Vocabulary-10% Grammar-25% Literature-30% Writing-35%