Updated 01/24/05

Jackson Creek Middle School

Jaguar Team Language Arts

A Note to Parents and Guardians

Welcome to the 2004 - 2005 Jaguar Team! I am excited to be your child's teacher and look forward to building a positive relationship with every student.

Please read the introduction information provided on this page, especially the details about course curriculum and expectations. I also suggest that you periodically invite your student to bring home his/her language arts binder. This binder contains much of the work we do in class and can provide valuable insight regarding your child's progress in language arts.

In addition, I encourage you to contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns, ideas that could help me better serve your student, or would like to discuss your child's progress. I can be easily reached at Jackson Creek by phone (330 - 2451, extension 200) or by e-mail (jzock@mccsc.edu).

Supply List - these items will be needed in class EVERYDAY

1 pocket folder

pencils

pens

looseleaf paper

1 3-ring binder

binder dividers with tabs

Curriculum

2004 - 2005 Jaguar Team Theme: "Question and Discover"

Course Descriptions

Inquiry, the art of questioning, is essential to learning. Curiosity does not "kill the cat". Rather, when one questions the world around oneself, a world of discovery awaits. Questions lead to research and problem-solving processes. Jaguar Team language arts students will engage in inquiry, research, and problem solving techniques on a daily basis while expanding their oral communication, reading, and writing skills.

Roughly every six weeks, students will be presented with "essential questions" around which their academic unit will be centered. While searching for the answers to these questions through research, literature, and writing exercises, students will be asked to independently construct more questions relevant to the themes of the unit, beginning the inquiry process once again.

The framework for both Jaguar Team Language Arts courses is the Indiana State Standards for English language arts. It is the intention of the instructor that through mastery of these standards, students will be better prepared for high school, further education, and the "real world".

Grade 7 Unit Themes

Inquiry I: Who am I?

Inquiry II: What does the future hold?

Inquiry III: How much does competition effect individuals and the world?

Inquiry IV: How does the past impact the present/future?

Inquiry V: Is conflict an essential part of the human experience?

Inquiry VI: What is diversity?

Grade 8 Unit Themes

Inquiry I: What is my place in this world?

Inquiry II: Does every action have a consequence?

Inquiry III: What is justice?

Inquiry IV: My Life: Where have I been, who am I now, and what will I stand for in the future?

Inquiry V: What is the "American experience"?

Inquiry VI: How does change impact individuals and the world around them?

Tentative Reading Schedule *

Grade 7

Inquiry I: Coming of age novel - choice from literature sets

Inquiry II: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm

Inquiry III: Brian's Song, student choice novel

Inquiry IV: Science fiction novel - choice from literature sets

Inquiry V: Animal Farm

Inquiry VI: The Acorn People

Grade 8

Inquiry I: Student choice novel

Inquiry II: Whirligig

Inquiry III: Justice novel - choose from literature sets, 12 Angry Men

Inquiry IV: Autobiography - choose from literature sets

Inquiry V: Historical fiction - choose from literature sets

Inquiry VI: Student choice novel

* This schedule is tentative and may be adjusted to accommodate student needs

Class Expectations

I expect that students will...

• Abide by the rules articulated in the JCMS handbook

• Read at least one novel every six weeks

• Write weekly academic, classroom, and personal goals

• Respect each other and everyone in the room - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!

• Bring their agenda books to class and use them daily

• Turn in all assignments

• Do their personal best everyday

• Exercise communication skills when rare circumstances occur that may affect the timeliness or quality of work

• Respect the property of the school and of others

• Write on the whiteboard only when invited

* Failure to comply with the above expectations may result in consequences defined in the Five Step Discipline Procedures listed on pages 9 - 16 of the Student Handbook

Ms. Zock's Beliefs

I believe...

• We need to work together everyday as a team

• All students have the ability to learn

• Young adults are important members of our community and school should help them to develop the skills that they will need in the "real" world

• Asking questions is vital to learning; curiosity is encouraged in this class - there is no such thing as a stupid question

• Everyone makes mistakes - the important thing is to learn from them

• Everyone is unique and worthy of respect, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, position, etc.

• People should take responsibility for their own actions and remember that all actions, whether good or bad, have consequences

• Students should be provided with the support they need as they learn and grow everyday

• Goal setting leads to a higher rate of success in school and in life

Language Arts News

Goal Writing a Focus for 2004 - 2005

Setting goals leads to both academic and personal lifelong success. Throughout this semester, all Jaguar Team students will focus on goal setting: writing goals, making a plan of action, and revising objectives (if necessary), all of which will hopefully lead to increased success in numerous aspects of life. The students will learn that goals need to be both appropriate (not impossible, but not ridiculously simple) and measurable (proof needs to exist that the goal has been met so success can be assessed). The following are examples of the kinds of goals students are setting for themselves:

• I will be more organized at school. In order to achieve this goal, I will do the following: write down all my assignments in my agenda book each day, clean my locker out once a week, and carry individual folders for each class.

• I will read two books a month and work to better understand the books I read. To do this, I will set aside 20 minutes each day just for silent reading, I will ask someone to help me or use the dictionary when I don't understand a word or when a passage confuses me, and I will keep a reader's journal.

The ultimate purpose of these goal writing exercises is to help each student be more motivated, to personalize learning, and to improve upon individual weaknesses. All parents and guardians are encouraged to read their child's goals and to continue to guide him/her throughout the achievement process.

Updated 01/24/05