Mrs.

Wedge’s 6th Grade ELA Class 2018-2019

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and Students:

It has been my pleasure to teach at China Middle School since August of 2009. It is
hard to believe, but this will be my tenth year at CMS! I began my time here
teaching in the 6th Grade classroom, moved up to the 7th and 8th Grade classroom,
and am teaching 6th and 7th Grade ELA for the second time this year. I am looking
forward to working with both students and parents in order to have another
successful year!

Please review my syllabus and feel free to contact me with any questions that you
may have.

Class Website:

I have a class website to help keep parents updated. On the website, I will include
Homework Assignments (Reading Response Journal assignments), extra copies of the
Independent Book Lists, and other important information. The web address is: http://
mrswedge.weebly.com If you don’t see something there and you have questions,
please do not hesitate to contact me via email or by calling the school.

Remind App:

This year, I am going to continue using Remind, an app designed specifically for
educators, to help keep parents informed about classroom activities and assignments.
Remind is a free service that lets me send quick messages via text, push
notifications, or email to everyone involved with the class. Parents will be able to
stay in touch without revealing personal contact information. You can visit the
website at remind.com to answer any further questions you may have, if you would
like. Signing up for my messages on Remind is easy. I have attached instructions on
how to do so. I HIGHLY recommend that parents sign up for this service. It is the
easiest way for parents to keep up to date on due dates.

Behavior Expectations: 

Be a student who respects your own learning, as well as the learning of those
around you.

Students will work with me to create a Classroom Code of Conduct. Students will be
expected to follow this Code of Conduct. If they do not, it will result in an After-
School Detention. More serious offenses will result in an immediate dismissal from
class, and the student will be sent to the office with an orange slip.

Students will be given warnings for minor infractions in the classroom by having his/
her name written on the board. The second time he/she is spoken to, he/she will
receive a detention. If behavior continues after a detention is given, there will be an
office referral, a call home, and, if necessary, students will be placed on a behavior
plan.

Students will also have opportunity to receive incentive coupons for positive
behavior. Students can collect coupons and “purchase” various incentives that they
have earned for positive behavior in the classroom. These include: listening to music
during independent work time, sitting in the “comfy” chairs in the back of the
classroom, sitting at the teacher’s chair, 15 minutes of “free time” at the end of class,
15 minutes of time to work on other class work, picking a seat, etc. A “price list” will
be handed out to students and will be posted in the classroom.

Students are expected to serve detentions when they are scheduled. If there is
a conflict, please contact me immediately to arrange another time to serve. If a
detention is skipped, the student will owe twice as much time, and the office
will be notified.

Laptop Use:

It will be important that students come to class daily with their laptops fully
charged and ready to go. They are just as important as a pen/pencil.

Students should use their laptops properly. If students are misusing laptops during
class (going to websites that are not on my portaportal, assigned, are playing games,
etc.), or are just being irresponsible with their laptop, the laptops are subject to be
taken away.

Independent Reading/Independent Book List/Reading Response Journal Entries:

Independent Reading is required. Students will have reading goals to meet. They
should be reading regularly at home, as well as at school, during Study Hall when
they have no other homework. Students will also be given time regularly in class for
Silent Reading.

Students are expected to come to class with their independent reading book.
Otherwise, they are subject to having their name written on the board for being
unprepared. Students will have access to the limited number of books in my
Independent Reading Library in the classroom, as well as the School Library
collection. Students are also welcome to bring books in from home. It is important
that parents are aware of what their child is reading.

Students should bring their books with them to class daily, as well as with them
to Study Halls. If they have no other work to be doing in Study Hall, this is a
great opportunity for them to take advantage of the time and read from their
Independent Reading Book.

Students will be expected to track the books they read on their Independent Book
List. They will also be assigned Reading Response Journal (RRJ) assignments
regularly. Students will need a separate, one-subject notebook for this.
Students may have opportunities during class to work on their RRJ from time to
time. However, this is considered to be independent work and students will be
expected to work on it outside of class. This will be graded evidence to track their
progress as we work on specific skills/strategies in class and it is essential that
journals are completed on time. Please be looking for another handout that goes
over the expectations for this assignment in more detail.

Grading

All grades will be recorded and posted on PowerSchool. Students and parents will
have regular access to grades this year. More information on this will follow. Honor
Roll expectations for my class are attached. If you have any questions in regard to
your student’s grade, or concerning my Honor Roll expectations, please feel free to
contact me.

Late Work Policy/Academic Detentions:

Due dates will be set. If a student does not hand his/her assignment in by the due
date, he/she will be given an Academic Detention to be served after school. These
are not optional and, although scheduled with me, are recorded and tracked in the
office. It is crucial that students not fall behind in their work.

Make Up Work:

When a student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to come see me in order to

get caught up with any work that was missed. I am available most mornings before
school once recess begins.
If you would like to schedule a conference with me, please feel free to do so by
either calling me at the school directly at 445-1500 Ext. 7309 or by emailing me at
mwedge@rsu18.org. Email is the best way to get in touch with me, as I check it
regularly throughout the day. I am available almost every day before or after school.
I am more than happy to schedule a time to discuss any concerns that you might
have. If you have any questions, or if there is anything that I can do to help you or
your child, please let me know.

I am looking forward to a successful year with your child!

Sincerely, 


Megan L. Wedge

Please sign and return this slip with your child by Wednesday, 9/5/18. Thank
you!

I have read Mrs. Wedge's syllabus for the 2018-2019 school year and have discussed
it with my child.

_____________________________________

Student’s Name

_____________________________________ _____________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date