RSS Feed

WELCOME TO MRS. RICKERT'S

9th Grade COMMUNICATION ARTS/7th grade World Cultures/Languages

Spanaway Junior High Room A264 class phone # 253 683 5594

To see what we're doing in class: Go to:www.bethelsd.org
click on "Schools"
Click on "Junior High"
Click on "Spanaway Junior High"
Click on "Staff websites"
Click on "Rickert"
then "Announcements" or "Documents".

Spanaway Junior High School
brickert@bethelsd.org

253-683-5594

 

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year! My name is Britt Rickert and I will be your child’s Communication Arts and Explore Laguages/Cultures teacher this year at Spanaway Junior High. I am looking forward to making this a rewarding and successful experience for your child.

 

I want to encourage all of you to access my website as soon and often as possible: http://classrooms.bethelsd.org/sjh/brickert /index.php. This is a vital link in ensuring you are up to date with daily activities. Assignments, daily work, and current class happenings, and additional information on curriculum are just a few items of interest on the website. You will need to talk to Naomi Bleakly in the front office at SJH if your child does not bring home their “Family Access” information allowing you to go on-line to check their school work.  The “Announcements” tab will allow you to see what we are doing on a daily basis in class. You can also click on the ‘Documents’ link and download and print any assignments from my web page. Also, there will be a copy of the class syllabus. Please sit down with your child and read the course syllabus for more details on what to expect for the coming year.

 

Finally, I am a true believer in communicating and establishing that open communication as soon as possible. I can be reached by phone before and after school, as well as during my planning period. I can easily access my email throughout the day, so feel free to contact me anytime. In creating this two-way partnership, I believe it is imperative for you to feel comfortable approaching me with any questions, concerns or information that will help me teach your child. 

I am excited to work with you and teach your child this year; their success is important to me. I am looking forward to a thriving classroom and positive learning experience for everyone.

 

Sincerely,
Britt Rickert


9th Communication Arts Syllabus

Our objective for Communication Arts is for you to advance in reading, writing, and communication. The majority of class will focus on the writing process, writing multi paragraph essays, reading a variety of genres and developing communication skills. Our hope is that you become strong writers and good readers who will be prepared to tackle any of your future goals. Several topics aimed at developing good writers, readers, and speakers will include: focused exercises on grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and fluency. We will be exploring narrative/imaginative, informative/persuasive, expository essays and poetry, as well as folktales and myths, non-fiction, and drama.

District required readings for this course are:

  Summer required novel: Touching Spirit Bear

 Romeo and Juliet

  Black Elk Speaks or California Palms

  The Odyssey

 


Learning Targets:

 

  • Writing Power Standards
    • GLE 1.1-Prewrites to generate ideas and plan writing.
    • GLE 1.3-Revises to improve texts.
    • GLE 1.4- Edits texts.
    • GLE 2.2-Writes for different purposes.
    • GLE 2.3-Writes in a variety of forms/genres.
    • GLE 3.1-Develops ideas and organizes writing.
    • GLE 3.2-Uses appropriate style.
    • GLE 3.3-Knows and applies writing conventions appropriate for the grading level.
    • GLE 4.1-Analyzes and evaluates others’ and own writing.
  • Reading Power Standards
    • GLE 1.3-Build vocabulary through wide reading.
    • GLE 2.1-Demonstrate evidence of reading comprehension.
    • GLE 2.2-Understand and apply knowledge of text components to comprehend texts.
    • GLE 2.3-Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas in literary and informational texts.
    • GLE 2.4-Think critically and analyze authors use of language, style, purpose, and perspective in literary and informational texts.
    • GLE 3.4-Read for literary experience in a variety of genres.
    • GLE 4.1-Assess reading strengths and need for improvement.

 

 

Grading Scale:

 

The grading scale to be used for assigning letter grades:

 

  • A         93% - 100%               Exemplary work
  • A-        90% - 92.99%
  • B+       87% - 89.99%
  • B         83% - 86.99%            Proficient Work
  • B-        80% - 82.99%
  • C+       77% - 79.99%
  • C         73% - 76.99%            Basic Level Work
  • C-        70% - 72.99%
  • D/F/I   Incomplete                 Not meeting standard

 

These grades will be weighted as follows:

  • 10%     Skill Practice/Daily Work
  • 30%     Formative Assessments:  Assessments to measure progress toward the final learning objectives.
  • 60%     Summative assessments: Assessments to measure mastery of power standards.

 

Re-Do Policy:

 

            If work is completed, but it is not at standard, students will have two weeks (unless arranged with the teacher otherwise) to re-do the assignment to standard.  Students may be expected to attend: before and after school work sessions, Lunch café, and/or additional instruction opportunities.  Students who choose not to take advantage of these opportunities may be assigned appropriate consequences.

 

            Students who have completed work at either the basic or proficient level may also re-do assignments to achieve a higher level of mastery.

 

Non-compliance Policy:

            Students who fail to complete benchmark assignments will be assigned disciplinary consequences through the office, which will follow Spanaway Junior High’s academic policy.

 

Classroom Rules and Expectations: All of Spanaway Junior high’s behavior expectations and school rules continue to apply in the classroom.

Syllabus Explore Languages and Cultures

Grade 7

 

          This class is a semester long class designed to introduce your child to other cultures and some beginning languages (mostly Spanish).  We will journey from continent to continent learning about the differences and similarities in other cultures.

 

          Students will be exposed to projects specifically designed to teach them about the different: foods, religions, languages, dress, celebrations/ceremonies, governments, family dynamics, housing, art/music, and sports/hobbies indicative to each culture.

 

          We will also explore the faux pas and cultural gestures that are different from our own, to better understand them and ourselves.

 

Spanish will be the main language focused on, but we will learn the basics of some others.  This should be a fun and academically enriching class and I’m looking forward to your child’s success!

 

Some Learning Targets:

 

 

   The student uses a spatial perspective to make reasoned decisions by applying the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrating knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environments.     3.1 Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and location of places, regions, and spatial patterns on the Earth's surface.     3.2 Understands human interaction with the environment.     3.3 Understands the geographic context of global issues.

a thesis and presents the product in an appropriate manner to a meaningful audience.      

 

1.2 Understands the purposes, organization, and function of governments, laws, and political systems.    .    

The student applies understanding of economic concepts and systems to analyze decision-making and the interactions between individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies.  

 The student uses a spatial perspective to make reasoned decisions by applying the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrating knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environments.     3.1 Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and location of places, regions, and spatial patterns on the Earth's surface.     3.2 Understands human interaction with the environment.     3.3 Understands the geographic context of global issues.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Communication
Communicate in Languages Other Than English

  • Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
  • Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
  • Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

Cultures
Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures

  • Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
  • Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.

Connections
Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

  • Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
  • Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

Comparisons
Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

  • Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.
  • Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

Communities
Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home & Around the World

  • Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.
  • Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

 

 

 

 

 Teacher Contact Information:

Britt Rickert Phone:  683-5594        Email:  Brickert@bethelsd.org