Welcome to Mr. Kiessling's website!
I would like to let you know about what goes on in our reading classes this year. I will be updating this website each week about our assignments and products, independent reading, and the instructional reading and writing we will do in class throughout the year.
Our goals this year are to help you, as students, become more literate using a variety of traditional and electronic texts, responding to your reading through writing and speaking, and becoming personally aware of who you are as a reader, writer and thinker. This will take time and practice, but I assure you that you will be well prepared for your high school reading experiences!
Our Units of Study:
1. Trimester 0ne: (12 weeks): Planning For High School/Beyond (Careers/Reading For Information)
2. Trimester Two: (12 weeks): Reading Fiction (Historical Fiction Genre)
3. Trimester Three: (12 weeks): Reading Informational Text
Materials Needed:
1. Self-selected novel for daily reading.
2. 3-ringed polybinder notebook (one inch) titled Reading with these sections: Handouts, Journal, Notes, Returned Work, and Vocabulary using designated dividers.
3. College ruled loose-leaf paper, blue/black ink pens, pencil, highlighter, post-a-note pads.
4. Book Report Handbook: I'll give it to you the first week!
Standards for Assignments:
1. All work is to be completed in blue or black ink or typed. Pencil will be used only when assigned. Paper set-up is in accordance with the Howard County Middle School Writing Stylebook when typed or completed on loose-leaf paper.
2. Work is due on the date assigned. If you are absent on a due date, turn in the assignment on your first day back.
3. An absent student has the responsibility of checking my website and following up in class concerning missed assignments and arranging due dates with me.
4. Late assignments are deducted by 10 percent per day up to 50% and must be turned in within two weeks of the due date. After two weeks, assignments will not be accepted for grade.
5. Students and parents need to make sure all computers and printers are working properly throughout the school year, especially before assigment due dates. Late work because of equipment problems will still follow the above guidelines.
Grading:
1. Each quarter grade represents evaluation in two areas: Daily Work and Assessments.
Daily Work consists of classwork (40%) and homework activities (10%): 50% total.
Assessments represent quarterly assessments, oral/written book responses, unit
assessments, research products: 50% .
2. Students will be given grade record sheets to document all of their reading grades. Every assignment will be reviewed and recorded on the grade sheet each week. Parents and students may access Teacher Ease online to electronically check grades to compare grade accuracy with the grade sheet hard copies.
3. Parents are asked to sign the grade sheet hard copies at mid-term and at the end of each term. Parents, this grade supervision with your eighth grader is important, so final grades are never surprises for you, nor your eighth grader.
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