Upcoming Language Arts Tests and Quizzes

Hello students and parents,

As you know, this week and some of next week is dedicated to ITBS Testing.  Due to this testing, this week's vocabulary quizzes/tests will be postponed until next Friday (September 28th).  This will allow students two weeks to study and work on their current vocabulary units. 

Here is a schedule of upcoming tests and quizzes:

Sixth Grade: 

• Vocabulary Test (Units 1, 2, 3) - Friday, September 28th

Seventh Grade: 

• Reading Test (Unit 1) - Monday, September 23rd 
• Vocabulary Quiz (Unit 4) - Friday, September 28th
• Spelling Quiz (on vocabulary words) - Friday, September 28th

 Eighth Grade:

•  Reading Test (Unit 1) - Monday, September 23rd
• Vocabulary Quiz (Unit 4) - Friday, September 28t

P.S. I am always here to help!  Please, make an appointment, if you feel you need some support before the tests/quizzes.

Good luck!!! 

 

 
                     

Vocabulary Tests for 7th and 8th Graders

Hello Students and Parents,

This post is just a reminder that 7th and 8th graders have a vocabulary test this Friday for Units 1, 2, and 3.  The students were notified of the test on Monday, and we have been working all week on reviewing the vocabulary words.  Please, review the words with your student.  The test will assess the students' knowledge of word definitions, synonyms, and antonyms.

Thank you, and have a great week!

Mrs Moussa

Missing Class and Missing Assignments

Hello students and parents,

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend, and the St. Anne's Festival.  It has come to my attention that there have been many absences in the past couple of weeks of school.  It is understandable that illnesses and extenuating circumstances may hinder students from attending school, but I wanted to stress the importance of maintaining a regular attendance.  When students miss class they miss lessons, activities, and important classroom discussions.  

Many of the students that have missed school have not made an active attempt to find out what lessons, activities, quizzes, and assignments they have missed.  

It is imperative that students understand that it is their responsibility to find out what they missed when they were absent, borrow notes from a fellow student on the lessons, make up the missing assignment/activity, and to turn it in.  This is an important part of being a responsible student/learner; which, students and parents agreed to work towards when they signed the Achieving Excellence contract.

Students who do not make up missing assignments/quizzes after their absences will have a point deducted for each day it is late.  A date must be set to make-up missed quizzes/tests the day the absent student returns to school.  I will no longer seek out students for make-up assignments or quizzes/tests.

Thank you, and have a great weekend,

Mrs. Moussa

Vocabulary Quizzes Rescheduled

Hello parents and students,

As you know, this week was a short week due to the Labor Day holiday and the St. Anne's Festival.  In order, to allow the students ample time to prepare for the vocabulary quizzes for their respective grades, I have moved the quizzes date to Monday, September 9th, 2013.  The students were notified of this change yesterday, Wednesday, September 4th, 2013.  I have made several announcements in class of the change of date, so students should be aware.  Please, take the time to quiz your son/daughter on the vocabulary words that they will be quizzed on.  The students should know the definition of the word, and its synonyms and antonyms. 

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Moussa

Here's what we are working on . . .

Hi everyone,

Here is an update on what grades 6th, 7th, and 8th are currently working on in Language Arts:

6th Grade:  We just finished identifying the sequence of events in a story.  Students applied their knowledge of how to identify the order of events and the necessary elements for a story by creating a comic strip.  The class is beginning to work on identifying the stages of the writing process.

7th Grade:  We have been reading short stories and poems that center around characters grappling with their identity.  The class learned the identifying characteristics of fables and poetry.  Also, students are learning to recognize the speaker and his/her motives in a story/poem.  We have begun a discussion of the stages of the writing process.



8th Grade:  The class has been reading short stories that have a historical setting.  After reading several stories, students created their own fictional short stories in a historical setting of their choice.  They experienced the writing process through writing their short stories, in addition to continued discussion of the subject matter in class. 

Tests/Quizzes:

• There is a vocabulary quiz every Friday
• Starting next week, for 7th Graders only, students will be quizzed on the spelling and meaning of the vocabulary words. 
• 8th and 6th Graders take spelling with their respective homeroom teachers, so they should follow the instructions given to them by Ms. Mendez and Ms. Abel.

Extra Credit:

6th Grade: none at this time

7th Grade: none at this time

8th Grade:  provide a poem by a well-known literary figure that has the central theme of "Choice".  Turn-in the poem along with the following information: 

• Title (make predictions based on the title of the poem)
• Paraphrase the poem
• What is the connotation of the poem?  What is the meaning of the poem (beyond the literal)
• Attitude/tone of the speaker
• Shifts of attitude of the speaker
• Central theme

 

Grading Policy

Grading Policy

Assessments (tests, quizzes, and knowledge checks) play an important role in education.  They allow the students to apply the knowledge they have learned.  In addition, they allow the teacher to gauge student understanding and pin point areas where students need more support.  In my classes, we will be following the standard grading scale used by all Saint Anne School teachers, but here is how grades will be distributed:

 

Chapter Tests                                            40%

Achieve 3000 (Blended Learning)           20%

Class work and Participation                  15%

        Includes: group work, papers, projects

Homework                                                15%

        Includes: monthly reading log

 Quizzes and DOL/Bellwork                   10%

*Please note, the assignments done by the students on the first full week of school will not be included in Gradelink.  These assignments were used to familiarize the students with the classroom routines and procedures. 

**The first graded assignments will be the vocabulary quizzes this Friday for 7th and 8th graders, and the short story assignment that has been assigned for the 8th graders.



Welcome Back Saint Anne Students!!

Hi,

I would like to welcome all of Saint Anne's School students back from their summer vacations and introduce myself to students and parents.  My name is Mrs. Mary Moussa, and I will be the Language Arts teacher for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.  I am really excited to join the Saint Anne School team, and to have a chance to meet and work with all of you.  This year will be very exciting for students and teachers alike.  All of us cannot wait to implement Blended Learning and use all of the new technology that has been provided for us. 

 

My goal for students in my classes is to create life-long learners by developing their reading comprehension skills and give them a solid understanding of writing conventions, so they can apply this knowledge in the future.  Classes will include literature, grammar and writing, vocabulary, and spelling.  Students will be encouraged to make cross-curricular connections, and demonstrate this knowledge through projects, papers, and presentations.  I recognize the important role that parents play in creating students who value learning and hard work; therefore, I appreciate your help in encouraging students to put forth their best effort in homework, papers, projects, or exams.

 

I look forward to meeting and working with all of you.

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Mary Moussa