Welcome to Open HouseWelcome to Open House

Mr. Mr.

Nash 6C-2Nash 6C-2

General InformationGeneral Information

• IntroductionIntroduction• Palmer Passport in AgendaPalmer Passport in Agenda• Lunch-2.75Lunch-2.75• Blog: Blog:

http://www.cobblearning.net/nashla/http://www.cobblearning.net/nashla/• Synergy check weeklySynergy check weekly• Email: darin.nash@cobbk12.orgEmail: darin.nash@cobbk12.org

Agenda Info.Agenda Info.• Agendas are to be with the students at Agendas are to be with the students at

all times. all times. • Students need to write Homework into Students need to write Homework into

their agenda every day.their agenda every day.• Parents can communicate with teachers Parents can communicate with teachers

via the agenda.via the agenda.• Students will earn Palmer Paws.Students will earn Palmer Paws.• If lost, the agenda needs to be replaced If lost, the agenda needs to be replaced

within one week at the student’s within one week at the student’s expense. expense.

Homeroom InformationHomeroom Information

• Our mission is to provide a safe Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment in and nurturing environment in which each unique student is which each unique student is challenged to learn, think critically challenged to learn, think critically as a life-long learner, and apply as a life-long learner, and apply their knowledge and skills.their knowledge and skills.

Homeroom InformationHomeroom Information

• Homeroom Procedures/PurposeHomeroom Procedures/Purpose• BreakfastBreakfast• Attendance/Tardy Letter/Early Attendance/Tardy Letter/Early

DismissalDismissal• LockersLockers• Communication WednesdaysCommunication Wednesdays

ELA Literacy – Mr. NashELA Literacy – Mr. Nash

ELA Literacy - PurposeELA Literacy - Purpose

– To help students become skilled, To help students become skilled, passionate, habitual, critical readerspassionate, habitual, critical readers

– To help students choose books, To help students choose books, develop and refine their literacy develop and refine their literacy criteria, and carve out identities for criteria, and carve out identities for themselves as readersthemselves as readers

The Key – the planThe Key – the plan

• Frequent, voluminous readingFrequent, voluminous reading• Only frequent, sustained, voluminous Only frequent, sustained, voluminous

reading will bring struggling readers up reading will bring struggling readers up to grade levelto grade level

• The major predictor of school success The major predictor of school success is the amount of time a student spends is the amount of time a student spends reading. The top 5% of US students reading. The top 5% of US students read up to 144 times more than the read up to 144 times more than the kids in the bottom 5% kids in the bottom 5%

HomeworkHomework

• Read 20 minutes a nightRead 20 minutes a night• While students are reading in class, I While students are reading in class, I

circulate with a clipboard and ask questions circulate with a clipboard and ask questions about their books. (“What do you think so about their books. (“What do you think so far?” or “What’s happening now?” or “How far?” or “What’s happening now?” or “How is this book compared to others you’ve is this book compared to others you’ve read by this author?”)read by this author?”)

• One question I frequently ask is “What One question I frequently ask is “What page are you on?” If they are not on pace page are you on?” If they are not on pace (15 or so pages a night), I will contact you. (15 or so pages a night), I will contact you.

Book ChoiceBook Choice

• The only delivery system for reading The only delivery system for reading comprehension is READING.comprehension is READING.

• When reading is meaningful, When reading is meaningful, understanding cannot be separated understanding cannot be separated from decoding.from decoding.

• When students are reading stories that When students are reading stories that are interesting to them, when the books are interesting to them, when the books are written at their independent reading are written at their independent reading level, comprehension is direct.level, comprehension is direct.

Book ChoiceBook Choice

• The number one reason kids cite The number one reason kids cite for not reading more? They can’t for not reading more? They can’t find books they want to read.find books they want to read.

• Kids who choose the books they Kids who choose the books they read are more likely to become read are more likely to become adults who read.adults who read.

Typical ClassTypical Class

• BooktalksBooktalks• Read-aloudsRead-alouds• Student-teacher conversationsStudent-teacher conversations• Time to read (silence)Time to read (silence)• Simple systems of record keeping Simple systems of record keeping

(Books Read, Someday List)(Books Read, Someday List)• Classroom LibraryClassroom Library

Typical ClassTypical Class

• Introduce new books and old favoritesIntroduce new books and old favorites• Talk about and read authors and genresTalk about and read authors and genres• Discuss effective reading habitsDiscuss effective reading habits• How to tackle unfamiliar wordsHow to tackle unfamiliar words• Identifying different purposes for reading Identifying different purposes for reading

that affect a reader’s style and pacethat affect a reader’s style and pace• How to tell if a book is too hard, too easy, How to tell if a book is too hard, too easy,

or just rightor just right• Book awards: Newberry, ALA Top Ten Best Book awards: Newberry, ALA Top Ten Best

Books for Young AdultsBooks for Young Adults

Letter-EssaysLetter-Essays

• Student write me or a fellow student Student write me or a fellow student every 3 weeksevery 3 weeks

• Write about a book they’ve recently Write about a book they’ve recently finishedfinished

• 1 ½ - 2 pages1 ½ - 2 pages• First-draft-finals, informal and First-draft-finals, informal and

unrevisedunrevised• Written in Reader’s NotebookWritten in Reader’s Notebook

GradesGrades

• Formative (Classwork, Reader’s Notebook, Homework) 50%

• Summative (Letter-essays, self-evaluation in reading, etc.)50% 

Welcome to Language ArtsWelcome to Language Arts

Mr. NashMr. Nash

Class ProceduresClass ProceduresWhen you first walk in…When you first walk in…

1. Write Homework 1. Write Homework in “Agenda” in “Agenda” section from the section from the board/screen.board/screen.

2. Begin Warm-Up 2. Begin Warm-Up Activity – DGP Activity – DGP (Daily Grammar (Daily Grammar Practice)Practice)..

3. Correct Daily 3. Correct Daily Grammar Grammar Practice.Practice.

4. Dive in to the 4. Dive in to the day’s lesson. day’s lesson.

5. Have a novel.5. Have a novel.

Georgia Standards for Georgia Standards for ExcellenceExcellence

Students will be Students will be applying a Thematic applying a Thematic Unit of English Unit of English Language ArtsLanguage Arts

which will focus on which will focus on reading and writing reading and writing skills of different skills of different structures:structures:

• All Units include All Units include academic academic vocabulary lists.vocabulary lists.

Writing Forms:Writing Forms:

ArgumentativeArgumentative

Technical Technical

ExpositoryExpository

NarrativeNarrative

CreativeCreative

AVIDAVID

• This class will be This class will be enhanced through enhanced through AVID research-AVID research-based strategies based strategies on a daily basis.on a daily basis.

• WICOR= writing, WICOR= writing, inquiry, inquiry, collaboration, collaboration, organization, organization, reading.reading.

• Cornell NotesCornell Notes• Summarizing SkillsSummarizing Skills• Costa Level of Costa Level of

QuestioningQuestioning• Marking the TextMarking the Text

Other Classroom Other Classroom ProceduresProcedures

• Late work is accepted for a 70. Make-Up Late work is accepted for a 70. Make-Up work- 1 day for every day absent. Use work- 1 day for every day absent. Use Palmer Middle School Blog - Palmer Middle School Blog - http://www.cobblearning.net/nashla/http://www.cobblearning.net/nashla/..

• If student misses a test, it is their If student misses a test, it is their responsibility to take that test within the responsibility to take that test within the allotted time.allotted time.

• Papers and Projects are deducted 10 Papers and Projects are deducted 10 points for each day late. If it is turned in points for each day late. If it is turned in one day late, points will be deducted.one day late, points will be deducted.

Materials to ReviewMaterials to Review

• Interactive NotebookInteractive Notebook• Daily Grammar PracticeDaily Grammar Practice• Written notes from classWritten notes from class• Binder SectionBinder Section• Handouts in ELA sectionHandouts in ELA section• Students should review their notes Students should review their notes

nightly.nightly.

Tests and ProjectsTests and Projects

• All major tests and projects will be All major tests and projects will be due on a Monday or a Wednesday due on a Monday or a Wednesday for Language Arts.for Language Arts.

• A process piece means we use the A process piece means we use the writing process: writing process: prewrite/draft/edit/revise/publishprewrite/draft/edit/revise/publish

How to Contact MeHow to Contact Me

• Darin.nash@cobbk12.org

Please email me with any questions.Please email me with any questions.

I am available for conferences with I am available for conferences with students and parents on Monday or students and parents on Monday or Tuesday at 8:15 am or 4:45 pmTuesday at 8:15 am or 4:45 pm

TextbooksTextbooks• Textbook: McDougal Littell Literature $77.47 Textbook: McDougal Littell Literature $77.47

• Writing and Grammar workbooks-in classWriting and Grammar workbooks-in class

• Online textbook: classzone.comOnline textbook: classzone.com• # 3532040-10 for access.# 3532040-10 for access.

• Lost textbooks, if issued, will be the responsibility of the Lost textbooks, if issued, will be the responsibility of the student.student.

• Your student may check out a textbook for extended Your student may check out a textbook for extended absenses.absenses.

Grading Scale/PolicyGrading Scale/Policy

A= 90-100A= 90-100

B= 80-89B= 80-89

C=74-79C=74-79

D=70-73D=70-73

F=69 and F=69 and belowbelow

Classwork, Classwork, homework, and homework, and quizzes=30%quizzes=30%

Tests, projects, and Tests, projects, and Process Piece=70%Process Piece=70%