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Mrs. Butts' Reading Corner

Welcome!

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year at Joseph Arthur Middle School!  I am Mrs. Butts, and I will be your child’s Literature teacher this year.  In addition to teaching Literature, you may see me around the halls with Student Council as one of the sponsors or as the Assistant Volleyball coach. This is my fifth year teaching at Central District #104, fourth year at JAMS, and I am looking forward to another great year teaching at such a fantastic school where we have the world’s greatest students!  The faculty and staff are dedicated and caring individuals and feel every student has the ability to learn and the opportunity to grow as an individual with the encouragement from a teacher.  

As your child’s Literature teacher, I will provide an educational environment driven by state standards, technology, and individual abilities to meet your child’s needs. This will be achieved by using textbooks, novels, newspapers, and other materials in our class throughout the year.  An important aspect to our class is the Accelerated Reading Program.  This is a program that allows students to take quizzes over books they have read individually. This quarter, students will be required to read both Fiction and Nonfiction books. For their quarterly Accelerated Reading grades, students will be required to read a total of three books a quarter.  Students must read three books from the five following genres: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Biography, Nonfiction, and Mystery.  Before students may take the AR quiz for the books that they have read, students must complete a Reading Receipt which is the signed note stating that a Book Talk has taken place with an adult.  Please discuss with your child the importance of not waiting until the last minute to complete these assignments.  Late work will not be accepted for the AR grades, and a student will NOT be “zapped” for these assignments.

I understand that not every child loves to read on their own.  But I will do my best to assist your child in finding books that interest them and that are level/age appropriate.  Every week, I take the students to the library so that they may check out and renew books.  Weekly visits to the library helps to ensure that they have found a book that they understand and enjoy.

I am looking forward to a very exciting and enriching year working with your student.  You are the most important person in your child’s life and I know if we work together, your child will have a very successful year!  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Mrs. Butts

Ways to Succeed in Literature

RULES:  Follow these brief rules, and we will have NO problems!!
Be respectful! (to me, other students, property of school, etc.)
Be responsible! (for actions, for homework, for supplies, etc.)
Be prepared! (go to locker, restroom, etc. BEFORE coming to class)
Be involved! (in class activities, in discussions, etc.)

CONSEQUENCES OF MISBEHAVIOR:
Warning
Conference with student (write up)
Call home and/or Detention
Office Referral
***Depending on the degree of infraction, I may skip certain steps from the above list.

MATERIALS: (Must bring entire list EVERY day.)
Textbook
Binder/Folder
Paper/Notebook
Pencil/Pen
Library Book
Computer  

GRADES:
Your grades will be calculated using points from in class work, homework assignments, quizzes, tests, Accelerated Reading, and projects. There may be Extra Credit offered throughout the year, but it is not guaranteed.
 

GRADING SCALE:  
A 100-92
B 91-84
C 83-76
D 75-68
F 67-below

ABSENT WORK:
If you are absent, you have the number of days you are absent to make up your work.  For example, if you are absent 2 days, you will have 2 days to make up the work. When you arrive back to class, check the “Absent Bin” for handouts, the homework chart for missing assignments, other students for notes, etc.  It is YOUR responsibility to make up for the time that you missed.  Anything not received in the set amount of time will be referred to ZAP, where a deduction in points will occur.

ZAP:
JAMS is continuing it’s “Zeroes Aren’t Permitted” or  “ZAP” program this year.  If a student does not have a daily assignment ready at the time it is to be turned in, the student will report to ZAP during 8th hour of the day. (As long as they are not supposed to be in Band or Choir that day.)  Being ZAPPED will result in losing points on the daily assignment, 10% of the grade possible.  Students will continue to be ZAPPED until the assignment is completed.

Upcoming Events/Important Dates:

April 17th - Cap day for 8th graders, bring in $1 to wear hat all day

April 18th - Cap and Gown pictures for 8th graders

April 27th - Athletic Banquet for JAMS athletes, 7-8 pm

News from Literature:

7th Grade Homework: 4/16-4/20

8th Grade Homework: 4/16-4/20

Keeping Track of Accelerated Reading Goals:

Students and Parents can check Accelerated Reading Progress from home.  Click on the link at the bottom of this page to track your progress.  Let me know if you have any questions.