LaCA Syllabus

7th Grade LaCA (Language Communication Arts)

Contact Information:
Teacher:  Miss Lempke
Email:  clempke@lps.org
Room Location:  Room 201
School Phone:  402-436-1214
Plan Period:  2nd & 3rd Period
Lunch Period:  5th Period

Course Overview / Curriculum:

  • Performing/Acting, Speaking, Writing—Creative and Research
  • Building Community & Personal Confidence; Expression & Delivery Skills with Ensemble Performance; Locating/Accessing Information & Internet Safety; Opinion Essay (District Assessment); Scriptwriting (Creative Writing with a Performance); Famous People Through the Decades (Research, Creative Written Product, & Performance); Career Research Speech (District Assessment)

 

Supplies:

  • Pencil and Pen (blue or black ink)
  • Spiral Notebook (70-150 pages) for a Journal
  • 3 Ring Binder (1” or 1½”) with Loose Leaf Paper and/or folder/file folder to hold class handouts
  • School Planner
  • Homework

 

Classroom Expectations/Etiquette:

  • Students will respect themselves, the instructor, other students, guests, and the classroom environment.
  • Students will be responsible for their learning, including completing all coursework and coming to class prepared (Only allowed 1 pass per week).
  • Students will put forth full effort and do their personal best (No excuses, no complaining, and no “I can’ts” or “I won’ts”).
  • Students will work together cooperatively with the team to accomplish learning.
  • All rules and regulations stated in the Student Handbook will apply (examples = cell phones, gum/candy, appearance & dress, etc.).
  • Turn off cell phones/electronic devices and keep them out of view (locker, etc.). Do NOT text, surf the internet, or otherwise disrupt the ability of yourself, your classmates, and your instructor to focus on the topic at hand.
    • Noncompliance will result in a loss of participation points for the class session ranging to removal from the class session (resulting in an absence and no credit for in-class work/discussion/participation).
    • Sleeping during class time will also result in the same penalties.
    • Inappropriate Use of Phone/Electronic Device Offense = Students will be given a pass and will be required to take the phone/electronic device to the office immediately. The teacher will contact the office to ensure that the phone/electronic device is taken to the office. Students will pick up the device from the office after the designated time (after school, after the semester is over, etc.).
  • Students are encouraged to express their opinions. Class discussion should be focused and appropriate to the topic. Continual off-topic ramblings or disrespectful banter targeted at others may result in a loss of participation points ranging to removal from the class session (resulting in an absence and no credit for in-class work/discussion/participation).

 

Classroom Rules:

  • Be Respectful
  • Be Responsible
  • Contribute Positively

 

Behavior in Class (See Student Handbook):

  • If you disrupt class, bother others, behave poorly, or infringe on the learning rights of others, the teacher and the school will work with you to correct that behavior.
  • Students will receive recoveries, time outs, or referrals to the TLC room (Room 104) when they do not respond to teacher/adult requests—you will make up any time missed from class before or after school.
    • Recovery Seat = Located in Miss Lempke’s room by the teacher’s desk. If you receive a “Recovery Seat” card or are verbally told to go to the Recovery Seat, you are expected to be respectful, sit quietly, fill out a recovery slip, focus on instruction/classroom lesson, and complete any classroom assignments/tasks. If you are successful and have conferenced with the teacher successfully, you may return to your assigned seat in class. Please return the “Recovery Seat” card to Miss Lempke.
    • Time Out Seat = If you cannot be successful in the recovery seat, you will be sent to a Time Out Seat in another teacher’s classroom. You are expected to enter that classroom quietly/respectfully, sit quietly in the assigned Time Out Seat, fill out the Time Out paperwork, and wait patiently until that teacher has the opportunity to conference with you. If you successfully accomplish these tasks, you may return to class. Once leaving that teacher’s room, you will return to your assigned class with your completed Time Out form and sit in the Recovery Seat. When it is convenient for me as the teacher, you will process the time out and turn in your Time Out form. Your parents will be notified that you earned a Time Out from class.
    • Referral to TLC Room = If you are disruptive while in Time Out, you will be sent down to the TLC Room (Room 104) to conference with Mr. White or Dr. Valverde. In TLC, you will be reminded of the process you are expected to follow and how what you did was not following the process. Additionally, you will be taught Boys Town social skills for how you can be successful, and you will practice successfully meeting expectations.
      • For cases of extremely disrespectful behavior, students will automatically be sent to the TLC Room.
      • Substitute teachers will immediately send students down to a TLC Time Out (no Referral Seat, no Time Out Seat).
    • Students sent to time out or the TLC Room must conference with the teacher before or after school and arrange this conference with their teacher.
    • If your behavior does not improve, you risk receiving more severe consequences, detentions, suspensions, and referrals to the office of Student Services where they make decisions whether you can return to Irving Middle School or not.

 

Attendance:

  • Daily attendance is essential for success in this class!
    • Tardy Policy: You must be sitting quietly in your designated seat, with your bell work journal/notebook open, looking at the board for any directions, and listening quietly for instructions when the final class bell rings. If you fail to do any of these things, you will be counted tardy for class.
    • If you are going to be late for class, obtain a pass and show it to the teacher.
    • Students will have consequences for multiple tardies—see the Student Handbook—and will make up the time after school.
    • In cases of extreme tardiness (without acceptable reason and a pass), the office will be notified immediately and you will make up the time after school.
  • If absent, it is your responsibility to speak with the teacher and get the assignments/notes you missed.
    • Two days are allowed for make up of work for each day of absence.
    • Get your make up work from Make Up Work Folder (located on teacher’s side table) or look on Synergy for assignment dates and handouts.
  • If you are ill, make sure your parents/guardians notify the school immediately.

 

Participation:

  • Each student’s involvement in class discussions, group work, and partner work is imperative to the success of this course and intellectual growth—therefore, you will be given a participation grade (COM, S, N) every class period which impacts your Work Study or Social/Behavior Skills grades.
  • Your participation during in-class work and discussions is expected to be active; hence, physical attendance does NOT equal class participation.
  • You will fail to earn daily participation points if you are unprepared for class or if you are disruptive during other students’ participation (see other expectations for earning participation points under “Classroom Expectations/Etiquette”).
  • Your conduct during in-class work and discussion is considered essential to the academic progress of the entire seminar; and, remember, treat other students as you would like to be treated.

 

Grades:

  • Grading Categories:
    • Summative Assessment = 80%
    • Formative Assessment = 20%
  • Summative Performance Grades:
    • If a student receives a low or lower grade on any Summative Performance Project (lower than an “A”) and he/she wants to improve the grade on this assignment, talk to Miss Lempke to schedule another performance before or after school—MUST perform for a higher grade within one week of seeing the initial grade!
    • Check my website for announcements about the time frame students have to perform again for a higher grade: http://wp.lps.org/clempke/

 

Additional Help:

My goal as a teacher is to help you reach your goals and dreams. I am here to help you learn, so please feel free to ask questions! Education takes effort and you are responsible for your own learning. Make the decision to succeed and work toward this goal. I am available almost every day before or after school in Room 201 if you need additional help. Take the initiative to set up an appointment with me.

IMS, Syllabus-LaCA (2015-2016)