Curriculum Letter

Andrew Carnegie Middle School
21820 Bonita St.
Carson, CA 90745

September, 2005

Subject: Curriculum Letter, Permission Slip, and Parent Survey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am honored to have your children in my English class and welcome them to Carnegie’s Writers’ Magnet. I expect them to have a successful and fulfilling academic year. Please review this letter with your child.

Textbooks: We are using The Language of Literature published by McDougal Littel as the main literature text. Grammar workbooks, novels, and readers will supplement the main text.

Materials: Students must bring the following materials to class everyday: portfolio, pen, paper, writer’s notebook, and independent reading material (novel or magazine).

Grading: I grade according to a cumulative point system. Total points earned divided by total points available will determine the letter grade according to the following scale: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, 0-59% F.

Portfolio: Students must keep all work in a portfolio. Their portfolios serve not only as record of their progress, but a valuable resource throughout the year. Additionally, students must keep track of their points earned on every assignment on an assignment list page--the first page of the portfolios. I encourage parents to check their students’ assignment list and portfolio regularly.

Make-Up Binder: When students miss work in class, they are responsible for making it up in a timely manner. Upon return from absences students must check the up-to-date assignment list and assignments in the Make-Up Binder which is kept at the student desk immediately adjacent to mine.

Elements of Storytelling through Movie Viewing: To help meet state curriculum standards for literary analysis (3.0) and writing strategy (1.0) we will view a movie periodically. Students will identify the basic storytelling elements (plot, conflict, theme, characterization, setting, tone, and dialogue) in the movies and write essays about them. These exercises make it much easier for students to recognize these literary elements in literature. Additionally, it provides interesting topics with which to apply critical thinking skills to essay writing. Typically, they will be PG or PG-13 movies with a link to literature such as The Outsiders, Lean on Me, Napoleon Dynamite, Romeo and Juliet, Holes, and Whale Rider. I preview the movies for appropriateness. If you prefer that your student not take part in this activity, I will gladly provide and alternate activity for him or her. Please sign at the end of this letter if you permit your child to view these movies. If not, please make me aware by noting your disapproval on this letter and returning it to me.

Finally, so that I may better understand your expectations of me and your children, please take a minute to answer the questions on the second page of this letter. I look forward to reading your responses and getting to know you and your children more throughout the year. If you have any questions, please leave a message for me at the school (310-830-1330). I will call back when I’m out of class. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,


Mr. Hilbert

Parent and Guardian Survey

Do you have any concerns about your child that you would like to bring to my attention?





What good things would you like me to know about your child?







What do you expect your child to learn from this English course?







How much homework do you expect your child to have nightly from English class?





Does your student ever read for enjoyment at home? If so, what types of reading material does he/she seem to enjoy?







Period: ___ Student Name: ______________________ Student Signature:________________________


Parent/Guardian: ______________________________ Parent Signature: _________________________
Relationship to child: __________________________

Please return this page to Mr. Hilbert and keep page 1 for your records.