Welcome, parents, caregivers, and students to the 2008-2009 school year!  We look forward to an exciting year using the Sonora Desert as our ESL class theme.  Through the investigation of challenging topics included in this theme, students will further develop their English reading, writing, speaking, and listening proficiencies.

This rigorous course is aligned with the State of Minnesota Middle School ELL Standards.  In addition, the reading and writing strategies taught in this curriculum are vital for success on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) and the Test of Emergent Academic English (TEAE).

In this class your child will:

• Improve his/her reading skills.

-          Read a variety of desert literature:  newspapers, novels, folktales, poetry, maps, guides, encyclopedias, and other research materials.

-          Skim, scan, interpret, predict, and sequence.

-          Distinguish between fact and opinion.

-          Identify main ideas and supporting details.

-          Draw conclusions from reading materials.

• Strengthen his/her grammar and vocabulary.

-          Learn about synonyms and antonyms.

-          Increase vocabulary and practice spelling.

-          Learn how to use verb tenses appropriately.

-          Build complex sentences.

• Experiment with his/her writing skills.

-          Write essays and research reports.

-          Write fiction stories and folk tales.

-          Learn about poetry.

-          Take organized notes.

• Practice oral communication.

-     Communicate effectively with partners and groups.

-          Make individual and group presentations.

-     Focus on correct word pronunciation.

• Texts

-          the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspapers

-          a variety of fiction novels, world folk tales, and poems

-          educational internet web sites

-          many non-fiction desert-related research resources

• Student materials needed

-          two notebooks: 1 one BIG 3 to 5 section notebook and one regular notebook

-          100 note cards for research projects

-          one folder for assignments

-          Murray’s student planner

-          pens and pencils   

• Classroom rules

-          Be prompt.  Be in your seat before the bell rings.

-          Be prepared.  Enter the classroom with your supplies and homework.

-          Be productive.  Work hard.

-          Be peaceful.  Respect yourself and all people and property around you.

• Consequences

-          loss of daily Preparation Points

-          after-school detention

-          phone call to parents

-          In-School-Suspension (I.S.S.)

-          meeting with parents, teacher, and principal

This is our weekly schedule.

Week 1

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Novel	Novel	Desert Theme	Desert Theme	Vocabulary/Grammar Work Day

Week 2

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Novel	Novel	Desert Theme	Desert Theme	Vocabulary/Grammar  Test Fiction Friday

We thank you for choosing Murray as your child’s junior high school.  If you have any questions, please call or visit us at Murray (651) 293-8740.

Ann Hebble and Karen Brumbaugh, ELL Teachers

Chi Yang, Bilingual Educational Assistant