pencilsIntegrated Language Arts bookworm
Mrs. Comarata
Team 8-5

 Note:  Any of the below is subject to change at the instructors consent.


 Welcome to Integrated Language Arts.  My name is Mrs. Andrea Comarata.  This year will mark my sixteenth year of teaching.  I have a BA in English Literature and a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Cincinnati and I am working on my MA of Literacy at Xavier University.  I completed National Board Certification in 2005 and was designated a Master Teacher by Forest Hills School District in 2008. My husband Jonathan and I live in the Glen Este area with our little dog Bella. We are currently expecting our son Daniel to be born this September.  I am an avid reader and writer and hope to inspire the young people in my classroom to further their love of literature and to increase their ability to write and speak confidently, effectively and with strong voice about important ideas.
 By the end of this school year, students will know the qualities that good readers, writers and speakers possess.  They will be able to understand the importance of literacy and how it affects their lives.
 Required Materials:
1.  Pencils & Pens (blue and black ink only please)
2.  Loose-leaf paper (college ruled preferred)
3.  Literature textbook (will be posted by classroom door when needed for class)
4.  Language arts Binder with dividers
5.  Highlighters in several colors
6.   Small post its
 Course Schedule:
Areas of Study Include:  Writing process including 6+1 traits and writing mechanics, speaking and listening skills including presentation, drama, poetry, short story, novels, fiction and nonfiction,  strategic reading and content area reading.
Language Arts Classroom Policies:

  1. Everyone must participate in Socratic seminars.  Every person in the group has the responsibility of making sure that all members are actively included.  You will not get participation points if you don’t participate.  Simply being present will not get you points.
  2. Always do your homework.  Computer problems, printing problems are no excuse for not having your homework.  I will always accept an e-mailed copy or a hand written final draft completed in blue or black ink.
  3. Always do your OWN work.  Copying the work of others is considered cheating and is not tolerated by the school or the team.  Copying or Plagiarizing material will result in a zero on the assignment for BOTH the student who is copying and the student who allowed the copying. If the assignment is a project or essay worth major points a separate assignment will be done individually with a maximum of 70 percent possible.
  4. Take advantage of opportunities to re-write.  If you get a writing assignment back and you’re not satisfied with your grade, you may re-write it as many times as you like until earn the grade you want as long as you are within the same grading period.  Your grade will never go down as a result of a re-write, however if little to no effort is made your grade may not improve.
  5. Stay Organized.  Keep up with your language arts binder.  Don’t throw anything away unless directed.  I am human and like everyone else I can make mistakes.  If a grade is missing or incorrect the easiest way to resolve the issue is to show it to me in your binder.
  6. Thought Pot: Students are expected to be respectful and appropriate when writing Thought Pot entries.  If an entry is censored, the first time a warning will be given.  The second time you will be excluded from Thought Pot and will write an essay instead to make up the points.
  7. Classroom supplies: Students do not have to ask permission to get out of their seat for a tissue, classroom supplies, to sharpen their pencil, etc.  I would ask that students do NOT do these errands while I am speaking to the class or giving instructions.
  8. Absent procedures: Students who have been absent can find handouts from in class in the shelves at the back left of the classroom near the windows and information about what was missed on Progressbook and on the bulletin board in my classroom.  Be sure to turn in make up work directly to me. Do not leave it where you think I will find it and NEVER TURN IN LATE WORK OR MAKE UP WORK TO A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. Late work will only be accepted from those with an excused absence. 

 Contact Information:
I can be reached by phone or e-mail at Nagel Middle School:      
Andrea Comarata
Phone:  (513) 474-5407 EXT. 5223
E-mail:  andrea.comarata@foresthills.edu *(preferred method of contact)                                               
Team Site:  http://nagelmiddleschool.net/85/team85.html
                                                                                             
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or special concerns.
A parent may request a conference at any time during the school year.
I am looking forward to a very productive and rewarding year!