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Rachel Gonsalves » Mrs. Rachel Gonsalves

Mrs. Rachel Gonsalves

My Role at BMS
I teach 7th grade English Language Arts and 6th grade Core (English Language Arts and social studies). I have been a middle school ELA teacher for more than 20 years, and am so glad to share my passions for teaching and learning literacy skills at Bohannon Middle School!
 
As a teacher, my role is to help our students grow in their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and analytical skills for success in high school, college, and career. We frequently talk about the language challenges they will face in high school, and together we practice skills to support academic achievement.
University and Colleges
  • I graduated from California State University Hayward with a B.A. in English and a minor in Italian.
  • I completed my CA teaching credential from University of San Francisco. I have a multiple subject clear credential and a single subject authorization for secondary English. 
  • I completed coursework for a CA Clear Credential from Cal State Fullerton, and I have taken post-graduate courses at UC Berkeley, Dominican University, Vanguard University, and University of California San Diego. 
Aeries
Attendance: I take attendance using Aeries. Families can stay on top of attendance through the Aeries Family Portal or Aeries App.
 
Report Cards: I use Aeries to generate report cards. Families can view report cards through the Aeries Family Portal. Bohannon Middle School is on the quarter system; students will earn grades and receive report cards four times per school  year. 
 
Gradebook: I use the Aeries gradebook so students and their families can view grades through the Aeries Family Portal or Aeries App. 
Canvas and Google Classroom
We will use our class Canvas page to access the online ELA curriculum, Amplify, and TCI for social studies, as well as other district-provided tools such as BrainPop and NewsELA. I do not post daily work to Canvas.
 
For course specific information, announcements, and online assignments, students will use Google Classroom.  
 
Other Tools We Use
We will use our district-approved ELA curriculum, Amplify. Students are registered for this online resource through their Canvas accounts. For social studies, we will use TCI, and students are registered for this online resource through Canvas. 
 
We will also use Flocabulary, CommonLit, EdPuzzle, BrainPop, and Gimkit. Students have already registered for the course by using a unique class code. If students need the code, they should see me during class, at break or lunch, or during my office hours. 
Class Policies for Homework and Classwork 
Absences
Refer to the BMS Handbook for missing/late work policy due to absences. Work cannot be provided in advance for absences. Check the basket for missed work when you return to class from an absence.
 
For excused absences, you will be offered the same number of days to complete work as the days you have been absent. Be sure to attend office hours or Homework Headquarters to finish work. My office hours are Tuesdays from 2:45-3:15 p.m. or by appointment. Please see me if your absence is unexcused. 
 
Missed tests and quizzes must be made up upon return from the absence during office hours within the same number of days of the absence. Students are responsible for knowing they have missed tests and quizzes, and for making arrangments to make up the missed assessments as soon as they return to school. 
 
Please see Google Classroom for more details about current Homework Headquarters days and times.

 

Late Work Policy

Students have ample time to complete assignments in class providing they use their instructional time appropriately. Students have until the last day of a unit of study to turn in work. Once the unit has ended, late work cannot be accepted. Plenty of advance notice will be given, and all due dates are posted on the homework board in class. Students are expected to record those dates in their planners each day. 

 

Pay close attention to due dates ner the end of grading periods, especially if you are absent. Late work cannot be accepted after the end date of a grading period. Grading period dates are published in the student planner. 

 

Grading Policy

Grades are based on a 10-point scale, e.g. A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 50-59.

 

Social Studies: Grades are weighted, which means that summative assessments (tests, quizzes, final writing projects) are worth 70% of a student's grade, and formative work (homework, classwork) is worth 30% of a student's grade.

 

English Language Arts: Grades are weighted, which means summative assessments are 50% of a final grade, homework/classwork is 35% of a final grade, and independent reading assignments are worth 15% of a final grade. 

Monthly Independent Reading Assignment
All students in ELA are expected to read from an independent reading selection for at least 30 minutes/day. Students should have a silent reading book with them every day in class. Each month, students will select reading materials from our school and classroom libraries from a chosen theme. Each month's assignment is posted to Google Classroom. At the end of each month, students will complete an in-class book project to show proficiency in what they have read for the month. We will not do reading logs nor will we do book reports outside of class. 
 
Students will record their i-Ready and Lexile reading scores in their planners, and are expected to select reading materials within their reading level and middle-school interest levels. 
 
Students may see me or our Library Media Technician, Mrs. Munson, for help or book recommendations.
i-Ready Reading
SLZUSD uses the i-Ready testing protocols to measure reading and math proficiency. Tests are take three times a year (fall, winter, spring) to chart student growth and achievement.
 
In addition to diagnostic tests, students will also use the i-Ready MyPath lessons to support growth and close the achievement gap. The goal is for all students to show growth as they work toward grade-level mastery in reading and in math. In ELA, students will engage in MyPath lessons on Wednesdays in class, and students are also encouraged to work on their MyPath lessons at home.