JESSICA NORTON Language Arts, Social Studies, and Health Homeroom: Room 207 Phone: (907) 742-6400 Email: norton_jessica@asdk12.org

Welcome to Mrs. Norton's 8th grade Language Arts, Social Studies, and Health classes!

*******Please use Edmodo at www.asdk12.edmodo.com for class information, agendas, lessons, important websites etc! After signing up as a student, please ask me for the access code(s) for
individual classes.********


This is my 15th year of teaching at Mears, primarily as a language arts teacher-I started at this school as a new teacher. I’m even in the same classroom. There are plenty of reasons why I have stuck
around! I am part of a
two-person team with Ben Armentrout who teaches science and math. I was born in Fairbanks and have lived in Anchorage since Kindergarten. My husband is a teacher, and our children also attend
an ASD school. Our family
likes to fish, camp, hike, ski, bike, read, travel, play and coach hockey, and play softball-the usual Alaskan activities.

I have a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Teaching. In addition, I have an M.Ed in Leadership; As a result, I occasionally fill in as an administrator at Mears and other school sites.

Our team name is "Yentna" after Yentna Station (the first “N” is pronounced, although softly)-it is a “Road House” , a privately owned lodge, on this river. It is one of the first Iditarod checkpoints,
located on the Yentna River.
Located just across Cook Inlet, at the confluence of the Susitna and Yentna Rivers, it can be reached by boat, small plane, and snowmachine. Ultra Sport racers also bike, run, and ski on this river.
The river is definitely too cold
and swift to swim! The source of this river is Yentna Glacier, within the Dall Glacier system of the Alaska Range, about 90 miles North of Yentna Station. This glacier fed river is well known for its
salmon fishing. “Yentna” is a
Dena’ina Indian name.

Website supporting this information including aerial map references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yentna_River



Language Arts:
In language arts, students will learn and practice the GLEs (grade level expectations) for 8th grade. GLEs are available on the ASD web site. Many of these GLEs include the writing process
emphasizing the 6 traits of writing,
studying different literature genres, and reading strategies. Students will read at
least 3 required novels in class this year. In addition, the 8th grade curriculum focuses on U.S. history or related themes, therefore, creating opportunities to integrate with social studies.


Social Studies-American History: 1400s-1861-"Three Worlds Meet" to "Pre-Civil War". This includes civics and an emphasis on historical inquiry.


Health: 7th Period
One semester of eighth-grade health is required of all middle school students. A curriculum and pacing guide has been developed for teachers. The adopted text is Health by Prentice Hall.



Check grades about once a week, and please discuss with me any questions about grades, assignments etc., then email me if you have any unresolved questions/answers-I don’t bite! This is good
practice for the
independence expected in high school. Please check this homepage
for announcements and daily lesson agenda, assignments, homework etc.


Email is the quickest way to get my attention-I check it several times throughout the day. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.


I look forward to working with all Mears' students and families during the 2012-2013 school year!


Jessica Norton

norton_jessica@asdk12.org


P.S. I apologize in advance for any typos that I make this year-I really am the English teacher, and I occasionally make mistakes : ).