My name is Wes Porter and I am the English/Language Arts teacher for 7th and 8th grades. I graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a major in American Sign Language Interpreting and an emphasis on Educational Interpreting. I hold a National Interpreter Certification as well as a nationally recognized educational interpreting certification. I am currently participating in Arkansas' Professional Pathway to Educator Licensure program.  7th and 8th graders are enrolled in my language and reading classes. If you need to get in touch with me my contact information is below (email is the best way to contact me for a quick response):

Wes Porter

Arkansas School for the Deaf

2400 W. Markham St.

Little Rock, AR 72205

Phone: (501) 324-9533

Email: wesleyp@asd.k12.ar.us

Language Classes:

In language classes, students are practicing the writing process by organizing ideas into graphic organizers, writing rough drafts, revising, and publishing/typing their final products. Then, students are utilizing technology by video recording themselves re-reading their papers using American Sign Language (ASL). Finally, students will have the opportunity to watch themselves and transcribe their signs into English, allowing them to compare the transcription to their original, typed piece. This provides an in depth language analysis in both written English and signed ASL.

Reading Classes:

In our 7th grade reading class, students are reading selections from Inside, our text designed with English as a second language (ESL) learners in mind. We are studying folktales and myths. We recently read A Contest of Riddles which is a West African folktale. We will soon be moving on to unit 3, "A New Chapter", that focuses on linking past and futre. We will explore the genres of realistic fiction, social science-based nonfiction, and biographical fiction.

8th graders are learning about characterization or how an author portrays the characters in a narrative. We are also engaging in discussion about mood and tone in diaoluge. We are currently introducing ourselves to a realistic fiction titled Speak by Laurie Anderson.

Leanring Tools Classes:

We are doing ACTAPP preparation exercising in our learning tools classes. We are dicussing test-taking strategies for success on the Arkansas State Benchmark exams.

House Keeping:

1. Homework

Students' homwork assignments are written on the homework chart daily. If a student must be absent, he/she can check for missed assignments here.

2. Objectives

Weekly objectives/learning goals and expectations are written here by the homework chart weekly.

This week's vocabulary words are: