Intensive English, Fall 2011
Course Description : This course is intended as the first course for students recommended for a year of 9th grade English/Language Arts. The primary focus of this class is to improve reading and writing skills. Curriculum includes the study of literary genres where students will develop skills for understanding the structure and the meaning of a work of literature. Technical writing is the focus for 9th grade; by the end of 9th grade, students will demonstrate competency in technical writing. Because conventions are essentials for reading, writing, and speaking, instruction in language conventions will continue to occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than isolation. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. Students will observe and listen critically and will respond appropriately to written and oral communication in a variety of genres and media.
Class Guidelines, Expectations, and Interventions:
1. Be PROMPT. “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is unacceptable.”
2. Be PREPARED. Bring all required materials to class every day. Sit in your assigned seat and begin work on the daily startup or journal. Your ID is required at all times.
3. Be POLITE. Remember your manners. Exercise common decency by treating others as you wish to be treated. Talk when it is appropriate and be courteous when others are speaking or needing quiet for their work.
4. GO WITH THE FLOW. You demonstrate courtesy when you do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself inappropriately (i.e. entering late, making rude noises, etc.). Do everything you can to allow me to teach and others to learn without interruptions.
5. ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY--including no food or drinks (except bottled water), cell phones, mp3 players, hats or inappropriate language.
6. Written work should have your name, date, assignment title, and block number.
7. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ACADEMIC EMERGENCY. Failure to plan is the same thing as planning to fail.
If you fail to follow these guidelines, the following interventions are in place:
1. Non-verbal warning
2. Verbal warning
3. Seating change
4. Removal from classroom to hallway
5. Detention
6. Parent/guardian conference
7. Office referral
Standards
When you have mastered the skills taught in this class, you will be able to:
· read aloud on grade level or better;
· understand, interpret, and apply what you read;
· use new vocabulary in writing and conversation;
· write focused paragraphs with topic sentences, support, and closure;
· reread your own writing and improve it;
· talk about literature using new terms and concepts; …and most importantly
· discover and share ways to enjoy reading and learning so that you can get the best experience possible during your time as a red elephant.
Grading System: Major grades (tests, essays, and projects) 45%
Minor grades (quizzes, homework, participation) 35%
Final exam 20%
Attendance/Makeup Work: You are expected to comply with the compulsory attendance law, including accepting the consequences for unexcused absences, chronic tardiness, skipping class, and leaving campus without permission. If you have been absent for three unexcused days, I will contact your parent/guardian. Five or more unexcused absences will result in the consequences set forth on page 28 of the student handbook. Per school policy, you will have two days to make up work for every day missed; however, it is your responsibility a) to find out what you missed during an absence by asking a peer or checking the my webpage, and b) to turn in make-up work in a timely manner—without being prompted by me. Expect to take a makeup test the next day you return if you are out when the test is given. If you are absent on the due date of a previously announced summative assignment, you WILL NOT receive credit for that assignment unless the absence is excused.
Tardies: if you are not inside the classroom when the tardy bell rings, you will be counted tardy. You must sign in late in the designated tardy notebook, and failure to do so will result in teacher detention. Students who have accumulated four tardies will be assigned lunch detention for that and each subsequent tardy. A student who is more than 10 minutes late to class will be considered skipping and will be referred to administration.
Laptop Use: You may use laptops in class for research or note-taking and research purposes only. It is a privilege to be able to use a laptop in class; thus, this privilege will be revoked if abused.
Restroom Visits: Remember – go with the flow. To minimize distractions, please follow my example and visit the restroom before or after class. You will, however, be issued ONE emergency restroom pass which you may use at any point throughout the semester. If you have a physical condition which necessitates frequent bathroom visits, please submit a letter stating such from your physician.
Late Work: Remember, there is no such thing as an academic emergency. If you fail to bring an assignment on the day it is due, I will accept it the next day for no more than 70% credit. After that, no more than 50% credit will be given, as long as the work is submitted within 5 class days of the original due date.
Homework Hotline/Teacher Website: you may access my personal website for school at www.EnglishWithMsB.weebly.com . Please note that this is an individual website that is not affiliated with GHS though it will contain only school-related content. I will post our classroom agenda and homework assignments there on a weekly, if not daily.
Emergency Procedures: evacuation procedures are posted inside the classroom on the wall to the left of the door.
Tutoring: I will be glad to help anyone who needs it. Feel free to make an appointment with me for a before or after school tutoring session. (See contact information at top of syllabus)
Required Supplies: Pencil or pen, paper, and a 3-ring binder
Recommended Supplies: highlighters, colored pencils, 3x5 index cards
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of exact words, whole passages, whole papers, or ANY ideas that are not originally your own without giving credit to the original source. Even if you reword, omit, or change a few words, it is still plagiarism. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. ANY form of cheating in this class will result in a zero on the assignment. There will be no retakes or rewrites allowed for any assignment that receives a zero due to cheating of any kind.
**This syllabus is subject to change or amendment by the teacher or the administration**
Class Guidelines, Expectations, and Interventions:
1. Be PROMPT. “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is unacceptable.”
2. Be PREPARED. Bring all required materials to class every day. Sit in your assigned seat and begin work on the daily startup or journal. Your ID is required at all times.
3. Be POLITE. Remember your manners. Exercise common decency by treating others as you wish to be treated. Talk when it is appropriate and be courteous when others are speaking or needing quiet for their work.
4. GO WITH THE FLOW. You demonstrate courtesy when you do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself inappropriately (i.e. entering late, making rude noises, etc.). Do everything you can to allow me to teach and others to learn without interruptions.
5. ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY--including no food or drinks (except bottled water), cell phones, mp3 players, hats or inappropriate language.
6. Written work should have your name, date, assignment title, and block number.
7. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ACADEMIC EMERGENCY. Failure to plan is the same thing as planning to fail.
If you fail to follow these guidelines, the following interventions are in place:
1. Non-verbal warning
2. Verbal warning
3. Seating change
4. Removal from classroom to hallway
5. Detention
6. Parent/guardian conference
7. Office referral
Standards
When you have mastered the skills taught in this class, you will be able to:
· read aloud on grade level or better;
· understand, interpret, and apply what you read;
· use new vocabulary in writing and conversation;
· write focused paragraphs with topic sentences, support, and closure;
· reread your own writing and improve it;
· talk about literature using new terms and concepts; …and most importantly
· discover and share ways to enjoy reading and learning so that you can get the best experience possible during your time as a red elephant.
Grading System: Major grades (tests, essays, and projects) 45%
Minor grades (quizzes, homework, participation) 35%
Final exam 20%
Attendance/Makeup Work: You are expected to comply with the compulsory attendance law, including accepting the consequences for unexcused absences, chronic tardiness, skipping class, and leaving campus without permission. If you have been absent for three unexcused days, I will contact your parent/guardian. Five or more unexcused absences will result in the consequences set forth on page 28 of the student handbook. Per school policy, you will have two days to make up work for every day missed; however, it is your responsibility a) to find out what you missed during an absence by asking a peer or checking the my webpage, and b) to turn in make-up work in a timely manner—without being prompted by me. Expect to take a makeup test the next day you return if you are out when the test is given. If you are absent on the due date of a previously announced summative assignment, you WILL NOT receive credit for that assignment unless the absence is excused.
Tardies: if you are not inside the classroom when the tardy bell rings, you will be counted tardy. You must sign in late in the designated tardy notebook, and failure to do so will result in teacher detention. Students who have accumulated four tardies will be assigned lunch detention for that and each subsequent tardy. A student who is more than 10 minutes late to class will be considered skipping and will be referred to administration.
Laptop Use: You may use laptops in class for research or note-taking and research purposes only. It is a privilege to be able to use a laptop in class; thus, this privilege will be revoked if abused.
Restroom Visits: Remember – go with the flow. To minimize distractions, please follow my example and visit the restroom before or after class. You will, however, be issued ONE emergency restroom pass which you may use at any point throughout the semester. If you have a physical condition which necessitates frequent bathroom visits, please submit a letter stating such from your physician.
Late Work: Remember, there is no such thing as an academic emergency. If you fail to bring an assignment on the day it is due, I will accept it the next day for no more than 70% credit. After that, no more than 50% credit will be given, as long as the work is submitted within 5 class days of the original due date.
Homework Hotline/Teacher Website: you may access my personal website for school at www.EnglishWithMsB.weebly.com . Please note that this is an individual website that is not affiliated with GHS though it will contain only school-related content. I will post our classroom agenda and homework assignments there on a weekly, if not daily.
Emergency Procedures: evacuation procedures are posted inside the classroom on the wall to the left of the door.
Tutoring: I will be glad to help anyone who needs it. Feel free to make an appointment with me for a before or after school tutoring session. (See contact information at top of syllabus)
Required Supplies: Pencil or pen, paper, and a 3-ring binder
Recommended Supplies: highlighters, colored pencils, 3x5 index cards
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of exact words, whole passages, whole papers, or ANY ideas that are not originally your own without giving credit to the original source. Even if you reword, omit, or change a few words, it is still plagiarism. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. ANY form of cheating in this class will result in a zero on the assignment. There will be no retakes or rewrites allowed for any assignment that receives a zero due to cheating of any kind.
**This syllabus is subject to change or amendment by the teacher or the administration**