English III. Fall Mrs. Culver

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Muriel Elisabeth Shelton
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1 COURSE OVERVIEW English III Fall 2015 Mrs. Culver Syllabus & Course Schedule With your attention being drawn in a multitude of directions and information coming at you in short, calculated attacks for most of your waking hours, you must call upon a store of strategies to address, refine, and judge this information. Additionally, in the face of shifting societal demands and changes both exciting and disconcerting, you must develop your own identity and establish your role in the world. Literature offers us the wisdom of vicarious experiences and the camaraderie of those who have experienced life s tumult and joy in the decades and centuries before us. The skills we will learn to apply across a range of genres and the themes and essential questions we will probe are an extended intellectual exercise that will enable you to better focus, disseminate, and judge information in today s world. You will be challenged to explore your thinking through daily writing assignments as well as extended formal written responses and become a written communicator competent in both academic settings as well as in modern society. English III will increase and refine students communication skills through reading and writing as well as foster an appreciation for American Literature. The time period s literature and styles of writing will be used to engage high levels of critical thinking so all current skills can be strengthened. The curriculum and instruction in English III will challenge, sharpen, and develop student skills overall as we consider how society affects literature and in turn literature affects the society. This English III class seeks to prepare students to become critical thinkers and leaders for our world. The literature study surveys major authors and periods in American literature and elements of literature, including works such as the following: The Great Gatsby and Fences as well as various works of short stories, essays, and poetry. Kelly Culver, MA, M.Ed ENG III/ENG 1301 DUAL CREDIT, NHS SPONSOR , Room 1204, Kelly.culver@humble.k12.tx.us Website: Conference period: 1st period (approx 7:00-8:00 AM) To care about words, to have a stake in what is written, to believe in the power of books - this overwhelms the rest Paul Auster Tutoring: Twice weekly, 6:30-7:15 am (days will change weekly and be announced/posted, as will afternoons once a week)

2 CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OVERVIEW Students will follow the rules and policies outlined by Humble ISD in the Student Handbook and the policies of Summer Creek High School. School and course expectations that are not met by students may result in any of the following: verbal redirection, conference with teacher, parent/guardian contact (phone/ ), discipline referrals, or removal from classroom to principal s office. The non-negotiable behaviors set by SCHS policy are: 1. Disruption of the Educational Process 2. Insubordination 3. Profanity 4. Aggression or Oppression 5. Drugs Guidelines for Success STAY AWAKE PARTICIPATE and LISTEN ATTEND TUTORING when confused. READ CLOSELY KEEP UP WITH YOUR WORK (even when you re absent) Rules Consequences Rewards 1. Comply with Campus Non- Negotiables 2. Respect ALL nouns 3. Maintain Academic Integrity 4. Participate Actively and Appropriately 1. Verbal/Non verbal warnings 2. Written documentation 3. Parent notification 4. Coach/Sponsor notification 5. Teacher assigned D- Hall 6. Office referral 1. Personal notes of praise and verbal affirmation 2. Positive phone calls or e- mails to parents, administrators, and coaches/sponsors 3. Opportunities for leadership within the classroom 4. Recommendation letters 5. Special Prizes when Applicable SCHS policy allows students to use the restroom after the first ten minutes of class and not during the last ten minutes. SCHS policy, in accordance with new district policies, allows students to have cell phones out in common areas of the school and in classrooms for educational purposes WITH EXPLICIT PERMISSION OF TEACHER. It will be posted and you will be instructed verbally when it is okay to have your cell phone out. At all other times, I expect cell phones to be put away or subject to disciplinary consequences.

3 CLASS PROCEDURES Students will be provided explicit instructions for their behavior during different class activities, such as direct instruction, independent work, and group work. I expect students to self monitor and meet my expectations about whether they can talk and to whom, how they can ask for assistance, permissions for movement around and outside of the classroom, and what constitutes active participation in the given activity. Entering Class Greet the instructor with a handshake at the classroom door. Enter the classroom in dress code with your ID badge visibly displayed. Prepare your materials (handouts, journals, pen/pencil) and turn in homework before the bell. Begin work on the activity on the board, on your desk, or what you picked up at door. Quietly work on the warm-up until I signal for your attention. Whole Group Instruction During whole group instruction, you may not talk unless called upon. If you need help, wait for the cued moment to ask. This type of instruction is highly structured and organized conversations. If I ask a question without calling a student s name, you may raise your hand or blurt out answers and ask me questions back (informal conversation). However, if I cold-call on a student, that student will respond and no one else (formal conversation). During instruction is not the time to get out of your seat or ask permission to use the restroom. Listening, note-taking, and asking/answering questions show you are participating and being responsible. Blurting or talking across the room is not acceptable during this time. When you are called upon to share, you read what you wrote. If you want to add to what you wrote, please do so, but read what was written first. Small Group Instruction During small group activities, you may ask questions and discuss determined assignments with your group members only. If you need help, be sure to ask 3 before me. You may get out of your seat for needed supplies and to turn in products. If the group activity is timed, it is not acceptable to ask for a restroom break unless you finish before the timer rings and can be back before we move on to the next activity. Listening, note-taking, and questioning group members show you are participating and being responsible. Talking across groups is not acceptable. Independent Practice During independent practice, you may not talk to each other. You should be thinking and responding in writing. If you have questions you may quietly ask 3 around you before me, raise your hand to ask me, or write me a note as well. Most individual work is also timed, so there will not be time to ask for the restroom unless you finish before the timer rings. You will already have your supplies, so this is not the time to get out of your seat. Following the process, thinking, note-taking, and clarifying instruction shows you are participating and being responsible. Blurting or talking across the room is not acceptable during this time. When you are called upon to share, you read what you wrote. If you want to add to what you wrote, please do so, but read what was written first. Dismissing Class Students will be reminded when 1-2 minutes remain in class. Students will reshelve any class textbooks, turn any assignments into the folders provided in the rear of the classroom, pick up their area and belongings, leaving it clear of trash, and wait (seated) for teacher to dismiss class when bell rings.

4 ATTENDANCE Students will follow the attendance policies of Humble ISD and Summer Creek High School (available at TARDIES Students who are tardy to class will be sent to Operation Start on Time. You are considered tardy if the bell STARTS ringing before you are inside the door. CLASS PARTICIPATION Participation includes coming to class prepared with all necessary materials (see below) and actively engaging in classwork and group discussions. You should utilize the class website and online calendar. Participation (including preparedness) will factor into the grades for daily/weekly warmups. DAILY MATERIALS --TEXTS (INC. PRINTED READINGS) --PAPER --PEN/PENCIL In the following sections (Makeup Policy, Late Work, and Grading), I have referred to the Summer Creek High School Supplemental Grading Policy. MAKE UP WORK Students should be proactive in addressing planned absences; however, discussions about individual absences and make up work MUST take place before/after school at prearranged times. Major assignments (papers, group projects) should be turned in on time REGARDLESS of whether you are in class on the due date. The due dates for these assignments are noted well in advance and a variety of methods ( , sending assignment with a friend) exist to submit the work. LATE WORK Work that is turned in late not due to an excused absence or prearranged circumstances will be handled in accordance with the SCHS Policy: All Summer Creek High School teachers will utilize the following late work policy for all classes, regardless of level. This policy applies to all assessments. Late work will be accepted up to 5 school days after the due date with a penalty of _20 points per day Online Work Due dates and times for online work are absolute and are determined by the teacher. It is expected that teachers communicate deadlines in class, in writing, and electronically as appropriate. Assignment availability can be determined by the web-based application that the teacher is using. For example, an assignment may become available at 3:00 PM on Friday. It is expected that teachers communicate deadlines in class, in writing, and electronically as appropriate. Students are expected to complete online work and should not assume that they have extra time to do an assignment if they are absent on the day that the assignment opens or becomes available. If an assignment opens on Wednesday at noon, and the student is absent, the student will be expected to complete the assignment by the same deadline as the rest of the class. Students should make every effort to access the assignment via their own computer, phone, or a library computer. Late work policies and penalties do apply to online work.

5 GRADING Students and parents will be able to check grades via Home Access Center. Grades will never be discussed during class. You must make an appointment or attending tutorials (before or after school) for all grading matters. Grades will be calculated according to the following weights: Formative (Quizzes, vocabulary, homework) 40% Summative (Tests, projects, papers) 60% A / ; B / 89-80; C/79-70; D / 69-60; F/ 59 0 Your assignments in each grading period will consist of the following: SUMMATIVE (min FORMATIVE (min 12-18) 3) Exams (min 1) Participation Reading Logs Formal Papers (min 1) Group Project (1) Timed Writings Quizzes Notes/Graphic Organizers All grades are an assessment of an academic skill, concept, or performance. Grades are posted at least twice a week and published to parents and students through eschool. All assignments will be entered into the grade book before the start of the nine weeks. Parents will be contacted by phone when a student fails a class for the nine weeks. Reassessment Policy Re-teach and reassessment is mandatory for summative grades with a class average of less than 70. A student has the opportunity to reassess after a summative grade of less than for any reason. Examples A maximum of 1 reassessment will be offered, and the maximum grade on the reassessment will be an. Students must make and understand corrections to original summative test and complete all formative assignments to be eligible for reassessment. Reassessments must be offered within 1 calendar week of the date in which the original graded assessment was returned. Students must make arrangements to attend the re-teach and reassessment date set by the teacher if reassessment is done outside of school hours. Original Grade Reassessment Grade Not Eligible Reported Grade Original Grade

$! PLAGIARISM To prevent and screen for plagiarism, students will be expected to use Turnitin.com. Consequences for Plagiarism 1. Retain the plagiarized paper/assignment as proof of the infraction. 2.$

6 ! PLAGIARISM To prevent and screen for plagiarism, students will be expected to use Turnitin.com. Consequences for Plagiarism 1. Retain the plagiarized paper/assignment as proof of the infraction. 2. Report the incident to both your level leader and instructional coach. The instructional coach will notify the associate principal of the situation. 3. The associate principal will give the teacher an Academic Dishonesty letter to fill out. The letter will specify what the student did and what the consequences are. The teacher will then return the letter to the associate principal. The associate principal will sign the letter and mail it to the parents of the student. 4. The student will receive an automatic zero for the assignment; however, they must redo the assignment for a maximum grade of. 5. The teacher will fill out a discipline referral and submit it to the student s house principal. Retain a copy of the referral for your own records, too. CLASS SCHEDULE Students are responsible for changes to the class schedule. Students can expect to find the class schedule online, printed and posted weekly in class, and highlighted on the classroom agenda wall. OVERVIEW OF UNITS 9-Week Grading Period/ Dates 1 st Monday, August 24, 2015 Friday, October 23, nd Monday, October 26, 2015 Friday, December 18, 2015 REFERENCES AND FURTHER RESOURCES: www. humble.k12.tx.us (Summer Creek High School-> Teacher Websites-> Culver) Mrs. Culver s Website: Attitude is everything.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS Respect yourself, the teacher & others 2. Put forth your best effort at all times Be prepared for class each day

CLASS EXPECTATIONS Respect yourself, the teacher & others 2. Put forth your best effort at all times Be prepared for class each day CLASS EXPECTATIONS 1. Respect yourself, the teacher & others Show respect for the teacher, yourself and others at all times. Respect others property. Avoid touching or writing on anything that does not