The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Dr. Seuss

Transcription

1 English 9AB Course Syllabus Ms. Meza The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Dr. Seuss Course Overview Welcome to Freshman English! This course should be both challenging and exciting as you embark on your neverending quest to become smarter and better readers and writers. I look forward to working with you! In this Common Core State Standards based course, students will read and respond to both historically and culturally significant works of literature, poetry, and drama. To prepare for college and career readiness, students will also analyze and respond to socially and culturally significant works of expository text and non-fiction. In addition, an emphasis is placed on broadening knowledge through improving listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will write coherent and focused essays which focus on narrative, informative and argumentative writing. Required Materials Organization and preparedness are essential for student success. Students must have the following items in class daily: 3 Ring Binder Loose-leaf notebook paper (College ruled) 2 blue or black pens 2 pencils 2 red pens Highlighters (at least 3 different colors) Weekly Class Agenda (Handout) Laptops ALL assignments, whether they are works in progress or already graded ***If you have trouble getting any of these items, please speak to me before or after class or me.

2 CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS 1. Listen and follow directions the first time they are given. 2. Be in the classroom and seated when the bell rings. 3. Be RESPECTFUL toward People, Property, and Time. 4. Use appropriate language; no put-downs, teaching, or offensive/inappropriate words. 5. Be prepared to work and learn. 6. Always do your best! PROCEDURES A. Entering the classroom You must enter the class silently. Whispering is not allowed. B. Moving to your seat and Agenda After you have entered the classroom silently, pick up any handouts on the Pick Up Here desk by the front door. After picking up the handouts, walk to your assigned seat. Take out your class folder/binder, a pencil or pen, and any other supplies that you will need. You will then write the agenda for the day on your Weekly Agenda handout. Agendas will be collected every Monday and are a part of your grade. Graded agenda s must be kept in your class binder. C. Quiet Signs In order to get the attention of the class when working on an activity or partner/group work, Ms. Meza will use different signals to ensure that students are quiet and that the class is paying attention. Three quiet signs are the following: 1. Clap it Quiet: When Ms. Meza claps out a rhythm, students in the class put down anything that they are working on, track her, be still, and repeat the rhythm that is clapped. All students must be silent after they repeat the rhythm Tone Chime: Ms. Meza will strike the 3-Tone Chime to signal that she is going to count down from five. Ms. Meza will count down from five, and at that point you must do the following 4 things: i. Be silent ii. Be still iii. Track the speaker iv. Listen to the speaker 3. Call and Response: Ms. Meza will say Alright, stop and all students should respond with Collaborate and listen. D. What to do when you finish class work early If you have successfully completed your class work, check it over. After you have finished your work and checked it, you have two options: 1. Sit silently and wait for further instructions. 2. Take out a reading book and read silently. E. Movement in the classroom Students must have Ms. Meza s permission to get out of their seat at any time throughout the class period.

3 F. Sharpening pencils Pencils should be sharpened before class begins. However, if you need to sharpen your pencil during class, raise your pencil in the air. If Ms. Meza gives you permission to sharpen your pencil, only then may you quietly walk to the pencil sharpener to do so. G. Bathroom use The best idea is to use the bathroom during the passing period. However, if you need to use the bathroom during class, hold up one of your bathroom passes in the air. Ms. Meza will then let you know whether or not you can go to the bathroom at that time. For your pass to be good, your own name must be clearly printed in ink on your bathroom pass. You may not share bathroom passes. Students who need to use the bathroom but who do not have a pass will serve detention. No restroom passes will be authorized during the first or last 10 minutes of class time. Students must take the class hall pass with them. H. Getting the teacher s attention If you need to speak with Ms. Meza or have a question or comment, you should raise your hand and not just call out with your voice. I. Required supplies Come to class prepared with the proper supplies. You will not be allowed to leave class for supplies once class has begun, and if you absolutely need to, that will result in a detention. J. End of class dismissal Ms. Meza, not the sound of the bell, will tell the class when it is time to get ready to go and will dismiss the class. K. Headings/ Assignments All assignments have a proper heading, which includes full name (first & last), instructor name, class/period and date (MLA Format) in the upper left hand corner. The assignment title/essential question must be written on the first line. All assignments must be neatly written and complete. Incomplete work will not be accepted. Students will be asked to complete and resubmit incomplete assignments and the assignments will be considered late. L. Tardies You are expected to be in the classroom and seated when the bell rings, and will be marked tardy if you are not. The school tardy policy will be strictly enforced; 3 tardies will result in a detention being give. When tardy, students must silently enter the classroom and start writing the agenda. Students who are excessively late and miss the agenda will have to make it up on their own time. Enter the room silently, take out your binder and pen/pencil, listen, and pay attention. M. Absences Students are responsible for all material presented in class. If a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to obtain information about missed assignments from a trusted team member. Assignments can also be found online or in the daily assignments crate. A student has 2 days for each day he/she was absent to make up the work for full credit. Make-up work must have a completed ABSENT WORK FORM attached and must be turned into the appropriate tray located in the student center. If a student is truant, she/he may not make up any of the missed work. Projects and major assignments will be considered late if student is absent on the day it is due.

4 N. Late work All assignments are expected to be turned in complete and on time to be eligible for full credit. Late work will be accepted within the time-frame of a unit but will receive a maximum of half credit. Once a unit is over, students may not submit work from that unit. Late work must have a LATE WORK FORM attached and turned into the appropriate tray located in the student center. It is your responsibility to print essays or have assignments ready before the class period begins. POLICIES 1. Cell Phones/Electronic Devices Phones and electronic devices will not be allowed unless instructed. Phones and electronic devices should be off and put away by the time the bell rings. Any cell phone or electronic device that I see once class has started, will be taken away and turned in to the front office. There will be no warnings given and there is no room for negotiation. 2. Food/Drinks/Gum No food or drink (except for water) is allowed during class time. Absolutely NO chewing gum. Doing any of these will result in a consequence. 3. Cheating/Copying/Plagiarizing Cheating cheats you out of your own education. Cheating doesn t help you learn, and we are here to learn. Any student caught cheating, plagiarizing (copying) or allowing others to cheat or copy her/his work will receive a zero on the assignment and his or her parents will be notified. 4. Headwear/Earphones/Makeup No hats, beanies, or hoods may be worn once you are in the classroom. Any earphones must be out of sight, not dangling from your ears or your shirt. Any makeup, compacts, mirrors, and any other beauty products are not allowed in class. If any of these items are taken away, you will have to pick them up after school. If it happens more than once, you will receive a phone call home and detention. 5. Grading Policies YOU are in charge of your grades. Class assignments, homework, projects, tests/benchmarks, and quizzes will receive points. Points are added to determine the grade. If you are uncertain of how you received a particular grade, you should make arrangements to speak to me to discuss this problem, preferably at the time the assignment is returned. Categories and Percentages: Assessments/Projects 20% Benchmarks 15% Classwork 35% Homework 10% Writing 20% The grading scale is: A % A B B B C C C D D D F 59 below

5 Rewards for choosing to Meet or Exceed the expectations 1. The joy of learning 2. Verbal praise 3. Tenacious Action Tickets Golden Tickets 4. Good citizenship grades What you can earn with Tenacious Action Tickets & Golden Tickets 1 TAT: o Glitter Pound 2 TAT s: o Borrow a Pen/Pencil 5 TAT s: o Buy a Pen/Pencil/Highlighter 10 TAT s o Golden Ticket 1 Golden Ticket o Positive Phone Call Home o Sweet Treats 2 Golden Tickets o Listen to your own music 3 Golden Tickets o Switch seats for a week Consequences for choosing to NOT meet the expectations 1. Verbal warning 2. Teacher/student conference 3. Phone call to parent/guardian and detention 4. Referral Severe Cause: Immediate referral Note: More than three warnings will affect a student s citizenship grade. If a student is being warned on a regular basis, she/he may be put on an Individualized Behavior Plan. DISPLAIMER: The teacher may make any changes to the syllabus at any time.

6 Please return this last page of the syllabus, completed and signed by you and your parent/guardian, to Ms. Meza by the requested date. Student Acknowledgement Form I,, have received, read, and understand the (print student name) expectations, rules, procedures, and policies for Ms. Meza s class. Student signature: Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement Form I,, have received, read, and understand the (print parent/guardian name) expectations, rules, procedures, and policies for Ms. Meza s class. Parent/Guardian signature: (print student s name) Parent/Guardian Contact Information This is an information sheet that will be kept confidential. By answering the following questions, you will help me better serve your student/child. What is the best Phone Number to reach you? Is this your home phone number, cell phone, or work? What is the best time to reach you? Do you check your regularly?