Course Syllabus
Welcome to high school! High school English focuses on giving students the skills they need to gather information, to think critically about it, and to use it for meaningful communication. These skills include reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and presenting. This course will challenge students to think independently and communicate thoughtfully.
OBJECTIVE: Our language arts curriculum will follow the national Common Core Standards. These standards seek to raise the achievement levels of our nation's students and focus on critical writing, reading, and thinking. For more information on the Common Core, please visit: www.corestandards.orgLinks to an external site.
CLASSROOM STANDARDS: High school students should be able to come prepared to class with their materials, be on time, follow directions and turn in high school level work. Students should be school appropriate in their language and in their behavior. Kindness matters. I expect everyone to be courteous to each other in class and to show good character.
RECOMMENDED FOR DAILY CLASS WORK: Required daily will be a 3-ring binder or a dedicated section in a student’s binder for English to keep handouts and homework with an adequate supply of paper as well as a pen and pencil.
ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM POLICIES: Students are strongly encouraged to make up any assignments, missed tests, or quizzes within one week of the original date a test was given in class. However, I will accept late work for full credit until one week before the end of the term.
MEMBEAN: Membean practice makes up 5% of a student’s grade. Without completing Membean, a student cannot earn an “A” in the class. A student must complete 40 minutes of Membean a week with a 50% or higher accuracy score and no dubious minutes (the computer program keeps track of inactive minutes). Dubious or inactive minutes will be subtracted from a student’s total minutes and any score under 50% accuracy will result in 0 points. This means that students must give their undivided attention to their Membean sessions. If a student is having a difficult time scoring above 40% accuracy, please come and see me. Membean practice sessions cannot be made up; however, students may retake Membean tests. Tests make up 35% of a students grade and Membean tests are included in that category.
HOMEWORK: Students will have reading homework every night and may have Membean homework if it wasn't completed in class. Students are required to read one book a term and complete one book report a term. Book reports will be completed as homework. More information will be provided in class.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones and earbuds are NOT ALLOWED in class. Students will keep their cell phones in their back backs—cell phones are not allowed on a students’ person. If students use their phones during class without permission, they will be required to place their cell phone in an assigned holder, and their citizenship grade will be affected.
CITIZENSHIP: School policy will be followed concerning tardy marks for citizenship credit. Citizenship grades can be affected by certain behaviors such as: disrupting class, not bringing all the required materials to class, wasting your time, getting out of your seat without permission, writing on desks/books, using your cell phone during class, etc.
READINGS: 9th grade reading material covers some difficult history, including WWI poems, a Holocaust memoir, and historical events surrounding the Civil Rights Movement, as well as civil rights movements around the world. Also, Romeo and Juliet can be difficult for some students because of the theme of suicide throughout the play; though we do not focus on the theme of suicide, it is a part of the play and will be talked about briefly. If your child is particularly sensitive, please let me know, so we can come up with a plan to help your student be prepared for certain lessons or provide your student with alternative reading material.
All reading material including short stories, poems, and novel excerpts are approved by the Davis School District for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade.
While every attempt is made to procure only quality, appropriate reading materials, the teacher cannot be responsible for students' selections for independent reading. This is between the student and his/her parents/guardians.
BOOKS: Students will be responsible for any books taken out of the classroom. A fee will be charged for lost or damaged books and must be paid in full prior to graduation. Students are also welcomed to borrow books from my classroom library. The policy for lost, stolen, or damaged books is the same as for class-assigned novels.
FILMS: Films shown this year will be the 1968 Zefferelli version of Romeo and Juliet, short clips from the filmed performance of the 2013 Broadway theatrical production of Romeo and Juliet, and short clips from Laz Burhman’s 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet. For our mythology and epic journey unit short clips (no longer than two minutes) from Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney cartoons will be used. If you wish to opt a student out of these activities, a parent needs to notify the teacher in writing (email or a written note).
GRADING PREFERENCES
5% Membean
10% Book Report
35% Testing
50% Assignments (including writing evaluations)
GRADING SCALE:
A = 90-100 (with an “A” starting at 93%)
B = 80-89
C = 65-79
D = 50-64
F = 49 and below
*If a grade of “F” is earned as a term grade, the student must make up the lost credit at night school or summer school. THE PASSING OF NINTH GRADE ENGLISH IS ESSENTIAL FOR GRADUATION.
Course Summary:
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