Suarez - Syllabus - ELA 9th Grade

[Pages:8]Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

9th Grade Language Arts

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

2019-2020 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Mrs. Suarez Room Number: Building 2, Room 210 Email: ssuarez@ Office Hours: By appointment only

Course Description:

Starting high school is an exciting and challenging point in an individual's life. It marks students taking one step closer to adulthood. The purpose of this course is to provide English 1 students, using texts of high complexity, integrated language arts study in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language for college, career preparation and readiness.

For the 2019-2020 academic school year, students will be using an innovative program created by the College Board, called SpringBoard. This program follows the Florida State Standards and assists students in developing the knowledge and skills necessary for Advanced Placement courses as well as success in college and beyond. SpringBoard is designed to help students make meaning of complex texts and prepare them for the rigorous textual analysis expected of them in Advanced Placement (AP) English and college courses. SpringBoard helps students build content knowledge primarily through engagement with a wide range of high-quality literary and informational texts. Extending this core reading program with a rich independent reading program ensures that SpringBoard students are reading widely and becoming broadly literate.

The thematic focus of the year will be "Coming of Age", they will analyze this theme and acquire skills that will allow them to think critically about and respond thoughtfully to important topics in all disciplines, and in society. Students will establish themselves as mature writers as it connects to the college experience.

Required Texts:

? Springboard English Language Arts-Grade 9 (Will be distributed the first day of school)

Independent Reading

Students will be required to read and annotate ONE Independent Required Novel each quarter. Every week, students will be asked to submit a Reader's Response Assignment, which will serve to ensure that they are keeping up with their reading and are able to provide feedback on what they have read. Each Reader's Response will count as a Home Learning grade. Both parent and student will be required to sign an Independent Reading Agreement.

Required Novels for in class and Independent Reading

? Lord of the Flies by William Golding ? The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ? Little Women by Louisa May Alcott ? Animal Farm by George Orwell ? To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (This is our in class novel and will be read in the 3rd nine weeks).

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Course Expectations and Requirements

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Course Outline:

First Nine Weeks Topic

Assignment/Resource

Unit 1 Coming of Age

v Students will keep and maintain a notes/vocabulary

notebook

1. What does it mean to "come of age"?

v Lesson quizzes

2. How do authors and speakers persuade and influence

an audience?

v Embedded Assessments

Unit Goals:

? EA 1: Writing and Presenting an Interview

? To understand the concept of coming of age

Narrative.

? To identify diction, syntax, imagery, and tone--and to un-

derstand the way they work together to convey an author's ? EA 2: Writing an Argumentative Essay

or speaker's voice

? To incorporate voice effectively in writing

v Unit Tests

? To analyze and use rhetorical appeals and evidence to pre-

sent an argument to an audience

v Independent Reading Projects

? To support an inference or claim using valid reasoning and

relevant and sufficient evidence

Second Nine Weeks Topic

Assignment/Resource

Unit 2 Defining Style

v Students will keep and maintain a notes/vocabu-

lary notebook

1. What makes a good story?

v Lesson quizzes

2. How does an artist define his or her style?

v Embedded Assessments

Unit Goals:

? To identify specific elements of an author's style

? EA 1: Writing a Short Story

? To review and analyze elements of fiction and write a short

story

? EA 2: Writing a Style Analysis

? To analyze syntactical structure and use clauses to achieve

specific effects

v Unit Tests

? To develop close reading skills

? To identify cinematic techniques and analyze their effects v Independent Reading Projects

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Third Nine Weeks Topic

Assignment/Resource

Unit 3 Coming of Age in Changing Times

v Students will keep and maintain a notes/vocabu-

lary notebook

1. How can context contribute to the understanding of a

novel?

v Lesson quizzes

2. How does a key scene from a novel contribute to the v Embedded Assessments work as a whole? ? EA 1: Historical Investigation and Presentation

Unit Goals: ? To gather and integrate relevant information from multiple ? EA 2: Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

sources to answer research questions ? To present findings clearly, concisely, and logically, making v Unit Tests

strategic use of digital media ? To analyze how literary elements contribute to the develop- v Independent Reading Projects

ment of a novel's themes ? To write a literary analysis, citing textual evidence to sup- v Novel: "To Kill A Mockingbird"

port ideas and inferences

Fourth Nine Weeks Topic

Assignment/Resource

Unit 4 Exploring Poetic Voices

v Students will keep and maintain a notes/vocabu-

lary notebook

1. What is poetry?

v Lesson quizzes

2. What can a writer learn from studying an author's craft

and style?

v Embedded Assessments

Unit Goals:

? EA 1: Creating a Poetry Anthology

? To develop the skills and knowledge to analyze and craft po-

etry

? EA 2: Analyzing and Presenting a Poet

? To analyze the function and effects of figurative language

? To write original poems that reflect personal voice, style, v Unit Tests

and an understanding of poetic elements

? To write a style-analysis essay

v Independent Reading Projects

? To present an oral interpretation of a poem

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Topic

Assignment/Resource

Unit 5: Coming of Age on Stage

v Students will keep and maintain a notes/vocabu-

lary notebook

1. How do actors and directors use theatrical elements to

create a dramatic interpretation?

v Lesson quizzes

2. Why do we study Shakespeare?

v Embedded Assessments

Unit Goals:

? EA 1: Presenting a Dramatic Interpretation

? To cite textual evidence to support analysis of a dramatic

text

? EA 2: Writing a Synthesis Argument

? To analyze their presentation of key scenes in text, film, and

other mediums

v Unit Tests

? To collaborate with peers on an interpretive performance

? To conduct research to answer questions and gather evi- v Independent Reading Projects

dence

? To analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance a pur-

pose

? To write an argument to support a claim

Assignments:

All assignments must be handwritten in black or blue ink and be neat and legible. Typing is acceptable at any time.

All assignments must be labeled with the student's name, period, date, and the title of the submitted in the top left hand corner.

assignment being

All essays and special projects must be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman Font, double spaced, and properly indented.

Papers that are not typed will have 10 points deducted from the final grade.

APA documentation must be used when citing all sources.

Any form of Cheating, Plagiarism and/or Misrepresentation as defined in the MDCPS Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for the specific assignment.

Late homework will not be accepted unless the student is marked excused absent from school the day the assignment is due.

Extra Credit work will not be given.

Quizzes will be administered frequently and may be announced or unannounced.

A student is expected to bring his/her materials to every class. Materials may be checked at any time by the teacher. Students who do not have their Materials will earn a zero.

Supplemental reading books are to be brought every day for the duration of that lesson. Daily book checks will be conducted and students without the proper book will earn a zero per day that the book is missing.

In the event of my absence, I will leave a lesson plan for the substitute teacher to follow. All students must complete the assignment and submit it at the end of the period for a class work grade. Busy work is never assigned!

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Methods of Assessment

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Formative Assessments

25% (quizzes, project components, labs)

Summative Assessments

35% (unit/chapter tests, final project grade)

Classwork

20%

Home Learning

20%

Grading Scale

A

90-100%

B

80-89%

C

70-79%

D

60-69%

F

0-59%

3.5-4.00 2.5-3.49 1.5-2.49 1.00-1.49 0-.99

Classroom Expectations:

In this classroom, you are expected to:

Be in your assigned seat, prepared and ready to work by the time the bell stops ringing, otherwise, you are tardy; Respect other students and the teacher by being attentive when others are speaking, raising your hand to speak,

and not being disruptive; Always come to class prepared with textbook, folder, paper, pens, completed assignments, and any other materials

that you are instructed to bring; Follow all directions the first time they are given by the teacher or included on an assignment; Meet all deadlines (Assignments are due at the beginning of each class on the due date); Actively participate in group discussions and activities; Not use cell phones, smartwatches, I-POD's, MP3 Players or video games; unless approved by the teacher. These

items must be turned off before entering the classroom. No recording or photographing during class. Follow the Pinecrest Glades Academy School Code of Conduct, all policies will be enforced; and Be motivated. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Classroom Procedures:

Classroom conduct is necessary in order to maintain an orderly and cohesive learning environment. Each student will receive a conduct grade on their report card and this will also determine their eligibility for special events.

*Failure to meet any of the aforementioned requirements will result in a deduction of 2 points per day from the class participation grade.

Consequences for Failing to Meet Classroom Expectations:

? 1st Offense: Verbal Warning and/or parent contact ? 2nd Offense: Teacher/Student conference and/or parent contact ? 3rd Offense: Teacher/Parent conference ? Depending on the severity of the infraction, steps may be bypassed at the discretion of the teacher who will send

the student directly to the Principal

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Academic Dishonesty:

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in of the following areas. Academic dishonesty is an infraction of the MDCPS Code of Student Conduct and disciplinary action will ensue.

? Cheating- the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids ? Fabrication-falsification or invention of any information ? Assisting-helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty ? Tampering-altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents ? Plagiarism-representing the word or ideas of another person as one's own

Attendance Policy:

In case of absence, students are to meet with me before/after school to make-up assignments. However, only students with excused absences will receive an academic grade without penalty. The assignment will remain with a letter grade of a "Z" until the absence is excused. Students have two days after said absence to make up the assignments. Students are required to be on time to class. When arriving late ? if class has already started, enter the class quietly and turn in your late pass. If tardy to class, student will entail disciplinary consequences.

Make-up Work Policy:

As per school policy, make-up work, including homework, must be completed within 24 hours (per missed day) after returning to school. All assignments must be made-up within the allotted time or the student will be issued an incomplete (Z). It is the student's responsibility to follow up with me to ensure he/she makes up any missing assignments. Students should check the website and email teacher while absent to ensure all work is complete upon their return.

Supplies

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

All students are required to be prepared with the following items and ready to work each and every day of class:

SpringBoard workbook (provided) 1 Composition notebook 1 Folder w/prongs & pockets Loose-leaf College-Ruled paper #2 pencils Erasable pens black or blue 2 colored pens for peer editing Crayons, colored pencils and/or markers 4 Different Color Highlighters Index Cards (4x6 ? lined) Post-it notes Pocket dictionary and thesaurus Earbuds Home access to a computer and printer

Pinecrest Glades Academy Middle/High School

Carrie Montano

Principal

Zuleika Santos

Assistant Principal

Vanessa Nario-Diaz

Assistant Principal

Parents and Students,

Please sign and return to Mrs. Suarez. It is a required document for student files.

I have been given and had explained to me the student contract for my Language Arts Class by my teacher. I am expected to review these rules and procedures with my parent/guardian. I understand and agree to all the terms.

_________________________________________________ Student Name: (please print)

_________________________________________________ Student Signature:

_________________________________________________ Period:

_________________________________________________ Date:

I (we) the parent/guardian have gone over this contract with my child and I (we) understand and agree on all terms.

_________________________________________________________ Parent Signature:

_________________________________________________ Print Name:

_________________________________________________ Date:

_________________________________________________ Contact Numbers:

_________________________________________________ Email address:

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