Grade English/Language Arts

[Pages:5]9th Grade English/Language Arts

Mater Academy Middle High 2018-2019

Teacher Information

Teacher Ms. Samantha Sanchez

Email ssanchez@

Room #: 47

General Information

Description Welcome to 9th grade English. Our goal this year is to use interactive and cooperative learning strategies in order to achieve our goals of gaining a deeper understanding of the English language and reading and writing strategies that will facilitate a successful high school and college career and beyond in real world applications. This year we will be using SpringBoard to facilitate learning and aid in our learning goals.

Expectations and Goals

In this class, students will be expected to arrive on time daily, follow classroom rules and procedures, actively participate in all class discussions and activities, and turn in all assignments, projects, quizzes and exams by the deadline provided by the teacher. As a class, our goal will be to prepare each student to successfully pass the FSA as well as foster a lifelong love of learning, reading, writing, and the English language.

Classroom Expectations

Classroom rules

? Always arrive on time ? Always raise your hand before speaking ? Always show the proper respect when a classmate or the teacher is speaking and for their opinions ? Always ask for permission before leaving the classroom ? Always come prepared to class ? Always try and wait for the lesson to be completed before asking to use the restroom/leave the

classroom ? Always sign the exit log before leaving the classroom for water/restroom/etc. ? Always leave the classroom with a hall pass ? Always refrain from using electronic devices during class time

Failure to adhere to classroom rules and instruction will result in the student being disciplined as follows:

1) Receive a verbal warning 2) Time out/loss of privilege 3) Receive a detention and parents will be contacted 4) If the problem persists, the student will be reported to the school administration

Classroom procedures

? Always include name, date, and period on all assignments and quizzes/exams being turned in ? Bell ringers are to be completed at the beginning of every class ? Check "No Name" piles regularly- your grade depends on it! ? Complete all required assignments for the day ? Turn in all assignments to the alphabetizer

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Course Materials

Required Materials All materials listed below are mandatory. For any questions or concerns regarding this list, please see Ms. Sanchez.

? 1 Composition notebook (to be left in class) ? 1 - 3 ring binder with dividers

o Dividers are to be labeled: Vocabulary, Notes, Handouts o Binders should be 1" or larger (the more space you have, the better) ? Lined filler paper for binders ? Black, blue, and red pens ? Pencils ? Highlighters (at least 3 different colors) ? Dictionary and thesaurus ? Copies of independent reading novels ? may be used, borrowed, or eBooks but absolutely NO books on cellphones

Suggested Materials ? Sticky notes (any size) ? White out ? Markers/crayons

Coursework

Classwork Students can expect daily classwork in order to aid and advance student learning. All classwork is expected to be turned in by the end of class unless otherwise stated by the teacher. Classwork will be done in any of the following ways: as a whole class, small group work, or individual work as well as notebook checks.

Homework Homework will be assigned to students at the discretion of the teacher. The teacher will always communicate at the end of each class whether there is homework or not as well as its due date. ALL HOMEWORK WILL BE GRADED.

Tests and quizzes Test grades will be comprised of Embedded Assessments, Independent reading projects and tests, and literary terms/ vocabulary tests for units. Quiz grades will come from Independent reading novel quizzes, various pop quizzes, and unit quizzes.

All students will be given quiz and exam dates in advance and it is up to the student to make sure to be in class that day. Should a student miss a quiz or exam, it is up to the student to reach out to the teacher about a makeup date no later than the following class period after the missed quiz or exam. Failing to do so will result in the student keeping the zero in the gradebook.

Late/make-up work Any classwork and/or homework missed and/or not turned in due to student absence will receive a zero in the gradebook. Late work will only be permitted with an office administered document stating the absence is an EXCUSED ABSENCE. The student will have three (3) days to turn in classwork/homework late without incurring a penalty to their grade. Late or missing work is the responsibility of the student. After the 3 days, if the student has not turned in their missing work, the grade of zero will remain in the gradebook.

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Plagiarism and cheating

Plagiarism WILL NOT be tolerated. If any student is found to have submitted unoriginal work or work that is not their own (even partially), that students' work will result in a zero in the gradebook with absolutely no opportunity to resubmit that assignment. That grade will be FINAL.

Cheating on a quiz or exam will result in an immediate zero in the gradebook pending further disciplinary action. All parties involved in the cheating of a quiz or exam, homework, or individual classwork will result in the same consequences.

Extra credit

Extra credit opportunities will be determined by the teacher and afforded to all students at the same time. All extra credit opportunities are at the discretion of the teacher and all students will be notified in advance of any upcoming extra credit opportunities. Various "bought" extra credit options will also be given throughout the year. Please see my website for any wish list items. Any time a wish list item or gift card is given to me with a receipt you will earn any available extra credit as well as the amount subtracted from the parent's hours owed to the school. Each student will only receive a maximum of 2 extra credit grades in the gradebook.

Independent reading

We will be reading roughly 8 books throughout the year. It will be your responsibility to acquire each book and read it. A list of the books we will be reading is posted on my website. A deadline will be given in which you must show proof of purchasing the book for a grade at the beginning of each book being assigned. There will be classwork/ homework attached to each book as well as a writing project and a creative interpretation project. These two projects will be worth a test grade each. Quizzes will be given periodically for each independent reading selection as well as a cumulative test.

Because of the number of students not reading the novels and simply googling them, etc. the following grading policy is in effect: all projects will be due THE SAME DAY the cumulative test will be given. You MUST pass the cumulative test in order for your projects to be graded. A failing grade on the test results in Z's being given for the projects. Someone who has truly read the book will not fail the test.

Grading Policy

All grades are final. Students will not be given work again in order to change their grades unless it is an extenuating circumstance which falls on the discretion of the teacher. All assignments will be graded in accordance with answer keys or grading rubrics in the instances of written responses. Grading rubrics for written responses will always be readily available for students.

Grading Scale 100-90 A 89-80 B 79-70 C 69-60 D 59-0 F Z = not submitted

Grading weight

Tests

40%

Quizzes 30%

Classwork 20%

Homework 10%

Attendance Policy

Tardies Students are expected to be seated and ready to begin class by the time the school bell rings. Any student not in the classroom by the time the bell rings will be marked as tardy in the gradebook. If a student is

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coming from another teacher or administrator, they are to have a note from that individual in order to avoid being marked late. Absences Students are expected to attend classes daily. Should a student be absent from class, the student will be marked with an unexcused absence for that class period and will remain with that unexcused absence until the student turns in an office administered document to the teacher stating the absence is excused.

Additional Information and Resources

Contacting the teacher I, Ms. Sanchez, strive to make myself as available to students and parents as possible. I am always available throughout the day to students so long as it does not interfere with other classes. Students and parents are also free to email me at ssanchez@ and I will usually respond to all emails within two (2) business days. Should any parent wish to meet with me, all requests need to be made by email and I will respond as quickly as possible with meeting dates and times available to meet. I appreciate any chance to meet with parents but, classroom instruction always comes first and thus, meetings will be made so as not to interfere with classroom instruction.

The use of electronics As per the student handbook, cell phones, iPads, tablets of any kind, iPods, and any other listening or recording devices are NOT to be used during class time. Class time is to be used to maximize learning and thus be free of distractions. Any electronic usage is to be pre-approved by the teacher.

**NOTE: Please fill out and return the following page. The Student/Parent Information and Acknowledgment sheet will serve as your first homework grade.

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Student/Parent Information and Acknowledgment

Please fill out the form below:

Student name: _______________________________________________________ Student ID#: _____________________

Parent name: ____________________________________________________

Parent phone number: _____________________________

Parent email: _______________________________________________________ Best way to contact parent: ____ Phone ____ Email

I understand that by signing this document I acknowledge the rules, procedures, and policies set forth by this syllabus and that the student, parent, and teacher are all responsible to uphold the expectations set forth by this syllabus.

Parent signature: ____________________________________

Date: ________________

Student signature: _____________________________________ Date: ________________

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