Mrs.McDonald9th Grade English - Home



Opelika High School

9th grade English Syllabus

Mrs. McDonald

Room 224

Course Description and Objectives

Students will demonstrate organizational skills by dividing their English notebooks into five sections: Warm ups, Vocabulary, Grammar, Literature, and Graded work.

Textbook

EMC Mirrors and Windows Level IV (9th grade) text

Each student will have access to a class set of our 9th grade English textbook and be able to check out a book if necessary to complete assignments.

Materials

|1” 3 ring binder |

|5 Dividers |

|College ruled paper |

|Pencils |

|Blue or black ink pens |

|Highlighter |

|Note cards |

|Post Its |

Classroom Rules

1. Come to class prepared to learn with all materials and a positive attitude.

2. Follow all school-wide rules.

3. Be respectful.

4. Use positive language at all times.

5. Stay focused on learning.

Consequences

|1st Offense: Verbal warning |

|2nd Offense: Teacher’s detention and call to parents |

|3rd Offense: Referral, principal’s office, and call to parents. |

|4th Offense: Referral= ISS (In School Suspension) |

Graded Work

Student work is graded on a point system. Participation will be accounted through daily activities and grades. Below is the grading scale followed by a list of major grades.

|A 100-90 |B 89-80 |C 79-70 |D 69-60 |F 59- below |

Grade Categories

Major Grades 50%

Quizzes 30%

Classwork/ Homework 20%

Major Grades Points

Literature Unit tests 100

Essays 100

Quizzes Points

Warm Up Quizzes 100

Vocabulary Quizzes 100

|Daily grades Points |

|Homework 50-100 |

|Quick Writes/ Journals 50-100 |

|Practices/ Activities 50-100 |

|Group activities 50-100 |

Grammar Quizzes 100

All graded work will be recorded and returned to students and should be kept in their notebooks. Students will use previous exams and notes to study for a midterm before Christmas break and a final before the end of the school year.

Every assignment that is not turned in or incomplete is counted as a zero. Assignments turned in without a name will be graded and placed in a No Names folder, but the student will have a zero recorded in the grade book. Each student must check with me if they believe a zero grade they have received is due to his or her paper not having a name on it. All papers without names on them will be kept until the end of the semester.

Late/Make Up Work

Students are expected to have homework completed on the assigned date BEFORE coming into class. Late work may be brought in the following day for partial credit. After three late assignments, I will no longer accept late homework. Keep up with your work!

Students will have three days to make up any and all missed quizzes. And may come before school or stay after school to make them up. No quizzes may be made up during class time. Any homework or essay assignment that was due during the absence should be turned in on the first day of the student’s return. After the third day, students will receive a zero for work that has not been made up. Accommodations will only be made for students that are in need of accommodations.

Assignments with no names on them will be graded and placed on a No Names board, but the student will have a zero recorded in the grade book. Each student must check with me if they believe a zero grade they have received is due to his or her paper not having a name on it. All papers without names on them will be kept until the end of the semester.

Literature

We will study various short stories, novels, and plays throughout the school year. All texts are provided through the literature textbook or through classroom copies; however, students are encouraged to purchase their own copies for note taking.

Writing

We will review the four modes of writing before beginning the study of analytical essays which will challenge students to analyze a piece of literature for literary elements such as theme, tone, irony, symbolism, and imagery. At least one essay will be written every six to nine weeks. This will also include a research project.

Policies and Procedures

Preparedness

Students are expected to be prepared for class every day. This includes having the following: a pen or pencil, warm up, homework assignments, notes, loose leaf paper, and textbook. If students do not have something to write with, they may trade something of value for a pen or pencil. This ensures that my materials are not lost or stolen.

Tardies and Attendance

Attendance is counted two ways: (1) Each student will check-in by their name on his or her attendance board by the front door and (2) I will check the attendance record for accuracy daily. Each student must be in his or her seat and have his or her Warm Up out on his or her desk in order to be counted present. After 4 tardies have been accumulated, the student will be warned that the next tardy will result in an after-school detention. A tardy record will be kept in the classroom which students will date and sign for each tardy followed by the assigned detention date upon the fourth tardy. If a student continues to be late for class, a call home will be made, and the student will receive a Principal’s Detention after school.

Leaving the Classroom

Hall Pass / Bathroom pass – Students must have a hall pass when leaving the classroom for any reason. Students must ask permission in order to receive a hall pass or else they will be counted tardy or absent. Students will not be able to leave the classroom for the first or last fifteen minutes of class as per the 15-15 rule enforced by Opelika High School regardless of a hall pass. Students are issued 3 passes per 9 weeks. Any passes left unused will become extra credit. If a student uses all his or her passes, they will not be allowed to leave the room. Only if they choose to take a 10 minute after school detention will they be allowed to leave class to use the restroom.

|Class Schedule |Contact Information: |

|1st 8:00- 9:46 |School number: (334) 745- 9715 |

|2nd 9:51-11:27 |Email: brittany.mcdonald@ |

|3rd 11:32 - 1:44 |Planning – 3rd block 1st semester |

|4th 1:51-3:25 |- 1st block 2nd semester |

Progress reports are sent home every 4 1/2 weeks. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress, I would be glad to set up a more frequent contact schedule. Please call or email me any time you wish to set up a conference. Conferences may be scheduled for before or after school.

After reading and explaining this syllabus to your child, please sign and return the acknowledgment of receipt of syllabus to me tomorrow. I look forward to a great year of learning with your child!

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF SYLLABUS

I have read and discussed the 9th grade English syllabus with my child. This syllabus will be kept in my child’s English notebook for future references of activities and grading procedures. This acknowledgement will be signed and returned to Mrs. McDonald.

Parent(s)/Guardian’s Signature Date

Student’s Signature Date

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