English I Syllabus



English II Honors Syllabus

2010-2011

Doral Academy Preparatory Charter School

Parent-Teacher Conferences are available upon appointment.

Teacher: Ms. Giorey Valdes School Phone No: (305) 597-9950

Classroom: M-110 Email: gvaldes@

Hello Parents, Guardians and Students!

Although I’m very excited to see some of my former 9th graders on the class rosters, I’d like to reintroduce myself briefly. My name is Ms. Valdes and I am your child’s 10th grade English Honors teacher. I am a graduate of the University of Florida, where I received both my B.A. in English and my M.Ed in English Education. In addition to teaching and literature, I love Gator football, movies, cooking, and bicycling.

I truly hope that during this school year we can build a vibrant, healthy learning community centered on the enjoyment of language. In any group of people with different kinds of opinions and backgrounds, respect and encouragement of different perspectives is essential. In our classroom, we will be challenging ourselves with reading, writing, and discussing different kinds of texts to further develop the students’ vocabulary, grammar, media literacy, and other language skills.

I am very excited and honored to face the challenge of helping your students become the best readers, writers, and speakers of the English language they can be. Like I told them in class today, I know I am placing some very high expectations on them, perhaps higher than what they may be accustomed to. I would not do this if I did not firmly believe that it was for the good of their own educations and characters. I myself am asking them to have high expectations of me to always be expecting the very best from them, nurturing, professional, kind, organized, prepared, and at my own very best. I cannot wait to see what the upcoming school year holds for us as we get to know each other and ourselves better through reading, writing, and learning to love it!

Attached to this letter is a brief summary of my classroom routines, expectations, and procedures. Students, please sign the last page confirming that you have read and agreed to the information on this syllabus. Parents, please sign and fill out the contact information on the last page and send it to school with your student for his/her first homework grade.

Thank you!

Ms. Valdes

Classroom Procedures and Expectations

• When entering the classroom:

· Wait outside the door until the other students leave the room

· Go directly to your seat and get ready for class.

· Clear your desk except for English class materials. Place all other materials under your desk.

· Do not wait for the bell to ring to begin copying the day’s agenda and the warmup.

• If you are tardy:

· Be prepared to show a pass.

· If you do not have a pass, be prepared to get a tardy. 3 Tardies will result in a detention.

• End of class dismissal

· The bell does not end class…I do!

· Stay seated, remain quiet and I will dismiss you.

• Listening and responding in class:

· Raise hand to be recognized, Do NOT call out!

· Be considerate of others. Listen attentively while others are speaking without making unnecessary, disruptive noises.

• Group Work

·When working in groups, always work quietly using a soft voice.

·Individuals will be graded for work in groups based both on their efforts and contributions to the assignment and the finished product.

• Each student will be allowed only 1 bathroom pass per quarter during class time.

• Absences

· In the event of an absence, the student is responsible to ask a peer or the teacher for the make-up work on the following class day. It must be turned in no later than two classes after the absence. Make-up work will NOT be accepted for UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.

·10 Unexcused Absences throughout the year or 5 in a semester will result in a NO CREDIT (NC) grade automatically on the Electronic Gradebook.

• Late Work will absolutely NOT be accepted.

• NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES!

· IPODS/MP3s; Cell phones; Cameras; PSP, Etc.

· In the event these items are brought to class they will be revoked as if it were a 3rd offense: The teacher will confiscate the item, take it to the office and only a parent can pick it up in the front office from 2:30-3:00. If this occurs a 3rd time, administration will keep the item until the end of the school year. The cell phone is not to be in visible sight of the teacher.

• PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

·If a student’s work is discovered to be the result of copying or cheating, he/she will receive zero credit on the assignment and a conference with the teacher.

Consequences

• 1st Offense: Verbal/Written Warning

• 2nd Offense: Student/Teacher Conference

• 3rd Offense: Call to Parent and Detention

• 4th Offense: Parent/Teacher Conference

• If problem persists: Referral for Suspension

Required Coursework & Grade Percentages:

• Class Participation: 10%

• Class Learning/ Home Learning: 15%

• Quizzes: 20%

• Projects/Essays: 25%

• Tests: 30%

Grading Scale

• A=90-100

• B=80-89

• C=70-79

• D=60-69

• F=59 -

Required Materials

• A 3-ring 1-inch binder (A larger size is recommended but not required.)

• Lots and lots of paper!

• 5 subject dividers for Daily Agenda, Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, and Class Notes

• Springboard Book (Will be provided later)

• A good pen to write with.

• Highlighters

• Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

• The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Students will be required to have their English binder set up according to my specifications and bring it to EVERY class along with whatever book we will be reading at the time. I will perform random book and supply checks for a participation grade and at least once per quarter, I will check each student’s binder for a test grade.

9th Grade Curriculum Summary

1st Quarter: Springboard Units 1 and 2 (Angela’s Ashes)

2nd Quarter: Springboard Unit 3 (The Poisonwood Bible)

3rd Quarter: Springboard Unit 4 (Antigone)

4th Quarter: Springboard Unit 5 (The Pearl)

Grammar and writing instruction will also be provided in the context of the literature and themes currently being covered.

ALL students will also be required to participate in the Reading Plus software program at home for 2 sessions and a writing journal per week. If a student does not have regular Internet access at home, please talk to me immediately so we can work out a solution.

All essays MUST be uploaded to by midnight of their deadline. I will give students notice when to print out their graded essays WITH COMMENTS to bring into class for their Writing Portfolio and a grade.

After printing, please fill out the last page of this syllabus. Student must turn it in by Wed./Thurs. August 25/26, 2010 for a Homework grade.

Agreement to Course Requirements, Policies, and Rules.

English I with Ms. Valdes

Student Name: ______________________________ Period: _____________

Student Signature: ____________________________ Date: _____________

Parent/ Guardian Name: _______________________ Date: ______________

Parent/ Guardian Signature: _____________________

Parent Email: _________________________________ (please do not give me your child’s email address)

Parent Phone Number: _________________________

* If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

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