Pebblebrook High School 2.0: Project-based;
Problem Solved!
Department: English Spring
Semester 2015
COURSE TITLE: 9th
Grade Literature and Composition INSTRUCTOR: Velrastine Shaw
EMAIL: Velrastine.Shaw@cobbk12.org PHONE:
770-819-2521 ext. 906
CLASSROOM BLOG
PHS SCHOOL VISION: Empowering
Students to Become Productive Members of a Global Community
PHS SCHOOL MISSION: Modeling
and Developing Intellectual, Physical and Emotional Behaviors that Lead to
Success for All
KEY ACTIONS:
·
Increase the
Graduation Rate
·
Increase rigor
and student engagement (Project-based learning environment)
·
Increase
community and parental involvement
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will compile studies
from a variety of genres of literature, including the novel, poetry, drama,
short stories, fiction, non-fiction, and epics. Students will be exposed to the
rules of grammar, vocabulary, writing, and research. This is a honors level course and will be
more rigorous than an on-level class.
KEY STANDARDS: Students will address a myriad of
standards throughout the semester. A
list of these standards can be found on the Georgia Department of Education
website: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Common%20Core%20Frameworks/CCGPS_ELA_9-10_Standards.pdf
GRADING
POLICY: Reading …………………………………………..20%
Speaking/Listening
………………………………15%
Writing
……………………………..…………….25%
Language…………………………………………15%
*EOC/Milestone…………………………………..0%
Final
Exam………………………………………..20%
Common
Assessment……………………………...5%
*Statement about
EOC/Milestone Exam:
This semester,
students in selected courses will take an EOC/Milestone assessment.
Student growth is a component of the Teacher Keys Effectiveness model
which is used to evaluate teachers in the state of Georgia. This test will be given at the end of the
semester to measure the student’s individual growth. As the exam will not be calculated into the
student’s overall average, it will be evident on the student’s final
transcript.
GRADING SCALE:
A - 100-90%
B - 89-80%
C - 79-74%
D – 70-73%
F - 69-Below
SYNERGY ACCESS TO
GRADES:
It is strongly encouraged that you keep your Synergy login information
in a safe place and that you have access to the information when needed. Parents should contact the Main Office
(770.819.2521) or Mr. John Chandler at ext. 099 in order to obtain their
synergy password and access information.
Please note that
when you are viewing grades in Synergy that a blank grade column for your child
has no effect on their grade. If the
space is blank, then your student may not have turned in that assignment due to
absence or the teacher may not have entered grades for that assignment at that
time. An “X” means that the student is
exempt from an assignment at the discretion of the teacher.
TEXTBOOK/SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES:
Central Texts: Prentice Hall Literature, Language and
Literacy Grade Nine.
Required/Supplemental/Parallel Texts for the
Course:
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (the “No Fear
Shakespeare” version is recommended but not required)
The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene
Possible Films:
Romeo + Juliet, The
Fault in Our Stars, and various short films and clips.
*Note: You may
purchase an electronic copy of the above-mentioned texts but you will need a
print copy of the parallel reading novel.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This is an
Honors-level class and with that comes the expectation that honors-level work
will be completed. During our time together you will be
writing several different pieces working toward creating a portfolio of your
writing to share with an authentic audience.
• Literary analysis writing
• Researched writing
• Expository writing
• Technical writing
• Persuasive writing
• Narrative writing
• Creative writing
INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS:
You will be
creating and keeping up with an interactive notebook this semester, which is
essentially a personalized textbook and interactive journal that allows you to
store and process all class information in one place (a spiral notebook which
you will be required to purchase). You will be required to supply your spiral
notebook and some supplies, and the notebooks will be created, maintained, and
stored in the classroom. Notebook checks will be frequent and may be announced
or unannounced. They will account for a major portion of your grade in the
writing and language categories. This is
required for all Ninth Grade students in all content courses.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 3 ring binder for the Interactive Notebook
component.
- College-ruled Notebook paper for assignments to
be turned in outside of the Interactive Notebook
- 5 dividers
- Pens and pencils
- Colored pencils, markers, highlighters, or
crayons (suggested)
- Glue stick or tape (suggested)
- Index cards (suggested)
- Flash-drive (suggested)
DONATION REQUEST:
Kleenex
Hand sanitizer
Band-Aids
Printer Paper
Markers
Colored Pencils
Construction Paper
Notebook Paper
Pens/Pencils
CLASS
EXPECTATIONS:
My expectations
for all students are as follows:
- Be respectful of everyone and everything in
the classroom.
- Be present, be prepared, and be positive.
It is my
expectation that this class is a place of business and learning. You are
required to treat your teacher(s), peers, and materials with respect at all
times. You are required to comply with school rules at all times. You are
required to follow directions at all times and correct your behavior
immediately if there is an issue. Consequences for failure to comply with these
expectations may include a warning, student/teacher conference, detention,
parent contact, and referral to administration.
FINAL EXAM EXEMPTION:
Students with no more than
one excused absence may qualify to exempt one of their final exams. Students with a course average of 80 or
higher may exempt one final exam of their choice. Students with a course average of 79 or below
may request that ten percentage points be added to the final exam grade. Towards the end of the semester, students who
qualify may submit an Exam Exemption Form to the classroom teacher of their
choice. Teachers must verify that the
student qualifies for the exemption.
PARTICIPATION:
Class
participation is an important component of the Honors curriculum. Much can be
learned from the exchange of ideas that occurs during class discussions.
Frequent absences SERIOUSLY jeopardize your success in this class. The
participation grade will be based on the degree of student involvement in the
learning activities, including attention to and participation in written and
oral exercises, class discussion, preparation for class, and homework. To reiterate:
If you do not participate in formal class discussions, you will not
receive a passing grade for that activity.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE POLICY:
A student who
is present and actively participates is most likely to be successful; however,
if a student is absent, he/she has the number of days absent plus one day to
make up assigned work. If the student
does not make up the work, a zero will be given for the missed work. All a student has to do is ASK, and I will be
happy to designate a time for make-up work when my assistance is needed.
If a student
has an unexcused absence, all work will be assigned a zero in Synergy unless
the absence becomes excused.
Remember that
IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK UP AND TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK!
There will be a designated spot and system to pick up make-up work, which
students will be aware of. Please check the blog to view more details about the
day’s work.
Any student who
misses class for OSS or ISS must turn in his/her work the day he/she returns to
class. Students in OSS must have their
work picked up in the main office.
This year
Pebblebrook is offering attendance incentives, including the ability to opt out
of one final exam. Please keep this in
mind, as well as the fact that students who attend class do better overall!
LATE WORK POLICY:
Late work may
not be eligible to earn full credit. All major assignments/projects will be
penalized 10% each day late.
TARDY POLICY:
To avoid being
counted tardy, students must be seated and ready for class when the bell rings.
School policy states that students may receive Saturday School, In-School
Suspension, and Out-of-School Suspension for repeated tardies.
EXTRA HELP:
Morning Session:
Any morning from 7:30-8:15
Afternoon Session:
Tuesday 3:30-5:00
I can also
accommodate your schedule but please let me know 1 week ahead of when you
intend on coming for tutoring.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
As per the school’s policy,
cell phones are not to be used during class time unless directed by the teacher
for instructional purposes. Students will receive a discipline referral after
one warning to put away any electronic device (unless the device is being used
for instruction). Students are allowed to bring certain technologies to class
(iPad, laptop, Kindle, etc.), but it should NOT interfere with the teaching or other’s learning.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Cheating is considered a serious
matter. Any student who is involved in cheating/plagiarism will receive a
grade of zero on the material, an unsatisfactory in conduct, and his/her
parents will be notified.
For this course,
cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- Copying
anyone's answers to questions, exercises, study guides, class work or
homework assignments
- Taking
any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without
giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words
and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work
as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism.
- Looking
onto another student's paper during a test or quiz.
- Having
available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without
the teacher's permission.
- Collaborating
on assignments when independent work is expected.
CLASSROOM BLOG:
Throughout the year,
students are expected to use the classroom blog daily. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the
blog and come prepared to the next class. All handouts and assignments will be
posted daily to the blog.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This is going to be a great semester
and I look forward to working with each one of you! Please contact me with any concerns,
questions or comments!
