Department: English
Spring Semester 2018
COURSE TITLE: Ninth Literature and Music
Leadership 101 INSTRUCTOR: Velrastine Shaw
EMAIL: Velrastine.shaw@cobbk12.org
PHONE: 770-819-2521 ext. 1005
CLASSROOM BLOG: https://shawsblog08.blogspot.com/
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: 9th Grade Literature and Music Leadership is a 1.5 credit course which
combines the traditional survey of classic and contemporary fiction,
nonfiction, poetry, and drama with an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to
writing. Students will develop proficiency in all four strands of the Georgia
Standards of Excellence for 9th grade while developing 21st
century leadership and technology skills. Supplemental curriculum developed by
the Usher’s New Look Foundation will allow students to earn an additional .5
elective credit while gaining the confidence and skill set needed for success
in today’s evolving global community.
KEY STANDARDS:
ELAGSE9-10W1, 4, 5, 6, 10
ELAGSE9- 10W7, 8, 10
ELAGSE9-10RL1-10
ELAGSE9-10RI 1-10
ELAGSE9-10SL1-6
ELAGSE9-10L1-6
ELAGSE9-10RL1-10
ELAGSE9-10RI 1-10
Required/Supplemental/Parallel Texts for the Course:
-
SpringBoard English Language Arts Grade 9
-
Various fictional
short stories
-
Nonfiction
writings included but not limited to news reports, biographies, speeches, and
visual media
-
Branding,
marketing, and leadership content provided by the Usher’s New Look
MATERIALS NEEDED:
1. Spiral Notebook
- Animal
Farm by George Orwell
- Romeo
and Juliet by William
Shakespeare - No Fear Shakespeare version
CLASS EXPECTATIONS:
1. Students will use appropriate language and represent
themselves with dignity.
2. Students will not be permitted to utilize headphones,
cell phones, or other electronic devices during class time.
3. Classroom disruptions by students will not be
tolerated.
4. Students will not consume food or drinks within the
classroom.
5. Students will respect the classroom environment and
its occupants.
6. Students will use provided technology for appropriate,
educational reasons.
GRADING POLICY CONTINUED: PLC needs to finalize
Reading*
……….…………………...……………….……30%
Writing*………………….…………………………….….30%
Speaking and
Listening.………….…..…………………….15%
Common Assessment.…………………………………….5%
EOCT…………..……..…………………………………..20%
*Language
Embedded within Reading and Writing
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).
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.
Homework/Class Work
Requirements:
Students are expected to interactive with the
class blog on a daily basis and to complete projects and assignments by their
expected due dates.
Projects:
- Some of the learning that takes place
in this class will be student-driven and project based. True learning takes place when students
solve problems and discover things on their own. I will not stand in front of the class
and simply tell you what you need to know.
- Some projects will be individual, but
many will require you to work in a small group. Generally groups will initially be two
people but if students prove that they are able to work well in larger
groups, I will allow it.
- While I understand that some people
prefer to work alone, working with others is an essential skill that is
needed to be successful as an adult.
If you are one of these people, please speak with me in private and
I will attempt to group you with other students in which you will be
compatible.
Tests and Quizzes:
- The majority of the tests and quizzes
I give are multiple choice and short answer. However, all tests can include a
combination of any of the following: multiple choice, true/false,
matching, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay questions.
- Quizzes will be scheduled in advance,
but the teacher reserves the right to give pop quizzes. If participation
in class is low, students are not able to participate in class discussions
with reasonable intelligence of the material, and/or did not complete the
homework, a pop quiz may be given. Quizzes will cover the readings that
the student is to have completed, class activities, and any notes given in
class lecture (normally only a week’s worth of material).
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.
LATE WORK POLICY: Any
late work will receive a highest possible grade of a 70 if turned in after the
assignment is due. The student will have
until the unit test to turn in late work and will receive a highest possible
grade of 70. No work will be graded
after the Unit Test.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY: If a student receives and excused absence he or she
will be able to make up the work in class that was done for the day. Each class has a rolling folder activity spot
on the back wall. It is the student’s
responsibility to obtain their work from the wall and complete and return in a
timely manner. The student has up to the
amount of excused absences plus one day to complete any missing work. After that point the work will be considered
late and will be graded as such.
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 detention, In-School Suspension, and
Out-of-School Suspension for repeated tardies.
EXTRA HELP:
Students can come in after school on Tuesdays
& Thursdays from 3:45-5:00.
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.
GRADE RECOVERY: Students who score 69 or below on any
unit assessment are allowed to retake the assessment. The grade will not
exceed a 70 for the unit assessment. The retake must be completed with-in
one week. Please view the teacher’s blog for notification when the assessment
will be administered.
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.
