9th Lit Syllabus (SPRING)

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/

SCHOOL WEBSITE:  http://www.cobbk12.org/Pebblebrook/             

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 9^th grade while developing 21^st 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

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
3. 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.