We have had an amazing start to the new school year. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone, as we work together this semester. This blog will serve as a tool for staying connected with what is happening in class.
Reminders:
- Friday is the LAST day to turn in Summer Reading. There is a late penalty.
- Please bring in your spiral notebook that will be used for the interactive notebook by Friday.
- The Personal Mandala Portfolio Project is due Friday. Presentations will begin Friday as well.
- Review the course syllabus with your parents. The signature page in the syllabus is due Monday. A copy of the information in the syllabus is listed below. Please be advised that the information in the syllabus is subject to change.
Pebblebrook High School 2.0: Project-based;
Problem Solved!
Department: English Fall
Semester 2014: Meta Rome
EMAIL: meta.rome@cobbk12.org PHONE: 770-819-2521 ext. 1901
CLASSROOM BLOG: http://mrsrome9thlit.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: 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.
GRADING
POLICY: Reading …………………………………………..20%
Speaking/Listening
………………………………15%
Writing
……………………………..…………….25%
Language…………………………………………15%
EOCT……………………………………………..20%
Common
Assessment……………………………...5%
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)
**Other novels to be determined throughout
the duration of the semester**
.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
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:
- Spiral Notebook for the Interactive Notebook
component.
- College-ruled Notebook paper for assignments to
be turned in outside of the Interactive Notebook
- Pens and pencils
- Colored pencils, markers, highlighters, or
crayons (suggested)
- Glue sticks (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: Tuesday
and Wednesday 7:30-8:00
Afternoon Session:
Thursday 3:30-4:30 (by appointment)
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.
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!
SYLLABUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
TEACHER:
COURSE:
9th Literature and Composition
PARENTAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
- I understand the academic integrity policy as
stated in this syllabus.
- I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand
the grading policy.
- I give my child permission to view the listed
movies, and any other movies chosen by the teacher at or below a PG13
rating that are related to the curriculum of the class.
- I give permission for my child to read the class
readings noted in the syllabus, and on additional readings provided by the
instructor at a future date.
- I understand that my student is responsible for
selecting his or her own sustained silent reading text.
- I give my child permission to participate in the
online blog.
- I am willing to be contacted by e-mail, phone,
and regular mail regarding my student’s progress.
- I will contact my student’s teacher at any time
regarding any concerns with the class curriculum or my student’s progress.
- I have viewed the required materials for this
class.
STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
- I understand the academic integrity police as
stated in this syllabus.
- I have reviewed the class syllabus and understand
the grading policy.
- I will make an informed decision when selecting
my sustained silent reading text.
- I will participate in the online activities
associated with the blog.
- I will model mature behavior.
- I will positively and actively participate in my
education and take all make-up work responsibility upon myself to ensure
my success in class.
- I will bring all of the required materials to
class (notebook, writing utensils, and other supplies needed).
- I will contact my teacher at any time regarding
any concerns or questions concerning the class curriculum or my personal
progress in her class.
Student Name:
__________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT
__________________________________________________________
(Student Signature)
__________________________________________________________
(Parent Signature)
Parent Email Address and
Preferred Phone Number:
________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT
Please place a check in the box if a
translator will be necessary for phone contact and list what language will be
spoken: □ _________________________________________
(language)
