Course Syllabus

Mrs. Michaela Jensen

Honors English 9

Room 305—I am available before and after school and during Advisement

Email: mjensen@paplv.org

Blog: https://paplv.instructure.com/courses/204

 

Goal: To promote Language Arts as a meaningful and useful tool in my students’ lives. Whether it’s through reading, writing, discussions, multi-media presentations, poetry, or grammar, my hopes are that my students’ eyes will be opened, their minds will be broadened, and their lives will be enriched.

Expectations:

• Students are expected to come to class every day prepared and on time (this includes checks for assignments, materials, and for previous content understanding).
• Respectful behavior is paramount in my class—toward oneself, each other, staff, and school property. Class discussion is an integral part of an authentic learning environment and thus compassion, respect, and common decency are valued.
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Not only do I consider it lying, stealing, and cheating all rolled into one, but if a student is suspected of plagiarism on any assignment, it will result in a major loss of credit and/or the student will be expected to redo the assignment at a reduced grade.
• Students are expected to participate actively in class and group discussions/projects. This entails listening intently, responding appropriately, and offering their ideas frequently. During the year we will be reading about some sensitive subjects: students will be expected to show respect to all members of the class despite differing opinions and are encouraged to consider new concepts.

Rules:

• Cell phones, mp3 players, headphones, and other electronics or “toys” are not to be seen or heard in my classroom. Devices must go in the hanging holder or there will be consequences. 1^st offense: device is confiscated until the end of the school day. 2^nd and subsequent offenses: device is confiscated until the end of the school day and a phone call home.
• No food is allowed in class (including gum). Water contained with a secure lid is the only beverage allowed. If you are seen chewing gum, you will be asked to spit it out in the bin.
• Your student planner MUST be signed by me before leaving the classroom. NO PLANNER=NO PASS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Only one person may leave the classroom at a time. Please try to pick an appropriate time (before the bell rings) to ask to use the restroom. No one is permitted to leave the last 15 minutes of class (except visits to the Health Office).
• Do not touch that what is not yours. That goes for other students’ belongings and what is on the teacher’s desk/podium/cart/bookcase unless given permission.

Tardies and Absences:

A student is considered tardy upon entering the classroom after the bell has rung. Entering the classroom late is a distraction to the instructor, the other students, and the learning process. Tardy offenses are as follows:

1^st time offense= warning

2^nd time offense=stay after school 10 minutes (no show means it doubles the next school day)

3^rd time offense=stay after school 20 minutes and call parent/guardian

After three tardies=administration referral and meet with parents

• For every day you have an excused absence, you have two school days to make up what you missed. If an important discussion was missed, I will inform you on how to make up the work. Tests that were announced before your leave will be expected to be made up the day you return to class. (Ex: I tell the class on Tuesday there will be an assessment on Thursday. You get sick/have a dental appointment/have a game on Wednesday, etc. and are not in school on Wednesday. You WILL take the assessment on Thursday, or the first day of your return, IF I have not taught anything in your absence that you will need to know for the assessment).

Course Work at a Glance:

• Vocabulary and grammar
• Short stories, literary devices, elements of fiction
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien / The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury with a thematic essay
• The House on Mango Street / Animal Farm with a reading assessment
• Persuasive speech on a Need for Change (3-5 mins.)
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee with a literary criticism response essay
• Greek and Roman mythology with a research presentation (partner/solo)
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare with a reading assessment

Late Work:

Late work is defined as any assignment that is not turned in when I collect it without an excused absence. Students who turn in late work will receive a partial loss of credit. After/before school detention will be put into effect after the second day it’s late. 

• Make-up work for missed class:
• It is YOUR responsibility to notify me ahead of time of your absences or appointments
• It is YOUR responsibility to check the class blog frequently for any updates/changes/documents

• https://paplv.instructure.com/courses/204

• It is YOUR responsibility to obtain missing work from me or your peers
• It is YOUR responsibility to schedule time with me to make up quizzes, tests, presentations, etc.
• You may be asked to complete the work before your scheduled absence

Grading:

The grading policy is as follows*:

30% for daily work, class work, small discussions, homework, and some quizzes

70% for some quizzes, tests, projects, presentations, major essays, and important discussions

            *Points will vary per assignment

Materials Needed Daily:

-The school provided homework planner (this is also your pass to leave the classroom!)

-College or wide ruled loose-leaf paper

-Pencil with eraser—if using a mechanical pencil, make sure you have enough lead

-Dark blue or black ink pen (any other color will result in a loss of credit)

-1^1/2” durable 3-ring binder SPECIFICALLY or this class

       with student’s name, course name, and period on it—see me/e-mail me if you cannot get one

-5-tab dividers for the binder:

1. Vocab/Grammar (class notes, activity sheets, vocabulary lists, flip chart homework, etc.)
2. Terms (class notes, activity sheets, homework, etc.)
3. Plot Notes (elements of fiction, class notes, annotations, etc.)
4. Essay/Speech Notes (TIQA notes, 5-parg. structure, topic sentences and bookend sents., transitions, introductions, conclusions, MLA format, self/peer review checklists)
5. Graded Work

 

 

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”—John Lennon