2015-2016 Mrs. Pedersen's Class Expectations

Cicely Tyson Middle/High School

Mrs. Pedersen

English 9Room #127

Monday-FridaySchool phone: (973)414-8600

Full YearE-mail:

Credit hours: 5.0***Website:

Dear Students,

Welcome to class! This year, our theme is Seeds of Change! We are going to work together to grow our skills so we can make a difference in the lives of ourselves and others. Debby Boone said, “Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.” Keep this in mind as we set our goals and work together throughout the year to help all of us get closer to achieving our dreams and hold each other accountable for successful behavior.

Course Goals

As we learn together, we will continue to work toward the following objectives:

  • Apply reading techniques to make the information we read mean something.
  • Tell a story, both orally and in writing.
  • Analyze literature and non-fiction text for main ideas and writing techniques used by the author
  • Support our ideas using direct textual support and research.
  • Draw connections between our class work and the world.
  • Enhance our vocabulary to make us masters of words.
  • Look at ideas and life with a different lense.

Methods of Instruction

  • This year I will continue using inetteacher.com. If you have not been with me before, please make yourself familiar with my website. I use this to post homework and important links as well as copies of documents given out in class.
  • Technology is active in this room and we will use a variety of it and use it in a variety of ways: googledocs (you need a google account); Smartboard and PowerPoint/Prezi, blog responses (new this year), internet research, responders, etc.
  • We will also use a blend of group and individual learning techniques, including general discussions, Socratic seminars, write-to-learn (including Free Write Friday), learning stations, small group instruction led by both teachers and Peers, and incorporating our PA's to improve our reading and writing.

Course Component Specifics

Classwork- You will earn a DAILY classwork grade. Your grade will be out of a possible 6 points. Each day’s

grade will be added together to create a weekly classwork grade that will be entered into Focus.

*2 Possible Points/Meeting Classroom Expectations

-SEATED, PREPARED WITH MATERIALS, AND READY TO WORK WHEN THE BELL RINGS

-LIMITED LATES AND THEY ARE FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON WITH A PASS

-IN DRESS CODE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ROOM

-NO MORE THAN 3 EXITS FROM CLASS/MARKING PERIOD (UNLESS THERE IS AN EMERGENCY)

-EXITS FROM CLASS ALWAYS FOLLOW 15 MINUTE RULE

*2 Possible Points/Classroom Community Member-

-CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE RESPECTFULLY BY KEEPING HANDS TO YOURSELF, KEEPING WORDS KIND, KEEPING BODY

LANGUAGE RESPECTFUL

-STARTING WORK IMMEDIATELY AND STAYING ON TASK

-BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM

-FOLLOW CLASS FAMILY MOTTO

-KEEP THE ROOM CLEAN; RETURN ALL BORROWED MATERIALS

*2 Poss. Points/Coming Prepared

-HOMEWORK IS ON TIME AND THOROUGH

-HAVE A PEN OR SHARPENED PENCIL WITHOUT ASKING TO BORROW ONE

-HAVE YOUR OWN LINED PAPER

Homework-You will have DAILY homework, which will be written on both the white board AND posted on the

Class Website (

Writing-All writing will follow MLA format.Go to the following link for more help:

We will also use googledocs for long/term writing projects

and peer/teacher written response. The common core writing rubric will be used for grading writing. Here is the link:

*You will write EVERY DAY in some way and will complete 1 process piece each marking period.

Reading-There will be required in-classand outside reading requirementseach marking period.

*Honors:You will have an additional novel with related journal responses, socratic seminars and

tests (open-ended, quote identification, and essay-style), associated with these readings.

Extra Credit-If you have completed all required assignments for the marking period and would like to receive up to 10

points of extra credit toward your average, the following opportunity is involved:To encourage your

reading the 100 top suggested reads for college-bound students, for extra credit you will be able to choose 1

additional outside reading book from the highlighted titles on the list of top 100 suggested reads for college

bound studentsposted on the wall AND write an analytical paper on this novel. You will need to conference with

me after reading the novel and prior to writing the paper. The list of books is posted on the classroom.

Late Work-ALL WORK handed in after the period it is due will earn a 10 pt. deduction/day (unless we

have made previous arrangements).Work left in your locker will receive a 5 pt. deduction if handed in immediately after

the period ends.

Lateness to school/early dismissal

If you are absent due to lateness to school (unexcused), see me immediatelyupon arriving to school. Your work

willcount as late for that day, but you must get the work due the next day to avoid lateness for the next day’s assignment and

to ensure understanding of the material.

If you are leaving early for a dentist, etc., please drop off the work in my mailbox or on my chair prior to leaving the school

and see me to discuss that day’s lesson/assignment.

Excused Absences-You will have 1 day to make up the work for each day of EXCUSED absence from class

(unless it is a long-term assignment).

Excused absences include:

  1. Absences to participate in official school/district activities (performances, field trips, athletic events, etc.) with notification from the teacher/administration AND notice from you ahead of time
  2. Absences for medical reasons
  3. College Visits
  4. Pass indicating with Administrator/Guidance/Nurse/CST/Social Worker/Discipline
  5. Passes indicating you are with another teacher must be cleared first by the period teacher if it may involve being more than 10 min. late.

Making Up Work-Assignments will be posted on the website AND placed in the class binder. See me for

explanation/detailsPRIOR to the due date.If you miss class, make arrangements with me as soon as possible to arrange time

for your make-up assignments. You are responsible for getting class notes from a classmate. Make-up assignments are due by

the end of the class following the missed class for EXCUSED absences.

Office Hours (Extra Help): 1 day/week I will be available for help after school. This day may change, but

will be posted in the class and on the website at the beginning of each week. I am also available during lunch and Prep by appointment.

Plagiarism-This is the taking from OR giving of your work to another student. It is also taking your

information from another source and not giving that source credit.Plagiarism and cheating have no place in a

community of scholars. Have the confidence in yourself to give your original best. This is all that is required of you.

If you are struggling, ask for help.

Course Requirements and Grading

Your grade will be made up the following percentages:

  • Tests 30%

-Selection Tests (no more than 1 selection tests/marking period)

-Unit Tests (5/year; passing is 70%)

  • Quizzes20%

-Approximately 1/week

  • Projects/Papers20%

-Related to Model Curriculum Units and Class Literature

-1 paper/marking period

-1 major project/marking period. (1st will be assigned by Nov. 1)

  • Class Participation15%

-Weekly class participation grade (outlined above)

-Class journals

-Station/in-class activities

  • Homework15%

-Assigned nightly

  • Summer Reading10% of MP1

Course Requirements and Grading

In addition to the daily classwork grade (see detailed information above), the following evaluations will be used to establish their grade in this class:

  • Homework is assigned most nights and is available on Homework is designed to either reinforce skills and knowledge taught during class, to have students prepare for class activities and assignments, or demonstrate skills previously taught during class. Small assignments count within the homework category; however, homework that is related to long-term assignments may be included in the test, project, or paper categories.
  • Summative Tests are given approximately 2-3 times a marking period. The Unit Tests given by the state are incorporated in students’ grades. Students will also be given a teacher-designed test on the novel taught during class. Students may also be tested on the writing and reading skills taught in class.
  • Projects are assigned approximately 1 time a marking period and are designed to demonstrate students’ mastery of skills. Projects often require demonstration of technology skills (PowerPoint, Prezi, GoogleDocs, etc) and public speaking. Time is available after school by appointment for students who have difficulty accessing technology. It is also available in the library during lunch hours with a pass. Projects also vary between individual and small group. Planning elements of a project are incorporated within classwork, homework, or quiz grades. The final project will be included in the project grade.
  • Quizzes are given at least once a week and are used to formally assess mastery of skills. Informal quizzes are given several times during a week and are incorporated within the classwork grade for participation, not mastery of skills. Quizzes are normally 10-50 pts./quiz.
  • Writing is assigned almost every day. Writing varies from quick writes (5-10 minutes) to long-term assignments that are developed through the writing process (pre-write, draft, revision with conferencing, editing, and publishing). Writing is incorporated within class work, homework, quiz, paper, project, and test grades. There will also be a major research paper assigned this year. This will start in January and finish with a final presentation, which will count as your final exam grade.
  • In-class Journals are used several times a week for a variety of purposes:
  • Free Write Friday: This is an opportunity for students to write continuously for 10 minutes. You may write about any topic of your choosing in any genre, but must write the entire time and need to write 1 pages. These are graded by a system ( indicates meets all requirements; indicates that the student met the one page requirement, but needs to incorporate a greater depth of ideas, indicates that the student has not quite written 1 full page and that the journal needs to incorporate a greater depth of ideas.
  • Writing Lessons: Students will record notes and complete class activities related to writing. These will include activities related to grammar, structures of different genres, as well as lessons related to the 6+1 Traits of Good Writing and timed writing activity. These may be used for class work, writing, project or quiz grades, depending on the activity. Students will be informed prior to completing the activity.
  • Viewing/Listening Response: Students will be asked to respond to music, video or a work of art. These are directly related to the skill and/or topic being discussed. Students will be given a response question to which they must answer following rules of RASC (Restate, Answer, Support, Conclude). These may be used for class work, writing, project or quiz grades, depending on the activity. Students will be informed prior to completing the activity.
  • Reading Response: Students will complete activities related to their reading. These will include Open Ended Reading Response Questions, Related Activities, Writing Prompts related to the Reading, and preparation for Socratic Circles. These may be used for class work, writing, project or quiz grades, depending on the activity. Students will be informed prior to completing the activity.
  • Final Exam: This will consist of a presentation/project related to your large research project, which will begin in January. This counts as 1/5 of your grade.

How to Reach Me: See the information on the top of this syllabus. Please e-mail me; it is the easiest way to correspond. If you

would like to have a phone conversation, please e-mail me or call me with the number and best time to reach you. Response to e-mails

will be within 24-48 hours (if sent during the week). Website will usually be updated weekly.

Date of the 1st Parent/Teacher meeting

November back-to-school night.

Required text/E-book/Online Resources Used: Holt McDougal Literature, grade 9; Achieve 3000;

Novels-Animal Farm, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Pact, Monster

Supplies:

  • One 3-ring binder (1 to 1 1/2 inch) and 3 divider tabs used ONLY for this class.

*Grammar *Vocab*Lit. and Writing class notes.

  • One single-subject notebook OR composition book (not black and white).
  • Pens and sharpened pencils (#2)
  • 2+ Highlighters (different colors)
  • 1 large pack of Notecards (3x5") and something to carry them in (pencil case/zip lock back) and a rubber band around them.

Quarterly/Unit Schedule

Quarter 1

  • Theme: Survival
  • Novel: Animal Farm
  • Writing Assignment: Narrative Writing
  • Anchor Text: The Most Dangerous Game
  • Unit 1 Model Curriculum Test: October 22

Quarter 2

  • Theme: Fear/Guilt
  • Play: The Tragedy of Macbeth
  • Writing Assignment: Literary Analysis
  • Anchor Text: The Lost Boys
  • Unit 2 Model Curriculum Test: December 17

Quarter 3

  • Theme: Beating the Odds/Joining Forces
  • Memoir/Autobiography: The Pact
  • Writing Assignment: Research Assignment
  • Anchor Text: Blind to Failure
  • Unit 3 Model Curriculum Test: February 24

Quarter 4

  • Theme: Finding Your Purpose
  • Novel: Monster
  • Writing Assignment: Research Paper
  • Anchor Text: Math and Aftermath
  • PARCC Testing: 4/18-5/20
  • Unit 5 Model Curriculum Test: Week of June 6 (depending on snow days)

Cumulative Final Research Paper and Project Presentation Dates: 5/23-6/10

WAYS YOU, AS A STUDENT IN MRS. PEDERSEN’S CLASS, CAN HELP SUCCEED

  • Complete all assignments thoroughly and on time, including daily homework assignments.
  • Ask questions when you are confused and ask for help when you need it.
  • Keep all class materials organized in your binder and review materials nightly (5-10 minutes a night).
  • Refer to rubrics and sample assignments when completing large/long-term papers and projects.

Cicely L. Tyson Community School for Performing and Fine Arts Middle/High School where:

“ We aim high. We soar high.”

I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS CLASS.

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Student Name (Print)Student Name (Signature) Date

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Parent/Guardian Name (Print)Parent/Guardian Name (Signature)Date

We have the following questions and/or we want you to know the following information:

______

Parent Contact Information:

Name: ______Relationship: ______

Phone: (c) ______(h) ______(w) ______

Hours I can best reach you: ______

E-mail: ______

Any information you feel I need to know (just between us)????