2017-2018English I Course Syllabus

Instructor: Ms. Desire’e Burnett

E-Mail Address:

Conference Period:5th Period

Room: Searcy 1005

Oiler Hour Tutorials: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays: 11:40am-12:10pm

Additional Tutorials: Mondays 6:45am

Course Description:

English I integrates the study of literature, grammar, vocabulary, and composition in classical literature as well as popular literature, plays, and movies. A significant focus in this course is to refine the student’s ability to analyze an artist’s craft and techniques and make and defend an analytical claim. In addition to the class readings, students will have outside reading each nine weeks and produce reports, projects, and presentations as well as prepare for oral quizzes and examinations over readings.

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English I can be found at the following

Website:

Required Materials:

1. 9th Grade Literature Textbook (Provided)

2. One-subject notebook

3. Blue or black pens and pencils

4. Loose leaf paper

5. One-inch binder

6. Colored ink for grading only

Classroom Rules and Expectations:

Be Respectful

- listen and learn when others are speaking

- treat classmates, classroom, and class materials with courtesy

- use appropriate language at all times

Be Responsible

- bring all materials with you each day

- arrive on time to class

- follow directions

Be Remarkable

- give your best every day

- encourage your classmates

- maintain a positive attitude

Email Requirement for a Daily Grade due Monday, August 28th:

I am requesting parents send me an email for a daily grade, so that I have current contact information for all students. Please send me an email with the following information:

  • Subject of email: Your student’s name and class period
  • Example: John Smith Period 1
  • In the email:
  • Student’s name
  • Your preferred name
  • Current phone number
  • Best times to reach you by phone (I do call on a blocked number)

Consequences for Failing to Meet Basic Behavior Requirements:

Students will earn detention for not meeting behavior expectations. Detention takes place after school regardless of sports.

  • Failure to attend detention without a valid excuse from a parent via email (sick, doctor’s appointment, etc.) will result in a write up. This typically results in a day of ISS.

If your student consistently struggles to meet basic behavior expectations in my class, I will move your student to the beginning steps of a behavior contract.

  • Here are the behaviors that are used when determining putting a student on a behavior contract:
  • Talking when students have been instructed to not talk (silent work time)
  • Having off topic/task conversations
  • Talking to students in another group than the one you are working in
  • Turning around in your chair to talk to other students
  • General disruption/behavior that I have to redirect
  • Listening to music without permission
  • Having headphones on ears
  • Checking/looking at/using/being on a cell phone without permission
  • Yelling across the room
  • Eating in class
  • Arguing with the teacher/talking back when being redirected
  • Cursing
  • Not following directions the first time they are given
  • Being off task/not working on assignment/sitting and doing nothing
  • Asking questions/making comments that are not related to the class/topic we are discussing/learning about
  • Packing up before the bell rings/before being instructed to

Here are the steps of your student being put onto a behavior contract (subject to change):

  • Step 1: In class interventions – Multiple redirections in class, new seat, one-on-one conference in hall
  • Step 2: Email to parent/guardian – student can earn 2 more redirections/infractions
  • Step 3: Phone call to parent/guardian – student can earn 2 more redirections/infractions
  • Step 4: Student receives 2 hours of Dhall/detention – student can earn 2 more redirections/infractions
  • Step 5: Student will be placed on a behavior tracker – excessive infractions in 1 week result in an ISS

Major Tests:

BOY Benchmark - September

Midterm Benchmark - October

Fall Semester Final - December

STAAR EOC test – state test – end of March

Spring Semester Final - May

Grading Procedures:

My grading is aligned to the school – 2 daily grades a week and 1 major grade every two weeks

There will be extra credit opportunities offered throughout the year.

A 0 means the student was absent or did not turn the work in on time. Assignments turned in late will be graded late. Please allow me 2 weeks to grade before emailing me about late assignments.

Make-up Work:

If a student is absent from class (excused or unexcused) it is his/her responsibility to get missing assignments, notes, or other information.

Students are expected to check the Missing Work Binder if they miss class. Whatever warmups, assignments, handouts, and notes you missed will be available in this binder located at the front of the class by the Student Center. This binder NEVER leaves the room.

It is important to remember that while all missed warm-ups, assignments, handouts, and notes can be found in the binder, it does not compensate for missed instructional time. Students are strongly encouraged to attend tutoring for missed instructional time.

You will have the number of days absent plus one to make up any work missed because of an absence. This policy does not allow you any additional days to turn in an assignment that was due on the day of your absence.

If you miss class because of an extracurricular activity, please make arrangements for your work during tutoring before you leave. Come in personally and speak with me (do not expect your coach or sponsor to notify me that you will be absent from class) and take care of any work that you will miss.

Year at a Glance:

*The schedule below is a rough outline of our plan for this school year meant to provide a general idea of the class. The date, order, and/or length of any one topic can (and probably will!) change as we progress through the year.

Term 1 / “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
Term 2 / The Knight in Rusty Armor by Robert Fisher
Term 3 / Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Term 4 / Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The teacher reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus. Students will be informed of any alterations in advance.

Extra Credit via Volunteering

Here is an opportunity to give back to your community, and earn extra credit in your English class.

The only requirement to complete community service hours for extra credit is as follows:

You may not have any 0’s in the gradebook

This is EXTRA CREDIT, not make up work.

Your community service must take place at a non-profit organization. Some options are listed below:

  • Houston Food Bank
  • Keep Pearland Beautiful
  • A nursing home
  • Parks and recreation of Pearland
  • Adult reading center
  • Heart to Heart Hospice
  • Women’s Center of Brazoria

For every 2 hours of volunteering, you can earn a 100% on a daily grade of your choice. For 6 hours of volunteering, you can earn 20% back on one major test grade. 6 hours of volunteering is the most I will accept in a term for extra credit.

Please have wherever you volunteer fill out the bottom half of this page.

If you have any questions, please feel to reach out.

Name of establishment volunteering at: ______

Date volunteering happened: ______

Hours completed: ______

Supervisor of volunteer hours: ______

Email: ______

Phone number: ______

Signature of supervisor: ______

I, ______(student), have honestly completed these hours.

I, ______(parent), certify my student has completed the above hours.

______

Student signatureParent signature

Parent Acknowledgements – Please initial, sign, and have your student return by Friday, August 25th

NOTE TO STUDENTS

*I have the highest expectations for each of you. You will succeed in this class, because I will give you the tools to do so. DO NOT choose to fail yourself.

I, ______, have read this syllabus and heard Ms. Burnett’s detailed explanation of its terms. I agree to abide by the expectations and guidelines stated above.

Student Signature ______

Date______

NOTE TO PARENTS & GUARDIANS

We are looking forward to a great year in English I. The lessons and policies in this class are designed to foster a mastery of language, an analytical voice, and a true sense of responsibility. Please take a few moments to read over this syllabus so you too can be familiar with what’s happening this year in my English I class. Before signing below and sending this back with your child, please include contact information at which you can be reached and any notes you feel are important for me to consider. I look forward to a great year. Thanks.

Parent/Guardian Signature(s): ______

Date: ______

Video Permission Slip List – Please sign and have your student return by Friday, August 25th

We will be viewing: Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, and Thug Notes

Romeo and Juliet

We are going to begin reading Romeo and Juliet. We will be viewing the movie throughout the term to help students’ comprehension of the play. The movie is rated PG-13 due to mild violence, suggestive scenes, cross-dressing, and drug use.

Summary of presentation: The classic story of Romeo and Juliet, set in a modern-day city of Verona Beach. The Montagues and Capulets are two feuding families, whose children meet and fall in love. They have to hide their love from the world because they know that their parents will not allow them to be together. There are obstacles on the way, like Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and Romeo's friend Mercutio, and many fights. But although it is set in modern times, it is still the same timeless story of the "star crossed lovers".

Shakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue.

Of Mice and Men

We are going to begin reading Of Mice and Men. We will be viewing the movie throughout the term to help students’ comprehension of the story.

The movie is rated PG-13, due to the following: some violent scenes, profanity, sexual references, smoking cigarettes.

Summary of movie: Two traveling companions, George and Lennie, wander the country during the Depression, dreaming of a better life for themselves. Then, just as heaven is within their grasp, it is inevitably yanked away. The film follows Steinbeck's novel closely, exploring questions of strength, weakness, usefulness, reality and utopia, bringing Steinbeck's California vividly to life.

Thug Notes

Thug Notes are YouTube videos that use humor, common slang, curse words, and animations to help students understand a variety of older, complex texts that may feel outdated or feel disconnected to students. They can, however, be considered crude/offensive. Thug Notes has no rating. The content of each video varies based on the content of the story they are analyzing.

______

Student’s NameClass Period

Please check one:

□Has permission to view Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, and Thug Notes

□Does NOT have permission to view the following (circle one/all): Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, and Thug Notes

______

Parent/Guardian NameParent/Guardian Signature