Birdsellcourse Overview and First Assignment

BirdsellCourse Overview and First Assignment

DUE: Tuesday Sept. 6 (A) 20 points

I have read the course overview with my parent/child and understand the requirements and expectations of the class.
I have the materials required for this course and will bring them each day.
I have provided a box of tissues for classroom use.

Student: ______Date: ______

Parent/Guardian: ______Date: ______

Parents: I’d love to hear from you at any time regarding your student. Feel free to use the space below or drop me an e-mail. I look forward to working with you and your student!

Questions: ______

______

Detach and Keep Below:

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Carol Birdsell, Art/English Teacher

Hood River Valley High School

(541) 386-4500

Open House: Sept. 19

Fall Conference Dates: Nov. 15 & 16

Course Overview

Reading Enrichment

Teacher:

Carol Birdsell

541-386-4500

Prep Periods: 3th and 5th

About the class:

Reading enrichment focuses on developing the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and collaborating skills you will need to be successful in high school and in life. Being able to read closely, write clearly, and work with others effectively are incredibly important abilitiesthat have been shown to help people:

-Experience greater success in post-high school education and training.

-Achieve more in sports, social groups, and recreational activities.

-Earn more money than those with poorer communication skills.

-Have more successful friendships, relationships and marriages.

-Report greater overall happiness and satisfaction in life as adults.

For these reasons, it is vital that we develop these skills as much as possible in the coming year.

Materials:(Bring to each class.)

3-ring binder with pockets or AVID binder, with loose leaf paper
Spiral-bound notebook (three-hole punched)
Blue or Black Pens (No pencils, please.)
Highlighters (two colors)
Assignment planner or calendar
1 box of tissues for class use. (Yes, it’s an assignment in the gradebook.)

I require that you bring a book of your choice to class each day for reading. (I’ll explain this more in the Independent Reading assignment.)

Attendance:

Regular attendance in class is expected and required. You must make up the work you miss, including that missed for sports or other school activities. If you are away on an excused absence the date an assignment is due, you get one additional class period to complete the assignment. Classwork missed because of unexcused absences cannot be made up.

Grading

Grades will be based on your progress toward meeting course objectives.

Twenty percent of your grade will be based on the following:

-Weekly Classwork and Practice

-Independent Reading Notebook

-Class Participation and Behavior

-Vocabulary Quizzes

-Friday Computer Work

You will receive a weekly “Classwork” grade and a weekly “Independent Reading” grade in the grade book, each with 20 points possible. Missing class and/or missing work will result in lost points. These assigned activities cannot be turned in late, this is in class work.

The rest of your grade (eighty percent) will be based onwriting, projects, tests, and quizzes. Each of these items will measure your performance in one or more of the major topicswe are studying. Most of these will be assessed on a 4-point rubric, as follows:

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Avancedmastery of the topic. Student work exceeds expectations for his or her grade. / Mastery of the topic. Student work meets expectations for his or her grade. / Emerging mastery of the topic. Student work nearly meets grade expectations. / Student work does not meet grade standards, but shows effort and progress.
100% - 90% / 90% - 75% / 75% - 60% / 60% - 50%
A / B or C / C or D / Not Passing

All work that shows effort and progress will earn at least 50% of the possible points.

Your final class grade and credit will be based on the average of all your tests, quizzes and projects, plus points you earn for classwork, participation, independent reading and the like. It is very possible to pass this class if you do all the work and show you are progressing toward meeting standards, even if there are some areas where you are struggling.

A point of advice: don’t obsess about grades; be here, do all the work, and you will do just fine.

Online Gradebook:

I use an online gradebook. You and your parents may access the gradebook from hac.hoodriver.k12.or.us using the Home Access Center. The gradebook will always be up to date for the preceding week by the next Monday before school starts. Please note: while the online gradebook is a helpful tool I provide to you and your parents as an aid to track your assignments and grades, it is just a working estimate of your overall performance in the class. Changes can and do get made throughout the semester. If you have questions about your grade, please see me before or after class, during lunch, or during my prep. Do not use class instruction time to ask about individual scores.

Homework:

Most assignments will be completed during the class period, with a few exceptions. The most common reason for having homework in this class is failing to use class time effectively. Changes in the school schedule, absences, or needing extra practice on a specific topic may also result in homework.

Also, you will be expected to read for two hours outside of class per week for the Independent Reading assignment, which will also count towards your Freshman English grade.

Late Work

Late classwork may always be turned in for assessment and feedback, but not for credit.

Late or missing tests and projects may result in an incomplete or failing mark on your report card. Major assignments will be accepted during the course of a quarter at partial credit. Each class period 10% will be deducted from your score. The lowest score you can receive if you turn something in is 50%. I am not okay with empty spots in the grade book and neither are you.

Extra Credit

I do not give any extra credit and don’t allow any take overs on tests and quizzes.

Final Deadlines

The last day of class, the week before the last week of the semester, is the deadline for any assignments. I do not guarantee I will have time to assess work turned in after that point or update the gradebook before final grades are posted.

Classroom Expectations

In general, your job is to learn and assist in the learning of others. If your behavior is interfering with either of these jobs, then I will ask you to stop. If you engage in disruptive behavior consistently, you will be required to attend a lunch conference with me to develop a behavior plan. I may utilize your parents or guardians, coaches, guidance counselors, administrators, and others in assisting with the behavior plan as needed. (You don’t want a behavior plan. Trust me.)

Dangerous or egregiously disruptive behavior will be dealt with according to school policy.

Cell Phones and Head Phones

Put these away during class or leave them in your locker. If I see them, I will take them and you may pick them up at the end of the day.

Hoodies, Heavy Jackets, Backpacks, Blankets, Stuffed Animals, Flowers, Toys, etc.

Either leave them in your locker, or take them off and put them in the back of the room. (Also, leave your shoes on during class, don’t clip your nails or do your make-up, don’t fiddle with your hair or anyone else’s hair, etc.) Only your materials and texts may be kept at your desk.

Food and Beverages

Water bottles may be kept at your desk. All other food and beverages must remain outside the classroom or in your backpack. (Sorry.)

Raising Hands and Being Called On

I require that students raise their hands and wait to be called on. For the most part, I will call on you rather than asking for volunteers, so be prepared! (Everybody answers. Everybody participates.)

Personal Questions and Needs

There are specific points in our daily schedule that are designated as time to ask me questions that really only relate to you and your needs—not the needs of the whole class. These are also times to take care of personal business, sharpen pencils (although I really would rather you use pens), rummage through your backpack, etc. When class is on, IT’S ON and we are IN IT.

Assigned Seats and Groups

You will sit in an assigned seat of my choosing every class period all year long. You will also work in assigned groups and partners that I choose. If you exhibit professional behavior and strong study habits, during the course of the year I will move you so you can sit with your friends.You must try to get along with all your classmates.

Bathroom Visits

You get four bathroom visit cards per semester. Use them wisely, and don’t lose them. At the end of the semester they are worth five extra credit points. Bathroom emergencies, when you don’t have a card, results in a two-point deduction in your weekly classwork grade. (Students often dislike this policy—I get it—it’s the worst solution other than all the other solutions we have tried.)

Absences

Sometimes we need to miss class. If you are gone, check the work basket. You may have to dig down, so be prepared. Do not come in and ask me what you missed first. I will be busy getting ready for class.

Handwriting

You must use legible handwriting—even if I’m not going to read it. Illegible work will be returned and you will have to re-copy it or type it out. Hand-written work will be held to the same standards for grammar, spelling, and punctuation as typed work.

Daily Schedule

Class time is planned to the minute and you are expected to follow the schedule. If our time is wasted, we may be forced to make up that time at the end of class, during lunch, or at the end of the school day.

Minutes / You / Me
Before Class
Take care of personal business: bathroom, water, snacks. Gather materials and supplies. Place any extra materials in the back of the room, including backpacks. Be sure your cell phone is put away and silenced. Turn in any work that may be due that day before the bell.
0-12 / Do Now
You sit down immediately and begin working on the activity on the board / projector. You have only the materials you need at your desk. When you complete the activity, you read or meditate, until it is time for review. / I take attendance, speak with students individually, hand back work and pass out materials. We review the “Do Now” together.
13 – 40 / Reading Practice
You are seated, attentive, and working. You may be asked to take notes on a lecture, practice a specific writing skill, partner and work with another student, write on the board, or speak to the class, or complete your required silent reading. You will focus on improving your reading skills during this time. We may use this time for word processing our major reading assignmentson the computers or in the lab. You must raise your hand to speak during this time, unless I explicitly state otherwise. / I will be reading with you, helping to facilitate the reading activity, or helping students individually or in groups.
41-45 / Physical Activity / Meditation
This is not a break. During this time you will perform physical activities or meditate as part of the learning process. I may ask you to transition to a different assigned seat at this time. / I will guide the activity and set up for vocabulary practice.
46 – 70 / Vocabulary Practice and Group Reading
You are seated, attentive, and working. Usually we will be working together through various vocabulary challenges or reading together as a class. You will most often have a text—book or handout—that we are using and may need to keep this with you from one class to the next. You will be expected to read out loud in front of the class, so follow along and be ready! You must raise your hand to speak during this time, unless I explicitly state otherwise. / I will be reading with you, helping to facilitate the reading activity, or helping students individually or in groups.
71-85 / Flex Period (Skipped if late start / short period.)
1st Class of Week: Independent Reading Notebook work
2nd Class of Week: Reading, make-up assessments.
You may be asked to join a small group for extra help during this time.
Any student not working with me is silent. This means zero noise, no talking, and minimal movement. Raise your hand if you have a question. Do not get up out of your seat or sharpen a pencil. / I will be meeting with students individually and in small groups to review concepts and provide extra help. This is a great time to request assistance with the reading or writing lesson.
NOTE: Whatever happens, you are still responsible for completing your reading and AIR reports whether you get time during Flex that week or not.
86 – 90 / Close
Listen carefully to my closing instructions and reminders. Make sure that you have noted any due dates or other important information in your binders. Collect and organize your materials. / I will make announcements and remind you of important information or due dates.
I am available to respond to individual student questions and concerns.

Fun Fridays/ Computer Based Learning

On weeks when you have this class three times (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) the third class will deviate from the normal schedule. The first half of the class will be focused on reading,tests, and projects where you will show mastery of our major topics for the course. The second half of the class will be set aside for instructional games, competition and… on-topic fun.

My Rules:

Be “Present”

This starts with showing up on time, with your materials, in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings. It continues with being on task during class, following directions, minimizing off-topic socialization, and following all classroom procedures. BUT THERE’S MORE! Being present means you bring your full attention to class, let go of what has happened in the hallway, at home, yesterday, or what is going to happen after school or tomorrow. When we are in class we are fully here and focused on our singular purpose.

Be Kind

This starts with treat others as you would like to be treated. THINK: Is it True? Is it Helpful. Is it Inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it Kind? Only then can you be sure that you have thoroughly considered whether the thought you had needs to be expressed. BUT THERE’S MORE! Remember that other people are different from you and have different experiences some of which you can guess at, and some of which you probably cannot imagine. My cardinal rule: never belittle anyone, even yourself, ever. Ever. Ever! This will not be tolerated.

Value Learning

We are committed to learning. If we only tried to do the things we already know how to do well, then we won’t be learning much at all. So you must try to do the things you don’t already know how to do and expect—look forward to—celebrate!—making mistakes. Making a mistakes, whether it’s only something I would notice, or in front of the whole class, is an act of bravery. And you must be brave. Life is not for the faint-hearted!

Academic Contract

9th Grade English

Mr. Donnelly

2016-2017

I, ______, agree to abide and champion the following statements in school and in life.

aking mistakes is an integral part of the learning process. I expect to make mistakes and learn from them daily.

am not perfect and nobody else is either. We are all learners and teachers in this classroom. I will support others and encourage them in their learning. I will never make fun of someone for making an honest effort.

ometimes material will challenge me, and I will fail. I will respond to failure by redoubling my efforts and striving to improve a little each day.

o improve I am willing to take risks and experiment. I will reach beyond my boundaries and outside my comfort zone to improve myself.

nyone can improve at any time. I do not accept that there are dead ends or limits to my abilities or to the abilities of others. When I hit a roadblock I go under, over, around or through with my best effort.

nowledge is worth pursuing even if I’m not sure how it will help me in the future. I have no way of knowing what tools I will need down the road, so I will collect as many of them as I can. I embrace the scholar’s ethic.

veryone has worth and value, as a learner and as a human being. I will treat others with the same respect as I would ask to be treated with myself.

o let’s get going!

Have A Positive Perspective Every Day

______

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