English IEnglish I Honors Class Syllabus
2016-2017
Ms. Sibley, Masters Education
Welcome to Creekside High School!I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging year of teaching and learning.
Course Description: English I
The purpose of this course is to build upon previous years’ language arts experiences, emphasizing a survey of literary genres, the writing process, reading strategies, study skills and vocabulary development. Please note thatESE and ELL accommodations will be addressed within the classroom.
Course Description: English IHonors
The purpose of this course is to provide grade 9 students, using texts of high complexity, advanced integrated language arts study in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language for college and career preparation and readiness. Through the application, analysis, evaluation, and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multi-faceted, students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning. Please note thatESE and ELL accommodations will be addressed within the classroom.
1. Texts used in English ICourses:
Textbook: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - Collections
Collections, the ELA Common Core program for Grades 6–12, helps students develop abilities to analyze complex texts, determine evidence, reason critically, and communicate thoughtfully—the must-have skills for college and career. With a digital and print approach, Collections transcends the traditional with state-of-the–art features that resonate with today’s students.
Collections supports Florida’s Language Arts Standards, provides complex texts including fiction, nonfiction, and informational texts and enhances online collaboration with interactive writing lessons.
This textbook is available online, to access:
- Go to
- Login for students: 55 + S + your CHS student number (ex. 55S123456)
- Enter password: your first initial + your last initial + your birthday in month/day/year format (ex. DB06021999 if the birthday is 6/2/1999)
2. Various novelswill be analyzed throughout the year including, but not limited to:
Quarter 1 - Theme: A Matter of Life or Death/Survival - A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Quarter 2- Theme: The Struggle for Freedom/Injustice – To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Quarter 3 - Theme: Heroes and Quests/Epic Journey - The Odyssey by Homer (in textbook)
Quarter 4 - Theme: Sweet Sorrow/Love vs. Hate- Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare (in textbook)
A class set of these novels will be available in my classroom; however you may purchase these novels or borrow them from a local library if you would prefer to have an individual copy.
3. Workbooks will be provided to supplement texts for the literature book, vocabulary and grammar practice.
4. Required Supplies:
2 inch, two pocketsNotebook
Spiral Notebook
Four subject dividers (Classwork, Grammar, Vocabulary, Graded papers)
White, lined notebook paper (8 ½ x 11)
Sharpened Pencils, Pens (blue or black ink only)
Post it Notes
Highlighter
Zip Drive
Ear buds (for test taking purposes)
**I welcome supply donations including: Kleenex tissues, hand sanitizer, paper, pencils, and paper towels.
5. Classroom Expectations:
A. Please arrive on time to class every day and be ready to engage in class discussions and activities.
B. You should be in your seat and working on the opening assignment when the bell rings. If you are not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings, you will be marked tardy.
C. Students who are repeatedly tardy will receive a verbal warning (1 tardy), phone call home (2 tardies) and referral to the Dean (3 tardies).
D. No food or drinks are allowed in the classroom (except bottled water).
E. Time is allotted between classes for locker and bathroom breaks. Please do not ask for a pass to leave the classroom for water or bathroom privileges unless it is an emergency or previous arrangements have already been made.
F. Adhere to the “Knights Code of Honor” (Respect others and yourself at all times, Show good character every day, Set goals, Stay focused, Think and act like a leader, and Strive for excellence.) at all times.
G. Cell phones, MP3 players, iPods and any other audio equipment are not permitted in class. Telephones will be confiscated and given to the Dean if visible.
H. Be prepared to clean up your workstation prior to the bell ringing at the end of class.
I. The teacher dismisses the students; not the bell.
6. Grades:
Parents and students can now view attendance and grades online through the Home Access Center. Attendance will be updated daily. Grades will be updated on a weekly basis.
Percentage Values by Grading Category:Homework – 5%
Notebook – 5%
Classwork - 25%
Quizzes – 30%
Projects/Tests/Major Papers - 35%
(Semester Exam – 10% calculated by the district) / Letter Grades:
A100-90%
B89-80%
C79-70%
D69-60%
F59-50%
7. Make-Up Work:If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up all assignments. All homework is posted on my classroom website and you may see me to obtain missed class work. Missed tests and quizzes can be taken before school, but an appointment should be scheduled in advance. It is also a good idea to have contact information for a classmate, in case of an emergency.
8. Extra Assistance:I am hereto help you succeed!Please let me know if you are having difficulty understanding or completing assignments. Communication is key. You may see me before, during or after class to clarify assignments.
9. Academic Integrity: “No legacy is so rich as honesty” – William Shakespeare
Students must exhibit academic integrity at all times. All work submitted should be your own original work, with credit given to any expert used. Cheating, plagiarism, falsification or attempts to cheat or plagiarize will not be tolerated. Aiding others in their attempt to cheat is also not permitted. Academic dishonesty will result in a zero on the assignment, a referral to the Deanand a phone call home.
10. Parent Contact: The quickest way to reach me is via email. You can expect an email responsewithin 24 hours or earlier. My email address is . Also, please feel free to routinely review my class website for homework which can be found on the Creekside High School Website: Faculty and Staff, Language Arts, Deborah Sibley’s Homework page.
Creekside High School
English I& English I Honors
Ms. Sibley
Please share this syllabus with your parents and return the signature page and the Parental Movie Permission Form no later than Wednesday, August 17, 2016 for credit (counted as homework which is 5% of your grade).
I have read the course description and syllabus for English I/English I Honors. I understand the guidelines and procedures for Ms. Sibley’s class and have shared them with my parents.
Student name______Class period ______
Student Signature ______
Parent name ______Parent Signature______
Parent contact information:
Telephone: ______
Cell phone: ______
E-mail: ______
Best time to reach you: (circle)Morning Afternoon Evening
Parental Movie Permission Form
Dear Parents,
Below is our suggested ninth grade movie list. We would like your permission to show selected movies from this list:
A Long Way Gone
Around the World in Eighty Days
A Separate Peace
The Birds
Cry, the Beloved Country
Cyrano de Bergerac
The Hobbit
Great Expectations (2011 TV version)
Into Thin Air
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Most Dangerous Game
The Odyssey
Romeo and Juliet
The Secret Life of Bees
The Simpsons (“Raven” episode)
Works of Poe
Many of the above movies have a motion picture rating of PG or PG-13. These movies will only be used for instructional purposes to enhance the study of the novels and different literary time periods studied in class.
Sincerely,
Ms. Sibley
English I/English I Honors Instructor
Student’s Name: ______(print) Period: ______
Parent or Guardian’s Signature: ______Date: ______