August 2016 - June 2017
English Language Arts (ELA) Pre AP 9th Grade Syllabus
Mrs. White ~ Room 571
school website: lamiradahs.org
Welcome to La Mirada High School. I’m quite excited about our new year of studies. This year we’re implementing the Pre-AP Springboard curriculum provided by the AP College Board, which aims to prepare students for the rigorous text analysis expected in English AP and college courses.
I encourage parents and students to check our class page, on the new school website, for ongoing assignments and information units of study. Please contact me whenever there is a question about a student’s progress/behavior, or with questions about our class assignments. Email is usually best.
Curriculum
Students will produce a variety of writing activities over the course of the year. Major writing assignments will cover: narratives, as well as argumentative, informative and explanatory essays, Students will produce valid research for projects and complete in-class times writings.
Students will read a broad range of high quality and increasingly challenging literary and informational texts including theclassic novelTo Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee andShakespeare’s playThe Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, excerpts ofHomer’s The Odyssey; along with shorter novels and stories, films, poetry,informational articles and speeches.Students will read four major texts, selected from a teacher-provided list, outside of class during the course of the year, in addition to in-class readings.
Grammar skills and vocabulary development are ongoing practices in our daily Bellworks and in homework activities. Our class lessons are aligned to theCommon Core Standards for English Language Arts.
Please Note: Students, you’ll need to create workon your MacBook computer throughout the year, as well as completing and turning in online assignments through Schoology.com and turnitin.com (a site for originality tracking).Occasionally you’ll need to print out an assignment. For these few assignments, if you don’t have printer access at home, please plan ahead for your academic success. You may not email your assignments directly to me, nor is my printer available for your use.
Pre AP Students are preparing for the rigor of AP and college classes. Please be aware that as such, they are expected to read 25 to 30 pages of text a night (this includes all core class readings) to build the stamina required for future success. If your student is not a strong reader please keep that in mind when placing him or her in Pre AP classes.
Due dates & information on major assignments are posted on my class pagewhich can be found at our school website: lamiradahs.org and there is no late work accepted for major projects in Pre AP.
Homework
Homework for Honors classes will include reading of various texts or viewing videos at home to prepare for the work we will do in class.
BookTestingEach student is also expected to read a book or two (in its entirety) chosen from the teacher-provided list for each quarter, outside of class time.Our Reading Expectations can be found on our Pre-AP class page.
Grading Scale
Essays, Tests & Major Projects = 50%, Quizzes, Class work & Homework = 35%, Class Participation = 15%
Students and Parents can access grades online through the PowerSchool portal. Check with school office for details. Grades are updated or postedon weekends; major projects take more than one week to grade.
Absence
It is a STUDENT’S responsibility to see Mrs. White about makeup work before or after school, not during class time. Assignments that are due during absence must be turned in on the day student returns to school, immediately following the absence. Students are encouraged to have a reliable study-buddy from class that they can count on to get notes from, if needed.
Classroom Rules
- Follow directions
- Be on time ~ seated before the tardy bell rings
- Come to class each day with textbook, pencils, journals and a ready-to-learn attitude
- Be respectful to all in the classroom
- No gum, no eating or drinking in class, and no grooming supplies out
Restroom Passes
Each student will be given 3 emergency restroom passes to be used during each semester. I urge students to save them for real emergencies as once the passes are used, no more will be issued. Unused passes are worth extra credit at the end of the semester.
Suggested Supplies List - for Student Success
► 1-2 Peachy Folders to hold worksheets and homework, class work & projects
► Composition Book
► 4 pencils [#2 type] needed daily (Blue or Black Ink pens are used occasionally, but pencils are necessary - NO colored ink pens for turn-in work)
► Scissors, sticky notes, 2 or 3 glue sticks and colored pencils are helpful
► index cards for vocabulary and a hook ring
Parents: I am looking forward to an effective year, with your help, in working with your student. Please return page three (the following page) of this documenttomorrow, with your signatures to acknowledge that you have read and understand the classroom expectations. Pages 1 and 2 are yours to keep for reference and information.
Parents and Students - You may leave a message with the school secretary at(562) 868-0431 and I will return your call as soon as possible. Better yet, email me at: through the school website: lamiradahs.org
Student Name (printed)______
Period ______
Student Home or Cell Number______
Student email______
I have read and understood the Class Rules and Syllabus for Mrs. White’s classroom. I will follow and/or support these rules, knowing that there are consequences for making poor choices.
Student Signature______Date______
Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print) ______
Parent/Guardian Signature ______Date______
Parent/Guardian phone numbers & email where I can contact you during the day:
Work______Cell______
Email address where I can contact you ______
Is there another parent/guardian who could be contacted if I am unable to reach you?
Parents ~ please make any comments below that you think would be helpful and thank you for your continued support throughout the year! -Mrs. White
Notes:
9th grade Pre-AP Language Arts Class Aug. 2016 Mrs. White