Honors English 10 Syllabus
Guide to Success
I am very excited about the opportunity we have been given to learn and grow together over the next several months. It is my hope that each of you gains the fundamentals that will further prepare you for college and the workforce and help you continue on the journey of becoming an adult by accepting responsibility for yourselves and your actions- treating others with respect, compassion, and understanding.
Classroom Expectations and Procedures:
I. Procedures for Entering the Classroom
*The tardy bell does not begin the class period; class begins the moment you walk into the classroom.
1. You are not to stand or wait around in the hallway.
2. Enter the classroom quietly without running or pushing.
3. Take your assigned seat and read the Daily Objectives and Agenda.
4. Begin the Bellwork assignment
5. Work quietly and by yourself unless other instructions are given
6. Wait for further instructions from the teacher
II. If You Are Late
*You are late to class if you are not inside the classroom when the bell rings.
If you are late to class you must:
1. Walk in quietly making as little noise as possible.
2. Sign-in at the Tardy Sheet. (Name, date, time) If you have a pass leave it in the folder.
3. Take your assigned seat.
4. Join the activity in progress. If you don’t know what the class is doing raise your hand until the teacher sees you.
5. Continue working (waiting) quietly until I address you.
III. If You Are Absent
Students are required to request make-up assignments within three days of returning to school as per board policy. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to fill out a Make-up form during break, after school, or during independent learning and submit the form to the Make-up folder located by the door. The student should also look at the calendar of assignments, pick up any worksheets/notes he or she missed, and complete the assignment missed. Once a form has been completed and the absence has been deemed excused, the assignment will be graded. Note, if a student misses a test, the student may be given an alternate assessment.
IV. Late Assignment Policy
All assignments are due on the respective designated dates. There will be an automatic point deduction for late submissions and for each additional day that the assignment is delayed. Only under extreme circumstances will late assignments be accepted without penalty. Each day an assignment is late, I will deduct 10% from the grade earned for the assignment.
V. Turning in Assignments
Make sure the assignment has your full name, period number, date, and description. This should be
on the top right margin of your paper. Failure to include these things on your paper will result in an automatic deduction of five points for not following directions. Most assignments will be turned into the boxes located near the front of the room; however, you should always wait for instructions before turning in an assignment.
VI.Getting Your Attention
When I need everyone to stop talking and pay attention to me, I will raise my hand and begin counting backwards from five.
When you see me raise my hand you must:
1. Raise your hand and keep it up until I put mine down.
2. Stop talking and look at me.
3. Wait for me to speak.
This procedure should take us no more than 10 seconds. Whenever the class exceeds this time, the whole class will owe me that same amount of time after the bell.
VII. Moving to Groups
Cooperative learning is a huge part of this class. We will be transitioning a lot throughout the year as well as during the class period. To move to your group you must:
1. Silently pick up your chair and put it under the table- Do not slide chairs across the floor.
2. Move to the group you have been assigned, without talking.
3. Choose a seat, pick up your chair, sit down, remain silent, and wait for further instructions.
VIII. Procedure for Class Dismissal
Class will be dismissed by the teacher, not the clock or the bell. We will be working from bell to bell; therefore, you should not pack up or put away your materials if your assignment is not complete. You will continue working, remain seated and stay quiet until I dismiss you from class.
IX. When We Have a Visitor
When we have someone come into our classroom who is not part of our class (teacher, administrator, student) you are expected to follow the same classroom rules and procedures. You are expected to be polite to the visitor. Do not talk to the visitor unless he/she is talking to you directly. Continue working on your assignment as usual. If the visitor needs to speak to me privately, I expect you to remain in your seat without talking until I finish speaking with the visitor. If we are in cooperative learning groups, you will continue your discussions in your “group voices” making sure to stay on task.
X. When You Finish Early
If you finish all of your assigned work early you may read independently, work on an assignment for another class if you have it in your possession, work on your journal entries, write, draw, or work on extra credit. Whatever you choose, you will not talk, pass notes, or disturb others.
XI. Restroom Policy
Each student will be given two “potty passes” per nine weeks. Once you have turned in both passes, you may not go to the restroom during class unless you have a doctor's excuse. You may go to the restroom only if you have finished all of your assigned work and the class is working on independent learning.
XII. Classroom Rules and Consequences
1. Be Respectful- Your speech, your actions, and your attitude.
2. Be Responsible-This includes plagiarism, cheating, texting, and locker passes. Do not use excuses. Be ready for class when you walk in the door.
3. Be Your Best
Consequences for Breaking Rules
1. Warning/ Blue Form
2. Break detention
3. Parental Contact
4. Office Referral
Course Objectives
1st Nine Weeks2nd Nine Weeks
Oral PresentationsOral Presentations
Creative Writing: FictionCreative Writing: Nonfiction
Grammar and PunctuationGrammar and Punctuation
Early AmericaExpository Writing
Descriptive and Narrative WritingEarly America
Novels:These Happy Golden Years, Laura WilderNovels: Wicked: The Life and Times of the
The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel HawthorneWicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire The Pearl, John Steinbeck
3rdNine Weeks4thNine Weeks
Oral Presentations Oral Presentations
Creative Writing/ Poetry Drama
Grammar and PunctuationResearch
Persuasive WritingGrammar and Punctuation
American RomanticismWriting/ Literary Analysis
Novels: Cold Sassy Tree, Olive Ann Burns American Romanticism
The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee WilliamsNovels: Fever 1793, Laurie Halse Anderson
Julius Ceasar, (parallel text), Shakespeare
Material List:
1. Large 3 ring binder with dividers (Writing, Classwork, Assessments, Novels, and Vocabulary)
2. Writing utensils (No red pens)
3. Highlighter (Any color)
4. One Journaling notebook (Spiral bound or perforated)
5. Notebook paper (College- rule)
6. Index cards (5 packs)
7. Post-It notes (1 pack)
8. One Key Ring
9. Flash drive (optional)
10. Novel (These do not have to be purchased. You may borrow them or check them out from a public library. If you do purchase, check the thrift stores first.)
There are many items we need for class that can be costly but I believe are important. The purchase or donation of these supplies will enable the students to better learn and expand their thinking on concept areas. Below is a list of items we need. I appreciate any way you may be able to help. You may also make a monetary donation (please make checks payable to OHS).
MarkersColored pencilsGlue sticksScissorsRulersCopy paper
Pens/pencilsConstruction paperHighlightersOld magazinesPoster boardIndex cards
Paper foldersPost it notesCraft itemsKleenexHand sanitizerClorox wipes
Teacher Information:
Mrs. B. Williams, Language Arts 10, 12
1st period planning
256-741-4933
Email-
Webpage number 920- to access weekly calendars, project instructions, and other important information concerning your student’s academic progress, you may visit the Calhoun County Schools homepage at Once you have opened the page, you will find a link in the bottom left corner that will read Teacher ID. To view my page, enter the number above.
Grading Information:
The course is percentage based. The students will be graded on a 100 point scale. Classwork will be counted 40% of the overall grade and Assessments will be counted 60% of the overall grade, with the exception of first nine weeks. Summer reading will be counted 20% of the first nine weeks grade; the other percentages will be adjusted accordingly.
Please cut the bottom portion of this syllabus out and have your student return it to me no later than Friday, August 12.
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I have read and understand the above syllabus and will help hold my student accountable.
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Parent/Guardian SignatureStudent SignatureDate
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Parent email addressDay time phone number
If I need to contact you, the best way to reach you is:
______By email______By work phone
______By cell phone______By home phone
______By letter sent home with student