Mrs. Cooke – ELA 10 Honors
Office Phone: 897-6700 Ext. 30179, 30180, or 30181
E-mail:
Website: Under the Teachers section of the John Jay website
Welcome to Mrs. Cooke’s English 10Honors class. I would like to make you aware of my expectations for you, as well as what you can expect from me. I am here to help, so do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Please check my website for my schedule for my free periods.
1. General Classroom Procedure:
Be in your seat and ready to begin class before the late bell rings.
You will see the assignment for the day written on the board. I expect you to take out the appropriate books, papers, etc. and begin the assignment immediately after the bell rings.
Class ends when the bell rings and no sooner. Please do not take it upon yourself to pack up early and do not line up at the door.
will be used.
A word about attendance: “The secret to most of life is just showing up.” Be Here and Be On Time. Absenteeism is the #1 cause of failure; you need to be here as often as humanly possible.
Daily materials needed:
3-ring binder with LOTS of loose-leaf for class notes
Blue and black ink pens
#2 pencils with erasers
all relevant handouts
our current text
You need All Items, EVERYDAY.
Late Policy: Three Lates = A Referral. You are considered late if you arrive even a split second after the bell. Chronic lateness will result in phone calls home and administrative intervention. More importantly, lateness will affect your grade. You will lose class participation points; you cannot participate if you are constantly late.
Absentee Policy: Chronic absenteeism will result in phone calls home and administrative intervention. Unexcused absences will result in loss of points from your participation grade. Excused absences for legitimate illnesses are excused and will not affect your participation grade. When you are absent, you are responsible for making up any missed work. All makeup work is due the day you return. If you have an unexcused absence, you will not be allowed to make up work, quizzes, or tests.
2. Understand That This Class Moves Forward Whether You Are Present or Not.
Following is a list of your responsibilities:
Get worksheets or handouts from designated location (ask a classmate and check the designated location).
Show me any homework that was due on the day of your return.
Make up tests or quizzes the day you return from an absence. Ask for your test or quiz.
If you arrive late or leave school early, find me to hand in or pick up any work.
Homework Policy: I do not accept late homework.
Major Assignment Late Work Policy: Because this is an Honors class, I will not accept any late work. All work must be handed in to me in person. Donot put work in my mail box, or on my desk. Please do notemail work to me.
3. Be Responsible. You are responsible for managing your progress. Always be aware of your assignments, due dates, and work owed. Each quarter your grade will be weighted as follows:
10%Daily preparation/participation
10%Homework
20%Quizzes
25%Tests
35%Writing, Projects, Major Assignments
4. Communicate. If you are having trouble with ANYTHING, please see me or e-mail me. If you need extra help, I am available after school by appointment. If you are having a bad day, talk to me. I can usually be found in the English office.
5. Behaviors to Avoid.
Disrespect. No one ever gets anywhere with a bad attitude.
Violence. It’s a harsh world beyond the classroom door; let’s leave it out there.
Prohibiting me from doing my job: You wouldn’t stop the mailman from delivering your mail, so please don’t stop me from teaching.
Lateness: When you walk in late, it takes time away from all of us because we all need to stop and catch you up.
Not listening: It is in your best interest to give me your complete attention when I am speaking (including not raising your hand before I am done). I will not repeat myself to counteract inattention. Especially avoid this question: “What are we doing today?”
Sleeping in class: No explanation necessary. It will result in a ZERO participation grade. If you are ill or if you had a rough night, please go to see the nurse.
Inappropriate conversations: Some topics are not appropriate for our classroom.
The cell phone and all other electronic devices: Keep it hidden and turned off. If I see it, I will confiscate it.
Being a Blob: This class will only be as fun and interesting as the people in this room. Participate enthusiastically! It’s going to be a great year for all of us!
Consequences
First minor offense: Warning
Second minor offense: Phone call home
Third minor offense: Disciplinary referral to administrator
Major offenses will automatically be directed to an administrator. I reserve and will use the right to call a parent at any time if I feel the student is disrupting the learning environment. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for further clarification of district and building level rules and consequences.
Cheating
A grade of zero will be given to any student who gives or receives information, including electronically, on any form of a test, quiz or project. Any person falsifying a grade or a test or related material, with the goal of increasing that grade shall take the penalty of cheating. Talking will not be allowed during quizzes and tests. This will result in a zero.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of stealing and passing off as one’s own the ideas or words of another, or using a created production without giving credit to the source. Any student who plagiarizes will receive a zero on the plagiarized work. The student will be given a referral and parents will be contacted.
ENGLISH 10 Honors
Code: E461 Full Year (10) (1 credit) (rank weight 1.04)
Prerequisite: Passed English 9 Honors with a grade of 85% or higher and teacher recommendation.
NOTE: Honors classes generally incorporate more reading, writing and discussion and at a higher level; use more challenging text books and other materials; and take a different final exam from the Regents classes.
For info on the NYS English Language Arts Stds & Core Curriculum see:
COURSE CONCEPTS: Prejudice and Injustice
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What makes people unwilling torespond to injustice?
QUOTATION: “The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.”
GUIDING QUESTION: Why do we repeat our mistakes?
Areas of Study Include:
CORE LITERATURE:
• Art of Styling Sentences (Honors)
• Night
• Of Mice and Men
• A Raisin in the Sun
• Twelfth Night or Taming of the Shrew
• Scarlet Letter (Honors)
• To Kill A Mockingbird
• Selections from The Bedford Reader (Honors)
OPTIONAL TITLES:
• Princess Bride
• Animal Farm
• A Tale of Two Cities (Honors)
• The Good Earth (Honors)
• Nickel and Dimed
• The Bean Trees
• Their Eyes Were Watching God
• Maus
LITERARY SKILLS/QUALITIES, AND TASKS: 6 TRAIT WRITING
• Poetry
• Non-Fiction
• Critical lens
• Journal and journal responses
• Analytical Essay
• Literary letter/ author letter
• Business letter
• Creative Writing
• Research paper/project
• Genre Essay
• Other literature based essays
• Independent Reading Assignments
• Listening activities and exercises
• Oral presentations
• Literary terms and devices
• Vocabulary and spelling study
• Grammar
Assessment: A departmental final exam based on the content, concepts
and themes in the course will be administered in June. This final will count
as 20% of the students’ overall grade.
For info on the NYS English Language Arts Stds & Core Curriculum see:
Please complete and return to Mrs. Cooke
I received a copy of the course requirements.
Date ______Period ______
Name of student (print): ______Birthdate______ID#______
Signature of student: ______
Name of legal guardian (print): ______
Signature of legal guardian: ______
Legal guardian’s numbers (work):______(cell):______
(home)______
Legal guardian’s email address: ______
Address:______
Last year grade level:______Last year ELA Teacher______
If you would like to alert me to any problem areas you, the student, have experienced in English courses in the past or concerns you have now, please explain them here. Alternatively, describe what goals you have for class this year. Use the back if you need more space. Legal guardians may add to this.
______