Eng 1 – LAPS
Course Syllabus
Course: English I
Overview:
The Department of Education of the State of Pennsylvania has imparted to its schools a set of standards which describe what students should know and be able to do with the English language in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. These standards provide targets for instruction and student learning. This course was designed with these standards in mind. The assignments and activities that the students will engage in are closely aligned with the PA standards. Variety of teaching and learning strategies will be employed to help all students reach these goals. Students will be graded by way of rubrics which will be explained to them prior to the assignment and adjusted according to each assignment.
Additionally, 9th grade students complete a review of English grammar and current usage, punctuation and capitalization, and they undertake a formal study of vocabulary. Students are required to write on a regular basis usually short pieces on topics that touch their lives and to write often in response to the literature we will read in class. Students continue to learn the writing process which includes pre-writing techniques, the revision process, proofreading and the production of presentational text. Students are also schooled in the art of clear, well organized,timed writing, a condition that requires compression of the writing process protocols. Students will be given practice in the three modes of writing: personal narrative, persuasive writing, and informative writing. Students learn the elements of library research, and they begin to learn the techniques of oral communication through formal reports and panel discussions.
Big Questions for the Year:
What is right behavior and what is wrong?
What makes us who we are?
What drives the choices we make?
What gives meaning and dignity to our lives?
Required Texts/Readings:
Various Selections from Holt 3rd Course
Night by Elie Wiesel
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Ciseneros
Odyssey by Homer
Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
Required Materials:
Google account/email account
Notebook/Binder
Folder
Blue and/or Black Pens – Student may not turn in assignments written in pencil!
USB Drive (or google account for google docs)
Agenda Books
Assignments:
Ten required Learning Activity Packets (LAPs) will be assigned throughout the school year. Each LAP is worth one credit and 80% is the minimum passing score. In addition to LAPs, students are expected to complete homework assignments and various projects/activities for class grades. In addition to the ten LAPs, three SAT LAPs will also be assigned throughout the year.
Late Assignments:
Each LAP will have a set due date which students will know well in advance (often at least a month ahead). LAP is considered done when all assignments in the LAP are turned in. When a LAP is late, student will receive “enrichment assignments” from me per my discretion, number of “enrichment assignments” depends on how late the LAP was turned in. LAPs 1-5 must be turned in by the deadline for LAP 5. LAPs 6-10 must be turned in by deadline for LAP 10. No assignments past these deadlines will be accepted.
Grading Scale:
I break all assignments into two categories. Responsibility grades are usually either for full credit or no
credit while skills grades evaluate the degree to which you demonstrated master of a specific skill.
Responsibility: 60% (homework, in class work, blog posts, class participation in discussion)
English Skills: 40% (quizzes, papers, speeches, major projects)
*80% or above is considered passing. Assignments that do not meet the requirements or are below 80% will be returned to students with corrections and suggestion for improvement.
Assignments will vary in possible points.
General Classroom Behavior Norms & Expectations:
Be on time and prepared for class (i.e. bringing textbook/novels, materials, assignments with you)
Respect yourself and others around you
One person speaks at a time during instruction time
Please do not use any electronic/hand-held device/cellphone/ipod/itouch/hand-held games during class time
Actively participate in all learning activities
Share your positive attitude with others
Turn your assignments on time
Sit in your assigned seat, unless asked to move by the instructor
You must get your agenda signed before you can leave the classroom for any reason, frequent trips outside the classroom are not permitted. If you don’t have your agenda to get signed, you may not leave the classroom.
In general, my classroom expectations can be summed by the Latin motto “Omnis Partis Referret” which translates to “All The Pieces Matter”. In our classroom, the pieces refer to each student and what he or she brings to the classroom. Your every act in this class, positive or negative matters because it impacts every other person in this room. Each positive and kind act by a student adds to collective greatness of the classroom.
Consequences for not meeting expectations:
First time: verbal warning
Second time: call to guardian
Third time: conference with parent/guardian/caregiver
If a situation goes beyond this point, student will be referred to the Dean of Health Sciences and Humanities Academy.
Use of Technology:
This course will require you to have access to a computer and the Internet on a regular basis. If you currently do not have access, you need to make sure that you make arrangements to use the school library, public library or set-up a buddy system with someone so that you can complete your assignments on time. You will not be excused from any assignment related to use of technology because you fail to obtain access to it. Students will utilize a online learning space (blogs) that is essentially an extension of the classroom. Students will responsible for sharing ideas through their writing, commenting on other students’ work, and modeling the behaviors of a 21st century learner. All classroom expectations regarding respect and critical thinking will also apply to this online space. Failure to meet these expectations will result in loss of privilege of being member of this community. See attached Parent Consent Form for more details.
Academic Honesty:
Students shall not misrepresent examination materials, research materials, classwork, and/ or homework assignments as their own, when in fact they are the work of someone else.
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:
Turning in any work, or part thereof, that is not the student’s own work
Copying another student’s or author’s work or class assignment
Allowing another student to copy your work or class assignment
Putting your name on someone else’s paper/project.
Using a “cheat sheet” or any unauthorized piece of writing on a quiz/test
Giving another student help on an individualized quiz/test
Tampering with the teacher’s grade records or tests
Stealing and/or selling quizzes/exams* (*This offense will result in an automatic suspension because of the seriousness of the offense.)
Using teacher manuals/solution manuals.
Using any material from the Internet without proper citation and appropriate credit.
Consequences:
Student will receive a zero on the assignment/LAP.
Teacher will contact parent or guardian and warn them of possible consequences for subsequent offenses.
Notice will be sent to an administrator for recording.
Student may be removed from the course for subsequent infractions.
I have read and understood this syllabus. I know and understand that if I have any questions, I can reach Ms. Rami via phone —– or email —– at anytime. I will support the efforts of Ms. Rami in the classroom by following the guidelines of the classroom stated above. As a parent, I will make every effort to support my child and frequently contanct Ms. Rami to follow my child’s progress in her class.
Student’s Name:______________________
Student’s Signature:_______________________
Parent/Guardian’s Name: __________________
Parent’s Signature: _________________________
Parent’s Cell Phone Number: _________________
Parent’s Email: __________________________
