9R Syllabus

English Language Arts 9R Syllabus:

Home ELA 9R

2017-2018 Mr. Burton and Mrs. Loomis’ 9R English Language Arts Course Syllabus

Sherburne-Earlville High School Website: https://sites.google.com/a/seonline.org/mrburtonenglish/
BurtonJ@seonline.org LoomisB@seonline.org -Room #:161(Mrs. Loomis’ room #: 155)

Students, parents, and guardians:    Please read the information below carefully, sign your name at the bottom of page 3, and return one copy to me. Please feel free to contact either Mr. Burton or Mrs. Loomis at any time throughout the year, either by calling the high school at (607)-674-7380 or via e-mail.

Course Description:
    The ninth grade English Language Arts curriculum has been designed to provide intensive, Common Core Standards-based strategies and skills taught through thematic units and a balanced literacy format. The curriculum is designed to enable students to become better thinkers, readers, writers, and speakers. All units will involve a variety of reading materials, including full-length novels, and will be supplemented with independent reading assignments. In addition, all units will involve a variety of assignments and activities with a heavy emphasis on critical thinking and writing skills. It is my objective to help all of my students to become better in the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Supplies:
        All students must have:
               -A 2-inch 3-ring binder that may be divided into at least 4 sections (vocabulary, class notes, assessments, miscellaneous)
               -Loose-leaf paper
               -A highlighter, and, of course, a writing utensil

Grading Policy:
    We will be working this year on many techniques to become critical readers, writers and thinkers. Throughout the year, students will be assessed in multiple areas. Student grades are determined using the traditional “point system,” where each assignment, test, essay, etc., is worth a given number of points. Quarterly averages will be determined by dividing the number of points earned by the number of points possible. The final grade for the course will be the average of five equally-weighted parts: the four quarters and a final exam. The final exam will be given in the last week of the course. Grades will be earned through the following categories:

    Class-work (15%)
    Homework/Participation (15%) (More information below about participation)
    Quizzes (30%) (Includes discussion posts)
    Assessments (40%) (Essays, projects, presentations, tests, & text-analysis responses)

Expectations of Students:
The following are the daily responsibilities and expectations of students in my classroom:
Reading: As this is an E.L.A. class I do expect my students to complete reading assignments on time, including all booklet assignments. There will be quizzes on reading assignments and class notes from time to time. On any given day, you should expect a quiz based on your reading.

Writing: In conjunction with S.E.’s writing requirement and as beginning preparation for the English Regents’ Exam in the junior year, students will complete a variety of writing assignments, some of them involving research. Throughout the year there are 8 writing assignments that must be completed for the writing folder in order to pass the course. These include: 3 argumentative essays; 3 text-analysis responses; 1 that’s either an argumentative essay or a text-analysis response; and a term paper. Some of these assignments will be done in-class while others will be written out-of-class. All assignments must be handed in on time. Late assignments will receive a lowered grade of ten points off for the first five days that it is late, and a zero for anything later than the fifth day. However, the essays still must be completed for the writing folder requirement in order to pass the course. We will be tracking our progress on our writing folders throughout the year on a posted checklist.

Google Classroom Discussion Posts: On every Wednesday, a discussion post of approximately 1-2 paragraphs will be due on Google Classroom. These discussion questions reflect our larger “big idea” or “essential” questions for our unit. You will be given a week to write each response, and the post must be submitted prior to the start of the Wednesday class. Each discussion post will be graded as a quiz grade, and are important for our Wednesday lesson.

Vocabulary: Lists of ten new words will be distributed on a regular basis on Mondays following a vocab quiz on the last day of the previous week. Students are encouraged to use our vocabulary words in speaking and writing.

Participation: English Language Arts courses are unique in that they invite the opinions of multiple perspectives. In the words of Edmund Wilson: “No two persons ever read the same book.” Every student may have a different opinion, interpretation, or outlook regarding a text than the person next to him or her. As it increases our understanding and enjoyment of literature, regular discussion is encouraged in this class. If a student participates twice in a class, he or she will earn two out of two points for the day (a full school week with 5 days would be graded out of 10 points, if there are only 4 days in the week, then the grade is out of 8 points, etc.). I will keep track of daily participation points, and at the end of the quarter, I will give one participation grade. (a full school week with 5 days would be graded out of 10 points, if there are only 4 days in the week, then the grade is out of 8 points, etc.).

Attendance and Makeup Work: Because of our school’s attendance policy, regular class attendance is very important. Students are responsible for determining a plan of action for making up missed work with teachers within two (2) days of their return to school. Students who are absent a significant number of days will fail the participation grade discussed above. As with writing, late assignments will receive a lowered grade of ten points off for each day that the assignment is late.

Tardiness: Every minute of instruction for any class is highly important. If you are entering the classroom late, you must have a pass. A student who enters class after attendance has been taken will be considered tardy. Students who are tardy three times during one grading period will be given an after-school detention, and will be asked to fill out a “Think” sheet. Students with more than three tardies during one grading period may be referred to the office.

Cell Phones: Cell phones are to be off and away during the day when in Mr. Burton’s class. Any technology used in the classroom will be used on our classroom set of iPads, unless given special permission by Mr. Burton or Mrs. Loomis upon asking. If you are seen with your phone during class, the first time will be a warning after class. The second time you will have to fill out a “Think” sheet, and the third time will be a “Think” sheet and an after-school detention.

Burton Buck$!: Mutual respect for everyone in the classroom is not just a request, it is an expectation. If a student’s positive attitude and behavior is combined with superior class efforts, then Mr. Burton will award the student with a “Burton Buck”. At the end of 5 weeks, the student with the most “Burton Bucks” from each of my ninth grade classes will be entered into a raffle to win a small package of prizes. The package may include bonus points for an assignment, homework passes, writing utensils, a Gilligan’s free ice cream gift card, and more (I’m open to ideas for prizes, but remember that I haven’t quite figured out how to grow a money tree yet!).

Consequences for improper behavior: If classroom rules are not followed as expected (including having incomplete homework), then the student will be asked to stay after class where Mr. Burton will decide the appropriate course of action. If assigned an after-school detention, you will fill out a “Think” sheet to reflect on your behavior and how you can improve, call home with Mr. Burton to inform what happened, and then have the “Think” sheet signed by your parents to be returned to Mr. Burton.

Extra Help: If at any time a student needs extra help, I am glad to provide it during lunch or after-school. If possible, please see me at least two days in advance to schedule a time in the case that I do have a prior obligation scheduled after-school (yes, teachers have lives outside of school sometimes).

Classroom Rules:

The “Golden Rule”: “Do unto others as you would unto yourself.”At all times, I expect each of my students to demonstrate mutual respect and common decency. My classroom is a place where everyone should feel safe, respected, valued, important, and welcomed.

The 4 BPs: Be prompt, be punctual, be prepared, be present.
Raise your hand if you have a question or comment. Do not talk while the teacher or another participating student is talking. If you finish an assignment early, find something else to work on quietly. Do not disturb or talk to your classmates.
No name-calling, cursing, horseplay, wrestling, fighting, throwing, or target-practice with the waste can.
Keep your cell phone off and away during the day!!!
Hall passes: Students wishing to use a hall pass must see me at the very beginning or end of class. Hall passes will not be issued after class has started. All students must fill out a row on the enter/exit log if given a hall pass.
No shouting, yelling, or screaming.
Show respect for school and personal property (including desks, books, iPads, etc.).
Only turn in your work if it’s your best work.
Look at the person who is talking, and do not talk while they are talking.
Bring a positive attitude to class everyday.

Student Contract:
I hereby agree to the rules and expectations that Mr. Burton, my classmates, and I have listed. By signing here, I understand my responsibilities and expectations in this classroom. I understand that Mr. Burton may contact my parents/guardians.