Syllabus

English 3P Syllabus

Reedley High School

2020-2021

Mr. Phillips

phillips-m@kcusd.net

website: https://sites.google.com/kcusd.net/mistermepteaches/home

ig: mistermepteaches

Distance Learning Expectations:

• Be on time for class
• Sign into Google daily and stay connected (be ready to answer teacher’s questions at all times)
• Understand that attendance is expected
• Sit in an appropriate study area (ex. at a desk or on your bed → no lying down)
• Face needs to be in the middle of the screen during synchronous instruction time, NO FOREHEADS
• Video needs to be live (no frozen screens, no black outs, no sticky notes on the camera, etc.)
• Wear appropriate attire (school dress code is enforced)
• Engage in class following the teacher’s instructions
• Collaborate with peers using respectful language and behavior
• Demonstrate learning with completion of assignments
• Notify school personnel of any technical issues immediately
• Stay on zoom even during asynchronous time (aka independent work time)
• Cell phones are to be muted and put faced down out of sight
• Correct name on display. Last, First
• No leaving Zoom meeting during class-time
• Do not allow people to walk behind, or stand around your computer while working, unless helping you
• Class times(W/exception to Wednesdays) are 80 min.

Course Description:

This class is one year in length and satisfies the Eleventh Grade English requirements for graduation from Reedley High School and the state of California. There will be an intense focus on reading, writing, and listening strategies as well as reading composition. Close reading of increasingly complex texts will provide ample opportunities for writing in order to reinforce the grasp of literature as well as provide practice for writing structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Students will be introduced to Accountable Independent Reading as a daily homework expectation as practice reading outside of the classroom and to generate an interest in reading for enjoyment. Oral presentations and class discussions are incorporated into lessons in order to build confidence in public speaking. The reciprocal relationship between speaking to an audience and actively listening for understanding will be practiced. There will be a close concentration on reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of grade 11, students will be able to do the following: Analyze how ideas, events, and or narrative elements interact and develop over the course of a text. Expanding on the skills acquired, students will create essays that include reading-based arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Class Objectives:

As a class, we will:

1. Read texts closely and critically to develop critical reading strategies and comprehension of complex texts.
2. Write regularly, citing the text as evidence to provide support and justification of responses.
3. Build and develop vocabulary, grammar, and conventions to strengthen writing.
4. Work closely with scoring rubrics to self-assess, edit, and revise written work.
5. Participate in frequent and meaningful discussions with peers about the content to develop confidence in public speaking.

Class Rules:

1. Be in your seat, with materials out and ready to begin, when the bell rings.
2. No food or drinks in the classroom. Water bottles with a screw-on lid may be permitted.
3. Keep personal belongings (hair brushes, make-up, etc.) in your bag.
4. Use appropriate and academic language.
5. NO CELL PHONE USE, UNLESS OTHERWISE PERMITTED.
6. NO TALKING, UNLESS YOU ARE THE SPEAKER. RESPECT OTHERS WHILE THEY ARE SPEAKING.
7. THE BELL DOES NOT EXCUSE YOU, MR. P. DOES!

Technology: This class will be engaged in a “paperless” curriculum throughout the school year. This means that we will utilize computers the entire year, or as much as possible. Students will also be required to utilize their google accounts and work via this platform to interact with the classroom and communicate with the instructor by using calendar, email, and all other google apps, as well as other platforms, such as instagram(ig will be utilized all year) etc. We will also incorporate apps, and gaming into our curriculum. Students will create a “digital Portfolio,” which will be updated and utilized throughout the year. Students will act appropriately at all times or they will be subject to discipline and the loss of their technology privileges. This is a paperless classroom and will be treated as such most of the time. “Paperless” means that most of your assignments, and or any of the descriptions of assignments will be conveyed via an electronic doc. We use google docs primarily, as well as other platforms. You will be assigned a chromebook and will be responsible for its well being. You will retrieve it at the beginning of each class period and put it away at the end. If you do not treat it well (put it away correctly, abuse it, etc.) you will be given one warning. On your second offense you may be sent to a learning director and or denied the use of chromebooks for a period of time.

Literacy Skills & Habits/ Instructional Methods:

• Converse in academic language
• Read closely for textual details
• Annotate texts to support comprehension and analysis
• Engage in productive evidence-based conversations about text
• Use rubrics for self-assessment and peer review of writing
• Revise writing, and peer editing
• Generate and respond to questions in scholarly discourse
• Independently preview text in preparation for supported analysis
• Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically
• Incorporate domain specific vocabulary in written and verbal responses.
• lecture
• cooperative group learning
• Demonstration/Modeling

English Language Arts Outcomes:

These standards exemplify the pedagogical shifts required by the California Standards and will be a strong focus in every English Language Arts module and unit in grade 11:

a) Reading-Literature b) Reading-Informational Text c) Writing d) Speaking & Listening e) Language

Course Structure:

Students will encounter several Modules throughout the year. Each Module consists of a number of Units divided into multiple lessons. The mentioned structure will be completed through novels (to create various “book report” assessments), handouts, assigned literature, class participation via reading, speaking and listening and homework, various writing prompts and assignments, various ancillaries such as, articles, poems, literary and informational texts. Students will also participate with materials such as a notebook (this may be electronic and will be checked periodically for a grade) that will be required and utilized in class daily. The instructor will incorporate outside technology resources such as cell phones, instagram, and gaming as a part of the curriculum (details TBA. If students are unable to work appropriately with electronic devices such as their cell phones, and other technology, said student will lose such privilege). If for some reason you are unable to participate with said electronic devices and or platforms, please see me privately to discuss.

ESSAYS: One such assessment will be written essays for any given assignment(s), and or unit. Students will be required to print said essays out, and provide Mr. Phillips with a date and time (a schedule will be provided at that time) when said student will be able to meet for “face to face” (Required for the assignment) feedback session on particular essays. “Face to face” feedback sessions will also be done with various Quick Writes, and short essays. This will be done during your rough draft process.

Performance Assessments:

Students will respond to various prompts throughout the module. Every prompt will ask students to produce a piece of writing, which will vary in length according to prompt. There will be a Mid-Unit and End-Of-Unit Assessment within each Unit taught. In addition, the students will be informally assessed during every class in regards to their oral discussion participation and written short responses. At the end of each module, students will be asked to perform a formal benchmark assessment, which consists of a district incorporated assessment and a written response. Students may also utilize such elements as performances, presentations (both oral and creative), or projects.

Requirements for Success:

The successful student will be punctual; have assignments accurately completed; participate in classroom discussions and work; will receive passing grades on all assignments both in and out of the classroom; speak with the teacher or fellow student for missing assignments due to absences. If and when students are absent, it is their responsibility to approach the instructor to receive the missing assignment(s), that are due 24 hours after they return to class.

Late Work:

THERE WILL BE NO “LATE WORK” ALLOWED DURING THE SEMESTER. ALL WORK MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME, AT THE PREARRANGED DUE DATES. HOWEVER, IF MR. PHILLIPS DOES ALLOW FOR “LATE WORK” TO BE TURNED IN, IT MUST BE DONE FAR IN ADVANCE TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER(DATES WILL BE PROVIDED), AND WILL NOT BE FOR FULL CREDIT. SAID “LATE WORK” WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANYTHING MORE THAN 70%. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL BE DEALT WITH APPROPRIATELY.

Grading Policies:

Grades will be determined by the accumulation of points for homework assignments, class work, exams, essays, and quizzes, participation and projects. Please view Powerschool for current grades. Many assignments will take longer to grade, therefore do not expect all grades to have a quick turn-around. To protect the privacy of all students, grades will not be discussed during class.

The grades for the class are as follows:

• Classwork 35 % A= 90-100%
• Homework 15 % B= 80-89%
• Project 30 % C= 70-79%
• Quiz 10 % D= 60-69%
• Test 10% F= 00-59%

Daily Procedures:

A normal day will consist of students arriving to class on time, with all materials, turning homework and all other assignments in, writing down homework for the evening, presentation of objective, and discussion. Students will participate with quick-writes and other forms of showing their understanding, and participation with class, objective and instructor. All assignments, including homework, will be written on the whiteboard as it is assigned.

Students will need:

A USB “thumb drive”(32GB) (optional)

A single subject notebook, dedicated to ELA, and brought daily.

Pens, pencils and highlighters

Post-it-notes, for reading and annotating

Novels for Accountable Independent Reading (AIR)

Students, I truly want you to be successful in this course, therefore, I am available at all times via email. I check this most often. I can be reached after hours and over the weekends. I would rather you ask me that “small” or “not important” question on Saturday than have you wait until Monday and potentially not complete your work as needed. So please, please feel free to contact me via email, at any time of the day and week.

Classroom Procedures—English Department(The following policies may or may not necessarily be held by Mr. Phillips)

The English Department at Reedley High School has agreed to adhere to and support the following procedures for our classrooms:

1. Tardies - as per the Pirate Log, students must be inside the classroom door when the bell rings. If tardy, students will not be admitted to class without a pass from the Attendance Office. Late passes from other teachers are not acceptable.
2. Bathroom Break—each student will be issued two (2) for his/her use each semester. Students will complete pass, surrender it to teacher, secure laminated restroom sign, and sign out. Unused bathroom passes
3. Out-of-Class Pass—for reasons other than restroom needs, teachers will use the standard out-of-classroom pass on a need-by-need basis.
4. Supplies—students are to carry daily a notebook, two pencils, two pens, two highlighters, post-its
5. Daily assignments are posted on the front board and change daily.
6. To find out grade status students are encouraged to check their grades on a weekly basis
7. Absences—Emergencies, illnesses, and doctor appointments are inevitable. However, students have the following responsibilities;
   1. Work will be completed as homework and handed in the following day.
   2. Students make up any Assessments missed in the Testing Center after school on Wednesdays.
   3. Students have two Wednesdays following their return to school to make up any missed assessment or all credit is lost. Students must make arrangements with their teachers.
   4. Students must come in before school, at break, at lunch, after class, or after school for missed work. This is particularly important for students in sports as you may be missing the same period often.
8. Late work: No late classwork or homework will be accepted, ever! However, students are encouraged to hand in any missed assignments any day until the end of each Unit to gain necessary credit or all credit is lost
9. Plagiarism/Cheating: see Pirate Log for definition and penalties.
10. Extra Credit:
    1. Extra credit opportunities may be offered by individual teachers
    2. Extra credit will NOT be used to correct a failing grade
    3. Extra credit is not “instead of” but is “in addition to” assigned work

Pirate Pride Behavior includes - our Social Contract

RESPECT - HONOR - SUCCESS in the classroom means...:

- arrive to class on time and be ready to learn

- come prepared and with necessary supplies

- respect the learning environment, your peers, and classroom

materials

- use every minute of every second of the given instructional time

- wait to be dismissed before leaving the classroom

- respect other people, their property and their opinions

- use a private voice while in class

- keep cell phones OFF and stored away unless otherwise instructed

- no profanity or inappropriate language in class

- adhere to dress code regulations at all times and wear provided student ID

This syllabus may be changed at any time by the instructor.