After an exciting summer, it is time to begin your high school career.  In the coming year, much of your success will depend not only upon your work ethic but upon your attitude as well.  I’m looking forward to a fun and productive year with you – I hope you are too!

There are a few general rules for you to remember this year:

1. Care about Class:  Come to class on time and prepared to work with all the appropriate materials.  If you need to leave class, remember to sign in/out on the sheet provided; you will be allowed to leave only once for no longer than 3 minutes, so plan accordingly.  I dismiss you from class, so do not pack up and wait by the door until given permission.

2. Care about Yourself and Others:  Think about the questions you ask and the comments you make – are they appropriate and on task?  Become familiar with yourself as a learner and work respectfully both independently, with a partner, and in groups.  Learn to advocate for yourself with a thoughtful approach.  We all need to be active listeners, tolerant of mistakes, and participants in class – all in a respectful manner.

3. Care about your Environment:  You may have bottled beverages ready before class begins (no visits to the vending machines allowed), but no other drink or food.  Everyone helps to clean up at the end of a period to prepare the room for the next class.  Keep your cell phone and ipods in your backpacks – they should not be visible for any reason, or they may be taken from you.  Respect personal property and personal space.

Materials:
•    Binder with dividers for organization -- only for English
•    Loose leaf paper in binder
•    Pen -- blue or black ink; work will not be accepted in pencil
•    School Planner
•    Work for the day -- homework, books, etc.

Grading:  It is a good idea to know how you will be graded in your classes so that you can keep track of your own progress.  We will work on a point system, meaning that each assignment, quiz, test, essay, etc... will be worth a given number of points, which will reflect the effort or importance of each task. **Late work is accepted at my discretion.

                                       Max. Points        Your Points        You received 53/65 =  81.5%
reading check                        5                       5
vocabulary                              5                       4       
test                                          25                      21       
essay                                          30                23       
total                                          65                      53

Final Course Average is based on 20% per quarter and 20% for the final project.
 

Tardy?  Entering the class after it has begun means you must fill out the “tardy sign in” sheet.  If you are tardy to class 3 times, you owe me a break detention.  If you do not show up at your appointed time, you will face an office detention and possibly insubordination. Watch the clock!

Absent?  If you are absent, any work due the day of your absence will be due upon your return.  The block you return, you will receive any work missed during your absence, which will be expected due the next block.  In block scheduling, it is very easy to fall behind if absent.  When absent, try to see your teacher immediately when you return and be prepared to stay after school.  Also, check the “absent” folder for assignments -- but still check in with me! 

Homework:  Whether you are absent or forgot to write your homework in your planner, there are no excuses for not knowing the assignment.  It is online at:
    http://kuruczschool.googlepages.com/english9assignments
   
Substitutes?  Just a quick reminder that if a substitute is present, you are to conduct yourselves as if the regular teacher was present.  If I receive negative reports, there will be negative consequences!

Academic Integrity Policy:  Helping each other is usually acceptable but having word-for-word answers is not.  If an assignment is to be totally independent without discussing it with classmates, then I will inform you.  If you have any question as to the level of “help” then please ask!  See the student handbook.

After School Help:  I am at school until 3:15 every day and later if needed.  Please make arrangements with me for help so that I can plan accordingly.  Free periods:  4 & 8 (some of these are with an AcLab)

My e-mail at school:  ckurucz@tvhs.k12.vt.us
 

What is a genre study?  A genre is a “type of” or “category of” a broad topic.  For example, if someone asked what type of movie you liked to watch, you might say that your liked horror movies or dramas.  “Horror” and “drama” are genres of movies.  In English 9, the goal is to expose you to various writing genres and literary techniques.  At the same time, we will work on strengthening our writing skills and communication techniques.  In addition, there will be a focus on Greek vocabulary and study skills.  Listed below are some (but not necessarily all) of our genre units for English 9.

Genre Units
Unit 1:  Short Stories by various authors
Unit 2:  Greek Mythology / Epic poem The Odyssey
Unit 3:  Novel: contemporary fiction – California Blue
Unit 4:  Literature Circles of adventure novels
Unit 5:  Shakespeare’s drama of Romeo and Juliet
Unit 6:  Novel: classic fiction - To Kill A Mockingbird
Unit 7:  Independent Book Projects of various genres

Grammar Focus                                        Writing Focus                                                   Skills Focus
Parts of speech                                            Paragraph writing                                            Reading comprehension
Fragments/Sentences                                Writing with details                                        Written and oral communication
Subjects / Verbs                                           Short essays                                                    Listening skills
Simple Sentences                                        Creative writing                                              Time management & organization
Mechanics in context                                    Poetry                                                              Cooperative learning
                                                                                                                                                    Technology and research
                                                                                                                                                   Vocabulary


TVHS Expectations for Student Learning:  While English 9 may address other expectations, our primary objective is to address expectation 1.0 – Communication in that a TVHS graduate clearly communicates ideas and information in a variety of circumstances and media.  A student:
•    Comprehends main and supporting ideas in written work (Reading)
•    Expresses main ideas and key points clearly and succinctly (Writing)
•    Uses verbal and nonverbal skills to express himself or herself effectively (Oral)

A few special notes:

1. Final Project:  In order to receive credit for English 9, you must complete the final project! It     is also 20% of your final course average.  It consists of:

•    Writing / Project Portfolio (20%):  This will contain 4 major pieces of writing or projects based on the units studied during the year. Each of these is something students will have worked on during the course of the year and will have been part of a unit grade as well.  In some cases, students may have a choice of the 4 pieces to include in the portfolio.
•    Book Presentation (80%):  Students will need to read a book independently of class and complete a series of activities about it.  The activities ask you to use the skills you have learned during the year in reading, writing and speaking components.  You will receive details when you need them. 

2. Literature textbooks are available for use during class and school time.  With only one class set of texts, students are not permitted to take textbooks home.  Arrangements can be made if a text is needed in order to complete an assignment.

3.  Modifications are made in order to meet the needs of those students who receive remediation or special services.  I am available to meet with students who need individual attention.  The English 9 class contains:
•    accommodations within the classroom for IEP modifications
•    an emphasis on reading and writing skills for language arts
•    an awareness of the Vermont Standards for Teaching English and TVHS Expectations for Student Learning

4. Communication is easiest through email (ckurucz@tvhs.k12.vt.us); however, grade updates are typically made available on Monday mornings.  Be sure to obtain your power school password so that you can keep track of your child’s grades.  If there is a concern, I often leave comments under the “parent note.”  Again, homework assignments can be found at: http://kuruczschool.googlepages.com/english9assignments