Class Information

Supplies: 

• Two Composition  Notebooks- college ruled

• Wireless earbuds or headphones

Grading Scale: All skill scores will be assessed using a rubric. These are linked on the District website and our Google Classroom.

1.0 – 60% Emerging

2.0 – 70% Developing

3.0 – 90% Proficient

4.0 – 100% Advanced

Grading Category:

60% Summative (product: writing process for essays; final drafts; projects; assessments)

40%Formative (process: daily notebook entries; workshop habits)

Units of Study:

---First Semester---

Unit One- Setting up Shop: Establishing Our Workshop Community

Unit Two- Where Themes Come True: The Literary Essay

Unit Three- The Past, Today: Historical Fiction

Unit Four- Taking Sides: Argument and Research

---Second Semester---

Unit Five- The Best of Both Worlds: Literary Nonfiction

Unit Six- From Stanza to Stage: A Comparative Essay

Unit Seven- Testing as a Genre

Unit Eight-Investigative Journalism

Unit Nine- Launching into Summer

Homework  Expectations: 

Students will be expected to complete reading and writing assignments outside of class time.

A Note about Advanced ELA: 

This course is differentiated by text complexity through reading and writing.

Late Work Procedure:
Late work will be accepted up to five academic days after the due date. In order for students to receive timely feedback, we will not accept late work after those five days. In addition, all missing assignments are due the Friday before a grading cycle ends. Any work completed during the week leading up to the end of a grading cycle will appear on the next grading cycle to ensure students receive their five academic days to turn in an assignment after the due date.

Redo Procedure:

All grades can be corrected. Students will have until the end of the six weeks. Student/teacher conferences may be required before assignment is redone. Students can earn up to a 100% on redos/retakes.

Absent Work:

It is the student’s responsibility to inquire about and complete all missed learning due to an absence. Students should begin by checking in with their teacher upon return from an absence to come up with a plan to make up missing assignments. Also, we will utilize Google Classroom to communicate assignments.

Food and Beverages:

In order to keep our classroom environments productive, minimize distractions and ensure student safety, food will not be allowed in our classrooms unless there is a documented reason on file for a student to have food. Water will be the only beverage permitted.

We follow the Coyote READY Expectations in our classrooms:

R: Respect people, property, and feelings of others

E: Engage in your learning

A: Accountable for your words and actions

D: Determined to do your best

Y: Your impact matters

When classroom expectations/treatment agreements aren’t honored the following steps may be taken:

• Conversation with teacher

• Parents contacted

• Teacher issued detention

• Referral

The main priority is to create a respectful environment that supports your learning. These consequences are to ensure that the environment is maintained.

Bookshelves:

The books are there for you to read and enjoy. Once you have finished with the book, please hand it to me to reshelve. 

***IMPORTANT NOTE*** 

Some of the titles for independent reading or what will be offered during Book Clubs deal with mature or sensitive subject matter and/or strong language. In addition, students will be writing daily and publishing for others, following topics of their choice, which may include sensitive ideas and/or language. Parents and students will want to communicate about their reading and writing choices to know if it is the right fit for the student. One quick way to preview book subject matter is to read reviews from online sites like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, CommonSense.org, or Goodreads.com, and of course ask to read the student’s notebook and published writing. 

Parents, you are more than welcome to visit my classroom any time to view book titles. Please reach out to make an appointment with as needed.