Novels Class

What can I expect in my Novels class? 

Our Novels class is all about growing our love of reading. In its richest and most valuable form, reading incorporates not only the decoding and comprehension of words, but also background knowledge, vocabulary, perspective, emotion, and the sharing of both previous and new experiences. Because of that, we will incorporate listening, speaking, language, and writing into our reading in order to improve our overall reading experience.  In order to do that, obviously we will be thinking, thinking, thinking.  Learning the elements of storytelling is a fundamental building block of our Novels class.  In addition, student choice will also be a major element of our Novels class.  We will get the opportunity to read both independently and collectively from a variety of genres, learning how to think critically about what we read.  We will also learn more about and continue to practice good reading skills and strategies that will help improve our overall reading experience with whatever we are reading, whether that be in reading class, other classes, or any independent reading we do at home or school. 

What are Mrs. Hartwig's classroom expectations?

There are three basic expectations that guide everyone and everything in this class: 

1)  Be respectful...no matter what.  Each of us wants respect, and therefore, each of us will give it.

2)  Be here in both heart and mind.  You can't learn if you aren't here (either in-person or online) or don't care. 

3)  Be the best learner you can be (that's your job) who thinks, exercises his/her brain, takes responsibility for his/her learning, and contributes to the learning environment of the entire class.

Behavior inconsistent with the above expectations will be handled according to Mrs. Hartwig's Classroom Discipline Routine, which is intended to minimize classroom disruptions by handling behavior issues quickly and quietly.  If classroom misbehavior results in a parent/guardian having to wait to pick up the student or a student missing the bus or after-school activities, it is my hope that family members will hold the learner accountable so that this natural consequence will hopefully encourage respectful, productive behavior as a learner.  If parents/guardians have concerns about this policy, I sincerely welcome conversations on how we (myself, our school, and our families) can team together to best help our students succeed. 

What are Mrs. Hartwig's academic expectations?

Mrs. Hartwig firmly believes in the great potential of each one of her students. She also understands that we are all human and, therefore, oftentimes don't live each day showing that great potential. But in this literacy classroom, we will work hard to meet our potential as high school learners.  The following academic expectations will help learners do that:

1) Always engage in active listening and speaking, using discussion connectors to help any class discussions develop as thoroughly as possible.

2) Always actively read (including reading along in whatever your class, group, or partner may be reading), remembering to carry on a conversation with the text by using strong reading strategies.

3) Always practice your best writing skills, remembering to use complete sentences, scholarly language, proper punctuation/capitalization/spelling, your most legible handwriting, and always proofing all your work before completing and submitting.

5) Always use class time productively to complete all assigned work in class, remembering to timely complete assigned work that may occasionally require out-of-class time.

As a reward for being responsible learners and as extra practice in responsibility, a classroom manager will be chosen for each week of class. This student will get the privilege of providing the entry music for each day of class that particular week. This classroom manager will also be responsible to be the point person in class leadership, classroom discussions, and general helpfulness.

What is the grading policy?

Standards-Based Grading - Mrs. Hartwig's instructional goal is to help all students grow as much as possible in becoming successful, self-motivated learners. Therefore, she utilizes Standards-Based Grading, a form of grading based on the proficiency level demonstrated by each student on the standards (skills) taught in the classroom. This approach to grading is intended to shift students from a fixed-mindset focused on grades (with an eye on points) to a growth mindset focused on learning (with an eye on growth).  Because we are focused on growth, each student's proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking & listening will be based on the 4-point proficiency scale shown in the chart below.

Late Work Policy - Work completion is the only way students will truly grow in the skills taught, practiced, and demonstrated in this class. Work completion and performance are also the only way Mrs. Hartwig can accurately assess your proficiency in any skill. Therefore, the following policy will be followed for all late work:  

• Due Date - It is Mrs. Hartwig's intention to mark assignments "turned in" or "missing" on or within a day of the original due date. 

• Missing Assignment Date - Assignments will remain marked as "missing" for two weeks past the original due date if not turned in to Mrs. Hartwig. When students turn in their late work, they should email Mrs. Hartwig to advise her so she knows to revisit their assignment for grading and feedback.

• Zero Date - Students who choose not to complete assignments within two weeks of the original due date have chosen to earn a zero for the standard(s) associated with that assignment since they have not provided data/evidence with which to properly assess their proficiency. If Students later decide they would like to complete the work, they should email Mrs. Hartwig and visit with her about the assignment parameters.