Course Overview:
The objective of this English class is to continue your academic pursuit of literary, informational, and persuasive texts and media. We are aligned to the Common Core Standards as they relate to reading, writing, language, listening, and speaking.
RESPECT THE TIME
RESPECT THE SPACE
RESPECT EACH OTHER
Respecting each of these things helps to create and contribute to our learning community. In order for our entire learning community to have the opportunity for success, students will be expected to correct any behaviors that are in violation of the 3 Rs. My hope is always that behavior can be corrected with a quick chat outside the classroom door. If steps are needed beyond that, I will start with a phone call and email home, and move onto a Student Completed Behavior Journal. If the behavior continues to disrupt the learning environment, an Administrative Referral and school disciplinary action may follow.
School issued Chromebook and Charger
College-ruled lined paper
Pack of blue or black ballpoint pens
Highlighters
White out tape
Earbuds or Headphones
School Planner
Please let me know if you need assistance in obtaining any of these items and I will be happy to assist.
Students are to be in the classroom by the time the Tardy Bell rings:
1st Tardy is a Verbal warning
2nd Tardy is a phone call home to parent/guardian
3rd Tardy is a period 1 or 7 Tardy Detention (dependent on student's schedule) in my classroom. Failure to attend Tardy Detention will result in Saturday School.
Students with excessive tardies and absences risk being placed on the NO-ACTIVITIES list.
Missed Detentions and Unexcused Absences may result in receiving a "U" for a Citizenship Mark.
Students receive three "Barter Passes" each semester to be used for:
Restroom Break after the first 15 mins of class and before the last 15 mins of class.
Penalty-Free Late work passes
OR
Saving all 5 passes to drop your lowest score in a single grading category at the end of a semester.
Students are expected to silence their cell phones and park them in our designated Cell Phone Lot when they arrive to class.
I take attendance using the Cell Phone lot.
Students who may be without their phone that day must verbally check in with me at the door and let me know before I take attendance.
There is a checkbox on our Syllabus Signature form to indicate if the student does not have a cell phone.
Grades will be updated at least biweekly in Infinite Campus (please do not rely on Schoology for scores or grades)
Writing (journals, essays, drafts, responses, etc.) 30%
Reading (quizzes, close reading, homework, etc.) 25%
Speaking and Listening (speeches, class discussions) 25%
Language (Vocabulary, grammar, etc.) 20%
Excused from attendance does not mean excused from your work. It is the responsibility of the student to ask about and complete assignments missed due to excused absences. If you are absent on a test day, it is YOUR responsibility to arrange a time to make up the test.
Students have two times the number of days absent to complete and turn in make-up work.
Being absent prior to a test does not constitute an excuse for not taking the test. This is also true for essays.
FORMAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE DIGITALLY ON THE DATE GIVEN IN CLASS, WHETHER YOU ARE HERE OR NOT.
ACADEMICS
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89.99%
C = 70-79.99%
D = 60-69.99%
F = 59% and below
CITIZENSHIP
O = Outstanding contributor to the classroom community
S = Occasionally engages with the classroom community, but with minimal effort.
U = Student is disengaged and disruptive to the classroom community.
Infinite Campus Student & Parent Portals - All student information will be documented and saved in your IC Portal accounts. This includes attendance, tardies, and a live, in-progress grade book, which can be accessed for scores and missing work at any time.
Schoology - All students will be automatically enrolled in our Schoology course and will use this site to access any digital materials or assignments. No join code needed.
Remind - Text @nylundengto 81010 to be able to receive my messages about our English class.
Turnitin.com - All students will submit final draft papers into Schoology, which uses Turnitin.com for plagiarism detection. All students will be automatically enrolled via Schoology. No join code needed.
Other sites, apps, and programs are likely to be used throughout the year as well.
Barter Passes can generally be used for No-Penalty late work, unless the assignment is a formal essay. The best advice I can give you is to not burn through your Barter Passes on low-point assignments.
Essays/formal writing are typically due to Schoology on the mornings of their due date (a due time will typically be posted along with the date as well). Essays turned in after that TIME will be considered Late. Essays will lose 10% per late day, maximum of 5 days. After that, no more than half credit can be earned For example, if your essay is turned in 3 days late, and is worth 100 points, it will lose 30 points off of the earned score.
This classroom respects all aspects of people including race, ethnicity, gender representation, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, religion, and ability.
This does not mean that people have the freedom to say and do whatever they please. A true Safe Space means that everyone here has freedom from any and all direct or indirect use of violent words, symbols, and/or actions (this includes both intentional and/or unintentional macro and/ or microaggressions).
A violation of this SAFE SPACE is also a violation of the West Hills High School Code of Conduct.
