English 10

English 10

Course Expectations and Procedures

 Mr. Swannack – English

Class Overview

The goal of this class is for students to enhance their understanding of the history of the world through lessons about events and periods in our past in combination with literature to support and enrich understanding.  Reading, writing, listening, and speaking will all be incorporated and scored throughout this course.  Students will read short stories, entire texts, excerpts from short stories and large texts, and current journal articles (i.e., newspapers, magazines, news, etc.).  The class depicts such countries as Mexico, Great Britain, Argentina, Nigeria, France, Ireland, India, Kenya, Greece (even home of the 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens), Russia, The Netherlands, South Africa, Columbia, Japan, Romania, New Zealand, West Indies, Chile, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and Canada.  We may not always read texts, excerpts, or short stories from the above mentioned territories, but we will try to demonstrate some historical literature-based archives.  It is assumed that all students have some knowledge of the world prior to partaking in this course. 

The biggest part of this class will be devoted to the SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment) and CCS (Common Core Standards), which takes a huge portion of class time. The above-mentioned readings will be used and incorporated in SBA/CCS Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening skills for the state testing that occurs in both theSpring.  I find it very important that we continue to strive for higher achievement throughout the years.  We will use the above mentioned texts to form reading skills as well as composing pieces of writing in persuasive, narrative, and expository styles, all mandatory for SBA/CCS testing spring.

At the conclusion of this course, the students will be better able to identify and understand history and literature (i.e., reading, writing, speaking, etc.) through the use and creation of journals, newspaper articles, travel brochures, mini-books, research papers, SBA pre- and post-writes, and much more.  This course will involve some independent research, project development, and oral presentation.

Materials

This class will include many novels and/or short stories from the Great Depression, including To Kill a Mockingbird, many SBA/CCS writing prompts (including daily discussion), many SBA/CCS reading strategies (including daily discussion and activities), and much more.  The following textbook will be handed out at the beginning of the school year:

• StudySync Core ELA Grade 10 - McGraw Hill - Pilot Year (Class Set Only)

• StudySync Core ELA Teacher Online (Use Access TBA)

Additional books, usually in the form of a novel, will be checked out of the classroom periodically throughout the year.  You will be notified when to check these books out.

In addition to these books, students will need to come prepared to class every day with the following, which may be altered throughout the year:

• One notebook at least 70 pages, college ruled.  Please do not purchase the kind that can be torn out and leaves paper trails, if possible!

• No. 2 Pencil daily (Mechanical is Fine)

• Colored pens, pencils, and/or crayons daily (I have some, but not enough to supply everyone when we do activities)

• 4-5 Glue Sticks (1 needed daily)

• Mental Toughness!!!  ☺

We use Google these days, which helps students save and share files accordingly.  Each student will have a personal Google Account that saves files automatically.  Likewise, each student will have access to Google Classroom for this class, which will be an expectation that they use it daily. It’s an expectation that students check Google Classroom daily for updates, assignments, entry tasks, etc.  It’s also an expectation that students keep a clean slate of emails, which means they check them daily and maintain a clean inbox.  

Again, students will need all materials listed above, including textbooks, on a daily basis.  This year, because it’s a pilot year, we will only have class sets of textbooks.  Textbooks will be identified the previous day, therefore allowing you to bring the correct text.  I will sometimes forget to instruct you on what text to bring on the following day, so always seek me during passing time.  If you are not prepared, you’ll be marked tardy, which will result in pursuing the tardy policy (posted in room).  

Grade Scale

Unless otherwise notified, the following grade scale will be used on all graded work and performances:

100 -  90% = A

89  -  80 = B

79  -  70 = C

69  -  60 = D

59  -  0 = F

Extra Credit

Extra credit will be available only to those who have turned in all their other assignments, and will be worth no more than a total of 5% of students’ final grade.  You must see me for clarification.  Don’t wait until the last day of each quarter to discuss extra credit.  I will have various opportunities for you to receive extra credit, so be sure to take advantage when time permits.

Participation

Students are expected to show effort and improvement in this class.  Students are expected to try.  This includes classroom discussions as well as assignments and projects.  Part of the student’s final grade will be based upon their classroom participation (scored periodically throughout the year).  I expect each student to take pride in his/her efforts during class instruction time.  I will provide an adequate opportunity for you to receive a quality education within my classroom.  Much of the workload in this class is hands-on and students are expected to work independently in hopes to create the best possible outcome.  I believe in honesty, integrity, and sacrifice.  This works both for the instructor as well as the student.  Please, don’t ruin what’s good!

Discipline

Classroom discipline will be based on the 2022-2023 School Handbook, which all students will receive at the beginning of this school year.  The Handbook is also available for review in each classroom and the school office.  

1. Tardy - (If you’re not in your seat when the bell rings, you’re tardy!)

2. Cell Phones – Cell phones and any other interactive technological devices are ONLY allowed in class for educational purposes.  

3. Food and Drink - I do not mind food and drink in my room as long as it’s not a distraction.  If you have food and drink, please don’t rattle bags or slam on desk while I’m talking. 

4. Gum - I do not mind gum.  Please throw it away properly in a trash can and refrain from sticking it under a desk or chair.

If you believe in me, I will believe in you.  It takes a strong commitment from the both of us for you to receive an ultimate education that is worthy of the cause, so please communicate with me.  Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”  Set a lofty goal early and promote strong ethical achievement.  

Contact

I would like to have an open line of communication with students and their parents/guardians.  If for any reason you need to speak with me, please feel free to call the school at 509-796-2701 (ext. 4106) and they will put you in touch with me.  I also monitor my email on a daily basis if you would prefer this means.  My email address is: 

Mr. Swannack: bswannack@reardansd.net