About our class

Goals

1. Create lifelong learners

2. Express creativity and collaborate with others through many forms of communication

3. Think critically, question texts, and establish opinions about the world around us

4. Grow and become perspective-taking learners who understand every person is worthy of love and respect

Course Questions

• 1. What habits do successful readers and writers’ exhibit?

  2. What does it mean to interpret and evaluate texts and support ideas with text evidence?

  3. How can mentor texts be used to influence an author’s technique?

  4. In a culture where we are bombarded by others trying to define or influence us, how do we make decisions for ourselves?

  5. What are the similarities/differences between different genres and types of text?

  6. How can we read beyond a basic story to find inferred/implied meaning?

  7. What tools or techniques can be used to organize and categorize information collected?

  8. How are sound, form, mood, and figurative language used to create meaning?

  9. What does it mean to look at something from someone else's perspective?

  10. What does perspective taking mean?

Grading Policy

Assessments: 60% Quiz Grades: 30% Daily: 10%

I try to get grading done as fast as possible, but I do ask for some patience in getting grades into HAC. HAC will always have the most accurate grades, so check there for your average.

Students may do corrections for any failing grades (below a 70%) to bring it up to a 70%. Students will get correction forms for different assignments. You can only correct a failing grade -- unless told by Ms. Castro differently, grades higher than a 70% cannot be corrected.

Late Work Policy

- 10  points the first day

- 5 points each day thereafter

Students who are absent will be given the same number of days as the number of days as the absence to make-up the work. If the student doesn’t complete and turn in the work by that time, the late work policy will go into effect. If teachers are aware of the absence in advance, the teacher may provide work in advance, but is not obligated to do so. Any work not provided to the student in advance of the absence will be provided to the student upon his/her return to school.