Maggie Schneider
9th Literature
mschneid@spearfish.k12.sd.us
(605) 717-1212 (W)
Class Overview
-Short stories, Romeo and Juliet, and the Odyssey or the primary focus of Freshman Literature
-In addition, students will develop daily journals, practice communication skills, and present oral reports on outside readings during the course.
Materials/Textbook Information
Laptop computer
Journal or spiral notebook
Digital textbook - Clever - Into Literature
Student Performance Objectives and Course Requirements
The student will:
Develop critical reading, writing, and listening skills
Perform classroom speech demonstrations and participate in group discussion
Evaluate other speakers/writers and provide feedback in writing
Gain an understanding of terminology/vocabulary
Meet or exceed state grade specific literature standards
Class Procedures and Rules
Notify the teacher before leaving the classroom, cell phones must be left in designated area before exiting
Quiet during journal time (first 15 minutes of each class)
Participate in class/small group discussion in a respectful manner
If absent, check Planbook first, then have a responsible classmate gather the information pertaining to missed assignments prior to the next class period
Laptop and Internet Procedures
No laptop use unless specifically instructed
No games
Leave laptops under desks unless otherwise instructed
Misuse will lead to confiscation
Assessment Plan
Student assessment will be based on:
Presentations
Tests on The Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet
Short response/essay
Discussion participation points
Novel experience presentation
Individual and small group work
Romeo and Juliet and poetry art projects
Journals
Journals
-In-class journal entries, ½ page average for an “A” (up to 20% of final grade)
-5 points per journal entry
-Journal entries are graded as a completion grade and need to be made up when you are absent (unless discussed otherwise). If absent, journal must include date of absence. Each entry must begin with the date.
Novel Presentations
-Self-selected novel presentation presented orally with a PowerPoint, following a detailed rubric
-Novels must be selected and approved by instructor during the first two weeks of class
- No movies, TV shows, and no books from middle school reading list without prior approval
- Up to 20% of total grade
Late Work
Late work will be accepted until the end of each quarter with 10% point deduction for each day the assignment is late (unless discussed otherwise).
Homework
If students are on task during class time, they should rarely have homework besides reading their novels throughout the semester.
Grading
Letter grades for the course are determined by the school wide-grading scale. This is a required class so all students need a 60% or higher to pass.