English II
Mr. Clayton Kistner
Olathe Northwest High School
Course Overview
Welcome to English II! As the sophomore English course, the goal of this class is to prepare you for success in college and / or the career world. The most important goals we will work toward in this course include the following:
The student is a reader with a vibrant, self-directed reading practice that builds volume and stamina and continues beyond the classroom.
The student writes to say something important to a targeted audience and for a specific purpose. The student is intentional about form and flexible to meet the changing needs of audience and purpose.
The student revises extensively to improve a piece of writing, paying close attention to what makes good writing and revising earnestly in response to feedback.
The student applies knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to a variety of situations by recognizing when these concepts are used in texts, analyzing their purpose or function, and using them in their own writing.
The student makes progress in learning by challenging themselves and / or learning from mistakes.
The student is a contributing, positive member of the learning community: provides high-quality feedback to peers on their writing, participates earnestly in small-group and whole-group conversations, moves through our classroom spaces (physical and digital) with kindness.
The student demonstrates successful student habits: meeting deadlines, reading and following instructions, asking questions, seeking help and support, and managing digital tools and digital spaces effectively to keep track of work.
Expectations
Be Responsible: Come to class prepared with your required materials and homework.
Be Respectful: Treat all people, things, and ideas with respect, even if you do not agree with them.
Be Reflective: Be an advocate for your own learning! Set goals, ask questions, participate in class, and
be proactive about your education. This will help me to serve you better as your teacher.
Materials
In order to engage and learn to your fullest extent, this class requires certain materials, which will allow the class period to progress efficiently and productively. The following materials are needed on a daily basis:
District laptop & charger
Headphones that are compatible with laptop
Other materials may be requested as needed.
Attendance
Being present and engaged is a predictor of success in this class. When students are absent, they will be more successful by following these guidelines:
It is your responsibility to get your assignments when you miss class.
Be sure to check the Daily Agenda document found on our Google Classroom home “Stream” when you have been absent because class activities and assignments will be listed there.
If you still have questions, ask the teacher and/or a trustworthy peer for help.
Make up missing work within two school (not class) days for every absence from this class.
Late Work
Work submitted when due is an expectation for this class. This course has been designed to build upon itself, so it is important to the learning process that students complete work on time and in order.
Every late assignment submitted (whether make-up work or a late assignment) MUST include the “Absent/Late Work Form” available on Google Classroom.
Your assignment will be assessed based on its quality, just like those not submitted late. However, for those late assignments not due to absences (make-up work), in the gradebook there will be a note the assignment was submitted late.
There will be some non-negotiable deadlines where late work will no longer be accepted (e.g. the end of the quarter, larger projects / presentations where logistics are an issue, etc.). I will communicate these deadlines ahead of time.
Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism, the taking of another’s ideas or words and using them as your own, will not be tolerated in any format. There are many forms of plagiarism ranging from cutting and pasting sources from a book / the Internet to copying a classmate's work. Please note the difference between working collaboratively (resulting in interaction and thinking) and copying (which replaces interaction and thinking). In this class, if a student engages in academic dishonesty, the following consequences will go into effect:
The student will conference with me.
Guardians will be contacted, either by the student during the conference or by me.
In cases where it is apparent a student has copied all or part of an assignment from another student, from a printed source, or from electronic media, the student will complete an alternate assignment to show their learning and administration will be notified.
In cases of plagiarism multiple times, the student’s learning progress will be negatively affected, and they may risk failing the course and / or be subjected to administrative disciplinary consequences.
Students involved in plagiarism may be removed from or disqualified for candidacy to National Honor Society and / or other organizations.
If you are unsure of what constitutes plagiarism, please do not hesitate to ask me.
Grading Method
Semester grades are the only grades included on students’ official transcripts.
Throughout the semester, although students will not receive grades on individual assignments, they will receive feedback to help them improve as readers and writers. They are also consistently engaging with our class goals. This document also includes sections for how to meet each goal as well as how they can know their progress on each goal. At the end of each grading period, each student and I will look at the evidence together and come to a consensus regarding an appropriate letter grade representing the student’s most consistent level of performance (Chiaravalli).
Teacher Communication and Availability
Having proactive communication between the teacher, students, and guardians is a tenet of any strong classroom, especially this year. I will respond to communication within 24 hours Monday through Friday.
Before school: Available from 7:30am-7:45am, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
During school: Available during Seminar
After school: Available from 3:00pm-3:30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday