Freshman Honors English 108

Course Description

          English 9-108 focuses on complex, higher level thinking skills through the study and analysis of various genres of literature. In addition to the literature studied, students will also work to improve vocabulary skills and to refine grammar skills. This course will also help students continue to develop writing skills, focusing on composition, editing, and grammar. It utilizes a variety of assessment formats, such as research projects, oral presentations, expository and narrative essays, and formal testing. English 9-108 is organized into 4 modules; 2 modules per semester, which are centered on a specific theme and focus.  Each unit is designed according to the national Common Core Standards for Language Arts.  You can find more information at the following website. http://www.corestandards.org. The module outline below serves as a course overview. 

           

Semester 1

Semester 2

  • Module 1 – Short Stories
  • Module 4 – Novel—To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Module 2 – Drama—Romeo and Juliet
  • Module 3 –  Mythology/The Odyssey

 

 

How We Teach

        The Jacksonville High School English Department prepares critical thinkers and effective communicators by facilitating mastery of the English Language Arts.  In order to create instruction and assessment that meets the needs of all students, we adapt to our students and utilize a wide variety of differentiation and engagement strategies when planning and executing our lessons. Likewise, to enable students to continue their path as digital learners, there will be various discussions, assignments, and quizzes that students will be expected to complete online through the online learning community Edmodo.com. Students should check this website frequently online and/or download the free app to keep up with the online content. 

 

Interventions

        As parents/guardians, you are the primary educators of your children.  It is my job to assist you in that important part of your student’s life.  In order for your student to succeed, we must work together as a partnership.  I will do everything in my power to provide a positive and effective learning opportunity for your son/daughter. By checking weekly assignments on my teacher webpage and grades through Skyward, you and your child should be able to keep up to date on major work and not fall behind.

 

 

My Daily Schedule

1st Hour

2nd Hour

3rd Hour

4th Hour

5th Hour

6th Hour

7th Hour

Crimson Time

 

English 12

Room 905

 

Honors English 9

Room 905

 

 

Honors English 9

Room 905

 

 

PREP

Room 905

 

English 12

Room 905

 

Interpersonal Comm.

Room 905

 

 

English 9

Room 905

 

 

Advisory in Room 905


           
           

 

Communication

      If you would like to contact me outside of school hours, the best way to reach me and ensure a prompt reply is through my school email address: [email protected]. You may also reach me by calling 243-4384 and leave a message.

      Feel free to check my teacher webpage located in the Faculty & Staff link on the school’s website: jhs.jsd117.org. This lists weekly plans/assignments and other useful links for both parents and students.

Grading

        When you log on to Skyward, you will see assignments posted in the following categories.  Here is a brief description of what each of these includes and their weight on the student’s overall semester grade.  Semester grades will be calculated by weighting the grade earned during each quarter at 40% and the semester exam at 20% for a total of 100%.

 

English 108 is weighted as a 5.0 class in order to figure out GPA.

 

English Department Grading Policy (adopted 14 August 2014)

 

Daily Assignments – 10%

An opportunity to practice, complete, prepare for, and/or extend content and reading, writing and language

                skills learned in class.

 

Summative Assessments – 90%

Reading Skills: A type of assessment that includes objective questioning and short answer response.  

                Sample activities include quizzes and chapter or unit tests.

Speaking and Listening Skills: An opportunity to demonstrate mastery of content and speaking and listening

                skills during daily lessons.  Sample activities include projects, presentations, and group work.

Writing Skills: A type of assessment that will vary in length from one paragraph to a multi-page research

                paper.  Sample activities include grammar assessments, essays, and research skills.

 

      Because we assess students’ progress towards mastery of specific learning targets, written compositions and other assignments will be designed to more clearly reflect the target(s) being measured.  The use of learning targets to evaluate student progress provides a clearer picture of what the student knows and is able to do at a given point in time.  We believe that this is a more meaningful way to determine and communicate what our students have learned.  The table below shows the conversion of the target-based grade to the traditional letter grade/percentage. The overall point value of an assignment will vary based on the number of targets being measured. 

Target-Based Grade

Point Value

Approximate Letter Grade

Approximate Percentage

Exceeds Standard

3.6 – 4

A

90-100

Meets Standard

3.2 – 3.5

B

80-89

Below Standard

2.8 – 3.1

C

70-79

Far Below Standard

2.4 – 2.7

D

59.5-69

Insufficient Evidence

2.3 – 0

F

0-59.4

 

Late Work Policy

       If a student misses a deadline for an assignment, work should be turned in as soon as possible.  Credit will be assigned according to teacher’s discretion.  In order to begin each grading period with a clean slate, the previous grading period’s assignments must be turned in by and will not be accepted past two school days prior to the end of the term.  Work assigned during the last week of a grading period may be counted toward the next grading period. This ensures that students will stay on top of current assignments and maintain Crimson Pride.            In the gradebook, assignments marked zero (0) and checked missing should be considered as such. However, if an assignment is marked “No Count” or no zero (0) value has been assigned, it likely means that the student has turned in the assignment but a final grade has not been issued.

 

Redo Policy

       The English Department encourages students to improve their writing. One way we support this is by allowing revision of summative assessments measuring writing standards.  The only assignments that will be eligible for redo will be written compositions. In order to be eligible, the initial assignment must have been turned in on time, and the assessed copy with rubric must be returned. The work needs to be corrected and re-submitted within one week after it is returned to the student. The grade will reflect the improvement.

Teacher Recommendations

 

  • An organized folder or binder for keeping only English assignments and handouts.
    • Keep all graded/returned work until the end of each semester.
  • Communicate with teachers early and often when complications arise – I want to help you!

 

Be RED Classroom Matrix

        The following matrix describes classroom expectations for successful student behavior.

Be RED

Organizing

Reading

Writing

Speaking/Listening

Respectful

-Arrive to class before the tardy bell rings.

 

-Keep materials neat and in the proper place.

 

-Turn off and put away all electronic devices.

-Remain upright and attentive.

 

-Use the volume that is appropriate to the task.

-Give and accept constructive criticism.

 

-Follow the AUP and computer lab guidelines when using technology.

-Use the appropriate volume for your situation.

 

-Mind your tone and how your words will affect others.

 

-Remain upright and attentive.

Engaged

-Have your personal items and materials in your possession at the beginning of class.

 

-Turn off and put away all electronic devices.

-Utilize a strategy to stay focused.

 

-Keep your eyes on the text.

-Utilize a pre-writing strategy to stay on task.

-Make appropriate eye contact for the situation.

 

-Perform your role as speaker or listener.

Dedicated

-Turn assignments in on time.

 

-Turn off and put away all electronic devices.

-Make notes about the text and prepare questions.

 

-Re-read.

-Keep writing, editing, and revising until it’s your best draft.

-Maintain self-control when participating in class discussion and activities.

Consequences

Intensity 1 & 2 Behaviors

  1. Give a verbal warning or “The Look.”
  2. Student conference privately in class, after class, or in the hallway.

3.         Parent contact, student department detention, and/or TMR.

Intensity 3 & 4 Behaviors                                                                                                                                           1.         Removal from class for the period and an ODR.