Syllabus


I. OBJECTIVES	III. COMMUNICATION	Late to Class
	The Golden Triangle	Classroom Telephones
II. ASSIGNMENTS	Student Conferences	Contraband
Grades	Parent Conferences	STOP Room/ISS/OSS
Classwork	Student Yearly Files
Homework		V. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Absences	IV. CLASSROOM POLICIES & PROCEDURES	Consequences
Latework Policy	Discipline
	Hall Passes/Leaving the Room	VI. BEGINNING SUPPLIES

Welcome to 9th Grade LITERACY! This year we will work on literacy portfolios, writing and reading techniques, and use our content area writing skills in Science, Social Studies, Math, and Language to do some interesting projects throughout the year!

To become better writers, readers, speakers, and listeners through self reflection and criticism.

To become better writers and critical readers of informational texts through learned strategies.

GRADES: Quarterly grades are calculated according to the formula adopted by the Freshman Academy Literacy teachers and approved by administration. Grades are calculated as follows:

A minimum of 15 grades will be used per quarter in determining student grade averages. The Semester Exam is currently calculated as 20% of the second quarter’s grade; and the Literacy Final Exam is averaged equally with the four quarters to determine the Course Final Grade. Participation consists of in-class activities (such as discussions, volunteering questions and responses, listening and speaking standards, etc.) and is calculated according to the rubric students help design in the 1st Quarter. Attendance is essential to student success in this class. TARDINESS AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WILL AFFECT PARTICIPATION GRADES.

CLASSWORK: Work in class will be made up of a combination of independent and group activities using a workshop approach. Writer's workshop includes drafting, revising, editing, proofreading and submitting original written work in a variety of formats, self-evaluations, discussions, daily journal entries, weekly reflections, and research papers. Reader's workshop includes SSR (Sustained Silent Reading), reading log entries, and text discussions. Both workshops include content area (science, social studies, math, ELA) strategies, mini-lessons, critical self reflections, target areas of improvement, cross-curricular assignments/projects, and literacy portfolios.

~ Reading Logs ~ The BEST way to improve reading skills (and SAT/ACT vocabulary!) is to devote a daily uninterrupted solid block of time to reading. Therefore, all students are expected to read a minimum of 30 minutes a day, four times a week and complete a Reading Log entry (takes approx. 5-10 minutes to complete) for each day. Students may use anything appropriate for school discussion for their outside reading materials, including assigned reading from other classes, library books, personal books (age and content appropriate - no “urban” books, please!), newspapers, and magazines.

Typically, students will have one in-class period a week of SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) to complete one log entry. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING A LIBRARY BOOK OR OTHER SSR READING MATERIAL AND THEIR CURRENT READING LOG TO CLASS EVERY DAY. Weekly Reading Logs are always due on the first day of the following week (typically Mondays). Check weekly class assignments to help with planning time. Reading Block time is NOT cumulative. If a student reads for an hour one day, it does not count as two days. Most weeks, this means setting aside 35 uninterrupted minutes for 3-4 days outside of class.

~ Other Assignments ~ Occasionally students may be involved in projects or activities that require some additional work at home. All homework is to be turned in by the date due before the tardy bell rings at the BEGINNING of class. In many cases, students can also finish work during study hall or after-school tutorials. NOTE: All major written assignments/projects will be given out at least four days before the due date on the entire assignment, although individual parts of the project or assignment may be due earlier.

ABSENCES: In keeping with District policy, students will have one day per excused absence to turn in missed assignments. For example, if a student misses two consecutive days, then the work is due two days from the student’s return to school. Work turned in by the allotted time for excused absences will NOT be assessed a late penalty. However, if a student is absent on the due date for an assignment the student previously received in class, that assignment is due IMMEDIATELY upon the student’s return to class.

Procedure for obtaining and making up work missed due to excused absences: It is the student's responsibility to briefly meet with me after school regarding missed or incomplete assignments upon the student's return to school. At that time, I will provide the student with the missed material and assignment(s) as well as instructions. Additionally, students may be required to stay after school to make up absentee related in-class assignments or assignments requiring teacher oversight (e.g., exams, quizzes, presentations, portfolio reviews, etc.). All students are welcome to stay for extra help from 2:30 until 3:15 in Room 330 on Tuesdays and by appointment for the other weekdays.

LATEWORK POLICY: Students who do not turn in classroom assignments by their due date may turn in missed assignments IF they attend the NEXT AVAILABLE after school extra help session! The highest grade a student can make on late work is a 70. If the student has a scheduling conflict with the extra help session, then it is the student’s responsibility to see me AHEAD of time. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP WORK DURING THE FIFTH AND TENTH WEEKS OF THE MARKING PERIOD.

IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST MISSED WORK DUE TO ABSENCES AND TO COME IN TO AFTER SCHOOL HELP! Students WILL receive zeros if they do not take this responsibility to heart.

The Golden Triangle: Classroom instruction and students’ needs merge together best when parents, teachers, and students are all part of the learning process. Communication is key to the success of this idea. I am available through email at kswim@ecsdm.org and after school every day, so please feel free to contact me with ANY questions, concerns or comments.

Student Conferences – As part of our writing workshops, I will be conferencing with each student individually about their progress and observations regarding their strategies. Students are asked to be active members of the conference by signing up for and attending conferences, bringing work samples to review and including questions for help or advice or anything else that may come up. I will have pre-conferencing forms available in the forms trays to help students organize their thoughts before conferences.

Parent Conferences – PARENTS are encouraged to schedule a conference with me at least once a semester regarding student progress and may schedule a conference with me at any time for questions or concerns, or to share their own observations regarding student progress at home. Teacher Team conferences can be scheduled through students’ Guidance Counselors. Additionally, the high school has scheduled time on November 18, 2008 and March 18, 2009 for afternoon and evening parent conferences. MEET THE TEACHER night is September 24, 2008 at 6:30pm.

Student Yearly Files: I maintain a yearly confidential file on each student recording student growth, classroom observations, and discipline information. Parents/Guardians are welcome to view their child’s file at any time throughout the school year. At the end of the year, these records will be destroyed.

Discipline: Student responsibility and self-discipline are essential to success in school and life. Students are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct at all times as well as established classroom policies and procedures. A student who chooses to not meet these expectations will be dealt with according to the guidelines set forth in the Student Handbook and Mrs. Swim’s Classroom Expectations.

HALL PASSES/LEAVING THE ROOM: Students will not be allowed to leave the class during class time except for individual emergencies or administrative initiated pull out. If students make an appointment with guidance or the nurse, they must have their appointment pass to leave class. If a student experiences more than one emergency in any given week, a student/parent conference will be requested. Students have plenty of time to go to the bathroom during their 45 minute lunch break and in between classes since most Freshman Academy classes are scheduled on the same floor.

LATE TO CLASS: Any student not in his or her assigned seat when the bell rings is considered late to class and will receive after school detention according to school policy. The only exception to this policy is if a student has an excused conference pass from guidance, another teacher, or an administrator. Being IN the classroom but not in seat, walking in the door as the bell rings, talking to me or other students, finishing texting or phone calls, and bathroom visits are NOT exceptions!

CLASSROOM TELEPHONES: Students are prohibited from answering or using the classroom telephones. Students may use their House Principal’s Office telephone to call home after school and in personal emergencies. Students are prohibited from blocking teacher access to the telephone or classroom exits at all times.

CONTRABAND: Any visible or audible cell phones, iPods or other prohibited electronic devices will be confiscated by the teacher and sent to student’s house principal for student or parent pick-up. Any visible food or drink brought into the classroom WILL BE THROWN AWAY with no exceptions. Any student who initially refuses to give up contraband will be escorted out of the classroom by security and sent to the STOP room for the remainder of the class. Additionally, student will either receive administrative detention or an office referral sent to their house principal.

STOP ROOM: If a student is sent to the STOP Room after disrupting the learning environment, the student is still responsible for all information and assignments missed. If the assignment has already been given, the student is to finish it in the STOP Room and return to me by the beginning of class the next day. If the assignment has not been given, it is the student’s responsibility to see me immediately after school to pick up their assignment and cover any information missed.

ISS: A student serving In-School Suspension will receive that day’s class assignment from the ISS director, assuming I am given enough advance notice to prepare it. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain missed information, materials and assignments due to ISS. Students serving ISS are highly encouraged to find me after school for EXTRA HELP.

OSS: A student serving Out-of-School Suspension will receive a weekly packet of work from their tutor via the House Principal’s office. All assignments are due one week from tutor pick-up or will be considered LATE. OSS students, parents, and tutors are encouraged to set up a conference with me at the beginning of the OSS term and may contact me via e-mail. Any correspondence with an OSS student via email will be copied to the student’s parent/guardian, tutor, and guidance counselor.

This means be in your seat with all materials including completed homework before the bell rings.

This means being kind with your words and actions, keeping your hands and your feet to yourself, taking good care of school property, and using/marking/taking only what belongs to you, unless you have specific permission otherwise.

4. Listen carefully to instructions and follow all classroom directions the FIRST time.

5. Written work needs to include your name and the date and should be thoughtful, original, and legible.

Work that has doodles, drawings not related to the assignment or other graffiti will not be accepted. Mistakes not directly related to the assignment, like spelling or grammar on a journal writing assignment, are OK! This is part of how we learn.

Raise your hand to contribute ideas, comments and suggestions and wait patiently for other students to finish speaking.

7. Leave the classroom or any place you visit as a student of this school better than you found it. Be proud of yourself and your environment!

POSSIBLE POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES (Given when student chooses to meet or exceed classroom expectations.)

POSSIBLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES (Given when student chooses not meet classroom expectations.)

Severe clause: Immediate removal from classroom by teacher, principal, or campus security.

Note: If a student misses a teacher-requested tutorial or detention, this will result in TWO assigned detentions after school. If the student misses one of these, the student will immediately be referred to the House Principal’s Office.

4 SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS (70 pg single subject with holes pre-punched) – COLLEGE RULE (10¢ each or 20 for $1 at Wal-Mart)

1 COLOR CORRECTING PEN OR PENCIL. Please use common sense with this. No highlighters, lead pencils, blue or black ink, etc. Gel pens are acceptable; however correcting pen must be dark enough for ME (not you) to read easily.

1 SET OF 3X5 NOTECARDS (lined). Don't put this one off, we will start using these the second week!

NOTE: IF YOU RUN OUT OF OR LOSE A MATERIAL, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET A REPLACEMENT.