Amendola English 1 Syllabus
Page 3
MYP ESOL 1
2012-2013 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Mrs. Chelsea Amendola
E-Mail Address:
Conference Periods: 3A (11:25-1:35) and 4B (1:40-3:05)
Room: 218
Phone: 940-369-2072
Tutorials: Thursday 4:15-4:45
Additional tutorials by appointment
Website: www.dentonisd.org/camendola
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ESOL 1 covers a broad range of reading and writing TEKS. Students will read and discuss a variety of works including short stories, novels, poetry, and drama. Students will also learn the skills necessary to become successful writers. Throughout the year they will compose essays and short answer responses as well as poems. There will be a daily emphasis on grammar, editing, and punctuation. Lastly, students will learn and put in to practice skills necessary for independent research.
TEXTBOOK:
Hampton-Brown Edge
Holt McDougal Literature Grade 9
Prentice Hall Writing Coach Grade 9
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENT LEARNING (TEKS):
Are available online at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
The Denton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, and or national origins in its educational programs. Admission to career programs is based on age, grade, interest, aptitude and ability. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admissions and participation in any educational programs.
Amendola English 1 Syllabus
Page 3
BRING ONCE
o Box of tissues
o 1 pack of washable markers
o 1 Lined Composition Book
BRING DAILY
o Loose-leaf notebook paper
o Binder
o Pencils and Pens (Blue or Black)
o Red pens for peer editing
The Denton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, and or national origins in its educational programs. Admission to career programs is based on age, grade, interest, aptitude and ability. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admissions and participation in any educational programs.
Amendola English 1 Syllabus
Page 3
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT/ RULES
o Be respectful at all times.
o Stay in your seat during presentations. This includes both teacher and student presentations.
o Sharpen pencils before class begins.
o Bathroom Breaks: You will not be allowed to leave without a pass. Do not ask to go to the restroom during lectures or presentations unless it is an extreme emergency. If you have a chronic problem, a doctor’s note is required.
o This is a core class; therefore, you may not leave the class to go anywhere, unless it is a medical emergency. Counselors may be seen before or after school and during lunch.
o Tardies: Do not be late. If you are with another teacher, bring a note.
o IPODS AND CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS UNLESS PERMISSION IS GIVEN. IPods will be kept until the end of class. Cell phones will be turned into the office, and you will have to pay a $15.00 fine to get it back.
CONSEQUENCES
Failure to comply with classroom rules or school policies will result in the following consequences:
§ 1st Offense – Documented warning
§ 2nd Offense – Call to parent
§ 3rd Offense – 30 Minute detention with teacher to be completed before or after school
§ 4th Offense – 90 Minute detention after school
If a problem persists or a serious incident occurs, a referral will be given to the appropriate assistant principal.
The Denton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, and or national origins in its educational programs. Admission to career programs is based on age, grade, interest, aptitude and ability. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admissions and participation in any educational programs.
Amendola English 1 Syllabus
Page 3
MYP MISSION STATEMENT
The MYP (Middle Years Program) covers the 9th and 10th Grade portion of the International Baccalaureate Program. The IB program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
MYP AIMS
As part of the Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate program, the aims of the teaching and study of English I domain are to encourage and enable the student to develop:
o Use language as a vehicle for thought, creativity, reflection, learning, and self-expression.
o Use language as a tool for personal growth, social interaction and for developing.
o Develop the skills involved in speaking, listening, reading, writing and view in a variety of contexts.
o Read widely to promote a lifelong interest in language and literature.
o Develop a critical and creative approach to studying and analyzing literature.
o Consider the role of literature both culturally and historically.
o Empathize with real people and fictional characters as and when appropriate.
MYP AREAS OF INTERACTION
o Organizational Skills: note-taking, organizing notebooks, time management, listening skills, improving vocabulary, making an outline, using library skills, using documents, summarizing, making a bibliography, writing an essay, and drawing conclusions.
o Collaborative Skills: group activities, cooperative learning, character building.
o Communication: listen to others, presentations, use language clearly and effectively.
o Historical Concepts: explore the life and time of an author.
GRADING PROCEDURES: DISTRICT POLICY
50% Major 50% Minor
LATE WORK
Assignments will be assigned daily, and you are required to complete your assignment by the date due. If you work productively, many assignments can be completed in class. If you do not have your assignment when it is due, you may turn it in up to 1 week late with 20 points deducted from your grade. After 1 week, you may still turn it in with the 20 points deducted, but you must first come to tutorials. If you do not come to tutorials, you may not turn it in. This is a department policy.
If students are absent, it is their responsibility to obtain missed assignments and notes. Assignments that were due the day you were absent are due the day you return. I will not remind students to turn in missed work. Students that are absent due to a school activity must get assignments in advance. They should be current with the rest of the class when they return. This is school policy.
If you miss a quiz or test, you are responsible for making it up. You will not be allowed to make it up during class. Test and quiz make-ups are given after school on a prearranged day.
Projects and presentations, when assigned, are given at the beginning of a unit; therefore, these are NOT accepted late. If you are absent the day a project/presentation is due, you are expected to turn in the project/presentation the day you return to school.
Technical Problems: Problems with a disk, flash drive, or printer do not excuse late work. Always save your documents to the hard drive (or network) AND another source (floppy or flash drive).
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
Classroom assessment methods in English 1 will cover a range of assessment methodologies, including essays, short answer responses, oral responses, presentations, and traditional testing formats.
COURSE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
1. Warm-up: Students will complete a warm up at the beginning of every class. Most of these warm up activities are grammar based and are set by the curriculum department. I will put the warm-up assignment on the overhead at the beginning of each class. It is your responsibility to begin the warm-up as soon as the bell rings. The warm-up is to be completed independently. If you have a question about the warm-up, raise your hand and I will help you. Do not ask a friend.
2. Class Participation: You are encouraged to participate in class discussions. Please stay on topic and be respectful.
3. Group Work: Many of our activities will be completed in groups. You will not receive a group grade, so it is important to complete your part of the group work. Each student is responsible for his or her grade.
4. Daily Work/Homework: Most assignments can be completed in class, so if you are on task, you should not experience an overload of homework. Occasionally, you will need to complete a project, write an essay, or read at home.
5. Projects and Presentations: Throughout the school year, projects and presentations will be assigned. These can be rather lengthy, so please do not procrastinate. Projects and presentations are major grades.
6. Assignment Box: Each class will have a box to turn in assignments. Do not put assignments on my desk or in my hands. I am not responsible for lost work that is not placed in the box. Always put assignments in the designated box for your class.
7. Assignment Crate: If you are absent, check the assignment crate for handouts. The assignment folders will be labeled. It is your responsibility to check the assignment crate. Please do not come to me and ask what you missed. I will gladly explain the work once you have picked it up.
8. Agenda Binder: The agenda binder will be located in front of the assignment crate. It is your responsibility to check the agenda binder if you are absent. The agenda will also be posted on my website.
9. Retakes: If you fail a test or quiz, you have the option to retake the test or quiz to improve your grade. You only have until the end of the 6 weeks to do so. Final exams may not be retaken.
10. Academic Integrity Policy – Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a violation of the Denton ISD Academic Integrity Policy. Plagiarism, by definition, is “to use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one’s own.” Plagiarizing a paper will result in the following: ZERO, PARENT CONTACTED, ISS, and STUDENT’S FILE DOCUMENTED. If you are going to use something that someone else has said, put it in quotes and cite the source it came from.
Parent Communication
My email address is . Please feel free to email me with questions or concerns any time. Unless I am absent, I will respond either that day or no later than by the end of the following day, provided it is not the weekend. If you need to call me, please call during my conference period. If needed, personal conferences can also be arranged.
Sign-Up for E-Alerts & Parent Connection (Gradespeed)
Being signed up for e-alerts will allow you to get an email every time I updated my web page for school wires. On my page, there will be a quick link to email me, a tutorial schedule, major assignments, and an electronic copy of my syllabus. Depending on the unit, notes, extra credit, and minor assignments will also be posted.
In order to sign up for e-alerts, go to the Denton High School home page: http://www.dentonisd.org/dentonhs/site/default.asp. Under the Parent tab to the top, there is a drop down selection: E-Alerts. Follow the instructions to sign up for the e-alerts. You can sign up for every class your child is in. Having access to Parent Connection and Gradespeed will allow you to not only monitor your child’s grades, but his/her attendance.
In order to sign up for Gradespeed, go to the Denton High School home page: http://www.dentonisd.org/dentonhs/site/default.asp. Under the Parent tab at the top, there is a link: Parent Connection. Follow the instructions to sign up for Gradespeed. All of your child’s classes should be available for you to view.
THREE WEEK PROGRESS REPORTS
I send out a three-week progress report for all students. These progress reports include every assignment and the scores on each assignment, as well as an average to date. My Gradespeed account is updated regularly as I strive to enter my grades within a week of collecting them so that you may monitor your child’s progress weekly.
CLOSING REMARKS
I am very excited about this school year and working with the students in my class. Parental support is greatly appreciated, and I hope to speak with all of my students' parents at some point during the year. Please call or e-mail me with any questions. I will be happy to discuss your child's progress.
Parent Signature Page
Name______Subject/Block ______
By signing below, you indicate that you have received the syllabus and course contract for English 1. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Please sign syllabus and bring supplies by ______. Thank you!
Student Signature ______Date ______
Parent Name ______
Parent Signature ______
Address______
City, State, Zip______
Work # ______Home # ______
Cell # ______E-mail ______
Additional comments that might help me better teach this student:
The Denton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, and or national origins in its educational programs. Admission to career programs is based on age, grade, interest, aptitude and ability. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admissions and participation in any educational programs.