Conference: 4Th Period & Tuesdays After School

Mrs. Erin Pagtakhan, M.A. Ed.

Room: D9

Conference: 4th Period & Tuesdays after school

Email address:

Sophomore Honors English

Dear Sophomores:

I am excited and pleased to have the opportunity to serve as your teacher in this challenging and enriching course. This year we will focus on honing your writing skills and sharpening your ability to critically analyze important pieces of literature. This is an honors course and will be treated as such. Be prepared for a vigorous but inspiring year! Please review the following information and familiarize yourself with this course outline as well as my classroom policies and procedures. Also, my website is the best source of information for my class. Please familiarize yourself with it, and you will find that this year will run smoothly.

Reading Selections

Semester One:

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Short story selections from textbook

Semester Two:

Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya (Subject to change…)

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Short Story Selections from Textbook

Requirements and Expectations

1.  Bring materials that we are working on each day.

2.  Daily participation is required through class discussion and collaborative work groups.

a.  Regular involvement in class dialogues is required to earn in A in this class.

b.  In other words, if you do not raise your hand/participate in class discussions of your own volition, you will not be able to earn an A, regardless of essay/test scores; you, however, earn a B.

3.  Every class member will give presentations on a regular basis throughout the year, both individually and as a member of a group. Many of these presentations are the product of major research-based projects and are worth significant points.

4.  ALL ESSAYS WILL BE TYPED, DOUBLED SPACED, 12 POINT TIMES NEW ROMAN FONT, ACCORDING TO MLA FORMAT.

5.  “My printer broke” will never be an acceptable excuse for late work, EVER. There are many ways to solve this problem, NONE of which include printing in my classroom or emailing me an assignment.

Recommended/Suggested Class Supplies

You are required to bring ALL of the following materials to class each day. If you cannot procure these materials,
please let me know so we can work together to find a solution—I can definitely help ensure you have what you need.

§  Binder with the following labeled dividers

·  Notes & Handouts

·  Returned Work

·  Writer’s Reference

§  Loose-leaf, college-lined paper

§  Blue/black ink pens

§  #2 Pencils

§  Pocket stapler: very important

Recommended Supplies

§  Markers & highlighter (color coded notes save lives…)

§  Pocket dictionary

§  Pocket thesaurus (we will do a lot of in-class writing; a dictionary and thesaurus can serve as excellent tools & you cannot use your phone.)

Student Assessment

You will be graded using a standards-based weighted grading system that has been mutually agreed upon by the English department members at FHS. The following categories will determine your progress and final grade at the end of each semester:

§  READING…………………………………………………….….30%

§  WRITING……………………………………………………….50% (wow, that sure is a lot…)

§  LISTENING/SPEAKING…………………... …………………..10%

§  PARTICIPATION…………………………………………...... 10%

GRADING SCALE (Dept./School Policy: No rounding, so please do not ask.)

90-100 A 70-79.9 C

80-89.9 B 60-69.9 D

Work Standards

§  Use full page, loose-leaf paper (not torn out spiral notebook paper or half sheets)

§  Write work in blue or black ink

§  Use proper heading on ALL work: Name, Date, Assignment Title, & Period #

o  Papers without a FULL heading will lose a full letter grade.

§  Always submit your BEST effort: proofread all work prior to submission

§  Develop and maintain a sense of personal integrity—author your own work, not Google’s or your tutor’s or your mom’s or your classmate’s…you get the picture, people.

SAVE ALL OF YOUR GRADED WORK UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR SCORE WILL BE RESOLVED BY REFERRING TO THE GRADE ON THE RETURNED WORK.

PROCEDURES

Make-Up and Late Work

There is no substitute for regular, timely attendance in class. The district policy for

unexcused absences WILL BE ENFORCED.

§  Make-up assignments are available for excused absences. You have one day for each excused absence.

§  NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

§  MAJOR PRE-ANNOUNCED ASSIGNMENTS (research projects, long term essays, long term projects) will be docked 50% for each day late, so get those essays in on time.

·  Please place all make-up work in the tray labeled “IN” for your appropriate period upon entering class—CLEARLY LABEL WORK AS “ABSENT”—do NOT walk up & hand it to me

·  To clarify, in regard to major projects, tests, and essays, even excused absences will not apply—you must find a way to get the assignment in on the due date and/or BE HERE FOR THE TEST/ESSAY SUBMISSION—communication is key in extenuating circumstances.

§  If you need to discuss an absence or make-up work with me, please do so during office hours and NOT during class time. You must speak to me about an absence(s) the day you return.

§  Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to inquire about make-up work—I will not come to you if you have missed an assignment or test.

§  Per school & district policy, you must complete work (or arrange completion of work) PRIOR TO LEAVING for a planned absence; this includes field trips/extracurricular events/family trips.

Tardy Policy

You are considered tardy if you are not in your seat and ready to work at the start of class.

§  Three tardies = FHS detention

§  Additional detention for every tardy after three

§  7th tardy = suspension from my class

Final note: After some time with me you will find that I am a very reasonable person. Do not let concerns fester; come and see me. I am always willing to listen and want to know what is on your mind. Be proactive in your education! Come and speak to me if you are struggling with course content or other curriculum areas. Don’t go home confused; I am here to help you. Never give up; seek help if you need it. I want very much for each and every one of you to succeed this year, and I believe you can. Good luck!

Parent/Guardian Information Sheet

Student Name: ______

First & Last Name of Guardian(s): ______

Contact Phone #: ______

E-Mail Address: ______

GUARDIAN/STUDENT/TEACHER CONTACT POLICY:

In an effort to encourage accountability, the student must make an attempt at communicating with me prior to a guardian doing so. This can be done via email and/or in-person meetings; it’s genuinely amazing the difference meeting with a teacher can make when students take the reins in their own learning. Once a student has met with me, I am more than open to meeting with guardians. EXCEPTIONS: This policy only applies to course content (tests, quizzes, essays, etc.); it does NOT apply to personal issues of which you would like me to be aware. Please contact me at any time at all regarding issues of a personal nature.

I have read the Course Outline & Contact Policy for Mrs. Pagtakhan’s English class and understand the requirements and expectations set forth.

PARENT SIGNATURE: ______

STUDENT SIGNATURE:______