-
8/3/2019 9th Syllabus
1/3
9th Grade Literature and CompositionWalnut Grove High School
Spring 2012
Course Description and GoalsThis course is designed to prepare
our Ninth Grade students for maximum achievement on the EOCT, along
with
skills in literature comprehension and analysis, critical
thinking, and writing ability. Our goals will help foster
anappreciation for literature and writing and to prepare students
for related problems faced every day in society. We do thisthrough
curriculum discovery, creative activities, practice problems, and
real-life examples. Students will be given all othe tools for
success; it is up to you to use them.
Ninth Grade Literature and Composition. This course is designed
to take the mystery and loathing out of reading and writing. It is
my hope that you will leave this course not only appreciating how
much fun a good book can be,
but also knowing how great books help us better understand the
world in which we live. To that end, we will be readingand
responding to reading through writing and discussion. You will have
opportunities to respond to reading ininformal and engaging ways
and to use writing as a tool for discovery and for deeper thinking.
You will also haveopportunities to engage texts in a formal manner
and with a fundamental understanding of literary elements,
presentational styles, and literary connections encouraged by
the Georgia Performance Standards.Parents, I encourage you to be
involved in your childs education, as you are their foundation for
success. If youhave an email address, please list it at the end of
this letter with the Student Information Sheet. I do check my
email
throughout the day, and this is the best way to contact me.
Also, I will routinely update my website to help keep you andyour
child informed about what is going on in the classroom. Please take
a moment to read through this syllabuswithyour child so that we can
all start the semester off on the same page. At the end of the
syllabus, you will find a section for you to fill out and leave
comments and concerns. I look forward to working with you and your
child this semester!
Conduct and DisciplineP lease carefully read and sign the
attached document Guide to Good Behavior. It lists my expectations
for behavior inthe classroom and the consequences for failure to
observe these guidelines.
GradingDaily Grades 20%Major Grades 40%Reading Response Journal
20%End of Course Test (EOCT): 20%
100% *Daily grades consist of quizzes, homework, participation,
and in-class assignments while major grades consist of
examprojects, and presentations. Non-exam grades are given as A+
(100), A (95), A- (90), B+ (85), B (80), C+ (75), C (70), and 0 for
failure to attempt. Participation grades are given daily out of 10
(50 pts. a week) and are + (10), (8.5), - (7*Reading Response
Journal is a series of timed reading and writing practice. Each
entry is worth 10 points.*Opportunities for extra credit will be
provided throughout the semester.* Any instance of
cheating/plagiarism will result in a 0 grade for that assignment,
and the student will be written up.*STUDENTS SHOULD HOLD ON TO
GRADED WORK UNTIL THE GRADE APPEARS CORRECTLY IN I-CAM
Late Work/Make-Up Work In my class, students have a minimum of
daily homework. However, I do assign long term out of class
assignments thatstudents should work on daily. Because students are
given ample opportunity to complete out of class assignments, I
havea strict late work policy. Students will be given one late work
pass per semester. All other assignments turned in after
thedeadline will be automatically graded as half credit. For
example, a 100-point assignment cannot score higher than a 50 if it
is turned in late.
Moreover, technology failure is not an excuse for late work.
Consistently working on projects before the day that they aredue
will eliminate potential technology failures. In addition, to
accommodate students with limited at-home technology,all out of
class assignments have the option to be completed without the aid
of technology.
Instructor: Sunny VidrineRoom: A246
Email: [email protected]: 678-507-3911Website:
msvidrinesclass.blogspot.com
-
8/3/2019 9th Syllabus
2/3
Students are responsible for their own make-up work and have
three class days after a missed day to make up in-classassignments.
If a student is absent on the day that major out of class
assignment is due, unless a doctors note is providedor parent
contact is made, arrangements must be made to have the assignment
turned in, otherwise it will be consideredlate and subject to late
work penalties. A major exam must be made up immediately upon
return.
Work missed after a prolonged absence will have a due date
commiserate with time missed and the nature of the absence.All
missed work will result in a grade of missing until it is made up.
Infinite Campus assigns a value of zero to allgrades marked as
missing. All work coded as missing is available to be made up.
However, if the work is not madeup during the grace period after an
absence, the grade will be converted to a zero that will stand.
MaterialsStudents are required to keep a notebook to help them
stay organized.The following materials are required for my class:y
1-1/2 - 2 3-ring binder y Dividersy 1 subject notebook y College
ruledloose leaf paper y P encil and a blue or black peny One ream
of typing paper (teacher request not required)
* If students arrive unprepared for class and disturb others by
borrowing materials, they will receive a warning for a
midisturbance.
Classroom LibraryIn order to maximize the potential for all of
my students enjoyment of reading, I have provided an extensive
library of
books that can be checked out of my classroom at any time.
Because I have students of varying levels and tastes, mylibrary
consists of books of varying levels and tastes. Students are
encouraged to select books accordingly. P leaseunderstand that
books deemed suitable by some parents might not be suitable
according to other parents estimations.Therefore, I encourage
parents to take an active role in helping their child decide what
kind of books he or sallowed to read in his or her
household.Whenever possible and to aid parents in this process, I
have included a contentrating on the inside cover of each book. The
rating is similar to movie ratings. Books that I am unfamiliar with
will not
have a rating. You are also welcome to visit my classroom and
familiarize yourself with my library. I will be happy toanswer any
questions that you might have about my growing collection. Also, I
welcome book donations!!!!!In addition,I expect all students to
respect the books in my library. If a student is caught writing in,
tearing, or otherwise destructing a
book, he or she will lose the privilege of using the classroom
library and will be responsible for replacing the book.Failure to
replace a lost or damaged book will result in a hold on the
students record.
In-class FilmsP eriodically, we will watch films and/or clips of
a film or television show that serve as a visual medium to
accompany awritten text. No film shown will have a rating above P
G-13, and all films have been pre-screened to ensure
contentappropriateness for the classroom. However, not all
individuals share the same threshold of tolerance for film content.
If you feel that your child might be subjected to a film that is
outside his or her comfort level, please do not hesitate tocontact
me to discuss the details of and the rationale for the film or to
provide an alternate assignment for your child.
Texts and Curriculum include but are not limited toP
rentice-Halls 9 th Grade Grammar P rentice-Halls 9 th Grade
Literature (Gold Edition) ($53.00 to replace)
Selected P oetrySelected Short StoriesSelected Non-Fiction
The Odyssey (text and film) Romeo and Juliet (text and both
versions of the film Zeffirelli and Luhrman) A Raisin in the SunTo
Kill a Mockingbird (text and film)Reduced Shakespeare Company
clips
-
8/3/2019 9th Syllabus
3/3
Students and parents, so that I can ensure that you have read
the syllabus, please sign (and initial where indithe attached
sheet.
Dear Ms. Vidrine,
I have carefully read your syllabus and understand the basic
outline of your class. If I have any questions, I will feel freeto
contact you.
__________________________________
_____________________________________ __________ Student print name
Student signature Date
__________________________________
_________________________________ _________ P arent/Guardian print
name P arent/Guardian signature Date
_____________________________________________ P referred method
of contact
**Parent/Guardian please initial the following:
_____ I have read and understand the classroom library
policy.
_____My child has permission to watch film/clips of film in
class.
_____ I have read the list of materials that my child needs for
this class, including the teacher requested (not required)ream of
white typing/computer paper.
Parents/Guardians, please leave comments or concerns here:
If there is something specific that you would like for your
child to learn in English class this semester, pleasefree to
indicate that here:
Thank you!Sunny Vidrine
