Mrs. Holder’s English Class

Welcome parents!

All About MeMy background:

I grew up in Cleveland, OH.

I earned a B.A. in English from John Carroll University, and a Master’s of Education from Cleveland State University.

I lived in Denver for 3 years before moving to Tulsa.

Married without

children, but I do have two large dogs. Do they count?

9th Grade Curriculum1. Analysis of a short story.2. Learn and review reading strategies.3. Grammar: active/passive voice; gerunds; infinitives; and participles. 4. New vocabulary. (Daily)5. Research with proper MLA citation.6. Lots and lots of exceptional reads.

For example, Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, and Of Mice and Men are just a few. Pre-AP selections also include Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and The Count of Monte Cristo and possibly The Picture of Dorian Gray. 7. Speaking and listening skills. 8. Writing in various genres: formal and informal letters, expository writing, compare and contrast writing, narrative writing, literature analysis, editorials, and creative writing.

Pre-AP Reading List1. Until We Meet Again By Michael Korenblit

2. Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury (provided)

3. Animal Farm By George Orwell (provided)

4. Of Mice and Men ($7 ) By John Steinbeck

5. Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel ($4)By Gaston Leroux

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde (provided)

7. Les Miserables (Fawcett Premier Version) By Victor Hugo

8. The Count of Monte Cristo (Bantam Classic Version) By Alexandre Dumas

Of Mice and Men and Phantom book money due tomorrow.

Reading/Writing/Thinking/Speaking/Listening

I feel my class will be essential in the world beyond high school.

Skills to use beyond school…1. Speaking formally in a

job interview.2. Understanding

intellectual inside jokes.3. Knowing where to find

information on your interests.

4. Negotiating a business deal.

5. Impressing people.6. Telling good descriptive.7. Basically succeeding in

life socially and professionally.

GRADES90–100 = A

80 – 89 = B

70 – 79 = C

60 – 69 = D

59 – Below = F

Students cannot re-take or re-do assignments. This is the school’s policy. Therefore, they should do their best the first and only time.

Grades ContinuedPre-AP weighted

grades: 40% for

tests/quizzes30% for

projects/papers15% for

homework/participation

15% for semester final

Regular Ninth Grade English:

This has been changed to a point based system. Every point will equal each other.

The semester final is still worth 15% of the grade.

FORMULATION OF GRADESDAILY WARM-UPS.QUIZZES/UNIT TESTS.A FINAL EXAM AT THE END OF EACH SEMESTER.CREATIVE ASSIGNMENTSWRITING INFORMALLY AND FORMALLY. (Writing portfolio)READING ASSIGNMENTS/SSRHOMEWORKSAT Vocabulary Weekly Quizzes

Examples of Creative Activities/Assignments

Superhero indirect characterization paragraph (Pre-AP only)

Investigation of popular music lyrics to identify literary terms

Mood and tone through scenes from Mary Poppins

Richard Connell’s “Most Dangerous Game” sequel, newspaper , or map

Various creative writing assignments, one in which students pretend to be a peanut butter taster while reviewing noun usage.

Peanut Butter and Nouns

Leaving HomeYou are living in Chicago after a breathless, exciting career in high school. You have an apartment that you are sharing with your friend, and you have a new job as a peanut butter taster. However, problems have developed. Your teeth are rotting, the rent is going up, and your roommate is making plans to marry a Brazilian trapeze artist. You want to go to the wedding, but you have no proper clothes and no money to get to Brazil. The landlord is getting crabby, and your boss wants you to work nights and weekends for the next 22 years. What are you to do? You need to talk to someone about your problems. You need to get help. You could phone home. Unfortunately, your new zebra skinned I phone has been stolen, You decide a letter would be a better option. In your letter you will tell them about your difficulties and ask them for help. Don’t make things sound too terrible, though, or they will make you come home and go to Barber school—just as you promised to do if it didn’t work out in Chicago.

 Directions: Use, highlight, and label at least 4 proper nouns, 4 common nouns, 4 concrete

nouns, 4 abstract nouns, 4 singular nouns, 4 plural nouns, 1 collective noun, 1 compound noun, and 1 possessive nouns, in your letter. Do not repeat anyway or they won’t count. Be sure to Tell the truth, but tell it carefully. Be sure to include a MLA heading. Good luck!

Daily Vocabulary: How to enforce at home

Ask your student about today’s word or check my website.

Make your student post the word and definition on the refrigerator.

Have you and your child create funny sentences using the vocabulary.

Have your student tell you about his or her day attempting to use the word of the day.

Spend five minutes a night quizzing your student over the words. ***All words are taken from Charles Gulotta’s 500 Key Words

for the SAT. You can purchase a copy on amazon.com or your student can sign out a copy from my classroom.

Writing PortfolioStored at school.Will include all informal and formal

writing assignments.Rubrics will be provided for all formal

assignments.

Interactive ReaderA tool the school providesAllows students to “interact” with

the literatureA good resource to use outside of

school in order to practice thoughtful reading

Parent Portal and Holder’s Website

to look up grades,to find daily assignments

and homework,Holder’s website can be

accessed at jenksps.org

Classroom CommunityOur classroom is a community. It is imperative for the

community to have rules in order to create a fair and orderly environment.

Our class rules are:Respect everyone in this classroom.Be organized and follow directions.Be on time.Be prepared.Do not plagiarize. Do not bring cell phones or any electronic devices to

class. Keep all devices in lockers throughout the school day. All devices will be confiscated and given to the office.

Dress appropriately.No food or beverages in the classroom. If I don’t see it,

you can chew gum until I find it. Wear your ID at all times, or you will be sent to

the office to receive an offense. IDs must be worn around necks and must be visible.

Try your best.

HomeworkStudents are encouraged

to use their daily planners in order to remember homework and tests.

Class assignments can be found online to help guide students with time management.

No late work is accepted for full credit after 1 day from the original due date.

OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS (with the exception of overnight homework)

Must be typed and double-spaced.

Use Times New Roman size 12.

Use proper MLA format.(see syllabus)

Main campus library offers computers to type work until 5pm Monday - Thursday.

SSR Fridays

Every Friday, we will have a vocabulary quiz that precedes SSR, or silent sustained reading.

Students will be assigned something to read or they may be encouraged to bring something to class they WANT to read. Please work with your student to find a book or magazine that may interest him or her.

Consequences for Good Behavior: Please emphasize these points at home.

Good grades.Creative assignments.More freedom of choices.Personal success.

Procedures for Unacceptable Behavior: 1. 1 Verbal Warning.2. After school detention and

phone call home.3. Another phone call home.4. Supervised School

Detention, (Friday afternoons) and phone call home.

5. Referral to principal.

ANY QUESTIONS?

WERE YOU LISTENING OR FALLING ASLEEP?

TIME FOR A SHORT QUIZ!

JUST

KIDDING

CommunicationPlease know I value communication.If you ever have a question, concern, or

comment, e-mail is the best way to reach me.

amanda.holder@jenksps.orgIf you are unable to e-mail me, you can call (918) 299-4411 X 2539.

Let’s work together to help your child succeed!

To a Grand Year!