with Mr. Smith

english iv hWelcome to

About meWho is this guy?

The basics

Grew up in upstate New York (country, not city)

Taught at PCHS in 2009-2010

First year at NBHS

The basics

Went to college at UNC Chapel Hill Class of 2008: BA in English Class of 2009: MAT in

English

The basics

Taught at PCHS in 2009-2010

First year at NBHS

Likes

Reading and writing

Drama

Snowboarding

Guitar Hero

Video editing

Drums

SCUBA diving

Favorites

Movie: Back to the Future

TV shows: Lost, The Wire, and Mad Men

Bands: Coldplay, The Killers, Vampire Weekend

Books: The Catcher in the Rye and Death of a Salesman

Podcast: This American Life

About youWho are you people?

Tell us…

Your name

Where you live

Plus one of the following: Your favorite TV show, band, or food; OR One unique or interesting item about you

Who are you?

“Who Are You?” survey

Contact sheet

Goal writing

Goal writing

What are your goals for this semester?

Why do you have these goals?

How will you accomplish them?

Classroom philosophyWho are we?

Classroom philosophy

We are all scholars.

We are all different.

We all make mistakes.

We are all scholars.

Each member of the classroom community is capable of making insightful, original, illuminating contributions in class. We all have valuable things both to teach and to learn, and we arrive in our classroom community mentally and physically prepared to do so. We engage in this scholarly learning process through open, respectful discussion.

We are all different.

Each member of the classroom community has unique perspectives, experiences, and areas of expertise with which they can enrich our discussions. We respect this diversity for the wealth of knowledge it can bring to our learning.

We all make mistakes.

No one member of the classroom community—teacher or student—is perfect. We recognize not only that we all will make mistakes, but that we must do so in order to learn. We value mistakes for the progress they allow us to make in learning, and establish our community as a safe place in which to make this kind of progress.

About the classWhat will we do?

Topics and readings

British literature Anglo-Saxons to present Poetry, novels, plays, nonfiction

Writing

Grammar

Vocabulary

Honors-level work

Honors-level coursework is expected to be more intense and challenging

Be ready, willing, and excited to meet these challenges – they’ll be unique and interesting, and they’ll make you a better, more critical student

Bottom line: it’s work, but it’s worth it

Graduation Project

Counts as final exam Product = 50% Presentation = 25% Portfolio = 25%

Due dates on calendar count as quiz grades

Grading

Total points system Each assignment has a point value Point values based on difficulty and/or length of

assignment

Final grade = Points earned / Total points possible E.g.: 1500 points earned / 2000 possible points = 75

Engrade

Grades posted on Engrade – www.engrade.com/ismith1

Each student can check grades and download missed work online

Parents/guardians are also able to view grades online

Check frequently to avoid falling behind

How to succeed

School = your job Come with the right attitude Do quality work on time

If you do your job (i.e. coursework), you get paid (i.e. earn good grades)

Do the best you can each day

Class proceduresHow do we do things?

Warm-up (journal, sentence corrections, etc.) will be listed on the board as you enter class

Check the assignment, then immediately get to work

When the bell rings, you should already be working

Get your brain in gear!

Warm-ups

Major component of the course

Your own opinions/reflections

Should be written in a thoughtful, thorough, complete manner

At least 5 sentences

Graded weekly using stamp sheet

Get writing!

Journals

Stamp sheets are issued for each nine-week period

Journals are checked each day and stamps are given Complete (i.e. five-sentence) journal

responses receive a stamp on the sheet Half-credit may be earned

Stamp sheets are collected every Friday and journal grades are entered

Easy points!

Stamp sheet

Each student puts his/her name on a card

Cards are used to pick students for groups, to share journals or writing in class, to answer questions, etc.

Feeling lucky?

The Cards

Name

Date

Course name and period

Assignment name

Points deducted for missing/incorrect heading

Use it always.

Assignment heading

Borrow one from the cup

Return at the end of the period

When they’re gone, they’re gone

Bring your own.

Pencils

Papers are kept in student files

Students notified when assignments are handed back

Leave completed work here in class

Stay organized.

Returning papers

Designate “captains” for papers and materials

Paper captains pass out/return any papers (e.g. homework, handouts, etc.)

Material captains pass out/collect “crafty” materials (e.g. markers, paper, glue sticks, scissors, etc.)

Captains will change as seating chart changes

Papers and materials.

Captains

Everyone has a neighbor

Neighbors are default partners, especially for journal sharing

Neighbors will change with the seating chart

It’s like the buddy system.

Neighbors

5 bathroom visits per semester. Period.Non-transferrableNo refunds

Water fountain trips count as bathroom visits

No bathroom visits during first or last 15 minutes of class

Signal Mr. Smith; when acknowledged, sign out and take yellow pass

Use wisely.

Bathroom trips

If you are not seated and working when the bell rings, you are late

Enter quietly and take your seat

When appropriate, ask a classmate or Mr. Smith where we are/what we’re doing

First: verbal warning

Second through fourth: make up time after school on Friday (5 minutes late = 5 minutes after); parent contact

Fifth and subsequent: office referral

Be on time.

Late arrivals

Check with Mr. Smith as soon as you return to class

Get missed assignments from daily folders, file cabinet, and/or Engrade

Grace period for legitimate absences = length of the absence (e.g. out 2 days, work must be in within 2 days of return)

NBHS policy: more than 10 absences = no credit for the course

Don’t miss out.

Absences

5 points off per day up to one week

After one week: half credit

Late work accepted until end of marking period

Don’t do it.

Late work

Fix any and all incorrect responses

Staple to the original quiz/test and resubmit – corrections without original quiz/test will not receive credit

Earn back half of the points you lost

Must be done within two weeks of original quiz/test date

EASY points!

Quiz/test corrections

Be seated and quiet by 2:20

If you are exempt from seminar: Have your progress report and seminar

pass on your desk Wait quietly

If you are not exempt from seminar: Have English work on your desk Work quietly

No talking unless approved by Mr. Smith…is not free time.

Seminar

Class rulesHow should you act?

Class rules

No inappropriate language (profanity, hate speech, etc).

No cell phones or other electronics.

No edibles of any kind (food, drinks, gum, mints, etc).

No makeup and/or cosmetics (lotion, etc).

One speaker at a time.

Follow the Golden Rule.

Be responsible.

Be respectful.

NBHS policy: No cell phones or MP3 players (iPods) allowed during the school day – not to be seen or heard (or suspected) First offense: 10 day confiscation Subsequent offenses: 30 day

confiscation

Refusal to give up a phone: First offense: 2-4 days OSS Subsequent offenses: 10 days OSS

Shut ‘em off and put ‘em away.

Cell phones/iPods

Makeup or cosmetics of any kind are not to be applied in class at any time

Chapstick (not lip gloss) is acceptable

First offense – warning

Second offense – makeup confiscated until end of school day

Third and subsequent offenses – makeup confiscated; returned after discussion with parents

This is not a beauty salon.

Makeup

NO FOOD of any kind.

Applies to any edibles: gum, mints, candy, etc.

Applies to fundraiser items

Clear water is acceptable

NO FOOD.

Food

NBHS policy states: No sagging pants/short shorts No headgear (hats, scarves, do-rags,

etc.) No piercings No leggings (even under other

garments) No gang/drug/alcohol-related items

Violators will be sent to Chill Out to write the dress code

Zero-tolerance enforcement: no warnings, no passes, no second chances

Cover up!

Dress code

Cheating is academic dishonesty – e.g. copying another person’s work (knowingly or otherwise) on any assignment or aiding others in doing so

Plagiarism is claiming another person’s words, ideas, or style as your own without credit

First offense: assignment returned without grade to be

resubmitted parents and administration notified

Subsequent offenses: immediate zero on assignment with no

chance of makeup parents and administration notified

When in doubt, give credit where it’s due

Don’t do it. Ever.

Cheating & Plagiarism

Consequences

3 strike policy before consequences begin

1st offense – leave room temporarily and/or go to Chill Out; parents contacted

2nd offense – disciplinary referral; parents contacted

Automatic referral: Profanity Threats/violence Blatant disrespect Insubordination

ExpectationsWhat do I want?

I expect you to…

…pay attention.

…be quiet while others are talking.

…listen to your classmates and the teacher.

…treat your classmates as you want to be treated.

…leave problems with others at the door.

…be respectful.

I expect you to…

…come to class prepared and on time.

…keep track of your assignments.

…complete assignments on time.

…act honorably as a member of this class.

…put in 100% effort at all times.

…never give up.

…ask questions.

…be responsible.

I expect you to…

…be creative.

…be insightful.

…be challenged.

…make me laugh.

…make me proud.

…learn.

…teach.

…succeed.

Any questions?