Academic Reading (double period) ‐ Special Education Teacher: Ms. Banks Room: C306 Office C301 Email: [email protected] Springbrook High School Main office phone: 301‐989‐5700 Course Description: This class uses an MCPS approved reading intervention program (READ 180) in addition to other supplemental reading materials to strengthen students reading aptitude. Class Policies and Procedures: Each class will begin with a whole group activity and or sustained silent reading after which student will rotate to three stations in pre‐assigned groups. The stations are as follows: 1) Computers ‐ students will be taken through interactive reading lessons using headphones and microphones. 2) Personal Reading (PR)‐students will read assigned books 3) Small Group‐students will participate in a teacher directed learning activity. Grading Students will be graded on work done in class, on the computer and computer related assessments. This includes: an in‐class personal reading grade, work in small groups, and reading comprehension and reading log assignments. Three categories of work will combine to form the student’s quarterly grade. Homework 10% Formative 50% Summative 40% Students are required to do 20 minutes of at‐home reading five nights per week. They must complete a reading log after completing the reading. The log will be collected every Monday (or the first day of school each week). Students cannot get an “A” in this class without doing at home reading! Students must use a chapter book to complete the assignment. They may not use a magazine, comic book, or newspaper to complete their log. If for any reason the log is misplaced or lost, a copy can be found on Edline. Attendance: Daily attendance is vital to master the objectives of the course. English 9B self‐contained classroom Springbrook High School Teacher: Ms. Banks Room: C 306 Office C301 Email: [email protected] Main office phone: 301‐989‐5700 Overview: The main focus of the second semester should be to engage students in creative and critical
thinking and to provide opportunities to practice the skills they need to be literate adults. At the end of the
course and beyond, students should remember not only the stories they enjoy reading, but also what it
means to be careful readers, thinkers, and writers.
Middle Years Program Connection: Guided by the Middle Years Program (MYP), students are
expected to participate in learning through an inquiry-based approach within a global content. Through
this program, students will be guided through various MCPS common tasks. The four MYP criteria for
Language A include analyzing, organizing, producing text, and using language. Because the MCPS
Common Core Standards and the MYP criteria overlap, their objectives reinforce the same concepts.
Reading Assignments: A variety of texts are considered in English 9B, including, but not limited to, the
following:




Poems
Short stories
Novels/Passages from novels
Plays
Common Tasks: Common tasks are assignments that all MCPS students are asked to do within a given
semester. The common tasks for 9th grade Semester B include, but are not limited to, the following
assignments:
Unit 1: Literature as Craft
 Write a short narrative imitating the style of an author.
 Analyze the significance of a passage for the work as a whole.
Unit 2: Literature in Context With a group
 Research a historical allusion or detail from a work and deliver a multimedia presentation
explaining how it informs readers’ understanding of the work
 Explain how an author develops a particular argument within a fictional text, then respond to that
argument.
Unit 3: Literature as Art
 Perform a scene from Romeo and Juliet, adapting the setting or style to enhance a theme or idea.
 Write an analysis of how the structure and language of a poem contribute to its meaning or
purpose.
Grading: Students will be measured by what they know and can produce by completing assignments
that include, but are not limited to, written assignments, projects, oral presentations, in-class work, and
homework in relationship to grade level and course expectations. Three categories of work will combine
to form the student’s quarterly grade.
Homework for Practice and Preparation – 10%
Assignments include, but are not limited to, the following:
 Grammar exercises
 Reading passages
 Warm-ups
Formative – 50%
Assignments include, but are not limited to, the following:
 Rough drafts of essays
 Classwork
 Homework completed as extended classwork
Summative – 40%
Assignments include, but are not limited to, the following:
 Revised paragraphs
 Tests
 Projects
 Presentations
 Inquiry discussions
Late Work Policy, Due Dates, and Reassessment: All assignments are expected to be completed on
time. Work handed in after the initial due date but before the deadline will be reduced by 10%. After the
deadline, students will receive 50% if they demonstrate at least the minimum requirements of the
assignment. Otherwise the student will receive a zero. Reassessment can primarily occur on formative
assessments and reassessment requests must be individually arranged with the teacher. Integrity must
prevail, and all work is expected to be that of the student.
Absence and Tardy Policies: All absent students must bring a note from home and take it to the
Attendance Office when they return to school within 3 days in order for the absence to be excused. If the
student is not in class and is unexcused absent, he/she will receive a zero on all missed assignments.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT A STUDENT WITH AN EXCUSED ABSENCE IS NOT
AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED FROM THE MISSED WORK. Students with excused absences are
responsible for completing any missed work within 3 days and are expected to see the teacher during
lunch for an explanation of directions concerning the missed assignments.
Class Rules and Expectations:
 Come to class prepared to learn with necessary supplies, which include, but are not limited to, a
three-ringed notebook, loose-leaf paper, subject dividers, a pen/pencil, and a flash drive.
 Treat all other members of the class, and the teacher, with RESPECT.

Cell Phones: Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices before entering class. There may be a few occasions when you will require a cell phone in class. However, these situations will be few and far between and will be accompanied by explicit instructions. Unless otherwise instructed, cell phones are not to be taken out in class. Email: [email protected] Course Goals: Special Education Office Phone: 301‐989‐5787 Grading Policy
The goal of this course is for all students to achieve algebraic proficiency by developing both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. The end result is the ability to think and reason mathematically, to use the algebraic skills for future courses, and to solve problems in authentic contexts. This is a self‐contained class. Course of Study
Semester 2
Unit 2: Linear and Exponential Relationships
Topic 1 :Characteristics of Functions
Topic 2: Constructing and Comparing Linear and Exponential Functions
Topic 3: Systems of Equations and Inequalities in Two Variables
Expectations: 
Respect people and property. Always treat others in the manner in which you would like to be treated. 
When the bell rings, please be in your assigned seat, or you will be marked tardy. 
Be prepared: bring your math binder, TI‐83+ graphing calculator, writing utensils, paper, your brain, and enthusiasm to class every day. 
Passes will only be given in emergencies and never during instruction. You must have your agenda book in order to obtain a pass to leave the classroom. 
Participate and pay attention in class 
Get extra help as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day before a quiz or test. 
Make‐up missed work in a timely manner. 
Monitor Grades on EdLine weekly. (Questions about grades will be addressed during lunch, afterschool or by appointment) 
Have fun! Rules/Consequences: 




All school rules are to be followed according to the student handbook. Disrupting class will result in removal from class, parent conference, and/or detention. Cell phone and mp3 use will result in immediate confiscation – with no exceptions!! (Your mom calling is not an acceptable reason.) All academic dishonesty will result in a 0 for the assignment for all parties involved. This includes the person who “let” their paper be copied. Students must be seated when the bell rings. o The first offense results in a warning o The second offense results in further discipline measures o If tardiness is a habit, this will result in a conference with a parent and/or administrator Grading Procedures: GRADES
Overall:
Quarter grades will reflect individual achievement or performance on MCPS course expectations and will be determined
using a variety of assessment methods, with weighting as shown below:


Homework for Practice or Preparation for Instruction
10%
Tests ,Quizzes and Exit Cards
90%
Students will have either a test or a quiz every week.
Tests cover a complete topic of study and will range from 40-50 total points each.(2-3 per quarter)
Quizzes cover 1-2 concepts and will range from 25-40 total points each. (4-8 per quarter)
Exit Cards cover 1 concept and will range from 5 – 15 total points each. ( 4 – 8 per quarter)
* No one assignment will count for more than 25% of the overall grade.

Z’s and 0’s: When using points or percentages, a teacher assigns a grade no lower than 50% to the task/
assessment. If a student does no work on the task/assessment, the teacher will assign a zero. If a teacher
determines that the student did not attempt to meet the basic requirements of the task/assessment, the teacher may
assign a zero.(MCPS Policy)

Due Dates/Deadlines: Teachers will establish due dates and deadlines. Teachers are expected to separate the due
date from the deadline in order to increase opportunities for students to complete assignments; however, there
may be some exceptions when the due date and deadline are the same. It is recognized that for daily homework
assignments the due date and deadline may be the same to facilitate the teaching and learning process.

Modifications: Course materials may/will be modified to more appropriately support student learning
requirements. Such modifications include, but, are not limited to reducing the number of classwork/homework
problems to be completed, simplifying concepts to one at a time, or having quizzes with a fewer number of
concepts to be assessed.
Middle Years Program (MYP) You will be assessed on 4 assessment criteria throughout the school year and receive a separate MYP grade on your report card for this class. Make up Work:  Assignment/Make Up Policy
Students have a responsibility and are expected to make up missed work, regardless of the legal status of their absence. If
the absence is excused or is a result of a suspension, the teacher will help a student make up work. If the absence is
unexcused, the teacher does not have to help a student make up the work missed, give a retest, or give an extension on
work that was due. Even though the teacher does not have to help a student make up missed work, the student still has to
make up the work so the student can complete the rest of the course. For unexcused absences, teachers may deny credit
for missed assignments or assessments, in accordance with the process approved by the principal and the leadership team.
(MCPS Student handbook)
Reassessment: Throughout the semester, you will be able to re‐take any quiz that you want to improve your grade on. Requirements: 1. Make an appointment with me to go over your mistakes. 2. Turned in required quiz corrections.  Correctly identify your original mistake. (I must be able to see your old work).  Correctly re‐do the problem showing all steps. (I must be able to tell the difference between the old and new.)  Provide an adequate explanation about why you originally got the wrong answer. 3. Show that you have gotten extra help, either from me, another teacher or a tutor. If you fail to follow the above instructions, you will not be allowed to re‐quiz. Getting Help: I want to help you be as successful as possible. Please get help as soon as you are even a little confused. I am
available most days during lunch and by appointment all other times.
Attendance, Hard Work and Perseverance are the keys to success in Algebra!
Resource
Teacher: Jason Lomax
[email protected]
Course Description
Resource services are available in all MCPS schools and provide students with specific learning
disabilities with the additional support they need to be academically successful in the general
education environment. Students may be placed in these programs by the Individual
Educational Plan (IEP) committee with parental approval. This class focuses on helping the
students develop study, test taking and organizational skills as well as improving the students’
level of work completion. The class assists students in tracking their grades, vocabulary
building, basic math skills, and goal setting. Daily activities may include: notebook organizing,
prioritizing of assignments, reviewing for tests/quizzes, self-advocacy skills and clarifying
assignments using a rubric or agenda.
Class Format
Each class will begin with a Warm up Question or Activity. After the Warm Up students will be
given time to work on or receive help with any other class assignments, homework, or projects.
Students will also use educational websites or programs to prepare for standardized assessments
(HSA, SAT, PARCC, & ACT). At the end of every week, students will analyze their grades and
complete their grade tracking sheet so they can monitor they can learn to monitor their own
progress.
Attendance
Students are required to be in class on-time. If students arrive late, they must bring a note
excusing their tardy. If they arrive late without a note, they will be marked as unexcused tardy
for the class. Students who miss a day of instruction must turn in a note to the office so that
their absence is excused. If no note is submitted, the absence will be unexcused. If the student
accumulates 5 or more unexcused absences, they are at risk to lose credit in the class.
Grading
All assessments and tasks are given equal weight. Students will be given 3 weekly grades,
(Warm up, Grade Check, and Organization Check), all of which will be worth 5 points. Our
standard 3 weekly assignments must be submitted the day they are due or by the following day
of class. Other activities such as reflections and in-class projects will also be graded as they are
assigned. Students may submit this work on the day in which it is due for full credit. Every day
the assignment is late is 10% off until the grade reaches 50%. As long as an effort is made by
the student to get the work in, no grade will fall below 50%. If a student is absent, they will
have the number of days they were absent to turn in missing work for full credit.
School Policies
For questions regarding appropriate attire, disciplinary actions, attendance policy, testing
information, and other administrative issues, please refer to the school’s website or the student
handbook.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Fire Drill/Emergencies:
Exit 306 Turn left and walk to the end of the hall. Then walk down the stairs to the right. Go
down to the first floor and turn left into the hallway. Follow the hall until it ends and exit out
the door to the left. Walk out to the softball field and line up as a class. Attendance will be
taken at that meeting point. If you are not present for attendance, your name will be turned into
security/administration. Attendance will be taken upon our return. If you fail to return to our
class in a timely manner, you will be considered skipping and the appropriate consequences will
be given. You may NOT make any stops on your return to room 306 after a fire drill… no
restroom, to see another teacher, grab a quick drink. You MUST return immediately and then
ask for a pass to leave.
Code Red/Blue – new names Blue/Shelter - Red/Lockdown
Code Red and Blue are serious and will be practiced throughout the year. In the event of a code
red, we will move away from the door and windows in room 306 and sit on the floor in the back
of the classroom. For a code blue, window and door blinds will be dropped, door will be
locked, and classroom instruction will continue as normal. During these drills it is mandatory
that we all hear any announcements being made therefore, silence is extremely important.
Students who are not quiet put others in danger and will be dealt with accordingly.