English 9 Honors Syllabus and Expectations
Mrs. Samantha Hill
English 9 Honors and SCA/Leadership Educator
[email protected]
Room 2514
Year: 2015-2016
English 9 Standards of Learning
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/stds_english9.pdf
Quarterly Skill Sets will be available on the class Edmodo site as well as on my John Champe teacher homepage.
Anchor Text Reading Expectations
*All students are expected to be reading one book outside of class, of their choice. This book is required in class during
all SHIELD periods for Silent Sustained Reading/Reading for Fun/Focused Fun Reading!
First Quarter Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
“Luxury” by Nikki Giovanni
The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
Choice Fiction Read for first semester (SSR)
Second Quarter Glory and Hope by Nelson Mandela
The U.S. vs. Susan B. Anthony by Margaret Truman
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Choice Fiction Read for first semester (SSR)
Third Quarter Odyssey by Homer
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Choice Non-Fiction Read for second semester (SSR)
Fourth Quarter Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Life Without Go-Go Boots by Barbara Kingsolver
Writing Expectations
First Quarter Analytic, Creative, Reflective, Timed Writing
Second Quarter Analytic, Argumentative, Research-Based, Timed Writing x 2
Third Quarter Analytic, Creative, Reflective, Timed Writing
Fourth Quarter Analytic, Argumentative, Research-Based, Timed Writing x 2
Required Supply List
•1 inch binder (exclusively for English)
•Loose leaf paper in the binder for class use
•Four dividers (for each quarter)
•JCHS Agenda/Calendar
•Blue and Black pens
•Pencils
•Four different color highlighters
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Classroom Expectations
•Be respectful of others
•Keep our classroom an open and safe
environment; clean, too!
•Contribute to our fun learning space
•Communicate with others
Classroom Procedures
•Arrive to class on time
•Begin “Arrival Ticket” at bell
•Complete class work assigned
•Raise your hand
•Teacher dismisses class
•Absent? Must check Edmodo class site prior to
returning to class
•Know the fire drill location and stay with the
teacher (attendance is taken)
•Adhere to the cell phone rule…seriously! No
cell phones out without permission from the
teacher- no charging!
•Check Edmodo for documents and assignments
when you have lost something, forgotten things
at school, etc.
•Let your teacher know of any concerns
•Achieve at your highest potential
•You are in charge of your grade
•Always be thinking of your future goals…how
can you achieve them?
•Clean up materials used in class
•Push in your chair
•Leave your backpack UNDER your desk
•Limit food/drink in class
•Throw away all trash
•Always use the hall pass (your agenda) and
adhere to 15-15 rule; have the agenda filled out
in full and sign the board as you exit
•If you need to use the restroom, wait for a
break in teaching before inquiring- please, do
not raise your hand for this request unless it’s
an emergency
Edmodo Class Website
Accessing documents, assignments, and agendas is easy to do with our class Edmodo site. If you have any concerns or
issues, please see me immediately. You are required and responsible to check the Edmodo class site if you are absent.
Look at the agenda and documents for the day(s) you missed. If documents were passed out, I will provide you with a
copy with your name on it to complete by the next class. These will be located in the student area in the front of the
classroom.
Website URL: www.edmodo.com
Create a STUDENT account with name/email address
Write down your username and password (seriously)
English 9 Honors Class Code: iewz69
NoRedInk Class Website
Throughout the year, you will have assignments to complete at the website, www.noredink.com. This is a grammar
practice website with valuable information for both your career in English as well as the SATs/ACTs and SOLs.
Website URL: www.noredink.com
Create a STUDENT account with name/email address
Write down your username and password (seriously)
English 9 Honors Class Code: v9mxkwk3
TurnItIn Class Website
When we write formally, we will utilize the tools from the www.turnitin.com website. This will be used throughout the
writing cycle and must be used for final submission of all formal writing assignments.
Website URL: www.turnitin.com
Create a STUDENT account with name/email address
Write down your username and password (seriously)
10253310
10253312
English 9 Honors Block 1
English 9 Honors Block 4
10253318
10253319
English 9 Honors Block 5
English 9 Honors Block 8
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Behavioral Expectations
Positive behavior makes a classroom a very pleasant place in which to learn. Poor behavior interferes with instruction and
learning. Poor behavior will not be tolerated in the classroom or during class activities. Always respect your teacher and
peers to gain their respect. If you are acting in a way that is unexpected, re-teaching strategies will be utilized to ensure a
conducive working and learning environment for everyone.
Daily Arrival Expectations
A prepared student comes every day with the materials listed above, is in his/her seat by the bell, begins the “Arrival
Ticket” when class starts, and brings his/her choice book during all English class SHIELD days. You will need your
English binder in class and during English SHIELD periods.
SHIELD Expectations
Students may only flex out during our English SHIELD periods if all assignments and work has been completed for this
class, and the student has an overall average of a 75% or higher. During SHIELD, we will have an Arrival Ticket which
all students must complete before flexing out. (Again, bring your English binder and SSR book!) Attendance will be
taken during SHIELD and if eligible, you are allowed to leave after five minutes/completion of the Arrival Ticket. You
MUST sign out on the SHIELD Sign-Out sheet located on the clipboard at the door. When you flex IN to this class from
another teacher, you must use the same sheet and Sign-IN. There will be a 15 minute Silent Sustained Reading time
during all SHIELD periods for English. Always come prepared with your independent reading book.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism and cheating go against John Champe High School’s honor code and will not be tolerated in any form. All
work must reflect you or your group's own thinking and effort. Anything borrowed from other sources must be referenced
and cited correctly. Any instance of plagiarism or cheating will result in an instant zero for the assignment, followed by an
office referral. This rule is taken very seriously.
John Champe’s Tardy Policy
The school’s tardy policy is in effect. The first offense will be a warning while the second results in me contacting your
parent. The third and fourth offenses will result in re-teaching and continued parent contact. If you are tardy five or more
times, then you will be referred to your subject administrator.
Grading Procedures and Phoenix
Grades will be based on a combination of the following four categories: Tests/Quizzes, Applied Practice,
Projects/Presentations, and Writing. Student grades will be determined by total points; every assignment will be worth a
set number of points. Essentially, the more points a student earns, the higher the student’s grade will be.
Assignment Category:
Examples:
Tests, quizzes, essays, projects,
Socratic Seminars, oral presentations
Guided reading questions, writing
process components, vocabulary, class
work and activities, discussion
participation, workshop documents
Major Assessments
Applied Practice
Minor assignments cover one to two skills and, therefore, are worth fewer points. Major assignments are the culmination
of many skills learned and thus receive higher amounts of points. I will be using the minor assignments as “checkpoints”
to be certain students achieve mastery of the material. For example, an essay is a process that takes multiple weeks and the
final product is a culmination of all of the parts, thus the parts are worth less than the whole essay.
Grades will be given a point value and will be based on the Loudoun County grading scale:
A+ = 98% - 100%
A = 93% - 97%
A- = 90% - 92%
B+
B
B-
= 87% - 89%
= 83% - 86%
= 80% - 82%
C+
C
C-
= 77% - 79%
= 73% - 76%
= 70% - 72%
D+
D
DF
= 67% - 69%
= 63% - 66%
= 60% - 62%
=59% or lower
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Only assignments that count towards the final grade will be listed in Phoenix. Teachers have option to “hide” nonweighted assignments; however, all teachers will track (either on paper or electronically) student progress on all learning
activities.
Retakes/Multiple Efforts:
Students can meet with teacher to discuss retakes/multiple efforts opportunities for process activities (applied practice
activities, quizzes, etc.). The purpose of this is for students to demonstrate an understanding of these skills and activities
prior to a larger/extended assignment or test.
The student must initiate this process by speaking with the teacher within ONE WEEK of a returned grade that scored a
74% or below. A student will then be asked to fill out a reflection sheet. The grade on the retake will replace the initial
grade. Reflection sheets are available in the front of the classroom in our student center.
The only larger/extended assignment that students will have an opportunity to rework is a formal writing assignment. In
order for the opportunity to be made available, students must have met all process deadlines for the assignment, must
complete a self-reflection form, and must conference with the teacher prior to submitting a rewritten paper. It is the
students’ responsibility to initiate this process within ONE WEEK of the assignment's return. The grade on the rewrite
will replace the initial grade.
Late Work:
All assignments are expected to be turned in on time, no matter the academic level. See the details below concerning
penalties for late work. Please keep in mind that the department honors the LCPS "50 floor.” However, each teacher
works at his/her discretion to have work submitted regardless. Work assigned, no matter how big or small in terms of
points, is considered integral to the overall learning process taking place in that class.
Honors/AP: A 10% reduction will be taken each class period that an assignment is late. Teachers will no longer
accept late assignments after ONE WEEK of the due date.
The LCPS English Honors Portfolio
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires that all courses that are weighted have a common assessment to ensure that
students meet consistently high standards across schools and classrooms. In Loudoun County Public Schools, Honorslevel high school English classes receive a 0.5 GPA weight (on a 4.0 scale), and we meet the state’s requirement through
an Honors Portfolio.
Writing Reflection Portfolio
Throughout the year, students will reflect on their progress as a writer and track their strengths and weaknesses on
informal and formal writing assignments. For informal assignments, students will be given a folder to keep in the
classroom to collect all written work. Turnitin.com will be utilized for self and peer marks as well as a
compilation of all formal writing presented to the teacher during the year. Students will strengthen their writer’s
voice and craft through reflection: the reflection of their thinking and their writing structure and skills.
The Big Question/Inquiry Research Project and Essay
Each unit introduced in class will revolve around an essential question and/or theme. We will continually be
asking ourselves how it all relates to our lives as we read about characters and learn about specific English
grammar and literary terms. During third quarter, all honors students will embark on a personal inquiry journey,
finding solutions and evidence from an individually chosen “big question”. I will guide students on a focused
research approach, and through a well-written and drafted essay they will present their opinions and support to
their teacher, classmates, and possibly the community!
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