| Disclosure
Statement
9th
Grade Honors English
“Learning, in its purest form, is still the most exciting and
invigorating aspect of human life. It is the major element of our
journey that expands our hearts and minds and makes life worthwhile”
(George D. Nelson).
Course Philosophy: People use language
to learn, to make sense of the world, to bring order to their experiences,
and to communicate with others. The English class should teach students
to use language to connect to past experience, to understand the world
in which they live, and to anticipate and to predict future possibilities.
Students need to develop language skills which will enable them to
explore the ideas of others and to reflect upon the quality of their
own thinking. They also need to learn language skills which will allow
them to communicate clearly their own ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Class Objectives: The purpose of
this class is to improve students’ reading, writing, listening,
speaking, viewing, and presenting skills and to prepare students for
further high school work. The skills of informational reading and
persuasive writing are emphasized. Ninth grade English credit is required
for high school graduation. Students receiving failing grades for
any quarter must make up the quarter credit after school or during
the summer at their own expense.
This class is activity based, with many whole class
and small group learning experiences which cannot be duplicated outside
of class. Daily attendance and class participation are, therefore,
important to the students’ academic success. Good citizenship
is essential for maintaining a positive learning environment for all
students. Class members will agree to nourish, through supportive
listening and response, every other person.
I. Supporting other students:
A. Be in place in assigned seating
when the tardy bell finishes ringing. Each tardy
results in a ten-point extra credit reduction. A maximum of one
extra-credit reduction (10 points) may be erased by attending
one detention for the tardy. Students are responsible for making
up tardies on Tuesday or Thursday after school within a
week of the infraction. Unresolved tardies impact the citizenship
grade, and tardy students may not make up self-starters.
B. Talk at appropriate times using polite language.
C. Allow others to express differences of opinion.
D. Participate fully in group activities.
E. Be sensitive to classmates with physical, academic,
or emotional needs.
F. Help classmates conform to standards of honesty.
Honesty Policy: All students will be held to the
highest standards of honesty. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.
Allowing another student to copy from your test or homework
papers is the same as doing the copying. Individual work
is expected except where cooperative learning assignments are specifically
given. There should be no doubt about whether an assignment is individual
or cooperative; if you have questions about this, ask before you
do the work. Assignments should be complete when you come to class.
If you copy the answers as we correct in class, it is cheating.
When assignments or tests are corrected in class,
it is cheating for a correcting partner to alter his partner’s
paper in any way or to assign a higher score than was earned. Using
others' words without proper citation (plagiarism) is illegal and
morally offensive. Cheating results in a 0 for the affected
assignment and a conference between the teacher and student. Parents
and administrators may be notified.
II. Supporting the teacher:
A. Ask for clarification of instructions or assignments.
B. Address problems to teacher first, then counselors
or administrators.
C. Do not make excuses.
D. Turn in assignments on time. Weekly calendars,
due dates listed on the board, and my web page will help students
plan for and meet deadlines. Late work is accepted only for absences
and is due within one week from date of return. Tests must
be made up within one week of returning from absence. Make-
up tests may be taken by appointment, and scheduling is the student’s
responsibility.
E. Honors students are expected to demonstrate
behavior, as outlined in class rules, that will result in H
citizenship grades. Students with behavior problems risk exclusion
from the program.
F. Talk to teacher after class, before
school, or after school about individual concerns.
G. Avoid requests for special consideration. Plan
ahead for educational leave and school-excused absences, including
performances and athletic events. Remember that excessive absences
often result in increased stress and lower performance.
If you anticipate extended absences, you should consider enrolling
in a regular English 9 class.
III. Supporting the classroom environment:
A. Be responsible for bringing necessary materials
to class every day. Electronic devices (cell phones, IPODs,
etc. are not allowed in class and will be confiscated. Participation
and extra credit points will be impacted.
B. For safety reasons, I am requesting that, if
you must bring them to class, backpacks be placed under
your desk, with no part extending into the aisle.
C. In class, use pencil only.
Ink stains desks and results in damage to clothing, cleaning
expense, and wasted time.
D. Keep work areas (especially around your own
desk) clean and clutter-free.
E. Take care of books, materials, and bulletin
boards.
IV. Materials - Students are responsible
for bringing their materials to class. Bring to class every
day:
A. Three-ring binder and paper with dividers for five sections:
1. Self Starters, 2. Class Notes/Journal, 3. Assignments/Handouts,
4. Language Collection,
5. Writing Work In Progress (WIP).
B. Pencils. No Pens. Please type
final drafts of writing assignments.
C. Books and materials for outside reading requirements.
D. Small post-it notes for temporary text marking.
E. Bring to class as assigned:
Class novels
Recommended:
F. Highlighter.
G. Many students prefer to purchase the paperbacks
we read in class. Most bookstores carry or will order Something
Wicked This Way Comes, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet,
and The Princess Bride. Please note: Although
IHMS English teachers use only novels approved by the Jordan District
Literature Selection Committee, ultimate responsibility for literature
to which an individual student is exposed rests with the parents/guardians
of that student. Before class
study begins, please review the scheduled reading to determine
if your child requires an alternative novel assignment.
V. Grading: Final grades will be
determined using the following criteria:
A. Evaluation 50% (tests, quizzes, writing assignments,
book reports, and projects). Reminders: Missed tests and quizzes
must be made up within one week of return to school. If
a student is absent the day a writing assignment or project is due,
the assignment or project is due the day the student returns.
Arrangements may be made for extended due dates for prolonged absences.
Students are responsible for learning about missed assignments and
making after-school appointments to make up tests or quizzes.
B. Assignments 50% (in-class assignments, homework,
short writing assignments, and participation). Assignments missed
due to absence must be made up within one week after return
to school.
C. Extra Credit: 30 extra credit points are assigned
to each student at the beginning of the trimester. Extra credit
points will be deducted in 10 point increments for hall pass use,
tardiness, failure to bring materials, off-task behavior, and any
other behavior that detracts from the learning environment, including
eating and drinking or applying make-up in class. Reminders: Students
are tardy if they are not seated and quiet when the tardy bell finishes
ringing. The teacher dismisses class, not the dismissal bell. A
maximum of 10 extra credit points lost due to tardiness may be made
up within one week of the tardy. Tardy make-up
times are after school by appointment.
D. Grade Scale:
A |
94-100 |
B |
83-86 |
C |
73-76 |
D |
63-66 |
A- |
90-93 |
B- |
80-82 |
C- |
70-72 |
D- |
60-62 |
B+ |
87-89 |
C+ |
77-79 |
D+ |
67-69 |
F |
0-59 |
E. Citizenship
grades are based on the following school-suggested criteria:
H - HONOR: Student seldom, if ever, violates school
and/or class rules, takes correction in a positive and productive
way, is willing and eager to improve and initiates positive contributions
to the school and class community. One unexcused tardy maximum
per trimester.
S - SATISFACTORY: Student does not often violate
school and/or class rules, is amenable to correction, and makes
a positive contribution to the school and classroom community. Two
tardies maximum per trimester.
N - NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Student frequently violates
specific school and/or classroom rules of conduct but is generally
amenable to correction and makes an acceptable though usually passive
contribution to the school and classroom community. Three
to five tardies.
U - UNSATISFACTORY: Student persistently
and knowingly violates school and/or class rules of conduct, seldom
contributes positively to the school or class, and doesn’t
respond adequately to correction. Six or more tardies.
CLASS RULES
1. Self-start at beginning of class.
2. Do not make excuses.
3. Raise hand before talking to the class.
4. Give teacher attention on signal.
5. Wait for teacher dismissal.
REWARDS
1. A positive learning environment.
2. High citizenship grades.
3. Retention of extra-credit points.
4. Positive calls and notes home.
CONSEQUENCES
1. Lowered citizenship grade.
2. Loss of extra-credit points.
3. Wasted time and reduced learning.
* In the event that a student has problems beyond his/her control
which are not covered by this statement, the teacher will meet with
the student, and, if necessary, the student’s parent/guardian
and/or counselor /administrator in order to come to an equitable solution.
VI. Contacting the teacher outside
of class:.
A. Students may make appointments for after-school
tutoring and/or conferencing by talking with me and then filling
out a memo sheet with the appointment date and time.
B. I cannot talk to parents during class time,
so please contact me by telephone (415-2550) after school or during
my conference (4th period - 12:36-1:48) or by e-mail at helen.wight@jordan.k12.ut.us
VII. Indian Hills Middle School Honors
Class Statement
The Honors English program at Indian Hills Middle School is geared
to the advanced, highly motivated, responsible student. Honors students
will be taught higher-level thinking skills, as well as basic grammar,
writing, and reading requirements for each grade level according
to school, district, and state guidelines. This is not, however,
a “gifted” program. Once in the class, students are
expected to have excellent attendance, to follow
directions, to display good leadership and communication skills,
and to promptly turn in work of superior quality. This may include
typing final assignments. Students may also need to purchase books
at a nominal cost to facilitate note taking and underlining.
Minimum Expectations: Honors English students will
be required to maintain a B- (80%) average. Student progress will
be monitored each grading period. If students fall below the expected
performance level, they will have until the next grading period,
either midterm or quarter, to show acceptable progress. This
probation period will be offered only once during the school year.
Students not maintaining the required grade will be excused from
the Honors course for that year.
VIII. Disclosure Return
A. Student signs and dates both copies of the Disclosure
Statement.
B. Parents read, discuss, and sign both copies
of Disclosure Statement.
C. Student detaches and returns one copy of the
Disclosure Return. This completed form is worth 25 assignment points.
D. Student places Disclosure Statement in front
of English notebook.
English 9H Mrs.
Wight
Period
Disclosure Return - English 9H
This disclosure return is worth
25
points when returned to class by August 26, 2008
15
points when returned to class by August 27, 2008
5 points when returned to class by August 28, 2008
Parent/Guardian signature Date
Student signature Student
name printed
Teacher signature
Date
Phone number where (Mr., Ms., Mrs.)
may be reached during school
hours:
.
Parents’ e-mail address (if
available):
Suggestions to the teacher to help my child learn better:
Video Permission Form
After our study of The Princess Bride in May, we will
view the video and complete related comparison/contrast activities.
In addition, we will be watching clips from Fahrenheit 451 in October
and Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet in February/March.
Please indicate below your permission for your student to watch the
indicated films by placing a check in the appropriate blank(s). Otherwise,
an alternative activity will be provided.
____________________________ _______________
Student Name Period
_____Something Wicked This Way Comes
_____Romeo and Juliet
_____The Princess Bride
__________________________
Parent
Signature
Second or Third Trimester transfer
students:
Read all New Student information and
follow directions for placement of materials included in New Student
folder. Complete required paperwork and return to teacher.
* This disclosure return is worth 10
extra credit points when returned the day after enrollment in class.
__________________________________
Date Enrolled
__________________________________
Date of Return
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