9th Grade English

“That which is learned without pleasure is forgotten without regret” (Merlin).

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 trimester must make up the trimester 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 two extra-credit reductions (20 points) may be erased by attending one detention for each tardy. Students are responsible for making up tardies on Monday or Wednesday after school within a week of the infraction. Unresolved tardies impact the citizenship grade, and tardy students will not receive credit for the day’s starter.
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 for absences (due within one week from date of return), writing assignments (50%), and to bring failing grades (below 60%) up to passing. 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. Comply with teacher requests to modify behavior.
F. Do not waste class time arguing; talk to teacher after class about perceived injustices.
G. Talk to teacher after class, before school, or after school about individual concerns.
H. 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.

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 (or others as required) of writing assignments.
C. Books and materials for personal reading requirements.
D. Bring to class as assigned: Class novels.
E. Small post-it notes for temporary text marking.

Recommended:

F. Highlighter.
G. Many students prefer to purchase the paperbacks we read in class.Most bookstores carry or will order Fahrenheit 451; The Odyssey; 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. Writing assignments, which will be given 50% credit, are the only late work accepted for non-failing students. 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 appointments to make up tests or quizzes.
B. Assignments 50% (in-class assignments, homework, short writing assignments, and participation). Reminders: Late assignments, except for failing students, will not be accepted. Assignments missed due to absence must be made up within one week after return to school.
C. Extra Credit: 50 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 20 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:

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 or three 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. Four to six 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. Seven 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.
4. Communication with parents/counselors/administrators

* 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. 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 50 assignment points.
D. Student places her copy of Disclosure Statement in front of English notebook.

Ninth Grade English
Disclosure Return

This disclosure return is worth
          50 points when returned to class by August 26, 2008
          35 points when returned to class by August 27, 2008
          10 points when returned to class by August 28, 2008

Ninth Grade English                                                                                                   Mrs. Wight

Period                

                                                                                                                                                                         
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: