Basic English 11/12 Syllabus |
English CORE Standards--NEW! |
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Basic English 11/12 Syllabus Mrs. Joni Micals
Email: jmicals@hartdistrict.org
Telephone: (661) 222-1220 x 425
Web Site: http://staff.hartdistrict.org/jmicals/
West Ranch High School Web Site: www.WestRanchHighSchool.com
Infinite Campus: https://campus.hartdistrict.org/campus/portal/hart.jsp
Welcome to West Ranch High School. This Basic English class is a four semester course (11th and 12th grades) open to RS and SC students. In this course we will cover various topics necessary to mastering the California State Standards in English (please see my web site for more information on the California State Standards).
This course outline has been prepared to inform you of all expectations, contents, class requirements, policies, and any other items that will give you the opportunity to achieve and have a positive learning experience. Please consider its framework carefully and share it with your parents/guardians. If you do not understand any part of this outline or have specific questions about this class, please see me.
West Ranch High School Mission Statement
“West Ranch High School is committed to challenging and motivating each student to achieve excellence and become a responsible and valuable member of society. Through relationships, rigor, and relevance, West Ranch High School promotes integrity, distinction, and vision.”
West Ranch High School instills students with a vision and expects its graduates to…
…take initiative in pursuing noble post-secondary goals
…find ways to make their high school experience meaningful
…see the connections between different academic disciplines
West Ranch High School is committed to challenging and motivating each student to achieve excellence and become responsible and valuable member of society. Through relationships, rigor, and relevance, West Ranch High School promotes integrity, distinction, and vision.
SCHEDULE
My schedule at school is as follows:
Everyday: I will be in my room (425) for tutorial at approximately 8:10 A.M.
Even Days: Periods 2 and 4 Basic English 11/12
Odd Days: Periods 3 and 7 Basic English 9/10
SUCCESS
As your teacher, I want you to be successful, so:
1. I will be prepared to teach each day.
2. The content standards, daily objectives, and agenda will be posted each day.
3. I will teach the district-approved curriculum.
4. I will be available every day for tutorial in my class at 8:10 A.M.
As a student, you want to be successful, so:
1. Come to class on time, prepared to learn each day.
2. Complete your homework on time.
3. Identify a study buddy that you can contact if you are absent from class to get assignments or extra help.
4. Use the student planner/calendar that was given to you at summer check-in to organize your learning and keep track of your assignments.
5. Come to tutorial (8:10 – 8:25 every morning, in EVERY teacher’s classroom).
6. Take responsibility for your learning.
As parents/guardians, you can help your student achieve success in my class by:
1. Taking an interest in your child’s studies.
2. Checking Infinite Campus to see the updated agenda, your child’s grades, and information.
3. Talking with your child each night about what he/she has learned in school and ask to see/sign the planner and notebooks.
4. Helping your child develop good time management strategies.
5. Working with your child to set realistic goals for success.
6. If you are seeing that your child is having difficulties in a class, please intervene immediately. Contact the teacher and encourage your child to attend tutorial each morning.
7. Attending Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings and other school events.
West Ranch High School promotes responsibility and expects its graduates to…
…take ownership of their own learning and advancement
…demonstrate a commitment to civic and environmental activism
…honor and take pride in themselves, their campus, their community, their nation
CLASS DESCRIPTION
This is a Basic English course open to students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan), and is designed to meet the English-Language Arts Essential Standards for high school. It focuses on reading, vocabulary, comprehension, reading fluency (speed), discussion, and writing. The goals of this class are for the students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to improve oral and written communication skills. Students will write daily, increasing from one to five paragraph essays.
CLASS MATERIALS
Be fully prepared with all materials in class daily, including pencils with erasers, black or blue pens, and completed homework assignments. The Basic English Composition textbook is to be left at home. Preview the next lesson to get ahead; review the day’s lesson; do the lesson review if you received a grade of D or F on the previous homework. Replacement for this book will be approx. $45.
EXTRA HELP
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to communicate at the first sign of a problem (e.g. the student and/or parent is unable to understand the assignment, student does not have the resources required to complete the assignment, etc.). Please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or e-mail. Also please check Infinite Campus for details on the homework.
West Ranch offers a variety of extra help opportunities, including Open Library Nights. You can check the school web site for the most up-to-date list of dates and times. Please be sure to give your student permission to attend these helpful academic activities on my Course Outline Signature Page.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is important and directly related to success in this course. Students need to be on time to class each day. The school tardy and attendance policy will be followed. Following an absence, students should attend as many 8:10-8:25 morning tutorials as necessary to understand and complete the coursework and homework.
- Arrive on time to each class. Each tardy is notated on a tardy slip. After the 5th, 8th, and 11th tardy, student will be assigned Saturday Opportunity Class.
- Truants must make up all missing work, and will receive lesser credit for the late work
GRADING
West Ranch High School inspires its students to excel in all areas of development and expects its graduates to…
…pursue worthy academic goals
…grow as a scholar, athlete, artist, and person
…strive for improvement in all areas of development regardless of current achievement
Work and materials in class will be presented in a variety of forms including lecture, discussion, small group work, and individual seatwork. I believe students learn more through active learning. Students are expected to complete all assignments to the best of their ability.
- Grades are mailed home every 5 weeks, and if your student has a mark of a “C-” or below a comment will automatically be included stating that your student is “in danger of failing the class.” What this means is that there is a possibility of him/her failing, and I am bound to notify you of this in case it does occur.
- Grades will also be updated on Infinite Campus: https://campus.hartdistrict.org/campus/hart.jsp Updated overall grades, assignments that are turned in and/or missing, and test grades will be available for you to view. All you need is access to the internet and your student’s ID#.
The following scale is used to determine each student’s grade:
Advanced A = 90 – 100% Proficient B = 80 – 89% Basic C = 70 – 79%
Below Basic D = 55 – 69% Far Below Basic F = 54% and below
Students are graded on daily class work, homework, activities/projects, and tests/quizzes.
Failure to complete homework and class assignments will drastically affect the semester grade. Missing an assignment is far worse than failing an assignment.
EXPECTATIONS
West Ranch High School honors the distinctions that make each person unique and expects its graduates to…
…value diversity of all types
…strive to make themselves stand out positively in academic and co-curricular endeavors
…apply their unique strengths to problems to reach solutions
In addition…
West Ranch High School encourages students to find value in themselves and in others and expects its graduates to…
…go beyond the classroom and apply their education to their lives
…make important contributions to the classroom, co-curricular arena, and community
…realize that new experiences and relationships can enrich their lives
Relationships, Rigor, and Relevance are essential to learning. I believe that the first and most important rule of behavior is courtesy to all people. High school students, as young adults, have reached a level of maturity that requires them to accept full responsibility for their conduct and interactions with peers and all school personnel. To maximize the learning opportunities for all students, this class has the following expectations:
Class Rules
1. Respect fellow classmates and all school personnel.
2. Be prepared by bringing all supplies, materials, and homework to class.
3. All distracters (cell phones, iPods, CD players, etc.) must be turned OFF and out of sight (NOT in a pocket). All earphones must be removed from ears, neck, shirt, etc.
4. All non-religious head gear (including sweat top hoods and sunglasses) must be off the head.
5. Open containers of food, candy, soda, and gum are to be left outside. Water is allowed.
Consequences
If a student is unable to follow the rules stated, the following steps will be taken:
1. Verbal reminder. Gum/food/drink thrown away. Cell phone/IPOD taken away (returned after a phone call is made to a parent with parent giving permission to return it).
2. Student/teacher conference with STEP form.
3. Parent contact.
4. Parent/student/teacher/counselor conference (one-day suspension from class).
5. Parent/student/teacher/AP conference (two-day suspension from class).
Keep in mind that these are school and district guidelines and are in place to foster a healthy and positive learning environment.|
PLEASE NOTE: At any time these steps can progress at an accelerated rate the discretion of the teacher.
Texting and Cell Phones
Let me be very clear about this: There is to be ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING OR CELL PHONE USE IN CLASS. Consider this your first warning. Device will be taken away and locked up for remainder of class, and returned ONLY when student calls a parent and verbal permission is given to the teacher. If taken away a second time, device will remain in lock-up for remainder of the semester, or until parent comes to school to retrieve it.
RESTROOM PASS POLICY
Please note that the restroom hall pass may only be used at MY discretion, and will not be given out when it is disruptive to the lecture or to the task at hand. I also reserve the right to restrict use of the restroom pass to any person should I feel that this privilege is being taken advantage of.
PLAGIARISM/ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
West Ranch High School emphasizes integrity and expects its graduates to…
…conduct themselves honorably in the classroom, in the athletic arena, and in the community
…lead others through ethical example
…examine their choices and thereby improve their own character
Quite simply, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
To plagiarize is to use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own. This means that when you take credit for someone else ideas, thoughts or words, you are committing plagiarism. This does not just apply to the person stealing the information. If you allow someone to steal your ideas, thoughts or words, you are guilty of academic dishonesty as well.
Academic dishonesty can also occur when a student uses notes, or other materials, during an assessment, test, or quiz, when they were given explicit instructions not to do so.
Any student who participates in any fashion, in any form of academic dishonesty will not only earn a zero on the assignment in question, but may face disciplinary action as well. At the very least, parents will be contacted, and the student in question will receive a disciplinary referral to the office.
The teachers at West Ranch High School understand and value the concept of intellectual property. We strive to teach students the ethics of responsibly documenting the ideas of others in all formats.
Plagiarism, in any form, is unethical and unacceptable.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fill in and send back the below>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Basic English 11/12
Please note that all information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please also be sure that you and your child sign below verifying that you have read my course outline. By signing this document, you are assuring me that I have yours and your child’s cooperation in following my guidelines to meet our goals, and that all information provided is as accurate as possible. This is my primary means of looking up contact information; therefore the time you spend on this will greatly help us to have successful and timely communication.
Student Name (Print) _____________________________Grade___ Date of Birth__________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Name (Print)________________________________________________
Address____________________________________City________________Zip Code_______
Home Phone: ( ) - Work Number ( ) - Cell Phone: ( ) -
Parent/Guardian Email__________________________________________________________
Student Signature: _____________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________________
West Ranch is proud to be able to offer many opportunities for extra academic help. We need your permission to allow your child to be on campus after school, or on weekends, for these review sessions. Please initial in the appropriate space below:
_____Please initial here if you give your child permission to attend after school or weekend academic intervention sessions to receive the help they need to be successful in this class.
_____Please initial here if your child is NOT allowed to attend any after school or weekend academic intervention sessions.
From the parent/guardian to the teacher:
Here is some important information that I would like you to know about my child:
From the student to the teacher:
Here is some important information that I would like you to know about me: