ON-LEVEL ENGLISH I COURSE PLAN TEACHER: DALE WILLIAMSON -- LANEY HIGH SCHOOL, SPRING 2009 Work Phone: (910) 350-2089, ext. 348                      Work Email: dwilliam@nhcs.net Teacher Website: http://teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/dwilliamson/

 

English I students will explore a variety of literature genres more widely and deeply, including more challenging and/or complete print and non-print texts. This course requires students to complete activities that will increase their reading comprehension skills and knowledge of English grammar. The course will focus on READING, WRITING, GRAMMAR, and VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT. All lessons and activities in this course will help students prepare for the N.C. STATE ENGLISH I END-OF-COURSE EXAM, which EACH student MUST pass with proficiency in order to earn a high school diploma. To pass with proficiency, each student must pass the English I E.O.C. with a minimum score of 3 (80) out of possible 4.

 

Student Expectations: Students are expected to arrive to class on time, attend class regularly, bring their own pencil / pen and paper, focus on the lessons of the class, respect the other students in the classroom, be a willing and active member of the class, and complete assignments by their assigned due dates. Assignments for English I include (but are not limited to) the assignments listed below:

 

Nonfiction Unit: 3 weeks

 

Persuasive Essay: In the persuasive essay the student must take a stand on a given issue and present examples to prove their opinion. Examples for this essay may come from in-class reading assignments or from current world events.

 

Research Project: To expose students to the engaging process of research, each student will choose a topic from a list of possible topics provided by the teacher and RESEARCH specific facts about that chosen topic. Each student will then organize his / her researched information into a coherent and logical paper that INFORMS and TEACHES the reader about the topic. Students will have a wide range of topics from which to choose.

 

Fiction Unit: 3 weeks

 

Personal Response Essay: Students will have to present their own feelings about a given topic in personal response. This response may be in reference to literature or real-world questions.

 

Critical Analysis Essay: In the critical analysis essay, students must analyze themes and/or characters represented in a short story.

 

Drama Unit: 3 weeks

 

Definition Essay: Students will write an essay in which they define the concept of COURAGE, LOVE, CHOICE, CHANGE, FEAR, FRIENDSHIP, RESPECT, or RESPONSIBILITY.

 

Student-Created Play: Students will work together in small groups (2 - 4) and create their own, original play. After the play is written, each group will perform their play for the class.

 

 

Mythology / Epic Poetry Unit: 4 weeks

 

Cooperative / Cross-Curricular Project – Using The Odyssey as a centerpiece, students will either work in small teams to create a VISUAL or AUDITORY PROJECT that represents some aspect of either The Odyssey, Greek culture, or mythology in general.

 

Poetry Unit: 2 - 3 weeks

 

Student-Created Poems - Students will create self-generated poems which reflect various types of poetry, including but not limited to haiku, concrete, free verse, and rhymed. English as a Second Language (ESL) students can create one poem in their native language. Students will also generate appropriate illustrations or artwork for each poem.

 

Final Semester Review 2 – 3  weeks

 

The last two weeks of school will be dedicated towards reviewing the major lessons of the semester and preparing for the end-of-course exam.

 

In addition to reading and writing various literary pieces from various genres, we will set goals to build upon our knowledge and skills in GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY. For our vocabulary units, we will focus heavily on LITERARY TERMS and LATIN ROOTS, PREFIXES, and STEMS. For our grammar units, we will focus the following skills: PARTS OF SPEECH, INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES, COMMAS, SEMICOLONS, COLONS, QUOTATION MARKS, END MARKS, CAPITALIZATION, RUN-ON SENTENCES, SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, PARALLEL STRUCTURE, PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES, SENTENCE COMBINATIONS, SENTENCE CLARITY, and COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS.

English I Grading System   ·        1st 9 Weeks   Tests / Major Projects: 40% Homework / Classwork: 30% Quizzes: 15% Midterm: 15%   ·        2nd 9 Weeks   Tests / Major Projects: 45% Homework / Classwork: 35% Quizzes: 20%   STATE EXAM: 25% of the semester final grade. Students must score an 80 or better on the English I state exam to meet the North Carolina exit standards for graduation.   Parent Contacts:  Parents will be contacted concerning their students’ grades through use of the following: Progress Reports, Telephone Calls, Parent Conferences, Student Led Conferences, and Email Contact

 

The name of our Freshman Academy is THE EXPLORERS!

 

SCHOOL & FRESHMAN ACADEMY RULES AND POLICIES = WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM!

 

TARDIES AND HALL PASSES   1. Be on time to class and be in your assigned seat by the time the tardy bell rings.  Tardies will be handled as follows:   a. First Tardy: Student gets verbal warning from teacher AND a phone call to parent/guardian.   b. Second Tardy: Student is assigned a ONE-HOUR after-school detention with the teacher. Failure to serve detention results in a referral to the Dean of Students.   c. Third Tardy and every tardy thereafter: Student is referred to the Dean of Students.

2. Students must have a hall pass signed by the teacher in order to leave the classroom for any reason.

3. Any time a student leaves the classroom during class or arrives late during class, the student MUST sign their name on the sign-in / sign-out sheet that is located near the door. This is school policy.

CELL PHONES, iPODS, PAGERS, CD PLAYERS, or ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES   3. Students ARE NOT PERMITTED to have CELL PHONES, iPODS, PAGERS, CD PLAYERS, or ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES on campus. As an employee of the New Hanover County School System, I am expected to follow the school board policies, so do us all a big favor and DO NOT BRING any electronic devices to our classroom. Per school board and Laney policy, if I see anyone with a cell phone, iPod, pages, CD player, or any other electronic device, I am required to take the device and give it to the Dean of Students. The parent of the student must then come to Laney to retrieve the device. So, let’s keep it simple: out of sight, out of mind.

SCHOOL IDS & DRESS CODE   4. Each and every student must wear a Laney student ID around his/her neck each and every day in class. If you forget your ID, I must contact the Dean of Students and a new one will be issued to you at a charge of $5 per ID. So, WEAR YOUR LANEY IDS TO CLASS EVERY DAY!   5. Hats and any other headgear are not allowed to be worn in the classroom or on school grounds. As for other dress code details, refer to your student handbook.

 

FOOD & DRINK   6. Once again, per school board and Laney policy, NO FOOD is allowed in the classroom. I do not mind drinks AS LONG as the drink has a lid on it. NO OPEN CANS!

COMPUTER USAGE & OTHER CLASSROOM ITEMS   7. No student is allowed to be on any of the classroom computers unless I specifically tell them to do so. The computers in the classroom will be used but only when I determine that we need to use them.   8. Everything in the classroom (computers, desks, books, etc.) is the property of Laney High School, so please respect them. If you damage school property, you are responsible for the costs associated with the damage, so respect your classroom environment.   9. Refer to your student handbook for all other school rules and policies. If you have questions, feel free to ask me. Thanks for your cooperation!

 

The EXPLORERS Freshman Academy

 

OTHER BITS OF INFORMATION

 

1. At the start of each new week, I will password a homework packet that will include anywhere from 2 – 4 short homework assignments. The homework will usually focus on grammar, vocabulary, and journal writing. Each packet will be due by the last day of the week it was assigned. So, on a normal week, each student will be given the packet on a MONDAY. Students will then be expected to complete the homework ON THEIR OWN TIME and turn the homework packet in by FRIDAY. If a student is absent on the day that the homework packet is passed it, IT IS THE RESPONSIBIILITY OF THE STUDENT to get the packet when he/she returns to class. If a student is absent on the day that the homework packet is due, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT to turn the packet in on the day he/she returns to class. Homework is worth 30% of each 9 weeks grade, so it is an important grade that cannot be ignored.

 

2. My teacher website address is http://teacherweb.com/NC/LaneyHighSchool/dwilliamson. Please check it frequently. I will update it at least once a week. The site will include summaries of what we have done in class, homework assignments, a calendar of important dates, and links to other sites that can help you with this English class.

 

3. Progress reports will be given out approximately every 2 ½ weeks. Students are expected to take their progress reports home, allow their parents / guardians see the progress reports, have the parents / guardians sign the progress reports, and return the progress reports to me. Students who return signed progress reports to me will receive 100 points as an extra-credit quiz grade.

 

4. My regular after-school tutoring day is each THURSDAY from 3:40 – 4:40. However, I am on other days if needed.

 

Dear Parents / Guardians,

 

Keeping an open line of communication is going to be very important for your child’s success. To help me stay in touch with you, please provide me with the information below, just so I can make sure that your information is up-to-date and current.

 

Your Child’s Name:   ________________________________________________   Parent / Guardian Name(s):   Parent / Guardian Contact Information: (This can be a home phone number, a cell number, a work number, an email address, or a mailing address)

 

                I am looking forward to working with BOTH the students and the parents. Education is a team effort, and as your English I instructor, I pledge to do my part to provide each and every one of my students a fair and equal opportunity for growth and success. I also pledge to keep the parents of my students informed about the progress of our class. I will contact parents frequently to address any concerns I may have about a particular student and to also offer praise and encouragement for positive accomplishments.

            From each and every parent, I expect an active interest in your child’s continuing education. Talk to your child about our English class and find out what is working and what isn’t working for him or her. Contact me as often as necessary. If a concern should arise, please let me know so we can work together to resolve the issue. More than anything, help me be a better teacher for your child by keeping a constant line of communication open between the parent and the teacher.

 

Thank you.

 

Dale Williamson

English I Instructor

 

**Parent or Guardian, please sign your name below and have your child turn this sheet in to me. I simply want assurance that you have looked over my syllabus and are aware of what is required of your child. Thank you!

 

PARENT SIGNATURE:  _____________________________________________________________-

 

 

** Student, please sign your name and show your signature to me. I simply want assurance that you have looked over my syllabus and are aware of what is required of you. Thank you!

 

STUDENT  SIGNATURE:  _____________________________________________________________-