English 9

Course
Syllabus
2014-2015
ACTech High
School,
Ypsilanti
Community
Schools

Pam Vincent
Room 205
Pvincent7@ycsch
ools.us

734.221.1159
Available
during the
school day, and
by appointment

Course Overview
English 9 is a full year, one credit course that fulfills one of the four English credits
required to graduate from Ypsilanti Community High School. The Common Core
State Standards are the basis for lessons that increase competency in reading,
writing, speaking, and listening. Learning activities will focus on the wide range of
standards-based concepts and skills, too numerous to mention individually.

Prerequisites
Students who are most successful have completed both year-long English 7 and
English 8 courses with a C or better.
Although this is not a requirement, students who score below a C in English
7 and/or English 8 before taking this course normally have to spend more
time developing skills.

Course Content is governed by The Common Core State Standards

Literature: multiple genres including short stories, novels, poetry,
etc; focusing on authors craft.
Informational Text: multiple genres focusing on seminal United
States documents or historical and literary significance; Close and
Critical Reading
Writing: fictional and personal narratives, informative, explanatory,
and persuasive texts; the writing process
Speaking and Listening: Collaboration in learning-group
discussions about course material; effective presentation of
knowledge and ideas; use of various protocols.
Language: Knowledge of and adherence to the conventions of
Standard English.
Course Materials
Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (Gold
Level)
Class sets of novels and supplementary readings (to be used in the
classroom)
Other supplemental readings available online through links provided
by the instructor
Students will be required to have access to a computer and
the internet. Sometimes this access will be provided during
school hours. At other times, students will have to use

computers at the public library or at a friends or relatives

home.
Course Policies

Absences and Makeup Work

If a student is absent for any reason, it is the students responsibility to use
the following methods to determine what was missed during class, to
obtain needed materials, and submit work for credit and/ or feedback:
1. Log into Powerschool to view the weeks lesson plans and find any
documents available online.
2. Consult with a classmate and/or learning team who was in class on the
missed day.
3. Check with the teacher only after after Powerschool and other
classmates have been consulted.
Late Work
Late work of good quality will be accepted with the conditions:
o Work that was missed due to an excused absence can be submitted
with no penalty within a mutually agreeable timeframe, not to
exceed one week. Your parent or guardian must call the school
to excuse your absence.
o Work that was missed due to an unexcused absence can be
submitted within one week for half credit .
o Extended absences due to illness are difficult for students to handle.
With input from families, special accommodations will be made in
order to help the student learn, earn credit, and still meet the
objectives of the course.
o Other extended absences can also be handled with cooperation and
good communication. Please stay in touch as best as is possible.
Grading Policies
As per district grading policy, quarterly grades will be computed using the
following formula:
Formative Assessments:
40%
(learning activities)
Summative Assessments: 60%
(tests, major papers)
Total:
100%

Semester grades are computed as follows:

Quarter 1:
45%
Quarter 2:
45%
Summative Exam: 10%
Total:
100%
Note: it is possible that the semester grade calculations may
change from 45/45/10 to 40/40/20 in order to more closely
reflect the requirements of college and career exams. If and
when the Board of Education approves such a change,
students will be notified at once.

Letter grades will be assigned using the standard formula: A= 90-100%

B= 8089%
C= 7079%
D=60-

69%
F= 0-59
Class Participation
Simply attending class is not enough to learn in a meaningful way. Students are
expected to fully participate in all class activities including (but not limited to):
attending all classes, prepared with needed supplies and assignments
completed
reading silently and aloud in class,
completing all summative assessments (tests, papers, projects)
listening and speaking in class and smaller group discussions,
interactively collaborating with peers in class activities
communicating with the teacher about learning, grades, assignments, and
needed help.
generously sharing their perspectives with classmates
Special Projects
Rather than only taking paper and pencil tests, or writing essays, special
projects are a valuable way for students to form personal connections
between class material and the rest of the world.
The instructor thoughtfully plans and carefully structures these projects,
incorporating real-world applications, 21st century technology, and higherorder thinking and problem-solving skills.
The instructor will provide meaningful and timely feedback about the
process and the product.
These projects are mandatory, and must be completed by all students in
order to earn credit for the class.
All needed instructions and some class time will be provided at appropriate
times for each project. Students will need access to some supplies and
materials. They will not be expensive, and if students dont have access to
supplies from home, there are resources at school.
Classroom Rules/ Expectations
As a class, we have identified four classroom norms that are important to our
learning environment. They are:
1. Be respectful.
2. Be responsible.
3. Everybody participates.
4. Class is an electronics-free zone.
Notes:
All students are expected to follow the student code of conduct and
building rules at all times.
As per Michigan State Law, electronic devices are to be left put
away and remain out of sight and silent at all times in class.
As per the distric health and wellness plan, all food and drink
(other than water) must be consumed in the cafeteria.
Classes are only one hour long and ample passing time is provided between
classes. Students are expected to anticipate their needs. Bathroom passes
are to be reserved for emergency use only. If your child has a health
condition, please make the main office aware. The office will disseminate
the information to the students teachers.
Homework Policy
When assigned, homework is considered necessary practice of concepts learned

in class. These assignments are deemed an important part of the learning

process. Full credit will be assigned for completion.
In elementary school, most students maintained the good habit of reading every
night. If it has been abandoned, it is important to resume this practice. Please
plan to read for at least 30 minutes outside of class each day, in addition
to other class requirements. Students whose skills are below grade level
should plan on even more time reading outside of class, so that they can meet the
class expectations and prepare for the coming years of school, which are even
more demanding.

Course Procedures

Students arrive each day to find a Starter on the board. While they complete
the short starter activity, I take attendance and take care of other administrative
business. Then, we review the starter very quickly.
After the starter, we examine the days schedule and begin work on a new lesson
or continue one from the previous day. Class activities can be large group, small
group, individual, or partner-based. Research has shown that adolescents learn
more and faster when they are social while learning. Our class often feels chatty
and casual to students, but the direction of the conversation and attention to
learning is always under my strict supervision. It is important to me that I offer
students talk, movement, and choice every day, as those opportunities are linked
to better learning.
Students form understanding of concepts while in class and are expected to
demonstrate mastery of the material on the summative assessments, such as
tests, projects, essays, etc.

Personal Statement

As a mother of four children myself, I know how important it is to parents to know

that their children are in capable hands. Ten years teaching experience in the
classroom, another eight years of teaching autistic students before that, my
masters degree, and even further graduate study give me plenty of experience
on which to draw. My love for teaching is refreshed each September with the new
school year, and the joy of teaching is always vibrant and exciting to me. Your
students are precious resources to our collective future. As a resident of Ypsilanti,
its important to me that our graduates from Ypsilanti Community High School,
those young adults who will inherit this town, are educated to the very best of my
ability.

Signature(s)
I, _____________________________________, have read the information contained
in this course syllabus and understand what will be expected of me in
order to be successful in this class.
Signed _____________________________________