NAS

General COURSE SYLLABUS

Term (duration): 2 Semesters

Credit Value: 1 credit

Office Hours:
8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Lunch time, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Please set appointment

Room: 201

Teacher : Lisa Morinsilva

Email: emorinsilva@newamericaschoolnm.org

Standards: English Language Arts Standards Anchor Standards College and Career Readiness
Anchor Standards for Reading
The K-12 standards on the following pages define what students should understand and be able to do by the
end of each grade. They correspond to the College and Career Readiness (CCR) anchor standards below by
number. The CCR and grade-specific standards are necessary complementsthe former providing broad
standards, the latter providing additional specificitythat together define the skills and understandings that
all students must demonstrate.
Course Goals:
1. Standards in this strand:
Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.1
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific
textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting
details and ideas.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.3
Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4
Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and
figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.5
Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text
(e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.6
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.7
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively,
as well as in words.1
1

Classroom Expectations:
Do your Best, treat others how you want to be treated.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as
well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.9
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare
the approaches the authors take.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.10
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

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Teacher Core Beliefs:

Learning abilities
Learners come with diverse learning abilities yet all can learn.
Learning environments
Learner must feel safe and welcomed into this environment.
Learning realities
There are two realities; physical and metaphysical. As an educator, I realize that there are certain
expectations of learners i.e. come ready to learn, prepared for class, and so on; this is the physical
reality. Nonetheless, day-to-day life and disparities such as socioeconomic status, home life,
domestic violence, addictions, immigration etc. affect the metaphysical reality, which may be; I am
not ready to learn at this time. In these situations, I feel it is my duty to adapt to your reality and
search for a teachable moment and help you find resources to fix the problem.
Drive
As an educator, my reason for teaching every day is YOU. I do what I do, go above and beyond
because I dont lose focus of who I am serving. Thank you for being part of my class.
Resources and Materials: It is your responsibility to come prepared to class. Please make sure you have
something to write with and paper on a daily basis. If you dont have these two things on a given day; ask
me and I will provide you with the needed resources.
Classroom Expectations:

Be ready to work independently, in small groups, and as a class.

You are expected act mature and be flexible.
You must come to class with a positive attitude each day!
You can learn something every day.
Do your best, treat others how you want to be treated.

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Course Assessments
Failure in my class is NOT AN OPTION! If you have failing grades, I will share your grades with you and your
parent(s), create a student contract with you, and provide you with extra opportunities on your own time with
teacher support to be able to catch up (i.e. tutoring at lunch, after school, unlimited quiz and test retakes before
final grades are due, etc).
Grading Scale
Assignment Values or Weights
Quick Starts
10%
Team Projects
15%
Class Assignments
40%
Quizzes
15%
Qtr. Exams
20%

90-100 points

80-89 points

70-79 points

Will require Re-Do in Friday tutoring sessions

D

60-69 points

Below 60 points

Attendance:

ONLY 5 total absences per quarter, whether they are excused or not excused.
For each EXCUSED absence, student MUST request make-up work (it is the students
responsibility to ask for make-up work). Only one assignment will be given at a time.
Once a student reaches 6 absences in any Quarter, they must appeal their grade.

DEADLINES ARE IMPORTANT: Late Work: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOUR
WORK IN ON TIME.
1 day late 10 Points
off

2 days late 20 points

off

3 days late 30 points

off

As per NAS student handbook: It is the responsibility of the student to get from their teachers all class
work missed due to excused absences and to properly complete all work and hand it in to their teacher on
time. The teacher will work with you to assist you in getting and finishing the work. Students will be allowed
time to turn in make-up work equal to the time he/she was absent. The due date for such make up work shall
be up to the teacher. Failure to turn in make-up work will result in the student receiving a zero for every
incomplete assignment. Any unexcused absences will result in automatic ZEROs as work will not be able to
be made up unless a parent teacher conference is held.
For excused absences that take you from class the Best Practice is to visit with the Teacher
BEFORE your absence to arrange for class work.
If you are out for an extended absence, you are responsible for notifying the staff or faculty that
you need your class work.

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I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS CLASS:
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This signature page is considered a class assignment worth 100 points. Lets
make this a great year and turn it in for your first 100 points.