English I Syllabus
Mrs. Michaelis
General Information:
Conference Hour: 2:30
Phone Number: 741-6223 Ext. 206 (Please leave a voicemail.)
E-mail: m[email protected] (You may email assignments to me if you are absent.)
Webpage: mrsmichaelisenglish.weebly.com
Course Description:
English I is a 9th grade difficulty level course required for graduation. The course is designed to develop skills needed for subsequent work in English and other disciplines. In addition, the skills acquired will prepare students for pursuing and achieving goals related to higher education and career choices.
A variety of genres will be included in the reading selections for English I: short stories, poetry, drama, and novel. In addition, as time and behavior permits, we will have reading days. These will not be “goof-off” days, nor will they be days to work on your homework or another story in the literature book. These are days when you have a say in what you read.
You will be expected to write in response to literature, do research; write descriptive, narrative, and persuasive pieces, and write creatively.
As a ninth grader, you may have already studied a lot of grammar; therefore, we will only spend time on it as needed. This means when I see numerous mistakes in your writing, we will study how to correct those types of errors in a grammar session/unit. Periodically, we will do “brush-ups.” I would like to keep English I from being a strictly grammar-based class. It depends on you!
Grading Scale:
100-97=A 84-86=B 74-76=C 64-66=D
90-96=A- 80-83=B- 70-73=C- 60-63=D-
87-89=B+ 77-79=C+ 67-69=D+
General Policies:
All-encompassing rule= Respect everything in this room: my students, my property, my students’ property, school property, and me.
You are required to have a binder (preferably a cheap, 3-ring binder), designated ENGLISH I and containing dividers; other daily requirements=book, paper, and pen(cil). (Wal-Mart, Kmart, Dollar General etc. commonly have this type of binder for less than a dollar; however, if you cannot get one, I have plenty that you can purchase for .10-.50). THE BINDER MUST COME TO CLASS WITH YOU EVERY DAY!
If you need to use your cell phone for something that isn't class-related, simply tell me what you're doing; if you don't, your phone will be taken, no questions asked.
I do NOT take late work for full credit. Your future employers won’t either. Essays and projects are exceptions because of their heavy point values. (However, I must be contacted by phone or e-mail as soon as you are able.) These types of assignments may be handed in 1 day late for a letter grade reduction. (Also, see “Zero Tolerance for Zeroes” below.) If you have been absent, your make-up schedule is 2 days for each missed day.
Zero Tolerance for Zeroes; if you always do your assignments, you can completely ignore the following:
A. If you ever take a zero, you will have before school detention in my classroom until the assignment is completed to MY satisfaction; in this manner, you have a second chance if you forget to do an assignment, BUT you will only receive a 50% (which is still better than a zero). This is GRACE: receiving that which you do not deserve…so don’t blow it when you’re given a second chance. If you do not show up, you will force me to turn you over to the office. If you are unable to come the next morning, then you must come to after school tutoring in order to receive any credit.
B. IF YOUR GRADE EVER FALLS TO 69% OR LOWER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO STAY FOR AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING (TUESDAY 2:30-3:30) UNTIL YOU ARE PASSING. IF THIS OCCURS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND TRANSPORTATION HOME. If you miss tutoring, you will have ISD until your grade has been raised. For the most part, if you finish every assignment, you will not need to worry about tutoring.
WHY BE SO CRANKY ABOUT ZEROES? THIS CLASS IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION; IF YOU DO NOT PASS, YOU DO NOT GRADUATE. IF YOU ATTEMPT ALL WORK IN MY CLASS, YOU WILL PASS. HOWEVER, TAKING A ZERO DIGS A HOLE. IF YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING YOUR PERSONAL BEST, I WILL NOT FLUNK YOU!
Mrs. Michaelis’s Pet Peeves:
Parent/Guardian:
Each Monday, I will give your child a Weekly Planning Guide outlining our work for the week. If he or she claims to have no homework, you can always double check by asking to see the planning guide. Please let me know the easiest way to contact you. I prefer email ([email protected]) simply because I have no break throughout the day to speak on the phone. I am also on Facebook if you prefer to be messaged there. Please sign below that you have looked over the syllabus, especially the underlined areas. I want your child to experience success in English I, so please copy my information and keep it handy! Mrs. Michaelis
Parent Signature:_______________________________
Email address, or best way to contact you:_________________________________________
Mrs. Michaelis
General Information:
Conference Hour: 2:30
Phone Number: 741-6223 Ext. 206 (Please leave a voicemail.)
E-mail: m[email protected] (You may email assignments to me if you are absent.)
Webpage: mrsmichaelisenglish.weebly.com
Course Description:
English I is a 9th grade difficulty level course required for graduation. The course is designed to develop skills needed for subsequent work in English and other disciplines. In addition, the skills acquired will prepare students for pursuing and achieving goals related to higher education and career choices.
A variety of genres will be included in the reading selections for English I: short stories, poetry, drama, and novel. In addition, as time and behavior permits, we will have reading days. These will not be “goof-off” days, nor will they be days to work on your homework or another story in the literature book. These are days when you have a say in what you read.
You will be expected to write in response to literature, do research; write descriptive, narrative, and persuasive pieces, and write creatively.
As a ninth grader, you may have already studied a lot of grammar; therefore, we will only spend time on it as needed. This means when I see numerous mistakes in your writing, we will study how to correct those types of errors in a grammar session/unit. Periodically, we will do “brush-ups.” I would like to keep English I from being a strictly grammar-based class. It depends on you!
Grading Scale:
100-97=A 84-86=B 74-76=C 64-66=D
90-96=A- 80-83=B- 70-73=C- 60-63=D-
87-89=B+ 77-79=C+ 67-69=D+
General Policies:
All-encompassing rule= Respect everything in this room: my students, my property, my students’ property, school property, and me.
You are required to have a binder (preferably a cheap, 3-ring binder), designated ENGLISH I and containing dividers; other daily requirements=book, paper, and pen(cil). (Wal-Mart, Kmart, Dollar General etc. commonly have this type of binder for less than a dollar; however, if you cannot get one, I have plenty that you can purchase for .10-.50). THE BINDER MUST COME TO CLASS WITH YOU EVERY DAY!
If you need to use your cell phone for something that isn't class-related, simply tell me what you're doing; if you don't, your phone will be taken, no questions asked.
I do NOT take late work for full credit. Your future employers won’t either. Essays and projects are exceptions because of their heavy point values. (However, I must be contacted by phone or e-mail as soon as you are able.) These types of assignments may be handed in 1 day late for a letter grade reduction. (Also, see “Zero Tolerance for Zeroes” below.) If you have been absent, your make-up schedule is 2 days for each missed day.
Zero Tolerance for Zeroes; if you always do your assignments, you can completely ignore the following:
A. If you ever take a zero, you will have before school detention in my classroom until the assignment is completed to MY satisfaction; in this manner, you have a second chance if you forget to do an assignment, BUT you will only receive a 50% (which is still better than a zero). This is GRACE: receiving that which you do not deserve…so don’t blow it when you’re given a second chance. If you do not show up, you will force me to turn you over to the office. If you are unable to come the next morning, then you must come to after school tutoring in order to receive any credit.
B. IF YOUR GRADE EVER FALLS TO 69% OR LOWER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO STAY FOR AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING (TUESDAY 2:30-3:30) UNTIL YOU ARE PASSING. IF THIS OCCURS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND TRANSPORTATION HOME. If you miss tutoring, you will have ISD until your grade has been raised. For the most part, if you finish every assignment, you will not need to worry about tutoring.
WHY BE SO CRANKY ABOUT ZEROES? THIS CLASS IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION; IF YOU DO NOT PASS, YOU DO NOT GRADUATE. IF YOU ATTEMPT ALL WORK IN MY CLASS, YOU WILL PASS. HOWEVER, TAKING A ZERO DIGS A HOLE. IF YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING YOUR PERSONAL BEST, I WILL NOT FLUNK YOU!
Mrs. Michaelis’s Pet Peeves:
- not taking notes or bringing/doing your homework.
- talking when I am…or another student is.
- asking “What’re we doin’ in here today?” OR “Are we doin’ anything today?” That question will always be answered in the Weekly Planning Guide I hand out every Monday.
- being absent. You MUST come by before 8:00 to pick up a previous day’s assignment; I won’t take up class time filling out absentees. If you miss on a Monday, I’ll leave the Planning Guides out on the front table for you. Just stop in and pick it up--IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING WE'LL BE DOING FOR THE WEEK.
- being tardy.
- coming unprepared (paper, pen(cil), book, homework)
Parent/Guardian:
Each Monday, I will give your child a Weekly Planning Guide outlining our work for the week. If he or she claims to have no homework, you can always double check by asking to see the planning guide. Please let me know the easiest way to contact you. I prefer email ([email protected]) simply because I have no break throughout the day to speak on the phone. I am also on Facebook if you prefer to be messaged there. Please sign below that you have looked over the syllabus, especially the underlined areas. I want your child to experience success in English I, so please copy my information and keep it handy! Mrs. Michaelis
Parent Signature:_______________________________
Email address, or best way to contact you:_________________________________________