Chelsea Hornet Middle School

Chelsea Middle School GRC/Pre-AP English 8 Course Syllabus Mrs. Sherri Spears Room #37 [email protected]

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year. I am thrilled to have you in my class and I am looking forward to working with each of you this school term. 8th grade GRC is serviced through our language arts block; the core content focuses on world literature and consists of several components: composition, grammar, literature, and vocabulary. We will be using concept based learning. Our concept for eighth grade is beliefs. You will be exposed to a variety of literature genres: poetry, short stories, speeches, autobiographies, plays, novels, etc. that will tie back into the above concept. You will also be familiarized with numerous authors and writing styles to prepare you for future learning while enhancing your reading skills. In GRC/Pre-AP Language Arts 8, you will use strategies that will help you write and read with a more critical eye than you have in the past years. You will increase the complexity of what you read and write as well as broaden your knowledge of literary texts and quality authors. Your use of language in speaking and writing will become more sophisticated as you learn new techniques of rhetoric from reading the work of master writers and as you use these techniques in your own compositions. As a student in my classroom, you are expected to contribute your intelligence and thoughtfulness in classroom discussions and assigned work. I feel that each of you has a meaningful and interesting point of view, as well as valuable insights to the world. It is necessary for each student to understand that the classroom environment you are entering requires RESPECT and openness to individual opinions and ideas. You must respect and appreciate your fellow classmates; you never have to agree with them, but you must always respect their voice and views. I am extremely committed to keeping a positive atmosphere in my class; I will not tolerate rudeness, negative attitudes or poor behavior.

Classroom Behavior-Your responsibilities in this class are as follows: 1. to come to class prepared and on time; 2. to have a positive attitude; 3. to be respectful of others; 4. to meet all deadlines; 5. to participate in class regularly; 6. to pay attention and not disrupt the teaching or learning process; and 7. to make sure that any assignment, test or paper that you miss due to an absence is made up within the specified time period. Materials Needed: 1. Three-ring binder (1 ½ inch rings) 2. Dividers (Bell-ringers, grammar, composition, literature, class work) 3. Loose-leaf paper (college rule) 4. Ball point pens (only BLUE or BLACK) 5. 3-pack of highlighters (different colors) 6. Memory stick

The way the course is scheduled: The assigned testing days for English are Wednesdays and Fridays. You will be responsible for reading the following books/plays during the course of the year: The Outsiders (Hinton), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare),**The Iliad (Homer), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Twain).**All novels are subject to change and are not read in a specific order. You will also be required to read 3 novels a quarter (100+ pages).

POLICIES: Late or Missed Work: Assignments are due in class on the due date. CHMS has a policy that promotes learning and holds the student accountable for his/her academic success. If a student fails to complete an assignment, he/she will make up the assignment during his/her lunch period in ISD. If the student still has not made up the work, he/she will not be able to participate in any extracurricular activities or school sponsored events until the assignment is complete. ½ Credit will be given on ALL late assignments. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get your missed work; you will not be reminded. Make-up work is due within three days of your return to class. DO NOT make the mistake of coming to me at the end of the nine weeks and asking for your make-up work; no missed work will be turned in after the permitted time period. If you are absent for more than two days, it would be wise for you to contact me for your assignments at [email protected]!

Assignments: Only BLUE or BLACK ink will be accepted for any written assignments.

Class Participation and a Positive Attitude: Positive attitudes, such as going beyond the required minimum, having a positive and cooperative attitude, being consistently prepared and on time for class, active participation, and regular attendance are noted and may influence borderline grades.

Passes: Don’t ask to go to the restroom or run errands after you enter my classroom. Since we will be on a block schedule, I will provide you with a brief break to use the restroom.

Tardiness: You are expected to be in your desk with the required materials and working on your grammar sentences or overhead activities when the bell rings. If you are not SITTING in your seat, you will be marked tardy. Discipline: If a student is ill-mannered or unprepared, he/she will be given choices on the discipline that he/she will receive. Many times a written essay or project will be assigned. If a student is consistently disruptive or disrespectful, I will strictly adhere to the 2009-2010 Shelby County Code of Conduct, and will follow the disciplinary procedures outlined within the various categories of offenses. All disciplinary actions will be documented and signed by the student and the teacher.

How you will be graded: Tests, quizzes, essays, journals, projects, grammar workbooks, literature packets, close readings, bell-ringers, assignment pads, participation, book clubs, homework, presentations, and reading assignments.

Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is expected in all policies and assignments. Reported or observed violations will be taken seriously and handled through the appropriate channels.

Concept: We will be doing concept based learning. Our concept for eighth grade is beliefs.

Guiding Questions:

 What is your belief about a situation?

 Why is it important to understand others beliefs?

 How do your beliefs change?

 How do beliefs influence decisions?

Essential Understandings:

 Different people have different beliefs.

 Understanding various beliefs helps with understanding of a

situation.  Beliefs may change over time.

 Beliefs may dictate a person’s actions, words, or decisions.

This is a LOOSE schedule of the year. ALL topics and assignments are subject to change.

Quarter Literature Grammar Composition 1st  The Adventures  Pronouns  Analytical Quarter of Tom Sawyer  Pronoun- essays  Short Stories antecedent  Narratives  Literature agreement  Descriptive Packets  Parts of a sentence 2nd  The Outsiders  Clauses  Publish Short Quarter  Mysteries  Mechanics Story  Drama  Gerunds,  Character  Literature infinitives, Analysis Packets participles  Research  Appositives Project 3rd  Iliad  Active and  Research Quarter  Poetry passive voice Project  Non-Fiction in writing.  Social  Literature  Clear, vivid Injustice Packets and precise Speech language.  Poetry Project 4th  Twelfth Night  Modifiers  Script writing Quarter  Shakespeare  Verb forms  Persuasive  Myths and  Parallelism  Expository legends  Shakespeare performance