English 1 Syllabus

Teacher: Mrs. Darla Beamon Preparation Period: 1st/8:00-8:56 am Room Number: M5 Phone Number: 248-5100 Email: darla.beamon@fresnounified.org

Course Description:

The English I course will focus on in-depth writing, analytical thinking, reading, and vocabulary development. Students will write an Autobiographical Incident, Response to Literature, Research and Persuasive Essay. We will read, analyze, and evaluate selected short stories, essays, poems, plays, and novels. Students will also select reading materials of their own interest to read on a daily basis. In addition to reading and writing, students will prepare presentations and deliver speeches to the class.
Overarching Goal: Develop independent, strategic readers who are able to: achieve or surpass grade-level proficiency as measured by the CSTs use reading strategies to comprehend, discuss, and respond to a variety of texts define new vocabulary recognize elements of the writers craft for a variety of texts and use them in their own writing understand the surface and deeper meanings to be found in texts produce writing samples that reflect their understanding of the writers craft and the purpose of literature Materials Required (daily): Binder w/dividers Pencils (at least 2/sharpened) and erasers Blue/Black Pen (at least 2)

Binder paper Journal (spiral notebook) Highlighter Agenda Grading Policy/Grading Scale: Each assignment will be given a point value: The more important the assignment, the larger the point value. All grades will be entered into the computer within one week of the assignment due date. * However, essays will be recorded within 2 weeks from the assignment due date. You can find out your grade status by logging onto Atlas.

Grading Scale: (90-100%= A), (80-89%= B), (70-79%= C), (60-69%= D), (0-59%= F)
*unless there is a technical issue

Classroom Library California State standards state that you are to read one million words outside of class a year. To help your child reach the one million-word goal, I have worked hard to develop my own classroom library. This library is available to any student who wants to choose a book to be read recreationally. Research shows that availability of books is a major motivating factor in getting teens to read. Students who are surrounded by books at school and at home read more. Students, who read more, read better. I have found that having my own classroom library has dramatically increased the amount of reading my students do. I want you to know I am sensitive to having appropriate reading material in my classroom library. That said, what is considered appropriate may vary from one parent to another. Some parents do not mind their child reading Stephen King; other parents object to the horror genre. Please be aware that the selections in my classroom library, just like any public library, range from elementarylevel to university-level reading material. As a parent, I ask you to remain aware throughout the year to the books your child has chosen to read and assist in gauging appropriateness. Some students use my library a lot; others find books elsewhere. Any student who checks books out of my library is asked to have a parent or guardian sign the attached slip indicating that this syllabus letter has been read and understood.
Late Work Policy:

All work is due on the date announced and will lose points for each day it is late. If you are absent on the due date, the assignment will be due on the day you return to school. If work is not made up within 2 weeks, you receive a zero for the assignment. It is your responsibility to check the assignment calendar (on the wall at the back of the classroom) and turn in missed work due to an absence. Do not ask me what you missed during class time. See me before or after school. Expectations/Students Responsibilities: When the bell rings, all students must be sitting in their seats and have class materials out. Otherwise, it will result in a tardy. Students are required to have two pens/pencils (sharpened), paper, and a binder with dividing folders. Students are required to have a journal (spiral notebook). It is your responsibility to keep your journal neat and organized. You must bring your journal to class EVERY day. You must remain seated until the bell rings and the teacher dismisses you. Restroom: No one will be allowed to leave the classroom during the first and last 20 minutes of class. There will be 5 restroom passes per semester. I will teach you how to sign out/in to go to the restroom. For each additional RP student will serve double time detention (20 min.).

Tardy Policy: As soon as the bell rings, doors will be locked and any student left in the hallways will be escorted by CAs or teachers to the VPs office, where students have to fill out a tardy policy card. Students in the classroom must be in their seats, ready to work before the tardy bell rings. That means pencils must be sharpened and materials collected sitting in your seat, ready to begin the first activity.

Consequences: The classroom is a special environment in which students and teachers come together to promote learning. It is essential to this learning environment that students respect the rights of others who wish to learn. Viewpoints and concerns can be expressed to teacher when class is not in session. Student behavior that disrupts the learning environment will be addressed through the McLane Assertive Discipline Program: Step 1. Student is warned by the teacher

Step 2. Detention (10 min.), parent is notified by the teacher Step 3. Student is referred to his/ her counselor Step 4. Student is referred to the VP (parent conference must be conducted)

English I

Return this portion by Friday, August 26, 2011

I, _______________________________, have read the course requirements

(Print Student Name)

for English I and understand them:

__________________________________
(Student Signature)

___________________
(Date Signed)

__________________________________
(Parent Signature)

__________________
(Date Signed)