Classroom Rules: 

            I believe the classroom is a place for learning and exploration, and that too many rules hinder those activities. Because of this belief, I have only one rule (but it’s a broad one…) 

Be Respectful.

            Although only two simple words, this rule encompasses a lot.  I expect you to be respectful in your actions and words, and to respect me, but more importantly, respect your fellow classmates.   This is my only rule--please follow it! 

            Note:All school rules also apply in class, and any violation of those rules will be addressed in accordance with the discipline procedures outlined in your student handbook.  

Participation:

            I expect each person to contribute positively to the classroom environment.  Positive participation is defined as:

            -contributing to a positive classroom atmosphere

-asking appropriate questions

-adding depth to discussions

-actively listening to the contributions of others

-arriving to class on time, ready to work

-refraining from side conversations and long bathroom breaks

-engaging thoughtfully in the work for the day

Each of you will be regularly evaluated on your classroom participation through self and teacher evaluations.  Effective classroom participation and a positive attitude toward learning are an important part of your overall grade!

Academic Integrity:

            Plagiarism is the act of passing off as your own the words or ideas of others without crediting the source.  This includes, but is not limited to:taking passages directly from texts without using quotations; cutting and pasting from the internet without quotes or citations; paraphrasing another’s ideas without citing the source; purchasing or downloading complete or partially complete papers and attaching your name to them; copying homework.  We will adhere strictly to the Academic Integrity policy outlined in your student handbook.   

Materials:

            You will need to purchase:

~a folder, notebook or binder of your choice to keep handouts and assignments organized and take occasional notes.  You are expected to bring paper and your folder or binder to class every day, along with a writing implement and whatever texts we are working on. Though we will do much of our work in electronic environments, some assignments will still come to you on paper, and we will take some notes and do some writing by hand.

Late Work:

            Deadlines are a fact of life in almost all professions, so learning to budget your time in order to meet them is an important skill.  You are expected to turn in all work on time, and will be penalized for handing in late assignments.  However, because I believe in the importance of all the work we will do together, I will accept late work.  Penalties for late work will vary according the length of time passed and the situation. 

I recognize that you all have busy lives, and sometimes you simply cannot meet deadlines.  If for some reason you can’t turn in work on time, BE PROACTIVE! Come and see me before the due date and we’ll work something out. 

Computer Access:

            Most course assignments will be given and completed via SCoodle, the district's course management system.  We have a laptop cart in our classroom, and each student will be assigned a laptop for use during class time.  If you have limited access to computers at home, please communicate this to Ms. Rito.  The high school has a computer loan program that allows students to check out computers for overnight use, and there is a laptop cart in the Cafeteria during the day for student use.  If you are concerned about being able to keep up with electronic assignments, please let me know as soon as possible.

Grading:

In order to assure that learning is the focus of evaluation, your grade is a combination of points earned for the work that you do and holistic evaluation.  Each assignment will have a value of 5 points for each day of work (this may be adjusted as necessary).

In addition to assignments, your overall performance in class will be evaluated holistically, taking into account not only the quality of your individual work,but also your attitude towards learning, participation, growth and response to feedback.  To foster growth in learners and response to feedback, students are permitted to revise any writing assignment indefinitely.  See the attached rubric for the overall evaluation of student performance—the elements on the rubric will make up 25 points of your overall marking period grade.

Overview of the Year

        Now that we’ve established some ground rules, it’s time to get down to the exciting stuff…what we’ll be learning this year! The theme for 9^th grade English is “Coming of Age,” so many of the texts we’ll read will deal with growing up, fitting in, friends and family, love and taking a stand. In addition, we will have a class theme, Journeys, which will guide us as we read and respond to texts and work to improve literacy skills. We’ll explore the following questions:  What kinds of journeys do people take?What do the journeys we take tell us about who we are and the world we live in?How do our journeys shape who we become and how we impact others? How do they change our perspective on our world and/or the people in it? What do we takeaway from our journeys?  Leave behind?  Pack carefully? Stuff in?    Using our own assumptions and ideas, various literary theories and the guiding questions above, we’ll explore some of the following texts.  

Required Readings:

Antigone, Sophocles

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

Possible Readings*:

The Once and Future King, T.H. White

A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry

This Boy’s Life, Tobias Wolff

Ellen Foster, Kaye Gibbons

Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson

The Odyssey, Homer

A Separate Peace, John Knowles

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

             and/or

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

The House on Mango Street, Sandra

   Cisneros

The Chocolate War, Robert Cormier

Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

Black Ice, Lorrene Cary