9th Grade English 1/Enrichment 1 Reading

Mrs. Elizabeth Lavender

Sandalwood High School
2018-2019 Academic Year
Room 115 (904) 646-5100 ext. 2115
Email: lavendere@duvalschools.org
Website: litwithlavender.weebly.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION (READING):
The objective of the Enrichment Reading class is to assist students in improving reading skills involved in the
reading process. Each student receives instruction which focuses on improving his/her specific reading and writing
weaknesses. The instruction model includes: using curriculum materials, guided reading, whole group instruction,
small group instruction that focuses specifically on deficient skills, reading novels independently, and
reading/writing skills practice through the use of reading strategies with a focus on self-directed learning.

COURSE DESCRIPTION (ENGLISH):

This course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines,
and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who can compose for a variety of purposes. By their writing
and reading in this course, students should become aware of the interactions among a writer's purposes, audience
expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to
effective writing.

PLAYS/ NOVELS:
 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
 The Odyssey by Homer
 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

**NOTE: Although I will provide class sets of these novels, I highly recommend that each student purchase his/her
own. This will lend to a more active reading style as they may make notes and highlight through their individual
copy.

OTHER TEXTS/RESOURCES USED:

 HMH Collections Grade 9 Textbook (Online textbook and resources available)
 Achieve 3000
 CommonLit.org
 Supplementary articles, text, and media

COURSE OUTLINE:
The class will be comprised of a combination of the following:
 Bell Ringers/Exit Slips
 Whole Group/Modeling/Guided practice
 Independent Practice
 Differentiated Learning Rotations
 Small Group/Teacher
 Independent/Collaborative Work
 Technology (Achieve 3000/CommonLit/Collections)
 Independent Reading

STUDENT SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CLASS:

 4 Spiral or Composition Notebooks (1 Per Quarter)
 Glue Sticks
 Tape
 Miniature Stapler/Staples
  Folder (preferred plastic material with 3 holes and 3 prongs)
 Pencils/Pens
 College Ruled Notebook Paper
 Highlighters
 Sticky Notes
 Colored Pencils

GRADES:
Students are graded in the following areas:
 Bell Ringer/Exit Slip
 Achieve 3000/Common Lit/Collections
 Coursework
 Assessments

***NOTE: All areas have a participation component that requires student participation and is assessed based on
student performance and completion of work.

GRADING SCALE:
A = 100 - 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
D = 69 – 60
F = 59 and below

***NOTE: Your student will be receiving the same grade for both courses as they are double-blocked and
dependent upon one another. This means the grades/assignments will be reflected in both courses. (This may be
subject to change as the quarters progress).

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

MAKE-UP WORK: If you are absent from class, please locate the appropriately marked binder/folder for work
you may have missed. Assignment handouts, resources, etc. can also be found on my website
(litwithlavender.weebly.com). You must check the website to see what the assignment titles are in order to
locate them from the handout bin! If you have any questions about the assignments, please see me before school,
after class, or after school the day you come back. I will not answer questions about missing work during class time
unless it has been pre-arranged. You will have 2 days to make up the assignment and submit for full credit. When
submitting a make-up assignment, please locate a “missing assignment” cover sheet, fill it out, obtain a parent
signature, and attach it to your make-up work. Then, place it in appropriate bin marked “Make-up”.
***NOTE: There will be a zero in the grade book until the work is submitted and graded***

LATE WORK: Late work will be accepted up to 5 days after the listed due date for partial credit (full credit for
students with IEPs). After the 5th day, the assignment will not be accepted (this also applies to students who get
extended time). When submitting late work, please locate a “missing assignment” cover sheet, fill it out, obtain a
parent signature, and attach it to your late work. Then, place it in appropriate bin marked “Late Work”.
***NOTE: There will be a zero in the gradebook until the work is submitted and graded***
***NOTE: Achieve 3000 articles may not be submitted late.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is crucial for your success in this class. A portion of your grade is participation in
class and on assignments. If you are absent from class, you must present documentation to me to excuse the
absence. This documentation may be a parent letter, doctor’s note, etc. If the absence is excused, you will receive
partial credit for the participation component, and be given your make-up work. If your absence is not excused, you
will not receive credit for the participation component, and your make-up work will have to be signed by your
parent/guardian before it will be graded. Warm-up and Exit Slips are strictly participation based and cannot be
made up.
*Note: If there is an extenuating circumstance, please speak with me at an appropriate time.*

PARTICIPATION & BEHAVIOR: Participation and behavior may be monitored using the website software
classdojo.com and teacher observation. Classdojo.com keeps track of negative and positive consequences. If you
are given a negative point, you will receive a deduction of 20 points from your assignment (up to a negative 5
points). You may earn the points back if good behavior and participation are exhibited. If you are given a positive
point, you will receive extra credit towards the assignment being completed (3 points = 1 extra credit point).

CLASSROOM RULES:
In addition to the DCPS Code of Conduct and Sandalwood HS policies, students will follow these rules to maximize
their academic success.
 Be on time, in your assigned seat, and prepared to work when the bell rings.
 Remain seated during all activities unless given permission to move. This includes dismissal from the class.
 Speak with kindness and permission – use responsible and appropriate language
 Respect yourself and others.
 Follow teacher direction.
 Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. Do NOT throw any object.

TEACHER RULES:
 The teacher will answer the door if someone knocks. The student must not answer the door unless given
permission by the teacher. This is for the safety of the class.
 The back door is to be opened for emergencies ONLY. Failure to follow this rule will result in a referral.
 No Hall Passes (If you have a medical pass, please speak to the teacher)

SCHOOL RULES (Enforced in the classroom):

 Use of personal electronic devices is prohibited. (This includes ear buds and headphones)
 Backpacks are not permitted in the classroom unless they are clear or mesh.
 Students must have IDs when on the school campus.
 School dress code will be enforced.
*For more information about school rules, please see the Code of Conduct*

Positive Consequences for following all rules include academic success and rewards given at the teacher’s
discretion.
Negative Consequences for violating rules include lower participation points, teacher warning, time out in another
classroom (and NO participation points for missed activity), parent/guardian contact, after school detention with the
teacher, and referral to House Administrator.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: I expect students to conduct themselves ethically and honorably. Cheating is
dishonest. It harms you and it harms the other students who do not cheat. I, therefore, will not condone nor will I
tolerate any student submitting work that is not produced solely by the student’s own initiative.
The following behaviors may be considered as possible acts of cheating: plagiarism, talking during an exam,
copying another’s test/assignment, allowing others to copy your work, roving eyes, open books or notebooks during
an exam, crib sheets/ cheat sheets, passing notes during an exam, copying disks and printing another student’s work,
having someone do your assignment for you (homework, project, book report), stealing exams, selling exams,
altering a grade (in grade book, on a computer, on a report card), taking an exam for someone else, using
bribery/blackmail/threats, intimidation in pursuit of a better grade.
Please do your best to follow all rules. This will maximize your learning and prepare you for a great school year!

Please detach, sign where indicated, and return to your teacher.

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I have read and understand the syllabus for English 1 and Enrichment I Reading. It is my responsibility to
contact the teacher for any questions or concerns I have regarding this syllabus and/or my child’s academic
progress in this classroom.
_____________________________________________________ _______________
Parent/Guardian’s Printed Name Date

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Parent/Guardian’s Signature

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Parent Email Address

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Phone Number

Comments/Questions:________________________________________________________________________
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I have read and understand this syllabus. I understand it is my responsibility to behave in accordance with the
Student Code of Conduct and classroom rules, and to not hinder my academic performance.
_______________________________________________ _____________________
Student’s Printed Name Date

___________________________________________________
Student’s Signature