English III IB
Ms. Arbuckle
Class Overview
The goals of this class:
Students will view literature from the dual perspective of a reader and a writer.
Students will understand and articulate both orally and in writing the purpose of a text and how the author achieved that purpose.
Students will be prepared for the battery of standardized tests (TAKS/PSAT/SAT/AP/IB) and writing assessments in the Junior and Senior year.
Students will study literature in a variety of genres and from a variety of countries.
Students will write in a variety of modes with different purposes and audiences.
Students will acquire the necessary skills as readers and writers to be successful in college level classes.
Additional specific goals will be discussed during the first two weeks of school.
The requirements of this class:
All IB courses are taught as college preparatory classes. Students need to know that they require a serious commitment in time and effort.
All assignments must be completed on time. There will be a window during which the assignment is due. Assignments will not be accepted after this time without prior approval from the instructor. On the rare occasions when student late work is accepted, it will receive a late grade penalty. See the Late Work Policy for more details.
Students will be required to keep a literary journal, writing folders and a student portfolio of all work done throughout the school year. See the explanation of the Reader’s-Writer’s Notebook below.
Students will be assigned outside reading which must be completed on time.
Students will be expected to participate actively in all discussions, projects, assignments. Choosing not to participate is not an option.
All student writing is based on process: major papers must show multiple drafts, revisions, conferencing and editing. Keep all drafts as these will be turned in and will be part of the assignment grade.
All students assignments must be their individual work; plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated.
Students must come to class prepared with all assignments and with proper materials.
Classroom Principles:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
All classroom rules stem from these two principles!
Reader’s-Writer’s Notebook
This notebook will be where you will write many of your reflections, notes, class activities, etc. The structure of the Notebook will become clearer as we begin to use it. This notebook will remain in the class room and will be one daily grade at progress report time and one major grade at report card time. Notebooks will not be provided for you.
Grading procedures:
Grades will be based on the instructor’s assessment of student writing, student participation, student class preparation and completed projects/assignments.
The following grade weighting is the department policy for IB and AP Classes:
Major Grades – 70%
Daily Grades – 30%
Late Work Policy
All work is due at the beginning of class. If work is turned in after this time, it is considered late and the following penalties will be accrued:
e 30% off 1st school day
Maximum grade given after 2 or more school days (not class periods) will be a 50%. Assignments will not be accepted, and will be recorded as a zero in the grade book, once a 3-weeks grading period has ended (the teacher grade entry deadline for progress reports or report cards).
Homework Hall
SBISD has developed a new homework policy that requires homework to “promote high quality student learning and achievement. Homework is an out-of-classroom learning experience assigned by a teacher to enhance student learning.” Because homework is designed to help the student become a successful and independent learner, it is imperative that each student complete all of his/her homework. WAIS has created homework hall to help students meet this goal of completing all homework. Homework Hall is provided Monday – Friday from 3:05-4:05 p.m. A late bus is provided that takes students to the elementary school closest to their home.
· Students who do not turn in homework on time will be assigned homework hall on the day the work was due. The teacher will enter the assignment in the computer system, including the assignment that needs to be completed.
· The students will call their parents to inform them about the homework hall assignment. A classroom phone log could record the call. The WAIS call out system will also call parents about the homework hall assignment.
· Students who are unable to attend an assigned homework hall will be required to make up their assignments on Saturday from 9 am - 12 pm. Homework Hall is not optional.
Make-Up Work (directly from the district grading expectations)
It is the student’s responsibility to complete work missed while absent from class. The following are general statements covering make-up work.
1. Students who miss class must make up the work. Students will receive credit for make-up work except in the case of a documented truancy (UT in SASI).
2. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with teachers for make-up work prior to or immediately upon returning to class.
3. Make-up work, especially tests, may be of an alternate version to more accurately measure what the student has learned.
4. Students who have pre-approved absences are expected to notify the teachers of the classes they will miss in advance and request assignments. The work is due at the first class meeting following return to school.
5. All make-up work from the prior grading period must be completed and a grade assigned before the next grade report (progress report or report card).
6. Whether a student is absent one or five days, make-up assignments and tests must be completed. Make-up assignments for absences will include the following schedule (unless prior principal approval is received):
1st day absence .........................day following return to class
2nd day absence ........................... 2 days after return to class
3rd day absence............................ 3 days after return to class
4th day absence ............................ 4 days after return to class
5th day absence ............................ 5 days after return to class
6th day absence .............................5 days after return to class, unless prior approval given by principal
7. Students absent for school activities should be prepared for class when they return and be prepared to complete work missed while absent from class.
Teacher/Student Communication:
IB Classes are rigorous. They are challenging and will require students to be willing to ask for help before they are in danger of failing. I am available before and after school and during tutorials. If you do not understand an assignment, are having difficulty meeting a deadline, or are experiencing difficulties of any kind in meeting the class requirements, you must conference with me before an assignment, project or report card/progress report is due.
How to contact me:
Email is best: kelly.arbuckle@springbranchisd.com
Also room E 146.
Phone 713-251-1800
http://kellyarbuckle.blogspot.com/
Conference periods:
A-Day: 2nd period 9:25-10:55
B-Day: 6th period 9:25-10:55
Supply List:
One notebook of your choosing
Regular ruled notebook paper
1 small box of crayons
scissors
2 highlighters
sticky notes
1 glue stick
Pens/pencils
*additional supplies may be needed as the school year progresses.
This is going to be a great year!
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