Olga+P


 * Dear students and parents**

Welcome to English Language Arts! I look forward to getting the year started. Since I am a new teacher to the district, I would like to tell you a little about myself. I completed my teacher certification in June, 2010 through a post-graduate teacher certification program at Concordia University. Prior to that, I worked professionally as a legal assistant in Financial Industry. I am married and have two-year old son.

My previous work experience has taught me a great deal about what employers will need from their workers in the 21st century. Whether a student continues to pursue education or goes straight to the workforce after high school, he/she needs to be prepared to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. Students need to be critical thinkers who can analyze and evaluate all kinds of information, especially now that the Internet has become such an important tool in many jobs. Students also need good communication skills, both written and oral, so they can work effectively with customers, supervisors and co-workers. Finally, students need to know how to find information by doing research, including in this vast sea of knowledge known as the Internet.

With the above thoughts in mind, I believe it is my job to make our study of the English Arts relevant and engaging to students, and give them opportunities to develop the skills mentioned above. I will make every effort to do my part; in return, I expect students to make an honest effort in the class and be responsible about assignments, which I’ll elaborate on below.

Readings for the course will include a variety of short stories, articles, speeches, excerpts of novels and we will read one novel during the course of the class. This course will be focused around various types of writing for different audiences and for variety of purposes.

After getting yourselves familiar with the course description and requirements, please, sign the document in the space provided to acknowledge that you understand and agree with the course expectations and policies. Please, return the signed page to me.

Again, let me stress how excited I am about the upcoming year and the opportunity of meeting you personally in my classroom. I hope we will establish clear communication in order to ensure the academic success of your child. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Mrs. Peters

**ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS**
 * 9TH GRADE**
 * FALL 2010**

Mrs. Olga Peters
 * Work phone** (414) 555-5555
 * E-mail**:
 * Office hours**: -7:15 - 7:30 am; 11:25-11:50am; 3:10-3:30pm or by appointment

Other readings made available by the teacher
 * Text:** “Elements of Language” by Holt


 * Meeting days**: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday during 2nd period


 * Classroom**: 103

This is a year-long course that combines the study of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course content will review basic skills previously taught and will introduce new skills such as: basic study skills, critical-thinking skills, reading and test-taking skills, library and dictionary skills. The course will provide opportunities for application of skills throughout the year. The course will include intensive grammar units as well as units focused on the process of writing, a variety of types of writing (creative, academic and personal), application of mechanics and spelling, and vocabulary building. The course is intended to be the bridge from elementary language arts to junior high English/language arts.
 * COURSE DESCRIPTION **


 * COURSE OBJECTIVES**

· To become familiar with different reading strategies and to learn to use them effectively to achieve their purpose in reading · To learn to read, interpret and critically analyze literature and discuss literary and non-literary texts · To create writing for different audiences with a variety of purposes · To learn to plan, revise, edit and publish clear and effective writing · To prepare and deliver formal oral presentations


 * COURSE INFORMATION**


 * //Classroom Expectations://**
 * All policies found in the student handbook apply to this class
 * Come prepared to class. You will need your binder, books, notebook and other materials necessary to a unit with you everyday. If you consistently do not bring your book and/or binder to class it will result in you being assigned independent response activities. It may also have an affect on your grade.
 * Class participation. Participation in class is crucial to doing well and making the most of your learning experience. Your active involvement in out daily activities is expected. Choosing not to participate by doing things like working on other work, being distracted by other people or personal items, sleeping, or not having the appropriate materials in class will result in conferences with me and/or your parent/guardian and will affect your grade.


 * //Attendance policy://**
 * This class will be very challenging in its work load, thus it is extremely important that you are present every day, not just in body... but also in MIND!
 * Also, you will consistently be a part of a cooperative group which will require your input, so being absent excessively will be costly to others.
 * If you are going to be absent for an extended period, please, let me know. I am happy to send work home and/or on vacation with you.
 * You will be marked tardy if you are not in assigned seat with materials ready when the bell rings.
 * See the School Tardy Policy.


 * //Late/Incomplete work://**
 * Do not injure your own and others' learning with late work. When homework is assigned it is time sensitive - meaning that it needs to be done with that night's part of the writing process or grammar/vocab study, etc. Not only your in class learning will hurt, but others' will as well since we do a lot of in-class discussion. In addition, most late work becomes busy work when it is done much later than assigned.
 * All readings must be done nightly, according to the schedule regardless of any absences. When you come to class you must be caught up according to the homework/reading schedule.
 * You have a day after the due date to submit work for each day that you have an excused absence, or work is considered late.
 * Late homework and quizzes are worth 50% credit if completed/turned in within the unit in which it was assigned. After that they are 0%. IN other words, a quiz or a homework assignment that is assigned in association with a particular grammar unit or essay must be made up BEFORE you take the test on that grammar concept or the final draft of the essay is due, or it will remain 0% for the duration of the semester.
 * Late essays will be downgraded 10% for each say they are late, but will receive at least 50% of the assessed grade.
 * I will not hunt you down or hound you about your missing work. If you do not check with me after being absent any late work not made up by the unit test will become zero. It is your responsibility to check on what you missed.
 * Work missed as a result of a truancy will count as late work.
 * Please, check the basket for any handouts or homework you missed. All materials will be in the box with the exception of notes, overhead questions, quizzes, and tests. See me or a classmate for notes. Quizzes and Tests must be made up with me.
 * Nothing can be made up during class. You must see me to set up a time to make up work.
 * All major tests and papers must be completed to pass the course.

//**Revisions/Submission of Essays:**//
 * No final drafts may be revised
 * You should be revising plenty BEFORE turning in a final copy of your paper. I may collect a variety of rough draft materials to provide you feedback before you turn in your final draft. These materials may be: planning sheets, outlines, and portions of your essay, not full drafts.
 * Please, utilize the writing lab.
 * Save all revision materials, as all drafts and revisions will also be submitted with final drafts

//**Helpful Hints of How to succeed in class:**//

Respect is the highest value in this classroom. This includes respect for each other and each others' ideas, respect for the teacher, and respect for the school. Showing this respect includes doing things like being on time, engaging actively in discussion, following social mores for discussion, and coming prepared to class. Some pieces of advice to make the most of your time in class:
 * Use the writing lab. Sign up early to ensure you can get in.
 * Do not procrastinate!
 * Always ask! Please, do not hesitate to seek me for any extra help or with any questions. There is not question too small or too big for which you can seek me for help
 * I am available at the following times: -7:15 - 7:30 am; 11:25-11:50am; 3:10-3:30pm and various times by appointment.

The following table serves as a rough guide for how grade values will be distributed.
 * //Evaluation://**
 * ** Evaluation ** || ** Percentage **  ||
 * Quizzes || 35  ||
 * Assignments || 50  ||
 * Project || 15  ||

Grading Scale

 * A || 92-100 ||
 * A- || 90-91 ||
 * B+ || 88-89 ||
 * B || 82-87 ||
 * B- || 80-81 ||
 * C+ || 78-79 ||
 * C || 72-77 ||

//** Assignments **// You are responsible for doing the readings and completing the activities assigned. You are to read all directions carefully and submit assignments by the due date. You are responsible for contacting me if you anticipate needing additional time for an assignment or have additional questions regarding any assignments. //** Quizzes **// Each unit has multiple quizzes that is taken either in class or on line suing the course WIKI. //** Project **// The final project is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to integrate technology into your classroom, office, job, etc. You will confer with me to finalize project parameters. You should expect to devote at least 6 to 8 additional hours on this project; it is a major component of the course. Additionally, you will be expected to share information about your project to the rest of your classmates in a discussion.
 * COURSE ASSIGNMENTS**

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mrs. Olga Peters I have read and understand what is expected from me in this class.
 * ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS**
 * 9TH GRADE**
 * FALL 2010**

Student’s name (type): Student’s signature:

I have read and understand what is expected from my student in this class.

Parent’s/Guardian’s name (type): Parent’s/Guardian’s signature:

Phone number: If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.