DAILY ROUTINE

First five minutes...Latin/Greek Roots
Second five minutes...Vocabulary word/s of the day OR Vocabulary Enrichment Exercise
Next five minutes....Journal Entry
20 minutes...Lesson & Class work  (Grammar, Language, Writing)

Class supplies: 1 3-ring binder; 1 pkg. of 5 tabs; 1-70-page spiral notebook; notebook paper;
1-Journal; Pens/Pencils (ALL supplies are being supplied by me or the school district!)
We will occasionally have a need for scissors, colors, etc. I have most supplies in my classroom.

My goal for this class is to vastly improve your vocabulary and vocabulary skills; practice and improve your spelling skills; review and practice grammar skills; and to further develop your writing skills. As a result, I believe you will become a better student in all subjects and be much more confident of your ability to succeed on the standardized tests. Our work now will make you better equipped to take college entrance exams (ACT/SAT) AND/OR become more efficient and capable to complete job applications in future years.

Expectations:
1. I will meet you at the door to shake your hand and invite you in to my room for class. Please do not enter until I tell you to do so. Stand in a line in the hall and wait for me. DO NOT block the hall or horse around.

2. When you enter the room each day you will get out your vocabulary spiral and at the frond of the spiral copy the root words listed in the corner of my chalkboard. Write the root, the definition, and think of a word using the root and write it down as well. Just begin the next day where you left off the day before.
                                    prefix                                       definition                                 word
                                    auto                                         self                                           autobiography

You should do this automatically each day without being told to do so. This will be a daily routine.

3. There will be one or more VOCABULARY WORDS OF THE DAY on the board. These are Key Words for the College Bound. Please record the word and the definition beginning from the back page of your spiral. Again, add words each day where you left off the day before. Skip a line between words. This will be a daily routine.

4. Next, take out your Journal Spirals and write each day. There will be a page number listed on the board. We will skip around the journal so make sure you work on the page number indicated on the board. Again, this should become a daily routine. I want you to write the entire five minutes. Use as many pages as necessary (add notebook paper of your own. Staple it to the sheet in the journal if you use extra paper. This exercise is to encourage written expression and creativity. It will not be graded for punctuation, grammar, or content, though it must address the prompt.

5. We will then have a lesson. We will do a lot of practice with language AND writing in our class. We will address spelling, grammar, and punctuation as well. You will have a weekly test over the Vocabulary Words of the Day (graded for spelling and definition) and the Latin/Greek Roots.

We're going to use a variety of different approaches to studying reading and writing. Our class will be very interactive, and our lessons will not necessarily have a routine nor be traditional. Expect a lot of “hands on” work, projects, and group interaction—all of which will count towards your class participation grade.

7. You will keep a notebook to serve as a student portfolio of your work each six weeks to include the following: Tabs (Sections are: notes; daily work/homework; quizzes/tests; writing; projects)

I will give a Notebook Grade which will be 5% of your six weeks grade. You will earn a 70% if you turn a folder in. I will add up to 30 points to that grade (for 100%) as follows: 15 for all papers in the sections they should be in; 15 for neatness and accuracy.

Part of my job is to teach you organizational skills to use throughout this year and your life. I believe this notebook is a great tool to use for that purpose. You never know when I will take a folder grade. KEEP IT CURRENT!!

GRADING/EXPECTATIONS
Notebook, Vocabulary Notebook, Journal..….... 15%
Spelling……………...………………………......….10% 
Daily work, Homework, Quizzes………………... 30% 
Tests (at least 2 per grading period)……….…...25%
6-Weeks Test (required by district)…………….  20%

Writing Assignments (Papers, Essays, Short Stories)
When I give a writing assignment you will be given specific details of my expectations for that particular paper. When you turn your paper in, you start with a grade of 60%. Points will then be added for the following:

            10….punctuation & grammar
            10…including or omitting key points/issues
            10…subjective/how well/poorly you have written for understanding/entertainment
            10…accuracy of information/whether you supported your point
           -10…gross negligence/complacency in producing an acceptable paper according to my guidelines

All or a portion of the points in a category could be added to your 60%. The highest grade you could achieve would be 100% and the lowest grade you’ll receive if you turn in a paper is 50%.

Tests
There will be no less than two tests per nine weeks in addition to a six-weeks test. I will make every effort not to conflict test dates with extra-curricular dates. Students will know no less than three days/nights in advance of an exam. Exams will include a variety of  questions including: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, correction, and matching. Every test will have extra-credit worth no more than 5 points (and may be less). Extra-credit could be taken from anything you have learned while in my class.

Re-takes on exams will be offered to any grade under a 70%. Re-takes must be completed within five days of when your exam is returned to you. Before you re-take the exam you must attend a tutorial session in my room. I will average the two grades together, but you may not receive any grade higher than an 80% (see Student Handbook).

Homework, Daily Work & Quizzes
We will have no less than 12 daily grades per six weeks and possibly more than that! You may make corrections on any paper with a grade below a 70% to be turned in no later than 7 school days from the date of the paper. The highest grade you can receive is an 80%. There could be homework on Monday and Tuesday evenings during football season. If there is homework on Wednesday evening it should take no more than 20 minutes, maximum, to complete. There will not be homework on Thursday evenings and the weekends.  We will however change our homework routine when basketball season starts. If we use our time wisely in class, we shouldn’t have a great deal of homework. However, if you waste my teaching time in class, you will have to make up that work on your time! Choosing not to complete homework or an assignment is not an option in my class. If you don’t turn it in during class when it is due, you will be expected to stay after school and complete the assignment for a late grade of no more than 70%.

Beginning after the first 3-week reports come out, I will require mandatory tutorials for any student with a grade of 75% or below. Yes, I know that 75% is not failing, but one more bad grade and you could be! Let’s use preventative maintenance before the car falls apart…so to speak!!

Projects…Major Papers
In addition, at least one major paper or project will also be due during each six weeks. This grade will be recorded as a test grade which carries a weight of 25% for the grading period. Students will be given some time during class, but some of the project will need to be done outside of the classroom. Students are ALWAYS welcome to use my room after school and during tutorials to work on these papers and projects. Projects will be graded on creativity, originality, and relevance to the subject. Papers will have set criteria for grading. Deadlines will be announced well in advance of the due date.

Participation
I expect students to respond in class and participate in class discussions; do work when asked and follow the classroom routine; pay attention; turn in assignments on time; and not be disruptive. There will be a good deal of group work. Your ability to work in a group will be graded for your participation grade as well.

Tardies, Absences & Make-up work
Tardies will be addressed according to the Student Handbook. Second tardy is a discipline referral per six weeks. Restroom breaks will be counted as a tardy. Students need to make every effort to use the restrooms before entering my classroom. Please let me know at the beginning of school if you have extenuating circumstances concerning this rule.
Students have two days to make-up class work for every day they are absent. If a student knows in advance they will be absent from this class for an extra-curricular activity I would like for you to seek me out and get your assignments in advance of your absence. Any work you could finish before you return would be advantageous to both you and me as a teacher. There may be times I’ll tell you we’ll discuss your make-up work when you return to school. We may not get as far on our lesson while you’re gone as I had anticipated, therefore you may not have much work to catch up on.

The bottom line in my class—do your work and participate—and you cannot fail English class.