Course Syllabus

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English II / Reading Syllabus and Remote Learning Expectations 2020-2021

Hi! I am excited to be your son or daughter’s English II teacher for the 2020-2021 school year! This syllabus is designed to make the classroom a safe, fair, engaging, and organized place for all students. Please make sure your phone number and email address are up-to-date in Skyward. That will be the easiest way to communicate.  If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact me. My email address is smithak@pearlandisd.org.  I look forward to working with your child and starting off the school year strong! Please check my Dawson webpage for additional information.

Sincerely,

Ms. Smith

English Department

 

Classroom Management Plan for Ms. Smith’s Classroom

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines set by the Pearland ISD Student Code of Conduct and the Dawson High School Student Handbook at all times.

 

  1. Make-up Work: Students are allotted one class day per EXCUSED absence day to complete make-up assignments.  If, for example, a student misses class on Monday and returns to school on Tuesday, his missed assignments from Monday are not due until Wednesday.  Students who fail to complete make-up work within these guidelines will receive a grade of zero (0) on the assignments (DHS Student Handbook).  If you know you have a major assignment due on the day you are to be absent, your assignment can always be submitted early to ensure that it will not be late.  It is the student’s responsibility to find out what assignments were missed during his/her absence.  Students should not expect the teacher to seek out the student to remind them of missed work.
    Virtual learners are expected to adhere to the make-up work / late work policy for distance learning outlined by the district and campus.

 

  1. Re-assessment: A student wishing to re-assess an assignment may do so during tutoring.  The re-teaching and re-assessment should be completed within three days after the assignment/assessment has been returned or posted to the teacher’s electronic gradebook, whichever is earlier.  (DHS Student Handbook)

 

  1. Late Work: Eleven points will be deducted from all assignments for each school day late, for up to three days.  For example, 11 points will be removed from an assignment that is one day late, 22 removed from an assignment which is two days late, 33 points removed from an assignment three days late.  After three school days, late assignments will no longer be accepted and a score of 0 will be entered.  Please see the PISD Student Code of Conduct for more information.

 

  1. Academic Dishonesty/ Cheating/ Plagiarism: Academic dishonesty is not tolerated and will result in both a 0 on the assignment of focus, as well as disciplinary action.  Please consult the DHS student handbook for further detailed information on the consequences of academic dishonesty.

 

  1. Restroom: The restroom/water fountain and school nurse are the only locations students may request teacher permission to visit during class time.  A student may not request to leave class to make a phone call, visit another class, or go to his/her locker.  Please make an effort to visit the restroom outside of class time.

  2. Dress Code: District dress code will be enforced in the classroom.  All students are expected to be in adherence with the dress code guidelines at all times – this includes having an ID badge visible.  District dress code guidelines can be found in the PISD Student Code of Conduct handbook.

 

  1. Electronics: Unless directed by the teacher, electronics, including cell-phones, tablets, and earbuds, are to be kept stored out of sight.  Electronics are to be visibly present in the classroom only when designated by the teacher and are to be used only for the outlined academic purpose of the lesson.  Please make an effort not to call or text your child on his or her cell phone while he or she is in a class.  For instances in which you must communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the campus office directly.  Students who do not adhere to the classroom electronics policy are subject to their electronics being confiscated with the possibility to being turned over to the administrative office.  Please see the PISD Student Code of Conduct for the district’s policy on electronics.

 

  1. Food and Drink: Food and drink are not allowed in the classroom.  We want to respect our learning environment by keeping it neat and clean, and by keeping our attention on our class activities.

 

  1. Tutoring:  Tutoring is provided two days per week: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:47-12:22.  Tutoring is intended to provide students with an opportunity to revisit concepts covered during class instruction.  Students may also use this time to re-assess concepts, or to make-up work missed due to an absence.  Students may NOT “opt out” of engaging with a class assignment or participating in an activity during class time with the notion of “making up” that assignment or activity during tutoring.

 

  1. Teacher Assigned D-hall: In the instance of assigning a student d-hall, I will provide a d-hall slip indicating the number of hours to be served and the date by which they must be completed.  Students may inquire in the AP office for dates and locations on campus where d-hall is being held.  Failure to serve d-hall by the required date will result in further disciplinary action.

 

  1. Tardies: If you are not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings, you will report to the tardy station for a pass.  You must be in the classroom at the bell, not simply your belongings.  Do not ask me to go to the restroom or any other location during a passing period.  You may go if you choose, but you must still be in the classroom by the tardy bell.  Otherwise you are tardy.

 

  1. Entering and Exiting the Classroom: Upon entering the classroom, you need to quickly gather your needed class materials and take your seat.  I am ready to begin class at the tardy bell and I expect the same from you.  As class time draws to a close, remain in your seat.  Do not get up prior to the bell and walk to stand near to the door.

 

 

Online Learning Etiquette

Read the statements on the following page and initial them to acknowledge your agreement to the Policy. Students must initial and sign below, even if they are attending in-person due to the large number of students who will be completing assignments online or the changing circumstances of the pandemic.

 

Please note, that if you cannot comply with the policies below, you may be deemed “unsuccessful in the online setting” and could be required to come back to school in person. “Unsuccessful” may look like: excessive absences or tardies, inappropriate or uncontrollable behavior, or failure to complete work, etc.

 

_________Professionalism: When you are in class online, you should behave as if you were in the classroom.

  • Dress code: You should be clothed according to the Dawson dress code policy (clothing, facial hair, etc).
  • Distractions: Pay attention to your surroundings. You should not attend class in an environment where your background or ambient noise is distracting to yourself or others in the class.
  • Behavior: Do not engage in distracting behavior, especially while your peers or teacher is talking.
  • Digital Citizenship: Remember that all posts on Canvas, Office 365, and TEAMS will have your name attached. Read (and re-read) before you post. Unless you communicate to the teacher directly, all comments are public.
  • Attitude: Be respectful of yourself and others.

 

_________ Communication:

  • Use correct grammar, spelling, and professional language in your communications with the teacher and your classmates.
  • Do not interrupt the teacher or your classmates. If you have a question raise your hand and wait for the teacher to call on you.
  • Mute your microphone unless you are speaking.
  • Do not overuse the chat box and understand that the teacher is not monitoring the chat while they are actively teaching. Attempt to find your own answer before asking the teacher.
  • If you wish to communicate privately with the teacher, use either the teacher’s email or your Canvas message center.

 

_________ Attendance: To be counted as present, you must:

  • Be logged in and on time. It is better to be early than late.
  • Keep your camera on and stay engaged with the lesson.
  • Do not leave early or miss large parts of the class. This includes turning your webcam off for long period of time while class is in session.

 

                  Cheating and Plagiarism:

  • The regular Pearland ISD policy is in effect. See the Handbook.
  • Remember you cannot repeat, re-do, or re-assess the zero that you earn from cheating.
  • ANY unauthorized assistance is considered cheating, including your peers, your parents/guardians, the internet, etc. Unless I give you permission in the instructions to use a particular resource, it is not allowed. (For example, if I say you may use your book, but you use sparknotes.com OR ask a peer to revise before submitting, this would be considered Academic Dishonesty).

 

________Privacy:

  • Similar to the in-person classroom, we may have virtual parent or administrator visitors to class. Furthermore, some lessons may be recorded for absent students to review. This applies when you speak out loud or comment on a public thread/discussion for students in-person and online.

 

 

 

We have read and discussed the discipline management plan, class guidelines and information, and the testing and grading policies. We acknowledge our agreement to the Online Learning policy.

 

 

Parent Signature: ________________________ Student Signature:_________________________ Date: _________

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due