English II Student Syllabus

Teacher: Ms. Haley Moehlis Website: www.trhsenglish2.weebly.com

Contact: haley.moehlis@dmschools.org Available for Students: M-F 7:10-7:35 M, Th, F 2:35-3:10 & by appointment

The Course English II is a year-long course that challenges students to engage with reading, writing,

A room without books is like a body without a soul.-Cicero

speaking, and listening at high levels.Specialemphasis is given tothe analysis of text.The content of English II centers on guiding questions to be taught in 4 units over the length of the school year. Students will also work on projects, in-class writing, and will engage in wide-reading on grade level. English II continues the development of the structures of communication with an emphasis on the language arts of speaking and listening. Through the communication of ideas in both writing and speaking, students will learn to use information responsibly, accurately, and ethically. Students will communicate through a variety of mediums, including technology, to recognize the role evaluation and response have on oral communication. The teacher will use research-based strategies and will implement assessments that work toward the ends and standards as established in the the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Attendance Policy
Eighty percent of success is showing up. -Woody Allen
Student attendance is critical to student achievement. Please see the Des Moines Public Schools attendance policy. Students must recognize that they are given 2 days for every day absent (up to 5 days) to make up work for full credit. Therefore, if a student is absent from English on an A day, but is in school on the following B day, he/she should make arrangements to get missing work from the A day courses despite the fact that the student does not have those classes on the day of his/her return. It is imperative that students check the website and see the teacher when absent for makeup work.

Required Class Materials

The following materials (with the exception of the free reading book) will remain in the classroom. Each of the materials will be used daily, so it is imperative the student has the materials to ensure student success. -a 3-hole punched notebook (for English only) -a 3-ring binder (at least 1) and dividers -pens -pencils -sticky notes -notecards -a 3-hole punched pencil bag -a free reading book

Grading Scale and Coding

Summative Assessments=80% Formative Assessments= 20% 89.5-100%=A; 79.5-89%=B; 69.5-79=C; 59.5-69=D; 0-59%=F
Not all assignments are graded for points as they are

intended to be formative in nature (an evaluation of student progress and mastery of skill). Formative Assessments will be handed in and evaluated by the instructor, but some may not carry numerical weight in the grade book. In Infinite Campus, the following codes (often accompanied by comments) will be used to assess progress and mastery: M= missing MY=mastery

NS=not satisfactory

OU=outstanding

English II Student Syllabus Continued

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people arent used to an environment where excellence is expected. -Steve Jobs

Posting Assignments, Late Work Policy & Retakes

All assignments will be posted to Infinite Campus on the day they are assigned. Within 24 hours of the due date, the assignment will be marked as either turned in or missing (note: a missing score carries a weight of zero). Students may turn in late work within 2 weeks of the date it was due and may earn up to 60% on the assignment. Beyond the 2 week date, no assignments may be submitted and the score will change to a zero. Formative assessments may be retaken (if the student earns a D or an F) until mastery is demonstrated; credit may be regained. No retakes or rewrites are allowed for summative assessments unless extenuating circumstances arise and the decision will be left to teacher discretion.

Classroom Policies and Procedures

-Students will show respect for the space, the instructor, the materials, their peers, and themselves at all times. -Students may not enter the room tardy unless he/she has a pass from another teacher or an electronic ticket from a hall monitor or the attendance office. -Students will not be given permission to leave the classroom within the first 20 minutes of class or in the last 20 minutes of class, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Use passing time wisely. -If the student does not have his or her materials, he/she may use the supplies in the front cabinet. He/she must sign out the materials borrowed and return them before leaving the classroom. -Students must understand that we will use groups and partners for a number of different activities and respectful participation is required. I do not expect students to like all of their peers, but I do expect all students to be respectful and accepting of one anothers differences. -No food or drink (aside from water) may be consumed in the classroom. -Cell phones are to be powered off during instructional time. IPods and MP3 players may be used at teacher discretion. -Students will retrieve their materials upon entering the room and will take their seats. Students will begin reading at the sound of the second bell without prompting. -All students will write the agenda in their notebooks as outlined in the opening days of class.

Closing Notes
You should know that I love teaching. I am deeply passionate about it and about my content area. I learn as much from students as they learn from me. I believe that everyone is capable of growth and that the English classroom affords us the opportunity to learn about ourselves and others. I want my students to feel that my classroom is a comfortable place and one that supports each individual student. It is also important to be clear that I expect students to do their very best. I give 100% every day and I expect that students do the same. I am thrilled to be your teacher. I believe that it is incredibly important to build relationships--both between the teacher and the student and among students--as well as to build a community of learners. That being said, I expect all students to work hard to uphold those standards. It is a non-negotiable that students will be held accountable and will arrive each day ready to work and to try new things. Know that I will push you to think hard, to work hard, and to grow. I know youre worth it! I look forward to a wonderful year with you! Sincerely, Ms. Moehlis