Mr. Steiger’s English Grade 9

Course Description

This is a fast-paced course that allows students opportunities to take responsibility for learning. Ninth grade English is a New Jersey Student Learning Standards aligned course designed to prepare students for upper level English classes as well as college courses. English 9 exposes students to complex texts including fiction, nonfiction, and informational texts arranged in thematic units. Students will develop abilities to analyze complex texts, reason critically, cite evidence, and communicate clearly and thoughtfully. Also, students not only evaluate literary genres, but they enhance their writing proficiency as they craft appropriate thesis statements, support their claims with evidence, establish a writing “voice,” and logically organize an essay to adhere to the thesis therein establishing clarity for the reader. Students will learn the essentials of a critical and literary analysis based on research. A culmination of these skills, along with dedicated practice, should dramatically improve students’ overall real-world readiness in areas like speaking publicly, dissecting a variety of media, and possessing cultural capital.

Course Expectations

Assessments

Course Policies/Procedures

• Students will be on time and prepared.
• Students will submit work via Google Classroom.
• Cell phones and other personal devices will be away until instructed otherwise.
• Test retakes and essay resubmissions are permitted on the condition that a conference is set up with the student to discuss what went wrong on the assignment. Additionally, an adult or guardian will be contacted to acknowledge they are aware of the Primary grade and to confirm all assignments are completed and turned in.

• Disclaimer: If you choose to retake a test or resubmit another Primary grade, it must be done before the next Primary grade is assigned.

• Extra credit is only available to students with all assignments completed.

Required Materials 

Assistance

Nothing is more important to me than providing you with all the help I can give you. That being said, it is important to reserve times for us to meet in the event extra help is necessary. Teachers are expected to attend meetings, cover classes, coach, advise, and maintain duties when they are not in their classroom. Therefore, I require at least a 24 hour notice when requesting to meet to ensure there are no scheduling conflicts.

The following times are most available with enough advanced notice:

Classroom Behavioral Expectations/Consequences

Rewards

Below, student and parent/guardian signatures are necessary to acknowledge that the above has been read and reviewed at home. By signing this sheet, you are recognizing the rules, policies, procedures, and expectations of this class and are agreeing to uphold and adhere to them for the entirety of your involvement throughout the 2017-2018 school year.

Parent/Guardian Signature:

Student Signature: