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Resource Language Arts 9/10

Morton High School

2022-2023 School Year

Mrs. Dawn Block, Student Support Services and Collab

Phone: (309) 266-7182 Ext. 6177

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Welcome to Language Arts!

This is a Resource English course designed to accommodate various levels of learning abilities. The smaller class size (student-to-teacher) ratio provides for more individualized instruction; therefore, all of the students are winners!

Units Covered:

Literature: short stories (fiction and nonfiction), novels, poetry, and drama (vocabulary analysis)
Writing/Composition: parts of speech, mechanics/grammar, sentence structure, active and passive voice usage, commonly misused words, comma usage, structured paragraphs and essays, and using effective transitions
Communication: discussion/listening (problem-solving, role playing, and critical thinking) (effectively using communication tools for speech/writing presentations)

Classroom Expectations: (3Rs)

Be responsible
Be Respectful
Be Reasonable

Class time is provided for homework completion. Students are expected to use class time efficiently.

*All school rules and policies as noted in the Student Handbook apply in this classroom.

Grading Procedures:

A total points system is used to calculate grades. Grades are determined by dividing an individual student’s accumulated point total by the total number of points possible.

Points do vary and are achieved through homework assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects. Class discussion is strongly encouraged.

Grading Scale: A 93-100

B 85-92

C 77-84

D 70-76

F 0-69

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Textbooks:

Prentice-Hall Literature. Kinsella, Kate. Pearson, 2002.

English Workshop. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1997.

Homework: Assignments will be posted in Schoology. There will be times where we submit on Schoology and turn in by hand in class. Pay attention to directions.

HELPFUL ONLINE SITES

PowerSchool is an excellent way to stay on top of your grades, tardies, and absences:�https://ps1.morton709.org/public/home.html

Schoology is where students AND parents access content, assignments, announcements and resources: http://mcusd709.schoology.com

Supplies Needed:

Notebook
Folder
Pencils/Pens

Other Recommended Supplies:

Highlighters; Notecards

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Academic Assistance

�M-Th: 3:00 pm – 3:40 pm

M-F: Potter Hour

Prep Periods: 4th & 6th

By appointment only: Students must sign up for assistance via email or during class through talking with his or her teacher. Class time is provided for homework completion. Students are expected to use class time efficiently.

Make-up Work/Late Work:

Schoology will be updated weekly. You have full access to presentations, notes, handouts, and assignments. Please check Schoology to see what you missed. Paper copies are available when requested.

A “0” in the gradebook for a missing assignment will be changed WHEN it is submitted. Late work will be accepted until the end of the quarter with a deduction in a student’s grade.

CLASSROOM NORMS FOR TECHNOLOGY

Students will await further instructions given by the teacher. Students will listen for teacher’s cue to close screen of iPad when whole-group attention is needed. Students will save/turn in work as needed and completely put away iPads when directed to do so. Students will visit only the websites listed in the activity, Schoology, or stated by the teacher. Any accidental deviation to an unauthorized website should be reported to the teacher immediately. Students will not eat or drink in the classroom when iPads are being utilized. PHONES WILL BE SILENT AND PUT AWAY UNLESS GIVEN PERMISSION.

This class will count toward the Language Arts credit needed to graduate from Morton High School. Class format varies among lecture, small group, partner, and independent work. I do expect students be responsible for their own homework and actions, respectful of themselves and others, and be reasonable by setting short and long term goals for themselves.

Quarantined students are expected to check Schoology followed by an email with questions regarding make-up work or homework assignments.

I do tell my students that investing time and effort in doing well in their classes during high school does pay off in the future. A good analogy is to to think of learning as weight-lifting for one’s brain. For example, a football player will lift weights to become better at his sport. He will not lift during the game but before or after the game. So, here is the connection…brain power (weight-lifting) builds on one’s previous year’s knowledge. I look forward to working with my students this year on increasing their analyzing and interpreting skills in the classroom.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Block

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Please sign to acknowledge that you have read and understand the Resource Language Arts 22-23 Syllabus.

Student Name (Please Print): ________________________________________________________

Student Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________

Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print): _______________________________________________

��Parent/Guardian Signature ____________________________________ Date: _____________

If you have any questions, comments, or things I should know please reach out!