Welcome to

English 9 Honors!

Ms. Michelle Bochenek

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SpathelfMC@vvsd.org

What is on Google Classroom?

• Announcements (due dates, test dates, reminders, etc)
• Online assignments
• Important links
• Digital copies of texts
• Audio versions of texts (when available)

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Skills we are working on:

• Reading for extended lengths of time
• Writing for differing lengths of time, both formally and informally
• Revising/editing/giving and receiving feedback on writing
• Reading and analyzing different kinds of texts with varying difficulty

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• Finding evidence to support a claim
• Writing and speaking grounded in evidence
• Analyzing evidence to support a claim
• Analyzing the use of literary devices to help support a theme
• Working collaboratively with other students

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Homework

Assume that your child will have homework in this class every night. It will usually be reading, but sometimes it will be finishing what we worked on in class. Students are given prompts for summative writing well in advance of writing days as well. They can always be working on their outline/finding evidence outside of class time.

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Absent work

Students are responsible for finding out what they missed.

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There is a link on Google Classroom that says, “If you missed something, click here”. It has all of the slides and assignments for each day of class.

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How is Honors different from standard?

• We read and write more
• We read and write more quickly
• We (try) to read and write daily
• Our texts and writings are more complex
• Because most of the reading is done at home, we have more time to work with the text in class.
• We work on timed writing to prepare students for AP classes and exams.
• This class aims to be rigorous enough to prepare students for future AP classes and the ACT exam.

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Late Work

• YES! I accept late work and it is NOT penalized!
• Missing are put in the gradebook ASAP, even if a student is absent so that we (student, teacher, and parents) are all aware it still needs to be turned in. It is changed in the gradebook when graded.
• I would rather have completed work turned in late than incomplete work turned in on time.
• Late work is accepted until the start of class the day of the summative for that unit.
• There are no retakes for formative assessments per district policy.

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Grades

Tests, quizzes, and projects make up 80% of your child’s cumulative grade and classwork/homework makes up 20%--all of this will make up 85% of the overall grade. The final exam at the end of the semester will make up 15% of the overall grade. Per district policy, summative assessment retakes are for 70% and below. Students must have completed 75% of the formative work for the unit and complete a retake assignment to be eligible for the retake.

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In high school courses, the performance levels will equate to the following percentages for entering all formative and summative assessment scores into the gradebook:

• Excelling - 95% / 100%
• Proficient - 85%
• Approaching - 73%
• Beginning - 50%

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Hamburger Rubric

What can I do as a parent to help?

• Check Google classroom to see what we are doing in class.
• Ask your child if they have homework/reading to do at night.
• Remind your child of deadlines/due dates/ test dates.
• Check Infinite Campus for grades. Email Ms. Bochenek with any questions. I’m here to help support the awesome things you are already doing as a parent!
• Remind students to charge Chromebooks at home at night.
• Encourage your child to participate in class.

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Supplies

• Students will need CHARGED Chromebooks, a folder and something to write with each day in class.
• Our class will gladly accept donations if you are able to help! We are currently in need of: Kleenex, pre-sharpened pencils (Amazon brand is awesome!), chisel tip highlighters in all colors, manilla folders.

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Thank you so much for coming tonight! Please email me with any concerns you have! I look forward to working with you and your family this year and to helping your child be the best reader and writer they can be! Thank you for all of your support and all that you do as parents!