Honors English I

2017-2018 Swain County High School

Instructor: Mrs. Amelia Allman Room #: 504
Contact: aallman@swainmail.org or 828-488-2152
Teacher Website: www.google.sites.com/swainmail.org/aallman
Freshman Academy Website: www.schsfa.weebly.com
Remind 101: text @bh374 to the number 81010 or www.remind.com/join/bh374

Communication: The primary form of communication between teacher and parent is email. Please make sure that
you provide a working email in the space below. I will email! (Set up email on your smartphone for instant
notifications and PowerSchool updates. Please let me know if you do not have Powerschool set up for YOU, and I
will help you get that information.)

What is your parent email? ______________________________________________________.

Yes, I have PowerSchool set up as a parent, so I can track the progress of my child.
No, I do not have PowerSchool set up as a parent, so I cannot track the progress of my child.
I do not have a smartphone or internet.

Course Description: Honors English I is a study of literature genres, writing modes, vocabulary, and grammar. There
is an NC Final Exam at the end of the year in May. All North Carolina Standard Course of Study Standards for English
Language Arts can be found online at schsfa.weebly.com.

Statement on Honors Classes: Honors students will be expected to read and master more complex texts. Honors students will be
expected to demonstrate mastery of higher order thinking skills through a deeper understanding of the material. Honors students will be
expected to engage with controversial and complicated materials in a mature manner. Honors does not mean extra work. It means more
rigor, a deeper understanding of the material. It means consistently utilizing higher order thinking skills to solve problems, and it means
being willing to stretch oneself in order to grow. We encourage you to embrace the growth mindset. Be willing to take academic and
intellectual risks; be reflective; and be honest with yourself. Just because you dont know something or arent good at something yet
doesnt mean you never will be.

Grading Policy (very important): This course uses standards based grading, which allows students to track their
mastery of each North Carolina Standard Course of Study Standard for English 9-10, so at any moment your student
knows exactly what they can and cannot do in this class. In order to assign a numerical value to their English I skill
set, the following scale will be used*:

3.75-4.0 (Eng. /Civ.) 3.25-3.74 (Eng./Civ.) 2.5-3.24 (Eng. /Civ.) 1.75-2.0 (Eng. /Civ.) 1-1.74 (Eng. /Civ.) 0
Advanced Mastery Mastery Proficient Developing Emerging

Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Not assessed

complex application deeper complete partial minimal
of understanding of understanding of understanding of understanding of
course standards course standards course standards course standards course standards
with assistance

*The above scale is what you will see in PowerSchool; however, their report card will reflect the traditional letter
grade that you are used to seeing. A conversion chart can also be found on schsfa.weebly.com by clicking on
Grading Standards.
Reassessment (very important): Students are allowed to reassess any standard taught during a quarter until two
weeks before the end of each quarter. Reassessment is entirely student driven and initiated. There are three things
they must do to reassess.
1. Complete an event request in Google Calendar for a scheduled time DURING CAREER PREP at the end of each
school day. I will either respond yes or no to the requested time. If no, the student will need to choose
another time. (Students will be taught how to do this.)
2. Complete a Request to Reassess form.
3. Provide documentation of completed activities in their data notebooks. The directions for activities can be
found on Google Classroom.

Supplies: Supplies will stay in students binders on a shelf in the classroom and serve as data notebooks for me, the
student, the English Department, administration, and YOU! If you have any trouble at all obtaining supplies, please
contact me using the information at the top of the syllabus. I am more than willing to help you in any way. You may
write your name on everything but the binder! I have labels for the students.

Computers: SCHS prides itself on being able to issue each student a computer at the beginning of the year barring that the
required forms have been completed and returned (5 total). If the student does not respect the computer, privileges will be
revoked by our Technology Staff, which poses a HUGE PROBLEM for our class. All of our work is posted online, including
directions and necessary readings and videos. Please make sure that your student treats the computer with respect by using
the case, avoiding stickers or writing on it, and not throwing it down in a book bag, etc. These are required in class each day.

Internship: We are so excited to welcome Ms. Becca Wilson as our Western Carolina University Intern for the 2017-
2018 school year. She will observe during the fall and teach in the spring. We cant wait to show her our best and
then some!

Behavior Policy: We will follow the expectations outlined in SCHSs Student Code of Conduct, which can be found in the SCHS
Student Handbook sent home at the beginning of the year. Please review this, as well as the referral process, at home. There
will be a zero tolerance policy for misbehavior while a substitute is present. Any names left by a substitute will result in
automatic office referral. We will positively represent our class at all times, including in the hallways, Media Center,
lunchroom, or assemblies.

Classroom Expectations
1. We will respect the students right to learn and the teachers right to teach.
2. We will be where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there.
3. We will be prepared to learn and teach.
4. We will follow the rules NO MATTER WHAT.

Consequences
1. Warning/possible parent email
2. Detention/parent email (before or after school for 10 minutes)
3. Double detention/parent email (before or after school for 20 minutes)
4. Office referral

**Cell phones are not allowed unless otherwise stated. We follow SCHSs discipline policy for phones. They need to be put
away unless the teacher specifically addresses the class and allows them. Please be aware of this. This includes earbuds.**

Please sign below stating that you have read, understand, and will abide by the policies and procedures for
English I. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Parent/Guardian Signature _____________________________________________________

Cell phone number ___________________________________________________

Can you receive text messages? Yes____ No ____

Student Signature ____________________________________________________________