Fall and Semester Syllabus
Course Description
This course is designed to develop and advance students’ reading comprehension skills and their use of oral and written language. Students will broaden their reading experiences through the study and analysis of compelling literature. They will use oral language, written language, and media/technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical and literary purposes.
Curriculum Overview
| CURRICULUM OVERVIEW |
| Unit 1 READING FOCUS: LITERARY TEXT/ WRITING FOCUS: Argumentative |
Unit 2 READING FOCUS: INFORMATIONAL TEXTS/WRITING FOCUS: Informative |
| Unit 3 – READING FOCUS: HISTORICAL FICTION/ WRITING FOCUS: Explanatory |
| Unit 4 – READING FOCUS: INFORMATIONAL TEXTS/ Informative |
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
| Title | McDougal Litter Georgia Literature |
| ISBN | 13:978-0-547-07526-6 |
| Replacement Cost | $77.10 |
| Online book and/or resources | |
| Online student access code (school specific) | |
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
| GRADING CATEGORIES | *GRADE PROTOCOL |
| Formative Assessment - 0% Assessment During Learning – 25% Guided, Independent, or Group Practice – 45% Summative Assessment or Assessment of Learning– 30% | A 90 – 100 ~P (pass) B 80 – 89 ~F (fail) C 71 – 79 D 70 F Below 70 |
Notes:
*English Learners (ELs) must not receive numerical or letter grades for the core content areas in elementary and middle school during their first year of language development. A grade of CS or CU must be assigned. This rule may be extended beyond the first year with approval from the EL Studies Program. English Learners must receive a grade for ESOL courses.
~Elementary schools will utilize P (pass) and F (fail) in Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
| DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
| STUDENT PROGRESS | Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH. |
| ACADEMIC INTEGRITY | Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password. See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook. |
| HOMEWORK | Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB. |
| MAKE-UP WORK DUE TO ABSENCES | When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA. |
| SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
| CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS | Respect everyone in the classroom Come to class, ready to learn |
| MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | Paper, pencil, pens, and folders |
| EXTRA HELP | Teacher tutorial based on request of parent |
| PARENTS PARTNERS | Parents are welcomed to call or e-mail the teacher as needed. In addition, parents my come to the classroom to check on the student’s progress. |
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN
I have read the syllabus.
Student Signature___________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________
Additional information to support continued contact:
| Information | Parent/Guardian |
| Day Time Phone Number | |
| Cellular Phone Number | |
| Home Phone Number | |
| Email Address | |