Please keep this syllabus in your English I folder!!!
St. Petersburg High School
9th Grade English I Syllabus
Teacher: Ms. Leila Davis
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to provide instruction in English language skills, including reading, writing, speaking and listening. We will explore these skills through literature and language. The course will also include vocabulary, spelling and grammar. The reading comprehension and writing skills required for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) will be reinforced throughout the course.
TEXTS: We will be using the following books for this course:
The Elements of Literature, Third Course
The Elements of Language, Third Course
Vocabulary Workshop
All three books are published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.
One copy of Elements of Literature text will be issued to you to take home. A class set is available for your use in the classroom, so there is no need to carry the heavy text back and forth. However, please keep your text books safe because you will not only be using them for homework, but you will be returning them at the end of the semester. If the books are not returned, you are placed on the school’s “obligation list,” which means you must either return the book or pay for it before your semester report card is released.
The Vocabulary Workbook will be in frequent use both in the classroom and for homework/study.
SUPPLIES: Students must arrive prepared for class each day. Supplies that the student is expected to have with him/her each day are:
| Pencils Blue or black pens Vocabulary Workbook |
SPHS planner Loose-leaf notebook paper A folder for all English papers |
TEACHER EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS: Mature behavior is expected at all times. Students must be respectful of the teacher and other students. Students can expect to be referred to the administration for disrespect or a lack of cooperation. No student has the right to take away from the education of others through disruptive behavior.
No cellphones may be used in the classroom. If a student decides to use a cellphone in class, he or she will have two choices: hand it over, or be referred to an administrator immediately. The first time, the device will be returned at the end of class. The second time, it will be turned in to Student Services and must be retrieved by a parent. The third time, a referral will be written.
GRADING AND EXTRA CREDIT: Each assignment will be worth a certain number of points. These points will be converted into a percentage to determine your grade. Extra credit work will be available on some assignments and tests. Additional extra credit work will be offered periodically. All class and home work counts, and all students are expected to participate in all assignments!!!!
LIFE SKILLS: Students receive 5 points each day for attendance, participation and for listening skills. These points are deducted for absences, tardies, sleeping, disruptive behavior which prevents listening, or lack of preparation for class. Documentation will be required for TDE’s, hospital stays and funerals. ALL other absences will result in loss of Life Skill points for the days missed.
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY: A student has one school day for every day absent to make up class work or homework. PLEASE TAKE ATTENDANCE SERIOUSLY – BE HERE!!! It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the assignments missed and to turn them in completed. The assignments are posted on HomeworkNow and on the assignment log in the classroom. Ms. Davis is available after school most days for questions. Most students who fail do so because missing work pulls down their grade – please turn in your work!! It is easier to succeed if you don’t get behind.
HOMEWORK: Homework will be listed on-line on HomeworkNow. Go to www.stpetehigh.com and click on “Homework” in the left column. Then click on my name: Leila Davis. Click on English II to find this week’s assignments and class schedule. It will also be listed in the classroom.
TEACHER’S WISH LIST: Not all the classroom’s needs are supplied by the school. Donations of any of the following items anytime during the year would be greatly appreciated.
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REACHING MS. DAVIS: E-mail communication is a much faster, surer way to reach me than phone. There is an e-mail link on the HomeworkNow page. Just click on that link to send me a message. Otherwise, you can send an email directly to: greendevildebate@yahoo.com or to davisle@pcsb.org
Ms. Davis’ Two BIG, SURE-FIRE Tips for a Great School Year: Number One: Do not allow assignments to pass you by! Everything counts in this class, and one assignment that you fail to turn in will bring your grade down considerably. Number Two: Find a way to get involved at school. It will make a big difference in the type of college you get into and the scholarships you could earn. It will also make a huge difference in how you feel about school – the more you feel like a participant in the school, the more you will enjoy your high school career.
Let’s talk! If you haven't already filled in this section of the syllabus, please copy and print out the part below and return it to me as soon as possible. Thank you!
I encourage you to e-mail me if you or your parents have any questions about your grades, the work or the class. I would like to be able to keep in touch with you and your parents as well. As a first step, please return this page to me with your signature and a parent or guardian’s signature indicating that you both have read and understood the syllabus. Please also provide the information requested to make it easier for us to communicate this year. Thanks!!! We are going to have a great school year!
Student’s signature:_______________________________________________________
Student’s name printed:____________________________________________________
Student’s e-mail address: ___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s signature:_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s e-mail address: ____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s daytime phone number:_____________________________________
Thanks for your help!!