Course Description:
The English Language Arts Curriculum is designed review and develop core concepts and expand on those concepts as students progress through the year. Students will develop and practice the skills necessary to: 1) comprehend and interpret informational and literary texts
2) compose a variety of written texts, including narrative and argumentative writing, summaries, and responses to literature
3) effectively communicate and interact with others using Standard English in individual and group situations 4) effectively communicate information through different modes of presentation. The English Language Arts curriculum integrates the processes of reading, writing, grammar and listening/speaking/viewing to help students effectively communicate and interpret information in a variety of modes.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW |
Unit 1 – COMING OF AGE- Students will compare and contrast different elements of text of different genres and write narratives relevant to social topics. |
Unit 2 –BLAST FROM THE PAST: FOLKTALES, TRADITONAL LITERATURE, AND MYTHOLOGY- Students will compare and contrast historical events in different genres and write informative/ explanatory pieces to convey ideas, concepts, and information. |
Unit 3 – COURAGEOUS CHARACTER- Students will integrate information from different media and formats and trace and evaluate arguments and claims in a text. Student will write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. |
Unit 4 –EMBRACING HERITAGE- Students will compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text. Students will draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. |
BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
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Replacement Cost | N/A |
Online book and/or resources | Online Platform: Google Classroom Online Video Platform: Microsoft Teams Online frequently used websites: www.clever.com – Site for apps being used in the class. www.commonlit.org – Language Arts website with texts and assignments www.usatestprep.com – Georgia Milestones Aligned Resources for Language Arts www.studyisland.com – Georgia Milestones Resources, Standards Based Instruction and Lessons for Language Arts www.newsela.com – Current Events and aligned texts for Language Arts www.discoveryeducation.com – Website for STEM lessons and resources |
Online student access code (school specific) | N/A |
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 and Diagnostic Assessments – 0% Assessment Tasks (Skills & Homework) – 25% Classwork (Guided, Independent, and Group Practice) – 45% Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 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 RULES/EXPECTATIONS | Virtual Learning Norms: - Choose a quiet space, free from distractions, to set yourself up for class. Turn off cell phones, TVs, etc. Exit other applications on your computer prior to entering the classroom.
- Come to class early.
- Dress appropriately. Remember this is still a classroom setting.
- Stay in one spot during instruction. If you must move refrain from traveling taking the class with you. Simply leave and return quietly.
- Use your full name when you sign into the classroom.
- Mute your microphone during the lesson to avoid disturbing the class with any background noise.
- Be respectful.
- Participate. When you have a question or comment, use the “Raise your Hand” button and wait to be acknowledged or post your question or comment in the chat section.
- Use the chat responsibly. It is meant to facilitate conversation around the lesson topic, not for sideline discussions.
- When your class is over, leave the classroom by closing the window.
EXPECTATIONS for Mr. Powell’s classroo
- 1. COME TO CLASS PREPARED
- 2. Be silent and muted while the teacher is talking.
- 3. Stay on camera and attentive during virtual learning.
- 4. Be respectful to your classmates and teacher online.
- 5. Work your hardest every day.
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MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | Internet/ Hot spot, School issued or personal computer, Notebook for taking notes, Pen/Pencil |
EXTRA HELP | If extra help is needed in Language Arts, contact Mr. Powell as soon as possible to set up a tutoring session. Sessions will be held at the following times: Daily: 2:30pm-4pm Monday and Wednesday extended hours until 7pm. |
PARENTS AS PARTNERS | Communication is key to a child’s education. Parents please feel free to contact me at any time if should have any questions or concerns. As the teacher, I will do all I can to keep you informed. I will contact parents through a note, phone call, or email |
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN.
I have read the syllabus.
Student Signature___________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________
Additional information to support continued contact:
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Home Phone Number | |
Email Address | |