Objectives: This Honors English class is designed to lay the groundwork for students who may be interested in taking advanced placement English courses in high school. To this end, in addition to mastering the reading comprehension skills outlined by the SOLs (for a complete list, please refer to the VDOE website), we will begin building a foundation for deeper literary analysis. Each nine weeks, students should expect to write and rewrite 2-3 essays, read at least 2 in-class books and 2 independent books within an assigned genre, and complete a variety of mini-projects and other creative assignments. Periodic quizzes and biweekly assessments will be used to measure student progress. Students will also be required to memorize and recite a variety of poems throughout the year. Furthermore, to help students develop as independent readers and build their vocabulary, everyone is expected to participate in the 40 Book Challenge. In short, students are never without something to do!
Texts: In addition to class books and the books selected by students for independent reading, we will be using Elements of Language and Elements of Literature (Holt). We will also be working with Book 1 of Richbaub's Introduction to Middle School Grammar.
Schedule:
*Please note that specific reading assignments are subject to change throughout the year due to time constraints and other factors. Our thematic organization ("Perseverance", "Identity") is broad enough to allow for additions and omissions.
Marking Period 1
Schedule:
*Please note that specific reading assignments are subject to change throughout the year due to time constraints and other factors. Our thematic organization ("Perseverance", "Identity") is broad enough to allow for additions and omissions.
Marking Period 1
- Topic/Unit: Poetry & Figurative Language
- Verse Novels: The Crossover (Kwame Alexander), Locomotion (Jacqueline Woodson), Inside Out and Back Again (Tanhha Lai)
- Poetry: "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" (Tupac Shakur), "Noise Day" (Shel Silverstein), "Dreams" & "Harlem" (Langston Hughes), "Little Girl Speakings" & "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" (Maya Angelou), "Books to the Ceiling" (Arnold Lobel), "Idioms for Idiots" (John Randal), "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" (Emily Dickinson)
- Short Fiction: "Eleven" (Sandra Cisneros), "The Landlady" (Roald Dahl)
- Genre Assignments: Realistic Fiction, Mystery/Horror/Suspense
- Grammar Focus: Prepositions, Nouns, & Pronouns
- Topic/Unit: Hero's Journey
- Novels: The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan), The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
- Assorted Greek Myths
- Poetry: "It Couldn't Be Done" (Edgar Albert Guest)
- Short Fiction: "All Summer in a Day" (Ray Bradbury), "Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes)
- Genre Assignments: Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Grammar Focus: Punctuating Dialogue
- Topic/Unit: Hero's Journey (Part 2) & Nonfiction
- Nonfiction Novel: Enrique's Journey (Sonia Nazario)
- Assorted News Articles
- Poetry: "Invictus" (William Ernest Henley)
- Short Fiction: "The Bloody Souvenir" (Jack Gantos)
- Genre Assignments: Biography/Autobiography/Memoir, Informational
- Grammar Focus: Verbs
- Topic/Unit: Historical Fiction, Research, & Irony
- Novels: Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain), Mississippi Bridge (Mildred D. Taylor), Chains (Laurie Halse Anderson)
- Poetry: "The Ballad of Birmingham" (Dudley Randall), "O Captain! My Captain!" (Walt Whitman), "No Man is an Island" (John Donne)
- Short Fiction: "The Gift of the Magi" (O. Henry), "Charles" (Shirley Jackson)
- Genre Assignment: Historical Fiction
- Grammar Focus: Sentences
Participate!
Active participation in both small-group activities and whole-class discussions is expected. Improvement and hard work are reflected in a student's overall grade; coming to class well prepared and fully engaged can offset a poor test or essay grade.
Complete (and turn in) your work!
Homework for this course will be assigned on odd calendar days and, unless otherwise noted, is due the following day. Homework assignments should be written in the student's agenda and should be shown to a parent or guardian. Homework assignments will also be posted in the calendar found on the class website. If homework is not complete on the day it is due, students may turn it in the following school day for partial credit. Homework that is more than one day late will not be accepted. For projects and other major assignments, 10% will be deducted per day late. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of late assignments and missed work. Students returning from an absence should turn in any previously assigned work and be prepared to make up any missed tests or quizzes on the day of your return, unless special arrangements have been made.
Keep track of your grade!
We use the online grading system ASPEN to record and calculate grades. Get in the habit of checking your account on a regular basis to see if you have any missing work, and do not wait until the end of the marking period to ask questions about your grade. Your grade is YOUR responsibility.
- RPS Grading Scale: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (<60)
- Grade Calculations: Classwork (30%), Tests & Projects (35%), Quizzes (25%), Homework (10%)
Come to class prepared!
Students are to bring the following items to class every day:
- Composition notebook (NOT spiral)
- Pocket folder (for homework, to be used in all classes)
- Agenda/daily planner (provided by the school)
- Notebook paper
- Writing utensil (pencil or BLUE/BLACK pen)
- Highlighter and/or colored pens/pencils (for coding and checking)
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Hand-held pencil sharpener
- Book for independent reading
- Tiger Buck card
*Lockers are for use at designated times between classes only. Please have all supplies with you upon entering the classroom and ready to use by the time the bell rings.
In addition to the personal supplies listed above, if you are able, please bring in the following items during the first week of school to be kept in the classroom for shared use:
Respect the learning community by being on your best behavior!
In addition to the personal supplies listed above, if you are able, please bring in the following items during the first week of school to be kept in the classroom for shared use:
- Box(es) of tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Clorox wipes
- Dry erase markers (any color)
- Extra pencils
- Books to donate to the classroom library (all genres and reading levels, new or used, appropriate for middle school - for specific requests, refer to the class Wish List)
Respect the learning community by being on your best behavior!
As a student in my class, I expect you to...
- Be in your seat with all necessary supplies out and working on your snapshot by the time the bell rings.
- Never leave your seat without permission, including at the end of class.
- Refrain from talking when someone else has the floor.
- Keep phones off and and away at all times.
- Keep food, gum, and drinks out of sight.
- Use appropriate language.
- READ WHENEVER YOU AREN'T DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
You can solve a problem any way you want, as long as it doesn't cause a problem for anyone else.
