Class Syllabus - Enrichment - Ms.

McCauslin

Course Description

This course has been designed around improving writing while engaging in current
topics that are relevant to our lives and communities and utilizing technology with
which we are familiar and are likely to use in the future. The students in the class will
design and maintain a blog and/or website that will showcase their work as they
research and write about themselves, their school community, and beyond. To improve
the style and effectiveness of our writing as well as to research relevant topics, we will
also be exploring newspaper, blog, journal, and magazine articles throughout the year.

Behavior Expectations

All school rules and expectations outlined in the districts Code of Conduct, Core
Values, O.L. Smiths Handbook, PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support), and
this letter will apply. It is especially important that students use their Daily Planner.
Using them effectively will help students to become more organized and
responsible.

o Be on TIME
o Arrive to class PREPARED with planner and ID
o Bring a positive ATTITUDE to school
o COMPLY immediately when a reasonable request is made (RAK)
o Always use proper ETIQUETTE

Technology and Responsibility

A major component of this course will be a blog updated and maintained by the
class. Because this is both school work and a public space, students should always
be aware that anything they write for this class could be put up on the blog.

o NO PLAGIARISM ALLOWED! All work must be your own work. It is against
school policy to take the work of someone else and claim it as your own without
proper citation.
o Language and topics MUST be SCHOOL APPROPRIATE! Language or content
that breaks school policy will be reported (and removed from the website).
o RESPECT! Students should respect themselves, their peers, teachers, school,
and community both in their classroom conduct and in what they write and
publish to the blog.

As soon as I have more information on the type of website or blog space that we will
be using, I will be sending home a permission form for parents/guardians to read
and sign.

Daily Work

Students will be expected to complete daily work in class. To complete this work,
students MUST bring to class a pencil, a notebook, and a folder or binder for this
class.

Daily agendas and reminders will be posted on Ms. McCauslins website:

http://smithmsmccauslin.weebly.com/

Formal Assessments

There will be a number of different written assignments and tests that students
will complete in this class. All work published to the website will be considered a
formal assessment and fall into the summative category in the grading formula.

Grading Formula and Scale

Summative (tests, quizzes, and projects) 70%
Formative (daily classwork and homework) 30%

The standard grading scale will be used.

A+ 100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 E 0-59
A 93-99 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62

All grades will be up-to-date on MiStar. If you do not have your parent-connect
access, you can call: (313) 827-2800.

Contact

I am excited to be working with your child this year and hope to learn from them
throughout the course of the semester. As soon as an appropriate website has been
selected and created, I will get you the web address so you can see the work that
your child is publishing. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to
contact me at any time. I will respond to emails and voicemails as promptly as
possible.

Email: MCCAUSL@dearbornschools.org

School Phone: (313) 827-2800

Please fill out the following page and return it by September 15, 2014 for a grade:
I have read, understand, and will abide by the above syllabus.

Students Signature:__________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardians Signature:___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardians Phone #:_________________________Cell/Work#:_________________
Parent/Guardians Email:______________________________________________________
Best way to reach parent/guardian: ___Phone ___Email