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Fresh-Start-Freshman English

Mrs. Lawler
emerald.kern@jefferson.kyschools.us
www.emeraldlawler.weebly.com
502-485-8339
General Description of the Course:
Every student must successfully complete this course. Students will learn and practice reading, writing, critical
thinking and speaking skills that will be the foundation for success in life. This course is specially designed to
meet the individual needs of students functioning at a variety of skill levels. The goal is for every student to
perform at or above grade level by the end of the course. Because of this goal, it is an intense course that covers
an immense amount focused on improving reading skills through the explicit teaching of the 7 habits of
proficient readers. Students will also learn and practice writing through various activities and assignments.
While this class is a lot of work, it has proven to be effective in raising academic achievement and confidence.
English I is a course required for admittance to any college or post-secondary institution.
Materials Needed:
Each student is responsible for their own: WRITING UTENSIL
I will provide all of the other materials students need to be successful including folders, papers, books,
notebooks, posters, etc.
Daily Academic Expectations:
Students will be expected to come to class on time and prepared everyday with course materials ready to
work. This means the student is expected to arrive to class alert and ready to participate. Students will be
expected to participate in activities and classroom discussions by offering good constructive criticism without
being rude or disrespectful to the teacher and fellow classmates. Students will also be expected to put for their
best effort with every assignment.
Daily Behavioral Expectations:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Reasonable
Students will help create a classroom contract. I expect each student to enter class with a positive attitude,
the energy to work and the respect for others in the room. I believe each member of my classroom
community has the right to learn. If at any time a student is impeding the learning of others, disciplinary
actions may be taken.
Reading Expectations:
Everyday students will be reading an independent reading book of their choice. Students will be required to
read and follow along with all class texts. These reading tasks will go toward the 25 Book Campaign
implemented at Valley. One book is considered 125 pages. Students will track the number of pages read each
day and progress will be celebrated throughout the school year.
What to do if you miss a class:
Excused Absence: The missed work or an alternate assignment will be given to make up for the lost
instructional time.
Adapted from Theresa Mingus 2011

Unexcused Absence: I reserve the right to decide if make-up work is acceptable for the absence. This
course involves participation with the group each day to understand the lessons. It is something that
cannot be reproduced and taken home in a packet. An alternate assignment may be done in place of
absences at teachers discretion.
Daily Work Habits:
1. Students arrive on-time to class, pick up their folders and get to their seats.
2. Students must report to their seats copy the learning target and begin working on Independent Reading
(IR) immediately after the bells rings.
3. Students must be prepared for class with a pencil and an open mind.
4. Participation grades will be given each day in class. Attitude, work effort, quality of work and manners
will fall under the participation/conduct category.
5. Students will work cooperatively in groups, when assignments require pairs, groups and activities.
Assignments
Weekly point sheets- Weekly point sheets will incorporate independent reading work, warm ups, and
closing responses.
Edgenuity- A large part of this class will involve online work. Rather than reading a whole class text
students will work on English content on the Edgenuity in class at least twice a week.
Article of the week- Students will be given an article on Monday and they will respond to a prompt
about the article online. They will have an entire week to post to the discussion board.
One Pager- Once every six weeks students will have a one page reading assignment due based on their
independent reading book.
Grading Procedures:
30%-Formative Assessments
This includes daily work that assesses a students understanding of standards given for the grading
period. Daily work/effort checks will be done to document student work, behavior and effort. There will
be a variety of ways to get credit.
50% Summative Assessments
This includes all proficiency exams, final exams, revised drafts of writing pieces, and any other
summative assessments that may be given. Standards-based grading is now being implemented across
the district to ensure students are mastering content as they progress through their education. Tests will
occasionally be given to sum up each unit/topic.
**District Common Assessments: At specific times during the year students are given a piece of
reading and are asked to answer multiple choice and constructed response questions to assess the topics
covered throughout the district. All students in this course at other schools take the same assessment and
scores are reported to the district. This allows us room for improvement in our instruction and
curriculum design.
20% Reflection & Participation: Students will have opportunity to earn points each day of the week;
copies of the Student Accountability Sheet are available upon request.
Grading Scale:
A
90-100 Above Standards
B
80-89 Meets Standards
C
75-79 Approaching Standards
D
70-74 Below Standards
U
below 70 Substantially Below Standards

Adapted from Theresa Mingus 2011

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