Expectations+of+Student+Performance


 * Prep Work: ** Prep work will be assigned 3-5 times a week. It is expected to be completed because there is a purpose for everything the instructors do. Prep work may be graded on completion or used for class discussions and activities. Prep work will only be accepted the day it is due.


 * Classwork/Participation: ** Participation in class discussions and activities is vital to the course. If a student chooses not to participate, their grade will reflect it. In class, work may include--but is not limited to--daily journals, warm-ups/exit passes, worksheets, concept maps, writing assignments, projects, and presentations. Work will be graded on completeness and accuracy.


 * Test/Quizzes: ** Tests will be announced at least a week in advance. The tests may include multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essays. There will be at least one quiz given per week.


 * Papers/Projects: ** Projects will focus on concepts covered in class and will ask students to be creative with the factual material or reading being learned. While some class time may be provided to work on projects, students will also be required to work on them at home. Projects may be assigned to groups of students or individuals upon the teacher’s discretion. Rubrics will be used for all projects. Rubrics must be used—grades should not be surprises.


 * Test Corrections: ** Students are able to earn back half of the points missed on any test by correcting their tests. Test corrections need to be done in a different color from the original answers. Students are able to look at any homework, class work, and texts in order to find the correct answers. Students must complete this individually without the help of other students. In order for test corrections to count, the answer needs to be corrected and a generalization needs to be written to explain the answer. A generalization uses the correct answer in a statement that turns the question into a fact.


 * Weekly Agenda & Homework: ** The daily agenda and homework are posted on the board. Any forms, rubrics, assignment guidelines, etc. are located engrade and are available for download.


 * Turnitin.com: ** Students will have an account where they will upload all their finished pieces to be graded. This serves as their writing portfolio. Students log into turnitin.com to view feedback and any notes on plagiarism. It is expected and required for students to use this feedback to revise their work before handing in their final portfolio at the end of the year.


 * Reading Journal and Travel Journal: ** Homework, class assignments, discussions, and notes will be completed in the reading journal. Even though technology is a huge part of instruction, students will still be completing hardcopies of work which will be put into these notebooks. The travel journal will be a place for research and information about the countries students "visit" through literature.

** Dictionary: ** Students will be asked to identify new and challenging vocabulary in both teacher-assigned literature and independent reading books. Each new word will be a new page in your dictionary. A certain number of words from both texts will be assigned a due date determined by the instructor.

**Independent** ** Reading **** : ** Students will be required to read AT LEAST eight books of their choice by the end of the school year (two a quarter). Additionally, it is required to bring these independent reading books to class everyday. Students will have time for independent reading in class everyday. Students will participate in reading conferences with peers and the instructor (these will be graded). For each book read, students will have to complete one of the projects listed on the independent reading wikipage. Students will complete one project per independent book read; in other words, two independent reading projects a quarter. //Students// //will have to pick a different option each time.// The book and project details are located on the Independent Reading wiki tab. Each day at the beginning of class, students will be required to update their reading status. This must be done before independent reading time.