Springboard Level V/World Literature I Course Syllabus Mr. Glover Fall 2007 Room 252 Phone: (720)
423-6251 Planning: Course
description
In the Springboard
program, the units of instruction are focused on the
academic skills in reading and writing, collaborating and presenting that are
needed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. In this course, the units of study focus on
world literature in order to broaden the literary landscape of high school
students. The units begin with an
investigation of culture, working towards a definition and an understanding
of the commonalities and differences among human cultures as represented in
literature, media, and non-fiction from around the world. Students will read widely and deeply and will be asked to write about and research ways cultures
communicate and the conflicts that sometimes arise between cultures. The following are the units covered during
the first semester of the course:
·
Unit 1: Cultural Conversations
·
Unit 2: Families
and Celebrations.
·
Unit 3: Community
This course will cover
the Colorado Model Content Standards for reading and writing. For a complete description of these standards you can visit the following website:
http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/standards/read_writing.pdf Materials
Blue or black pens
Spiral notebook Three-ring binder Loose leaf paper Student planner Springboard Level V Textbook and other reading texts (provided) Responsibilities
Students will come to
class prepared to work every day with no exceptions. Cell phones, pagers, CD players, and other
similar electronic devices will not be permitted in
class. If these devices are visible or
audible during class, they will be confiscated and turned over to a Dean. Soda and candy will not
be permitted in class; however, bottled water will be allowed. All Course Requirements
In each unit, you will participate in a student-centered,
active learning environment. Within
the different activities, you will complete embedded assessments that will
require you to create, present, write and perform. You will also be required
to create and maintain an assessment portfolio. The assessment portfolio is an important
tool for organizing your work in this course.
It also provides another form of assessment to demonstrate how
successfully you have met the course objectives. The portfolio will include items that
illustrate a wide range of work, including examples of reading, writing, oral
literacy, and collaborative activities.
You will be given opportunities to revisit
those pieces, revise them and reflect on the strategies used and successes
and challenges encountered. Attendance and Tardy policy
Regular classroom attendance
is required to be successful in this course. On the third unexcused absence a parent/guardian conference will be required with
the Counselor and the Academic Dean.
Students may be assigned to the Academic
Success Room to complete missing course work and obtain tutoring assistance.
Students with habitual attendance issues may be placed on an attendance contract, face legal intervention through State attendance
laws or may be referred to an alternative school. Students who fail courses
and do not obtain credits will be required to attend after-school
credit recovery courses. Habitually
truant students over the age of 16 may be withdrawn from school by an
administrator. The Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning will notify
the parent/guardian by phone and mail. (An appeals process will
be developed during the fall of 2007.) Also,
it is the student’s responsibility
to find out what materials have been covered in class when an absence
occurs. It would be advisable to get
at least one classmate’s phone number in order to find out what material has
been covered in class. All students will be granted three tardies in
each class per grading period. On the
second tardy, I will inform parents of the current tardy status and the next
consequence. On the fourth tardy, a
referral will be given to the Dean of Students
listing the dates of the tardies and the date of
parent contact. The student will then
receive an assignment to Grading
Grades will
be based on participation in class, homework assignments, embedded
assessments and the assessment portfolio.
Grades will be measured by the standard letter grade
scale. The following is the
grading scale adopted by the English department for the 2007-2008 school
year: A – 90-100% B – 80-89% C – 70-79% D – 60-69% F – 59% and below A note on
submitting assignments in electronic format or via e-mail Since I am a firm believer in students learning how to
function in an increasingly digital environment, I gladly accept written assignments
saved on USB drives, CDs (no 3˝ disks, please) or via e-mail; however, if
your document will not open on my computer and is submitted at the last
minute, the assignment will be considered late. If your e-mailed assignment does not show
up in my inbox or the attached file will not open, it will
be considered late. Check with
me for Word format compatibility questions and possible blocking issues of
e-mailed assignments. Also, please remember that I am here to help you. I am available 30 minutes before school,
during lunch and during my planning periods.
You may also contact me via e-mail with any questions you may have and
I will respond as soon possible. I
want each and every one of you to be successful in
this class! ________________________________ _________________________________ Student Signature Parent/Guardian
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