The Summer Reading assignment for the students entering English 10 honors is Olive Ann Burns novel Cold Sassy Tree.  While you are reading the novel, you are also required to keep a response journal.  A response journal is written as students read the novel.  Each time you finish reading (at least every 50 pages) you are to make an entry.  The entry may be handwritten in a spiral notebook or word-processed.  Each entry should consist of at least two well-developed paragraphs.  The first paragraph should summarize the plot.  The second paragraph should be a personal response to the reading.  (Most A journals have entries that are about 200 words each.) There should be at least eight entries total. Mark each entry by date and by pages read.

            The personal response portion of the entry should show how you are connecting with the novel.  You might write, This reminds me of something... or  I once did that... You might write questions about unfamiliar words or about what might happen next or about a characters motivation.  You may make predictions.  You may interpret how this part of the story works with other parts to create meaning.  You may challenge the text by telling how you feel the character is not realistic or that this part of the plot is poor.

            The novel should have been read and the response journal completed when you report to class in the fall.

 

            Critics Corner

            From the time it left the publishers warehouse, Cold Sassy Tree found willing readers who pushed the book onto the Book-of-the-Month Club list and into the ranks of the American Library Association picks for young adult readers.  Other acclamations came from School Library Journal, Booklist, and the New York Public Library, which also placed the title among recommendations for teens.

 

 

www.ced.appstate.edu (for Cold Sassy Tree)

www.net-gate.com ( for Cold Sassy Tree)

Unit for test prep can be accessed at www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listtestma.html

     Welcome to English class! I am looking forward to getting to know you and to an interesting year of learning. Sophomore English is taught in thematic units. Previewing the textbook when you receive yours will help you become familar with the variety of works and topics. Other resources will occasionally be used. As part of the QPA reading skills development plan, a five-dollar fee should be paid to me sometime first quarter for the purpose of novel annotation.

 

    Notebook

    Notebook paper (wide or college ruled)

    Spiral

    Pens - blue or black ink

    Red pencil or flair for grading

    Package of post-it notes

    Folder for Quickwrites, Notes and Handouts

    Dictionary/Thesaurus

 

     Quarter grades are based on total accumulated points. The semester grade is the average of the first nine weeks with the second nine weeks and the semester exam. The exam is worth 20% of the final grade.

     The grading scale for all work is the district prescribed scale:

    90 - 100%  A

    80 - 89%    B

    70 - 79%    C

    60 - 69%    D

      0 - 59%    F

 

     Assignments will be given orally and in writing. My best advice is to use your planner! Ask questions as needed!

     Your daily work must be neatly written in ink or work processed. Major writings must be word-processed. Homework is due the beginning of the period on the due date given. Homework and daily assignments will not be accepted late for credit. Major writings and projects will be accepted late but will be penalized. Ten percent of the total points possible are deducted for each day that the assignment is late.

     After an absence, the student is responsible for finding out about make-up work. Remember to see me, but having a peer study buddy is also a great way of keeping up. For long term absences have work sent to the counselor's office. Test make up is to be done before or after school as well as during seminar. Please arrange. Time limits follow district guidelines.

 

     Please take care of locker needs, drinking fountain trips, etc. between classes. Emergency needs will be dealt with upon request. My phone is available when needed, be sure to ask.

 

     My desk is in room 30. I report to school by 7:05 a.m. and usually stay until 4:00 p.m. Earlier times may be arranged. Schedule if possible to insure availability.

     During seminar I am also in room 30. Stop by and see me then.

 

     Hopefully, this will not be a concern for you; however, when a detention is assigned it should be arranged and attended promptly.

     This is the tardy policy. The first time a student is tardy, I allow the person to either serve a fifteen-minute detention or bring a box of tissue. The second and third tardies result in thirty-minute detentions. The fourth tardy requires a thirty-minute detention and a parent contact. The fifth and subsequent tardies result in office referrals and possible Saturday school.

 

     Progress reports will be sent home at mid-quarter. Further grade information is always available upon request. The gradebook parent connect option is available this year.

 

     An overall philosophy promoted in this course concerning behavior follows these three points:

    1. Do what is right.

    2. Do your best.

    3. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

 

Some specifics to keep in mind are as follows:

    1. Be in seat when the bell rings and stay seated unless otherwise directed throughout the period until dismissed by the teacher.

    2. Have needed materials daily without borrowing: pens, notebook paper, spiral and textbook.

    3. Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.

    4. Raise hand and wait to talk out loud or ask a question after being called upon by the teacher.

    5. Sit up and work quietly and talk to a neighbor or parnter only when given permission by the teacher.

    6. Follow district and school-wide rules as described in the student planner.