10th Grade English

Classroom Procedures for the 2016-2017 academic year

Mr. Clegg
Room # 236
cadenclegg@alpinedistrict.org
Class Website: mvhsenglish.weebly.com
This class is open to all students. Mountain View High School offers education to all students and
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin.
Students who have a grievance with another student or any school employee should talk to the
school administration or a counselor about their concerns.

Goals
Writing, grammar, and analysis focus
This year, we will focus primarily on writing, especially essay construction. Standards of
speaking, reading informative and literary texts for deeper comprehension, listening,
effective vocabulary usage etc. will be amply explored, but the central goal for the 201617 school year will be the acquisition of effective writing skills.
We will investigate methods of composing essays to make them easier to read, more
engaging, and better in terms of demonstrating ideas to the reader.
The essential goal will be to create essays that establish a controlling impression, or
thesis, and develop that thesis through coherent, sustained, logical arguments supported
using evidence from various texts.
Student Responsibilities
Materials
Come to class each day with (sharpened) writing utensils and plenty of paper to write on
(and turn in if necessary).
Routine
1. Bell Quiz
2. Writing Exercise w/ Daily Vocabulary & Grammar
3. Main Lesson
4. Activity/Student Work
5. Summary/Conclusion w/ Exit Slip
Texts
Classroom texts will be selected from canonized classics. If parents have concerns with
content/theme, substitute texts may be selected, but style and Lexile level must be comparable.
Novels we will read in class will contain but not be limited to the following:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

We will also be using additional poems, speeches, academic articles, and short stories.
Online supplemental materials will be utilized in preparation for periodic assessments; students
without access to the Internet outside of school are responsible for communicating print/other
needs with instructor as soon as possible.
Grading percentages by Term
Communication (OSS Points): Communication, speaking/listening assessments: 20%
Skills: Bell Quizzes (see below), essays, projects, and presentations: 30%
Tests: Term final assessment(s): 50%

Communication (OSS Points) Grade

The Communications grade assesses state requirements pertaining to clear oral
communication and the demonstration of understanding verbal cues. It essentially
functions as the participation grade for the class and includes following specific
instructions as well as class rules and procedures. Students will receive OSS points by
being in class on time and keep them by adhering to classroom policies (see below).
Bell Quizzes
Bell quizzes will be used often as a means of motivating retention of previous class
instruction. These very short, timed quizzes take place at the beginning of class and may
look something like this:
Identify all verbs in the following sentence: John is swimming today (60 seconds)
The quiz will be revealed as soon as the bell rings and students will place their answers in
a box, which will be closed at the end of the time limit.
These non-retakeable quizzes will be scored and can temporarily have a significant effect
on students grades; however, as students demonstrate mastery of the quizzed skills on
later tests, bell quiz scores will be deleted from Skyward. In other words, bell quizzes are
an indicator for a present need to improve, but they will not have any effect on term-final
grades, so long as the student has mastered the skill (as demonstrated on a more
significant test or project).
Tests
Tests are cumulative and very difficult for most students, but they can be retaken for
100% credit. Retakes will be offered before or after school from 7:15 a.m. to 7:40 a.m.
and from 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. If a student arrives for a retake without sufficient time to
complete the test, he or she will be asked to return at a future time. Retakes may be taken
only once per day and students will not receive scores for retakes until the Monday
following the retake.
Classroom Policies
In general, students are expected to behave with respect to their instructor (including
substitutes/guests), fellow students, and themselves. Violation of classroom policies will
result in the loss of OSS points.

*Perhaps the most important policy to observe is to refrain from interrupting when a
teacher or student is addressing the class. Intentional rudeness, class disruption, or
activities that get in the way of the classs progress detract from the learning environment
and will result in the loss of OSS points.
*No personal electronics are allowed in this class. Cell phones, if students have them,
should be off, and out of sight. All other electronics and their attachments should be
completely out of sight before entering the classroom. If this policy is violated, students
will lose OSS points and be required to surrender the device until class is over.
*No food, beverages, or gum are allowed in class. Water bottles are acceptable so long as
they dont cause any distractions.
*Every day, from bell to bell, students are expected to contribute positively to the classs
learning environment. Using the hall pass for any reason will cost the student an OSS
point. Normal usage will not have an effect on a students final grade, but points from
daily bathroom trips to assuage boredom or greet friends in the hall will.
Academic Honesty
Cheating, plagiarism, and/or deception in general will be dealt with severely. Academic
dishonesty will result in immediate loss of all related points, and disciplinary action
including parent contact.
Grade Distribution
94% - 100% = A
90% - 93%
= A87% - 89%
= B+
84% - 86%
=B
80% - 83%
= B77% - 79%
= C+
74% - 76%
=C
70% - 73%
= C67% - 69%
= D+
64% - 66%
=D
60% - 63%
= D59% and under= F
Thank you,
Mr. Clegg
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