1. Come prepared and ready to learn.
2. Practice courtesy, responsibility, and consideration.
3. Expect the best from me and give me your best in return.
Supplies:
Every day, you will need a pencil or pen and paper. I promise. A binder to help organize your work into categories of "Notes," "Tests," "Vocabulary," and "Grammar" would be very helpful. I will provide everyone with a writing folder that has some tips, ideas, a rubric, and a place to hold your final drafts so you can see how your writing improves throughout the year.
CELL PHONES ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF SUPPLIES YOU NEED. Please do not make them an issue in class. If I suspect you have it, I will ask you to put it away. If I see it, it becomes my property for the period. If there is a more serious issue, it will be sent to the office with a red card. Life is too short to make this a hassle for any of us. Parents, please do not text or call your students during class. Feel free to call the school and the office will deliver a message.
Goals:
Develop vocabulary
Read and comprehend different kinds of literature
Write and respond to our reading
Develop research skill
Follow the writing process
Use standard usage, spelling, and mechanics
Listen, speak, and evaluate
Prepare for success with the End of Instruction (EOI) test
Pre-AP: Research, write a paper about, and present a project about an outside novel, its author, and influencing time period
Attendance:
Students may not miss more than four days per nine weeks or nine days per semester without a doctor's or court's note. Students will fail with a 59% F on the fifth absence each marking period or the tenth absence for the semester.
Four days per marking period can be made up through Saturday School. No more than four days may be made up.
Students who are absent due to a school event or DCA'ed (athletics, music, student government, etc.) are required to check in with me BEFORE missing class. Any work due the day a student is absent is due to me that day (earlier if needed). At no time will the excuse of "I was DCA'ed" work.
Use the classroom blog to catch up or plan ahead. Feel free to email me at erin.merritt@yahoo.com or eemerritt@enidk12.org with any questions. Writing assignments can be emailed to me at either of those addresses.
If a student has been absent due to illness and needs work, I'll be happy to get it to the office that morning or at lunch. My planning period is first period. When returning to school, please get assignments from me and we'll make plans according to the number of days absent. Ideally, if a student has been absent one day, I would expect him to get the work the day he returns and turn in any assignments the following school day.
One of the best things you can do to ensure success in this class is to simply show up. Attendance is key!
