Dear Parents and Guardians,                                                                                       

I’d like to welcome you and your child to eighth grade Honors English.  It is my goal to provide an exciting and interesting instructional program for your child; one that accommodates his/her academic needs as well as exceeding state standards.  The following is provided so that you and I may work together in this endeavor.  

Enclosed are my classroom discipline plan, my grading policy and my homework policy.  Please read these carefully.  They explain many of my expectations for your child in this class.  Please let your child know that you support these classroom rules and standards.

I will be keeping in touch with you; please do the same with me. Any time you have anything you would like to discuss with me please call the school office at (818) 773-4700.  I will return your call as soon as possible.  You may also reach me through email: [email protected]; the link is available on my Nobel webpage.

Please subscribe to my class page on the Nobel website: http://www.nobelms.com. You go to Academics> English and you will find me under Estevez. This way you will be informed of any updates for your child’s class.

Please sign into Engrade at https://www.engradepro.com, with the login information I gave your child so you may keep an eye on your child’s progress.

You may also follow me on Instagram: worldof76. I post agendas, ideas, and samples, along with other class-related topics to develop learning.

Syllabus English 8AB

Objective:  Students will receive a multi-textual program that encourages reading and exposes them to important literary, non-fiction, and visual texts.  Through the various genres, students will be given an opportunity to reflect on many of the universal experiences faced by all of us, and they will begin to see themselves as part of the larger community. Listening, speaking, reading, writing and language skills will be integrated into meaningful situations based on students’ prior knowledge and current emotional and physical maturation. Students will work in groups and independently, applying creative and critical thinking skills.  Students will achieve levels consistent with those outlined in the California State Standards.

Textbook:   Springboard, Published by the Collage Board.  

Supplemental Readings and visual texts from various sources (scholarly magazines, newspapers, essays, novels, plays, short stories, internet sites, short videos, and movies) will be used extensively as models or subjects of analysis.

All instruction will be differentiated to meet the needs of all students, and critical thinking, analytical reading and writings as a means of knowledge construction will be stressed,

Honors students will receive a qualitatively differentiated curriculum designed to meet the needs of gifted students.

 Homework Policy:

If there are no projects or assignments, there is a standing homework assignment of 20 minutes of independent reading (Monday through Thursday).  Students can read anything they like as long it is at 8^th grade/ working towards 8^th grade level and they have parental approval. I encourage you to show your child that you value reading by sharing what you’re reading with them, letting them read to you or by talking with your child about what they’re reading. In addition, there may be short assignments normally associated with grammar and/or vocabulary development.  These assignments will usually be due the day after they are assigned.  All students were given day planners and are expected to list homework assignments in these planners.  If planners are lost, they may be replaced for $5.00 at the student store.

Grading Policy:

Grades are based on a cumulative point system. 100%-90% of the possible points will earn an “A”.  89%-80% of the possible points will earn a “B”.  79%-70% of the possible points will earn a “C”.  69%-60% of the possible points will earn a “D”.  Any percentage below 60% will earn a Fail.

 Essays are written in class. They stay in class until they are completed.

Some writing assignments (essays, business letters, short stories, book reviews, poems etc.,) that were turned in on time but received low scores may be revised to conform to the required standards and handed back in for a higher score.  Revisions must be turned-in and stapled to originals, and they must meet class deadlines. 

Assignments associated with activities that led to the major assignments will not be accepted after their due date. 

Major projects (Research papers, oral reports, or anything that requires multiple essays) and timed writing (essay assessments) cannot be redone.

Late Projects will be penalized 5% of the total points earned for each day they are late (including weekends). 

Late homework and classwork must be complete, and will earn PARTIAL credit. Late work will not be accepted after the 15 week grade.

Students will earn Uncooperative marks (U’s) in work habits and/or cooperation for excessive (3 or more) tardies, inappropriate behavior with a substitute, habitual inappropriate classroom behavior and/or failing to turn in required assignments on time.   

                                                                   Classroom Rules

Follow directions.

Be respectful to everyone and everything in this classroom.

Be in the classroom and seated when the bell rings.

Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

Use professional language.

Nice to have…

A three-ring binder, college-ruled paper, highlighters (any color), multiple blue/black in pens, and post-its.