American Literature Ppt

American Literature
Ms. Ludrick

Welcome!

Bathroom Policy
Cell Phones
Cheating/Plagiarism
Eating/Drinking
Seating
Extra Help
Contact Information

Course Description
Classroom Norms
Course Materials
Grading
Late Policy
Absences

Agenda

Ms. Ludrick

1st-ish year at Mercy CTE.

Undergrad degree in English from Hofstra University.

Graduate student at Arcadia University.

I have a cat named Oberyn and a dog named Toby.

Course Description

This course contains a survey of American literature. Works are chosen to represent many of the major periods of American Literature from the Colonial times through to the twentieth century. These texts have been selected to explore the theme of the American Dream as well as the historical and cultural developments of the United States.

Classroom Norms

1) Be respectful of each other, the teacher, and your school.
2) Stay in your seat at all times unless you have permission to get up.
3) Come to class prepared, on time, and ready to learn.
4) Practice academic integrity and participate actively in class.
5) Be responsible and take ownership of your actions and learning.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT listed as a classroom norm?

• Be respectful of each other, the teacher, and your school.

• Come to class prepared, on time, and ready to learn.

• Use your smartphone for class activities.

• Practice academic integrity and participate actively in class.

Course Materials

This is what you need in class every day...

1) Class text and vocabulary book unless otherwise stated.
2) Chromebook (fully charged)
3) Lined loose leaf paper
4) Folder for handouts
5) Sharpened pencils or blue/black pens. Assignments turned in that are written in any other color pen will lose points.

Grading

The grade for this course is divided into the following categories...

Tests/Projects/Papers- 40%

Quizzes- 25%

Employability- 20%

Homework/Classwork- 15%

Tests/Projects/Papers (40%)

These make up a large majority of your grade and are expected to be completed in full and on time.

Quizzes (25%)

Quizzes can be announced OR unannounced. The quizzes will be based on assignments and class notes.

Employability (20%)

Professional conduct in class. This means students are expected to follow the classroom norms, participate in class activities and discussions, be in uniform, and listen to the teacher and each other.

The employability is added as a weekly grade and worth 50 points each week (10 points for each day).

Students start with 10 points each day, and points can be deducted for any of the following reasons...

Being late to class without a late pass or a note from a parent/guardian or teacher.
Not following the classroom norms/expectations.
Being argumentative, disruptive, or disrespectful to the teacher or classmates.
Being out of uniform.
Not being prepared for class.
Eating/drinking in class (not including water- that is okay)

This is not an exhaustive list, and comments will be added along with the grade if points are deducted. I will also call and/or send an email to parents/guardians as needed.

Homework/Classwork (15%)

Students will receive homework most nights, ranging from assignments to be turned in or studying their notes. Classwork, including daily do-nows, must be turned in by the end of class. All assignments will be posted to Google Classroom and students should be checking the page regularly.

Multiple Choice

What percentage of the grade is based on tests, projects, and papers?

• 20%

• 15%

• 25%

• 40%

Multiple Choice

What does the employability grade assess?

• Test scores

• Professional behavior in class

• Academic performance

• Homework completion

Open Ended

Any questions so far?

Late Policy

Late work will be accepted up to one (1) day late for HALF credit. After that, it will not be accepted.

If student work is late due to illness or a situation outside of their control, a parent/guardian must reach out to me via email so an extension can be discussed.

Absences

If you are absent and miss an assignment, it is your responsibility to reach out me and make up the work within a day unless another arrangement is made.
All assignments will be posted to Google Classroom and students should be checking the page regularly.

It is your responsibility to also reach out to me if you miss a test/quiz. You will have one week to make it up.If the quiz/test is not made up within one (1) week of a student returning to school, the student will receive a 0%. If you cut class, you will receive a 0% for any assignments/tests given in class that day.

Multiple Choice

What should you do if you are absent and miss a test or quiz?

• Wait for the teacher to contact them

• Reach out to the teacher to make up the test/quiz within one week

• Ignore the missed test or quiz

• Go to the principal

Bathroom Policy

Unless an emergency, students will not be permitted to leave the class for the bathroom within the first and last ten minutes of class.

Students are required to use the sign-out sheet to mark the time when they leave and return to class. They must also have the hall pass.

One male and one female student are allowed out at any one time.

Bathroom Policy (continued)

If a student frequently requests to go to the bathroom, or is gone for an extended period of time, I will reach out to the parent/guardian for more information and a possible medical note.

Cell Phones

The Mercy handbook says "cell phones must be turned off and kept in the students' school bag during the day." (28)
In case of emergency, parents can call the main office. Students may ask permission to use the school phone in the main office or Student Services.
In this class, cell phones, smart watches, airpods, any other wearable technology and unauthorized (not school issued) laptops/tablets are NOT allowed.

Cell Phones (continued)

I will give a general reminder to the whole class to put any of the mentioned devices away. After that, the following will happen:
For the first offense [after the general reminder to the whole class], the student will be asked to put the device away and must meet with me to discuss the violation.

They will also be required to write and sign a letter [no more than 2 sentences] ensuring that the violation will not happen again. I will keep the letter for my records. No phone calls/emails will be sent home, no demerits will be written.

This will only be granted to a student ONCE during the school year!

Cell Phones (continued)

The second and any other subsequent cell phone violation will result in the consequences listed in the student/parent handbook, starting at "1st violation" (page 29 in the handbook).

If a student refuses to adhere to the warning and/or fails to meet with me for the first offense, I will start the process of demerits and a phone call/email to the parent/guardian.

Cheating/Plagiarism

If a student cheats on a test/quiz, they will receive a 0% for that assessment.
If a student is caught copying assignments from other students or from the internet, they will receive a 0% for that assignment.
Assignments are expected to be in the student's own original words.

Multiple Choice

What is the consequence for a first time cell phone violation in class?

• Teacher will ask student to put it away and student will have to meet with the teacher and sign a letter saying that it won't happen again.

• Immediate demerit

• No consequence and student can continue using the device

• Referral to the principal or Mr. Wilkins

Multiple Choice

What will happen if you have an unauthorized device out after we met and you gave me your letter?

• Student will get another warning

• Nothing

• Process of demerits will start and parent/guardian may be contacted

Eating/Drinking

With the exception of water, there is NO eating or drinking in class.

If a student enters with food or a drink, they will be asked to put it in their bag or locker.

Refusal can lead to a loss of employability points and/or a phone/call email home to parents/guardians.

Multiple Choice

What is the policy on eating and drinking in the classroom?

• Allowed at any time

• Allowed only with teacher's permission

• Not allowed at any time (except for water- that is OK)

• Only allowed during breaks

Seating

Students are allowed to choose their seat in the classroom. However, they are expected to choose a spot where they will focus on their work and not distract themselves, their classmates, or the teacher. Additionally, after the second day of class, they are expected to sit in the same seat every day. If the student distracts themselves, their classmates, or the teacher in the seat they chose, or otherwise does not return to the same seat after the second day, the teacher will assign their seat for the school year. 

Extra Help/Contact Information

Please reach out if you need extra help. Try to be proactive and ask for help well in advance of tests or other major assignments. I will work with you to make sure you get the help you need.

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone], extension 301.

Emails/voicemails will be answered within 48 hours during the school week. Any emails/voicemails received on Friday and/or weekends will be answered the following school day.

Please know that I do call/email home with positive news as well as concerns. Let's make it a great year!