Course Syllabus

Mr. Santiago Vivas Rodríguez 

S.VIVASRODRIGUEZ@LAUSD.NET

Robert F. Kennedy: Ambassador School of Global Leadership 2019-2020 

Office Hours: 3:30-4:30PM Monday or by appointment 

English Language Arts 6/7

Course Description:

• The curriculum for this course aligns with the California Department of Education Common Core State Standards, which available for viewing on the California Department of Education website. (https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/finalelaccssstandards.pdf ) This will be a rigorous course designed to test your current levels of performance and challenge you to do your best every day. Classes will incorporate ASGL’s Restorative Justice Practices. Classes will start or close with a Restorative Justice Circle at the beginning or end of each week.

Course Objectives: Gathered from the CA State Standards for ELA

• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly
• Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
• Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium.
• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• Analyze how two or more authors writing about the same topic shape their presentations of key information by emphasizing different evidence or advancing different interpretations of facts.
• Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Materials:

• 1”-1.5” Three Ring Binder
• Dividers
• Composition/ Spiral Notebook
• Pens/ Pencils
• High Lighters
• Scissors
• Ruler

Student Expectations:

• COMPLETE HOMEWORK ON-TIME DAILY, THEY WILL HAVE HOMEWORK EVERYDAY!!!
• Follow directions
• Keep all distractions (ESPECIALLY ELECTRONICS) this includes Cellphones, gaming devices, and calculators in your pocket or backpack unless otherwise instructed to use them.
• 
  
  • 1^st Offense Teacher takes phone away and returns the phone at the end of class
  • 2^nd Offense Teacher takes away and turns into office and student will pick up at the end of the day.
  • 3^rd Offense Teacher takes away and Parent will make arrangements to pick up the phone from the school office.
• Use positive and supportive language
• Arrive to class ON-TIME with all materials prepared to learn

Parent Expectations:

• Make sure your student is academically honest. 
• Review student agenda or connect with the parent center to set up portal access to monitor student progress in all courses.
• Achieve 3000
• 
  
  • Students will use Achieve 3000 an online program that measures a student’s lexical score and designs a program of intervention to improve reading and comprehension and increase lexical scores.
  • Students will use Achieve 3000 as a supplementary tool and receive extra credit for consistent use and improvement.
• Expect your student to have homework every day, including weekends.
• 
  
  • Homework will consist of Notes Review, Binder Organization, Reading Assignments, Essays, Presentations, etc.  if you have any questions or concerns feel free to email me at s.vivasrodriguez@lausd.net
• Check Schoology if you are unsure your student has work.
• 
  
  • If you would like portal access to view work and track, your student’s progress in all classes the ASGL Parent Center will be happy to assist you in creating an account.
• Communicate any comments, questions, and concerns with the instructor.

Policies and Procedures:

• As you arrive, sit down silently, take out a pencil and paper, and silently and independently work on the Warm Up on the board for 5 minutes.
• Raise your hand if you have a question, comment, or concern.
• If you need to use the restroom after the beginning of class, you will need to sign out with the time that you left. Restrooms are located outside the doors. Take the pass and try to spend no more than 5 minutes outside of class
• Students will not be able to use the restroom until student returns with the restroom pass. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PEERS.
• Consistent absences from class will result in a phone call home or parent-teacher conference, and a referral to the Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor.

Make-up/Late work Policy:

• Homework will be due at the beginning of class the day after it was assigned.
• If you are absent, consult with the instructor to turn in a make-up assignment.
• Late work will receive a 10% deduction for each day it is late. Homework will not be accepted after 3 days of being late.

It is important to turn homework in on-time in order to receive feedback. You only get better at reading, writing, and analysis with practice.

Rubric for Online Work Responses:

Class Texts:

• The Outsiders, The Giver
• Common Lit articles and short stories www.commonlit.org

I read and understand the classroom syllabus, policies, and procedures.