Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300

Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome freshman learners!

My name is Ms. Baker and I believe that as a teacher, it is my job to prepare all students
for life beyond high school. I want to impart my passion for reading and writing to you
through teaching how important mastering the English language will be in the postsecondary and professional lives of everyone. As a voracious reader, I have always had a
passion for English, and am looking forward to having enlightening conversations about
reading and writing with you!
If you have any questions, first reference the syllabus, then the posters and
whiteboards in my classroom, and finally my website (abbylbaker.weebly.com). Any questions
not answered by these materials can be asked via email (abaker@phoenixunion.org), phone
((602) 764-3000 ext. 10000), or during my office hours. I only respond to emails and phone
calls during office hours, except in special circumstances.
In freshman English, we are going to have a fun year filled with engaging short stories,
useful reading and writing strategies, and tons of interesting individual and group projects!
Come prepared to learn every day!
Course Overview By Quarter
Quarter 2:

Quarter 1:

Unit 1: Puritan Narratives Young Goodman

Brown
(5% of your grade)
Group Project (5% of your grade)
Unit 2: Puritan Narratives The Crucible
(5% of your grade)
Unit 2 Test (10% of your grade)
Quarter 1 = 25% of your overall grade

Quarter 3:

Quarter 4:

Unit 5: Myth Narratives The Odyssey

(5% of your grade)
Group Project (5% of your grade)
Unit 6: Myth Narratives Oedipus
(5 % of your grade)
Individual Paper (10% of your grade)

Quarter 3 = 25% of your overall grade

Unit 3: Dystopic Narratives - 1984

(5% of your grade)
Individual Project (5% of your grade)
Unit 4: Dystopic Narratives The Lottery
(5% of your grades)
Individual Paper (10% of your grade)

Quarter 2 = 25% of your overall grade

Unit 7: African American Narratives Passing

(5% of your grade)
Individual Project (5% of your grade)
Unit 8: African American Narratives Short Stories
(5% of your grade)
Final Test (10% of your grade)

Quarter 2 = 25% of your overall grade

**The teacher reserves the right to change any and all units, assessments, and grade
allocations, with ample student notice.

Textbook and Assigned Reading

There will be no textbook for freshman English. All assigned readings will be given as
paper copies for individual use. Due to printing and copyright restrictions, only one copy of
the text will be available per student. For a complete list of assigned readings, visit my website
(abbylbaker.weebly.com).

Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300
Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Classroom Procedures
Procedures, different than rules and consequences, are guidelines by which to do
everyday tasks in the classroom; they are imperative to maintaining order, timeliness, and
routine. Procedures for the teacher and students should be taught patterns of behavior that
are constantly reinforced and re-taught to maintain a stable and respectful learning
environment.

Beginning Class
Before every class, the teacher will ensure that necessary materials for the class period
are written on the board in the Daily Materials section. As students arrive to class, they will
check the Daily Materials section and collect the materials listed (books, colored pencils,
worksheets) from the material cabinet. After students collect the materials needed for class,
they will turn in any homework to the homework station and then will sit in their assigned
seat. When the bell rings, signifying the beginning of class, the teacher will take attendance
and prepare for the lesson while students complete the bellwork projected on the mounted
overhead projector in their bellwork journal, writing the date before the day's entry. After
three minutes, the teacher will begin class.

Ending Class
At the end of instruction, a short closure activity will occupy the last five minutes of
class. The closure activity will either be explained by the teacher or projected on the mounted
overhead projector. If the activity is not something the students will turn in immediately, they
will write it in their bellwork journal. If the activity is something the students will turn in
immediately, further instructions will be given to them. After they complete their closure
activity, students will pick up trash in their area and then sit in their seats and chat with the
students around them until the bell rings. It is the teachers intention to dismiss students as
quickly after the bell rings as possible.

Transitions
To transition smoothly, quickly, and efficiently between activities, two signals will be
given. The first signal is a timer; the teacher will tell the students how long the timer will be
set for and what to do when the timer goes off before the beginning of an activity. The
second signal is an auditory signal of ladies and gentlemen, please focus your attention on
me, where students will cease their activity and any conversations and sit quietly facing the
direction of the teacher. These two signals will refocus class attention at the end of an activity
and allow the learning environment to be engaging and productive.

Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300
Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Work
Homework Collection
The homework station has a bin for each class period, and as previously stated, it will
be the responsibility of the student to turn in homework to the homework station at the
beginning of class unless otherwise stated by the teacher on specific assignments. The
teacher will collect the homework from the homework station after bellwork, and any
homework placed in the bin after original collection will be considered late unless the student
is absent or late with a pass.

Returning Work
Next to the homework station are crates for each class period with folders for each
student. Completed and graded work with names will be placed by the teacher in the
appropriate student folders, which students can collect as they enter the room and collect
materials and hand in homework, or after class.

Handing Out Materials

The teacher will ensure that all materials needed for class will be organized and
accessible in the material cabinet before the beginning of the day. Students, upon entering
the classroom, will check the Daily Materials section of the whiteboard and collect the listed
materials before sitting down in their assigned seats before class. Additional necessary
materials will be provided during instruction by the teacher.

Missed Work
Students with excused absence(s) will be allowed one day per day that they were
absent to complete missed work for full credit. The Missed Work Binder will be on the
homework station, and it will include any materials needed to complete missed work; it also
contains half-sheets of paper regarding the absence that the student must fill out and staple
to the completed work. It is the responsibility of the student to collect and hand in all missed
work.

Late Work
All homework must be turned in by the end of the bellwork section of each classperiod. Quizzes and tests can be taken up to one week from original test date for 50% credit
of the students score. All other work turned in late will be graded based on the following:
Day-of Late: 90% credit
1 Day Late: 75% credit
2 Days Late: 50% credit
3+ Days Late: 0% credit

Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300
Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Grading and Recording Student Work

Participation grades will be recorded daily into the gradebook at 4:00 PM.
Homework will be graded, recorded, and available for student collection within 24
hours of receipt.
Quizzes and tests will be graded and recorded within 48 hours of receipt, and
available for student collection within one week after test date (to allow for late
quizzes and tests to be taken).
Essays will be graded, recorded, and available for student collection within one week
of receipt.
**The teacher reserves the right to give or not give extra credit work.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism, self-plagiarism, allowing
peers to plagiarize, using the internet to complete coursework deemed individual work, not
citing sources, not properly citing sources. All instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt
with on an individual basis and will follow school and district guidelines.

Guardian Communication
Upon meeting each group of students, the teacher will ask their guardians to fill out a
sheet of contact information. Guardians will be emailed every other week with a general
progress report of classroom activities, as well as a short individualized note about their
students progress. Guardians will be encouraged to email or call the teacher to discuss their
student and their grade. Guardians without email will have their students progress report,
along with a slip acknowledging that the guardian received it that they must sign and have
the student return, printed and sealed in an envelope, and the student will be responsible for
returning the signed slip. Any difficulty receiving the signed slip will result in the teacher
calling the guardian to give the progress report via phone. For any behavioral issues,
concerns, or success, the guardian will be called.

Consideration for Diverse Learners

All students have a right to an equal and fair education based on their ability,
regardless of their culture or ethnicity, educational or socioeconomic background, disability or
giftedness, first language, or familys involvement. Diverse classrooms are a fun opportunity
for students to learn about each other and the world, and they should be free from
discrimination and ridicule. All students can be successful with proper guidance and
encouragement, and every student will be given the opportunity to grow to their greatest
potential. All students that need or want extra instruction on assignments can receive
individualized instruction during my office hours.

Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300
Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Rules and Consequences

After high school, students will be asked to follow rules, whether in continuing
education or in their place of employment; rules notify society what is acceptable and what is
not. In the classroom, rules are expected to be followed to ensure respect, understanding,
and efficiency. If rules are broken, consequences will follow due process, will be reasonable,
and will fit the level of infraction. It is imperative for students to be able to recognize and
follow rules not only in the classroom, but in preparation for the rest of their lives. All rules
and consequences will be taught during the first week of class, re-taught after violations, and
will be posted in the classroom.
**All rules and consequences follow district and school policy.

Rules
1. Allow others and yourself to learn by focusing on instruction in the classroom.
2. Keep your good reputation and allow yourself to be guilt- and blame-free by doing your
work yourself.
3. Value other peoples property, including the property of the school, as you value your
own.
4. Share only positive or constructive feedback about the work, thoughts and opinions, and
contributions to instruction of yourself, your peers, and the teacher.
5. Be honest and responsible when you have difficulty completing work and/or do not try
your hardest.

Consequences
Negative consequences
1 Offense: Warning and Student Conference
2 Offense: Written Warning
3 Offense: Call to Guardian
4 Offense: Detention and Call to Guardian
5 Offense: Administrative Referral
**The teacher reserves the right to skip consequences based upon the severity of the
violation.
st

nd
rd
th
th

Positive consequences
Communication with your guardian regarding good behavior or contributions
Extra bathroom passes
Picking one thing out of the Positive Consequences jar
Vouchers worth 5 points that can be added to any graded assignment
Choose where to sit for one day
**The teacher reserves the right to determine if a student will receive a positive consequence
and what the consequence will be.

Freshman English Class

Ms. Baker, Room 1300
Email: abaker@phoenixunion.org Phone: (602) 764-3000 ext. 10000
Website: abbylbaker.weebly.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Syllabus Contract Acknowledgement and Guardian Contact Information

Student's full name: __________________________________ Ms. Baker's English hour: _______
Guardian 1 full name:_______________________________________________________________
Guardian 1 relationship to student: ___________________________________________________
Guardian 1 phone number: __________________ Guardian 1 email: _______________________
Guardian 1 preferred contact method: PHONE / EMAIL
Guardian 1 preferred contact hours: __________________________________________________
Other comments/information:

(optional) Guardian 2 full name:______________________________________________________

Guardian 2 relationship to student: ___________________________________________________
Guardian 2 phone number: __________________ Guardian 2 email: _______________________
Guardian 2 preferred contact method: PHONE / EMAIL
Guardian 2 preferred contact hours: __________________________________________________
Other comments/information:

By signing this paper, I acknowlege that I received a copy of the syllabus for Ms. Baker's
freshman English class and agree to all of the terms outlined within it. I also acknowledge
that all above information is correct and agree to keep it up-to-date.
_____________________________
Student Signature

_____________________________
Student Name

___________________
Date

_____________________________
Guardian 1 Signature

_____________________________
Guardian 1 Name

___________________
Date

_____________________________
(optional) Guardian 2 Signature

_____________________________
(optional) Guardian 2 Name

___________________
Date