E-mail: bouncelunacy@gmail.com
Cell Phone: 970-903-4865
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30 (or by appointment)
Welcome to Humanities at Animas High School!
My Goals for You as a Learner
- You will read and write rigorously and vigorously. You will analyze and create texts that will surpass the intellectual work that you have done before.
- You will listen and speak thoughtfully and with intent. You will engage in discussions and share ideas that will help you grow as a learner and thinker.
- You will connect to your projects on a personal and academic level. You will take pride in what you produce and recognize your own voice in your work.
- You will practice and internalize the AHS Habits of Heart and Mind:
2) Perspective – Have a point of view; respect and understand the points of view of others. Take a stand, but be willing to listen to other ideas than your own.
3) Evidence– Use it to back up your perspective. Require it from others who make claims. Make decisions based on it.
4) Refinement – Take pride in everything you do in class and make it beautiful, whether you are reading, writing, speaking, or creating.
5) Perseverance – Don’t give up. Learn to work through difficulty.
Class Materials
Please bring the following materials to class EVERY DAY:
1. 3 ring binder: 1.5 inches with plastic insert cover
2. Lined paper, college-ruled3. Pencils and blue or black pens
4. Highlighter or colored pens for marking texts
5. Daily Planner
Assignments
Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Work not turned in at the beginning of class will be considered late. Technological difficulties will not be accepted as an excuse! Back up your work and make sure to allow yourself time to print before you arrive to class.
Late work will be accepted at 50% credit for up to two days after it is due. The third day it will be worth 0%.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Network with other students, check my digital portfolio, or contact me. “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do” is not a valid excuse.
I do not offer extra credit to improve your grade. However, for those students who want to explore a topic in more depth, we can work together to create challenge assignments to help feed your hungry mind!
Rough Draft Policy
With major writing assignments and essays, I spend a great deal of time giving feedback on your writing. However, this feedback is not helpful if students do not put serious effort into the draft that I receive for feedback purposes. The following is a list of minimum standards you must meet to receive my feedback.
Minimum Standards for Feedback:
1. The essay must have a title, 12 point font, and 1inch margins.
2. The essay must be at least the minimum page limit.
3. The essay must be double-spaced.
4. At least 2 different sources of information are quoted or paraphrased (for essays/research papers) .
5. The author has attempted to set-up every quotation.
6. The author has cited each piece of evidence in the correct format.
7. The essay must be spellchecked and free of typos (If I find more than 3 typos I stop giving feedback).
8. The essay must be free of slang and IM speak (Spell ‘you’ as ‘u’ even once and you get no feedback).
9. Significant changes must have been made after peer review (attach the peer reviewed draft to the draft you submit to me).
The Rules
The following are in place to ensure a respectful and safe learning environment. Violations are punishable at my discretion.
Universal AHS Rules
1. No gum.
2. Listening to music anywhere in the building without instructor permission is forbidden. Wearing headphones around your neck is considered the same as listening to music.
3. Follow the fashion guide while at school.
4. No swearing or offensive language. You are old enough to know what this is.
5. Inappropriate use of technology will not be tolerated. This can take many forms. Again, show your maturity by knowing what is and isn’t acceptable.
6. Don’t engage in any behavior that could break one of the low hanging sprinkler heads in a classroom (throwing objects, swinging swords around, etc.)
A few more of my own...
Cell phones: I don’t want to see or hear your phone during class time. The first time, I will confiscate it for the rest of the day. The second time, your parents will have to come get it at my convenience. Texting in class is a serious offense and will likely result in a conference with your parents and the loss of your privilege of having a phone at school.
Food and Drink: Beverages should be in bottles with lids and should never be consumed anywhere near the laptops!!!! There may be times when you have my permission to eat in class; don't leave a mess!
Resources: Respect all of the great resources we have: the art supplies, the books, the laptops, the Smartboard, etc. We have these things to benefit you and your education; take good care of them!
The Really Really Important Rules
Respect For yourself, for others, and for the learning process. Acknowledge that all people with whom you come into contact are in fact people, human beings who deserve to be treated as such. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Tolerance We will treat each student with tolerance regardless of his or her religion, race, culture, sexual orientation, or ability. Indeed, we will strive to not only respect one another, but to accept and celebrate our differences, for diversity is at the heart of this class. For this reason, any and all discriminatory and/or hurtful language is prohibited. If you are not sure if your language is hurtful, err on the side of caution.
Plagiarism Don't do it. Ever. It could result in your expulsion from Animas High School and some bad academic karma.
Assessment
Process
• Completion of Daily Assignments 30%
You will receive points for turning in your assignments on time. You will not receive full credit for assignments that are incomplete or done poorly.
• Process Portfolio/Self-Assessment 30%
Every student will keep a process portfolio: a personalized binder full of class work. The portfolio will contain informal writing, artistic responses, prewriting exercises, rough drafts, relevant notes and all other documented nitty-gritty of what we do in class daily. You will be assessing your own growth and participation; the portfolio will serve as evidence for your self assessment.
Application of Knowledge and Skills 40%
• This will include all final products and formal assessments: finished projects and mini-projects, final drafts of essays, quizzes and tests, and your final exam.
IMPORTANT EVENTS AND TERMS
Student-Led Conferences
Students will have an opportunity to communicate and share with their family their learning and growth over time. You will be taught and expected to lead this “conference” and provide evidence of your learning and personal growth. In addition, you should utilize vocabulary and concepts of our Habits of Heart and Mind in communicating throughout the student-led conference.
Semester 1: October 20th
Semester 2: March 30th Digital Portfolio
You will create a Digital Portfolio (DP) that will serve to showcase your best work and also demonstrate your growth throughout your years at Animas High. You will present your DP at your Presentation of Learning (POL) at the end of the first semester, and at your Transitional Presentation of Learning (TPOL) at the end of the year. You will be taught to place developing work in your Digital Portfolio as a means of showing us your work-in-progress.
PoL/TPoLs
Students give presentations of their learning at the end of both semesters of ninth grade. For these presentations, you are expected to dress professionally (no jeans or tennis shoes!). The PoL (which occurs mid-year) is your chance to reflect on the Habits of the Heart and Mind. You will reflect on how you have learned the habits and select two areas where you want to focus your growth for the remainder of the ninth grade year. The emphasis on the PoL is the development of your presentation skills. At the end of the year, you will have a TPoL, which focuses on the essential question, “Do I know how to be a 10th grade student at Animas High?” You will review all of your projects from 9th grade and come up with evidence to support your answer to this important question.
POLs: December 15th, 16th, 17th
TPOLS: May 23rd, 24th, 25th
Exhibitions
One of the major values of this school is the presentation of student work for the public. You will participate in several exhibitions throughout the year. Parents will be given notice of the date of these exhibitions. Students are expected to stay at school the entire day of exhibitions to help set up, tear down, and get projects ready to present. You are also expected to dress professionally on the date of exhibitions.
