Expectations

=MS Journalism Class Expectations=

=The Class= = It is with great excitement that I repeat this class in journalism at LACS. The core of the course will be a deep study of many genres found in the newspaper, starting with news writing and continuing with editorials, letters to the editor, reviews, advice columns and so on. We will study the meaning of objectivity and look at the construction of the news. We will also look at multi-media journalism, studying and creating our own advertisements and photo essays. There will be no class newspaper this time around. Instead, each student will produce her or his own newspaper that will serve as a portfolio of the semester’s work. = =Independent Reading= We will have one class period devoted to silent reading on Wednesdays of each week, except for extenuating circumstances. Although the title of this class is “Journalism,” it’s still an English course, and it’s my contention that students should continue to read independently throughout the school year. Students are required to bring a novel to class on Wednesdays and be engaged for the entire time. Success in reading has much to do with choosing the right book. If you’re unprepared, you will have lost an opportunity to get excited about a good novel. Students are required to read at least one independent book per month, even when we are reading a novel together in class. Book reviews will be due on February 27, March 27, April 24 and May 29. The monthly form will be available for download on the class wikispaces page soon. Check here: http://lacslibrary.pbwiki.com/Journalism =Classroom Behavior= The way you behave in class has a great impact on the quality of your education. For this reason, I have a few rules, both specific and general. Specifically, enter class quietly and remain in your seat unless you have permission to move about the room. More generally, you should 1) cooperate with me and with your peers, 2) respect the rights and property of others and 3) carry out your basic student responsibilities. English class is a place where we often share ideas and opinions. Therefore, our classroom needs to be safe, both physically and academically, so that we can all share our thoughts. Be respectful and conscientious, and you should do very well. =Homework= Bring homework to class on the day it is due and on time. Homework is considered late if it is not in class and complete by the time class begins. Timeliness is important, since most assignments will be reviewed either together as a class or in a peer-to-peer conference during the period it is due. In my experience, late homework is usually done quickly and haphazardly.  Beyond **1) homework**, passing this course will also be contingent on **2) participation in class discussions**, **3) preparedness**, and **4) overall cooperation in class activities**. Expect a parent contact or a yellow flag to be sent home if a student is not passing in any one of these areas. While feedback will often be handwritten or rubric-based, I’m planning on using a “four-star” system to let students know how they’re doing on smaller assignments. When homework is returned to you, it will be marked with one to four stars. One star signifies that effort was minimal; two stars means it was more thorough, but that attention to detail is missing; three stars means a solid job that met requirements; four stars indicates effort above and beyond the call. **Ones and twos will require revision.** =Be Prepared= You do not have to bring too much to English, so I expect that you will have a three-subject **notebook**, **pens or pencils** and your **English folder** every time we meet. You’ll also need a **novel on Wednesdays**. I’ll let you know ahead of time if you’ll need anything else. Being prepared is vital to your success in English. It helps your organization and saves time for all of us if everyone is prepared. Trips to lockers will not be allowed during class time, so bring your homework and all of your supplies so we can get started and make the most out of our time together. =Bathroom Breaks, etc.= Except for rare circumstances, trips from the classroom are not allowed in the first or last ten minutes of class. During other times, please use discretion and find a time to go when the class is will not be disturbed and you will not be missing any direct instruction. There will be times when I cannot allow a student to leave the room. If I do not offer you an opportunity to go later on, you may ask me again (politely). =Extra Help= I’ll be in the building before schools on most days, and I can often make myself available during lunch. Please make an appointment with me if you’d like some help some other time. =Making Up for Absences= All students are responsible for finding out what has been missed and what work must be made up. Upon your return, you can obtain any notes you may have missed from myself or another student. I encourage you to have a “class buddy,” someone you can exchange phone numbers with so you can touch base when you’re out. Make-up work should be turned in as soon as possible, and it should take as many days to make up the work as you had days out of school. For example, if you were absent for two days, I’ll assume you can catch up in two more days. See me if you feel you need extra time. Students, parents and guardians can contact me any time via email ( mlevy@icsd.k12.ny.us ). I’ll usually be able to respond within a day. If that is not convenient, you can leave a message for me at the front office (274-2183). Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
 * Pass/Fail **
 * Four Stars **
 * Contact **