Welcome to the Whitney Young Academic Center and Ms. Stojak’s English class.

 

The emphasis in English this year will be on mastering the essential skills of our grade level. You, the student, will engage in a wide variety of activities focused on strengthening your skills in four major areas: reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary development. You, the parent/guardian, will play a major role in supporting your student’s efforts. This is an overview of the class.

 

Materials:

• Pens/pencils, markers/colored pencils/crayons

• One binder (one or one and a half inches)

• One set of five dividers

• Loose leaf paper (replenished through the year)

• Vocabulary workbook (will be given to you, needs to come to class daily)

• Grammar textbook (will be given to you, but will only come to class on specific days)

• Novels (assigned at various times through the year, needs to come to class daily)

 

Expectations for the student:

• You are expected to bring the materials listed above to class everyday.

• All assignments are to be completed on time and to reflect your best effort.

• You are to be well-behaved and obey all school and room rules.

• You are expected to be respectful to your teacher, your classmates, and yourself.

 

Expectations for the parent/guardian:

• Help your student with their homework and make sure they are ready for class the next day.

• Encourage them to read in their free time.

• Please contact me with any questions. The best way is email: amstojak@cps.edu

 

What to expect:

• Students will have homework almost every night, including weekends.

• Students will be reading novels in class – please discuss with them! Students will also have one book report per quarter – watch for due dates. The more your student reads, the better!

• Students will have vocabulary words each week, with a vocabulary test at the end of the week. Please help them to study. They will also have frequent grammar assignments and quizzes.

• Students’ work will be graded as explained on the back of this form.

 

Ms. Stojak’s Policies

 

Grading Scale

92-100 A

82-91 B

75-81 C

70-74 D

69 & Below F

 

Grade Components

30% Class work (ex. warm-ups, story responses, spelling quizzes)

30% Assessments (ex. tests, quizzes)

20% Homework (ex. 2x lists, vocabulary workbook pages, grammar assignments, reading questions)

10% Projects (Book reports, etc.)

10% Final exam (end of each semester)

 

Late Work Policy

Projects (ex. Book report) turned in late will be marked down 10% a day (maximum penalty 30%)

Late homework will NOT be accepted.  If a student is absent the day of an assignment or test, they have two days to make it up without penalty. If a student is absent when an assignment is due or a test is given, it is expected/taken the day they return.

 

Book Reports

Students have received a book report assignment over the summer. The first book report (summer project) is due on September 7. The first quarter book report is due on October 22; second quarter is due on January 11; third quarter is due March 28; and fourth quarter is May 23.

 

Loss of Books

Your student will be given novels and textbooks to use for this course. They also have access to a classroom library. They are responsible for the return of these materials in good condition. If a vocabulary book is lost, replacements are $8. If a novel/textbook is lost, the cost will vary. Please advise your students to be responsible and not lose books.