Nikki Yarbrough

English Department

Queen Creek High School

nyarbrough@qcusd.org

extension 5400

room A217

 

1st hour:  Pre-AP 9 (Honors English 9)

2nd hour: English 10

3rd hour:  English 10

4th hour: English 10

4B: Lunch

5th hour:  Pre-AP 9 (Honors English 9)

6th hour: Prep

 

Weekly homework assignments are listed on SnapGrades.  I also give each student a WAAG (Week at a Glance) that lists everything we’re doing in class, as well as the homework.  If you would like me to send one to you, please feel free to email me.

 

Pre-AP 9 Syllabus: (If you are looking for English 10, scroll through Pre-AP 9 first)

 

If better is possible, good is not enough.

 

Ms. Nikki Yarbrough

Voicemail box 5400

Email address nyarbrough@qcusd.org

Room A217

 

Welcome to Ms. Yarbrough’s Honors English 9 (Pre-AP) class.  In order to obtain the most conducive learning environment, I will use the following classroom and grading policies.  It is important that you and your parents read this policy, in order for you to be successful in this class.

 

This easiest way to contact me is via email; however, do not hesitate to call if you have a question.  I strive to keep my website updated, solely as a tool for parents to be aware of class progression.  I encourage you to check the weekly assignment calendar to hold your students accountable for the classwork.  You can find the assignment calendar by navigating through the district website at www.qcusd.org

 

Course:  Honors English 9 (Pre-AP)

Textbook:  The Language of Literature, Evanston:  McDougal Littell, 2002.

Description:  1 year      1 credit

The purpose of Honors English 9 is to provide a more challenging approach to the regular curriculum.  It is assumed that by taking this course, the student is planning on continuing at an academically gifted pace, with the ultimate goal being Advanced Placement (AP) classes.  The curriculum emphasizes the students’ abilities to use higher level thinking skills – analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic writing paradigms and writing process.  By the end of the academic year, the student will move from formulaic writing, to writing that shows a mature use of style, diction and syntax.  Various themes, cultural dynamics, and literary analysis will be studied in all genres (short story, novel, poetry, drama, & various forms of non-fiction).  Because this class has a weighted grade, students are expected to participate in rigorous study, while displaying above average performance.

 

Course Objective:  The English Department at Queen Creek High School utilizes the Arizona State Standards for English as a curriculum.  The language standards consist of reading, writing, listening and speaking, viewing and presenting, and technology.  A comprehensive list of the state standards can be viewed at the Arizona Board of Education website.  Because this is a preparatory class for the AP track, standards from the College Board will also be incorporated into the curriculum.  A comprehensive final exam is given at the end of each semester.

 

Materials:  The following items are required for this class:

1.        a folder, or a section in a three ring binder devoted to English only.

2.        a three pronged folder (I advise getting the plastic, as opposed to the paper.  Make sure it has prongs.)

3.        blue/black pens

4.        grading pens (not blue or black)

5.        index cards for vocab flashcards (15 units; 20 words per unit)

6.        an open mind

 

Standard Grading Scale:

100-90  A            89-80  B     79-70   C     69-60   D     59-0   F

  • This is a weighted class.
  • I do NOT round up.  You earn your grade.  An “A” in this course means nothing less than excellence.  A student who merely completes the assigned tasks will NOT receive an “A.”  Because of the high academic standards of this course, students who go above and beyond to provide focused, thorough explanations on topics, creativity in projects, and teach the class more than what the book states about the literature will earn an “A.”  Earning a “B” in this course is perfectly acceptable because this means the student has worked about average.  No one should earn a failing grade.  Failure is unacceptable.  Please be aware of the new policy for honors level classes.  All honors students will maintain a C (75%) or better in order to continue in the honors sequence.

 

Extra Credit:

  • I do not offer extensive extra credit assignments.  If you are meeting the expectations, you will not need extra credit.

 

Conduct:  Behavior becoming of a mature, young adult is expected.

1.        You will respect yourself, your peers, and me.

2.        You will write on paper, not your desk.

3.        You will respect the property of your peers by not touching or “borrowing” something that is not yours.

4.        You will place your trash in the garbage can.  This is a classroom, not a basketball court.  There is no one to clean up your missed shots.

5.        You will be IN YOUR SEAT when the tardy bell rings.  I strictly enforce the QCHS tardy/sweep policy.

6.        You will attend class.  The attendance policy will be enforced.  You will be dropped from this class at ten absences.

7.        You will use language that displays maturity and makes your parents, QCHS and myself proud to know you.  Profanity, racial slurs, sexual innuendos, or religious slurs will not be tolerated.

8.        You will be responsible for your own learning.  You will not challenge my integrity by thinking you can cheat and get away with it.  If you wish to question your own integrity, do it before you come through my door.  I will confiscate any assignments you may be cheating on, regardless the class.  If I catch you cheating on one of my assignments, you have chosen to forfeit any and all points for that assignment.

9.        You will sleep on your own time.

10.    YOU WILL BE YOU.

 

Behavior Plan:  If your behavior is unbecoming of a mature young adult, the following will happen:

1.        verbal warning/conference with teacher

2.        notification of parent/guardian

3.        conference with parent/guardian

4.        written referral/administrative action

5.        Severe infractions result in immediate administrative action.

 

Restroom/Hall Passes:

  • Out of courtesy, please do not ask to leave while I am addressing the group as a whole.  You will be given three passes at the beginning of each semester.  You cannot leave the classroom without a pass.  You can redeem your passes for five points of extra credit, per pass, at the end of the semester. 

 

Guest Teachers:

  • In the event that I am absent, the utmost courtesy, respect, and cooperation is required.  Students who choose to behave inappropriately will face severe consequences.  Should there be any substitute complaints about an individual student, a referral for that student will be written for defiance of authority upon my return.

 

Make-up Work: 

  • I follow the QCHS policy on make-up work.  You are allotted the number of days that you missed, plus one, to make up your work.  It is your responsibility to get the work on your own time.  Check the calendars/folders by yourself, at an appropriate time.  Make-up work will only be accepted for excused absences.  Formal writing assignments or projects must be turned in the day they are due.  If the absence is unavoidable, email the assignment to me.

 

Late Work:

  • I do not accept late work.  Writing assignments and projects are due on the assigned due date, regardless of absence.

Gradesheets:

·      Students will receive a grade print out every Friday.  They will return the gradesheet on Monday, bearing the signature of a parent/guardian, for five points.

·      Parents, if you do not see the gradesheets, please ask your student for them.

 

 

English 10 Syllabus:

 

Don’t ever believe that you have nothing to contribute.  The world is an incredible unfulfilled tapestry, and only you can fill that space that is yours.

--Leo Buscaglia

 

Nikki Yarbrough

English Department

Queen Creek High School

nyarbrough@qcusd.org

extension 5400

room A217

 

1st hour:  Pre-AP 9 (Honors English 9)

2nd hour: English 10

3rd hour:  English 10

4th hour: English 10

4B: Lunch

5th hour:  Pre-AP 9 (Honors English 9)

6th hour: Prep

 

Welcome to Ms. Yarbrough’s English 10 class.  In order to obtain the most conducive learning environment, I will use the following classroom and grading policies.  It is important that you and your parents read this policy, in order for you to be successful in this class.

 

This easiest way to contact me is via email; however, do not hesitate to call if you have a question.  I strive to keep my website updated, solely as a tool for parents to be aware of class progression.  I encourage you to check the weekly assignment calendar to hold your students accountable for classwork.  You can find the assignment calendar by navigating through the district website at www.qcusd.org.

 

Course:  English 10

Textbook/Reading Materials: 

  • The Language of Literature, Evanston:  McDougal Littell, 2002.
  • Various novels, short stories, poems, non-fiction articles

Description:  1 year      1 credit

Major areas of study include fine tuning of the six traits of writing.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic writing paradigms and the writing process.  Students will display reading comprehension skills through written, as well as objective assignments.  Formal and informal presentations will be assigned throughout the academic year.  Various themes, cultural dynamics and literary analysis will be studied in all genres (short story, novel, poetry and drama).  This class includes homework, extensive vocabulary study, research, and independent reading.  One of the many goals of this class is to prepare students to successfully complete/pass the AIMES tests that are taken this year.  

 

Course Objective:  The English Department at Queen Creek High School utilizes the Arizona State Standards for English as a curriculum.  The language standards consist of reading, writing, listening and speaking, viewing and presenting, and technology.  A comprehensive list of the state standards can be viewed at the Arizona Board of Education website.  A comprehensive final exam is given at the end of each semester.

 

Materials:  The following items are required for this class:

1.        a folder, or a section in a three ring binder devoted to English only.

2.        a three pronged folder (I advise getting the plastic, as opposed to the paper.  Make sure it has prongs.)

3.        blue/black pens

4.        grading pens (not blue or black)

5.        index cards for vocab flashcards (15 units; 20 words per unit)

6.        an open mind

 

Standard Grading Scale:

100-90  A      89-80  B     79-70   C     69-60   D     59-0   F

 

  • I do NOT round up.  You earn your grade.  An “A” in this course means nothing less than excellence.  A student who merely completes the assigned tasks will NOT receive an “A.”  The academic “bar” is set high because I want students to work at their potential, not below it.  No one should earn a failing grade.  Failure is unacceptable. 

 

Extra Credit:

  • I do not offer extensive extra credit assignments.  If you are meeting the expectations, you will not need extra credit.

 

Conduct:  Behavior becoming of a mature, young adult is expected.

1.        You will respect yourself, your peers, and me.

2.        You will write on paper, not your desk.

3.        You will respect the property of your peers by not touching or “borrowing” something that is not yours.

4.        You will place your trash in the garbage can.  This is a classroom, not a basketball court.  There is no one to clean up your missed shots.

5.        You will be IN YOUR SEAT when the tardy bell rings.  I strictly enforce the QCHS tardy/sweep policy.

6.        You will attend class.  The attendance policy will be enforced.  You will be dropped from this class at ten absences.

7.        You will use language that displays maturity and makes your parents, QCHS and myself proud to know you.  Profanity, racial slurs, sexual innuendos, or religious slurs will not be tolerated.

8.        You will be responsible for your own learning.  You will not challenge my integrity by thinking you can cheat and get away with it.  If you wish to question your own integrity, do it before you come through my door.  I will confiscate any assignments you may be cheating on, regardless the class.  If I catch you cheating on one of my assignments, YOU have chosen to forfeit any and all points for that assignment.

9.        You will sleep on your own time.

10.    YOU WILL BE YOU.

 

Behavior Plan:  If your behavior is unbecoming of a mature young adult, the following will happen:

1.        verbal warning/conference with teacher

2.        notification of parent/guardian

3.        conference with parent/guardian

4.        written referral/administrative action

5.        Severe infractions result in immediate administrative action.

 

Restroom/Hall Passes:

  • Out of courtesy, please do not ask to leave while I am addressing the group as a whole.  You will be given three passes at the beginning of each semester.  You cannot leave the classroom without a pass.  You can redeem your passes for five points of extra credit, per pass, at the end of the semester. 

 

Guest Teachers:

  • In the event that I am absent, the utmost courtesy, respect, and cooperation is required.  Students who choose to behave inappropriately will face severe consequences.  A referral will be written for defiance of authority upon my return.

 

Make-up Work: 

  • I follow the QCHS policy on make-up work.  You are allotted the number of days that you missed, plus one, to make up your work.  It is your responsibility to get the work on your own time.  Check the calendars/folders by yourself, at an appropriate time.  Make-up work will only be accepted for excused absences.  Formal writing assignments or projects must be turned in the day they are due.  If the absence is unavoidable, email the assignment to me.

 

Late Work:

  • I do not accept late work.  Writing assignments and projects are due on the assigned due date, regardless of absence.

 

Gradesheets:

  • Students will receive a grade print out every Friday.  They will return the gradesheet on Monday, bearing the signature of a parent/guardian, for five points.
  • Parents, If you do not see the gradesheets, please ask your student for them.