Ms. Brandwein-Fryar/Ms. B-F cbrandwein-fryar@revere.mec.edu https://msbfseacoast.wordpress.com/

Ms. Pollock cpollock@revere.mec.edu

Coming of Age

Syllabus Fall 2017

Welcome! Bienvenidos! Bemvindos! Bienvenue! Marhaban! We are so excited to have you in our very first co-teaching adventure! This semester, we will explore the theme of “coming of age” by reading a range of texts, analyzing film, and writing our own stories. We will ask tough questions and hopefully have some fun along the way. We have high expectations for how we treat one another, how we behave, and the work we produce. We are here to help you grow as learners and develop your skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. We are looking forward to what we can create together this semester!

Course Breakdown In this course, we will be doing a deep dive into the theme of coming of age. But first... What is coming of age?

A moment or series of moments in life where one realizes they are no longer a child. It’s all about the transition into adulthood. While this topic has been explored throughout history, we know that you - as experts in this area - will bring your unique perspectives to the table.

So… what are we doing?

This semester course is broken into three parts. Part One: Other People’s Stories -- We will explore coming of age themes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and film. We will analyze various representations of these themes and make connections between mediums. Part Two: Our Stories -- We will connect what we discover in Part One to our own experiences. We will create and present pieces that tell our own personal coming of age stories. Part Three: Real-World Connections -- We will extend our exploration by conducting research on a particular aspect of the coming of age theme and the ways in which it can impact the lives of young people in the real world. We will design a peer support project that will serve as a resource for others going through these changes. The project will collect community support resources and provide thoughtful advice.

Grading Policy Your grade in this course will be based on the following breakdown.

Assessments (50%)

40 points: Tests, essays, projects, etc.

20 points: Quizzes, major assignments, formal discussions, etc.

Classwork (30%) 10 points: Journal entries, informal discussions, etc.

Habits of Work (20%) 5 points: daily Habits of Work score (see attached rubric) For major assessments, rubrics will be handed out before we begin the assignment. Grades will be based on the rubric and comments will be provided to explain the grading process.

Habits of Work Habits of work are the behaviors that successful people practice regularly in order to achieve their goals; they are the “how” of success. These are behaviors that everyone can develop to support their achievement in any area, regardless of innate ability or prior experiences with a particular topic. Quality habits of work are directly connected to your own success - in this class, throughout your academic career and in your professional and personal life as adults. Because we believe that quality habits of work are important, we will be assessing your progress in this area as part of your grade. To do this, we will be looking each day at how you participate in class, how you interact with others, and how you approach learning challenges. Students may earn up to 5 points each day for demonstrating quality habits of work in the areas included on the rubric attached. Absences Now, we understand, sometimes life happens. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check Ms. B-F’s teacher website or Schoology and complete what you missed. Daily agendas and assignments will be available online. (If something is not online or if you need printed copies, it is your responsibility to come to Ms. B-F or Ms. Pollock to get what you need.) You have until the end of the quarter to complete missed work. You may not make up Habits of Work grades. Plagiarism What is plagiarism? “The practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” Academic honesty is extremely important in our class, as well as during the rest of your life. It is important that we learn how to give credit to others when we refer to their work, and we will practice various ways we can do this in our writing. Plagiarism results in an automatic zero on the assignment. Please refer to the student handbook for more information. Cell Phone Policy When the bell rings and you are in class, we expect you to put your phone on silent and into your bag or pocket. Phones are only allowed to be used for academic purposes. We will tell you when you may use your phone for a classroom activity. If we see your phone, you will get one warning. If we see your phone multiple times and need to continuously ask you to put it away, this will count as an infraction. We will then need to talk with the Principal and Assistant Principal in order to come up with a plan so you do not use your phone during class.

Expectations There are three main behaviors we expect: Honesty Keeping an open mind Creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone Be kind to one another and respect our space together. We’ll be exploring a lot of complex and sometimes difficult texts, and I expect you to respect and be honest to your teachers, your classmates, and yourselves. Keep an open mind to the texts we read and to one another’s opinions. Most likely opinions will differ from time to time in the classroom, and it is important to listen to views different than your own in order to grow and learn as mature and independent learners.

Habits of Work Rubric

Habit of Work Description What it looks like in class

Ownership

__/1

I will be an active participant in my own learning by demonstrating agency, engagement, and investment in my education.

- Arrive to class on time - Bring any required materials to class

Respect

__/1

I will be a kind, thoughtful and respectful member of the learning community while speaking and listening.

- Actively listen to teacher and peers (pay attention, minimize distractions) - Use language and behaviors that support a safe space where everyone feels respected and welcomed

Productivity

__/1

I will be an engaged, active participant in learning by preparing for class, producing quality work and seeking out help.

- Maintain focus on assigned tasks (minimize distractions) - Ask questions of peers/teachers to clarify expectations/overcome confusion - Complete assigned work to meet expectations

Collaboration

__/1

I will be a critical thinker and problem solver by collaborating with classmates and teachers.

- Work cooperatively and productively with peers to meet shared goals - Participate appropriately in discussions and allow/encourage others to contribute

Leadership

__/1

I will be determined to take advantage of appropriate opportunities to take a leadership role in learning individually and with classmates.

- Set an example in appropriate behavior (using respectful language, staying on task, etc.) - Actively support peers in the completion of academic tasks

Dear Parents and/or Guardians, Your son, daughter, or student is currently enrolled in our Coming of Age Elective. In our classroom we use a variety of approaches and methodology in order to teach all students. With the assistance of technology, film, and video/audio clips, students can experience additional elements of ELA that they may not during reading. Throughout the school year we will watch a variety of films and clips. These films will give students a first hand perspective of themes, character development, character relationships, director decisions, and additional elements we discuss in class. However, some of these films may be rated “R,” and/or contain graphic and mature elements. As a result we are asking your permission to allow your son/daughter/student to watch these in class when the opportunity arises. Due to the graphic nature of these films, we are requesting my students obtain a signed permission slip to view the movie if it is rated "R.” If you feel these films are not appropriate for your son/daughter/student to watch, he/she will be provided with an alternative assignment pertaining to our Unit at the time. This permission slip must be turned in by Friday, September 8, 2017. Thank you for your time. Chelsea Brandwein-Fryar cbrandwein-fryar@revere.mec.edu https://msbfseacoast.wordpress.com

Chelsey Pollock cpollock@revere.mec.edu

=====================Return This Portion====================== Please check one of the following boxes: -------- Yes, I give permission for my son/daughter to watch R rated movies in Coming of Age. -------- No, I do not give permission for my son/daughter to watch R rated movies. Please remove them from class during viewing. Student's Name: Date: Parent's/Guardian’s Signature: