8th+English

Derek Henson dhenson@chinquapin.org 412-874-8074 // You may email me at any time. I will take class-related calls/texts until 8:00pm. //
 * //__ 8th Grade English/Language Arts __//**

I was born in Florida and have lived in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania. My favorite sports are baseball and hockey. My favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. If I could only listen to the music of one artist for the rest of my life, I would choose Jason Mraz. If I could travel anywhere in the world I would go to New Zealand. My parents divorced when I was two. My mom lives in Pittsburgh and my dad lives in Dallas. I have lived in so many places I’m not sure where my “home” is. I’m right handed and my favorite color is green. The coolest place I’ve ever been and the place I would like to live is San Diego. I don’t like wearing shoes. My favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut and my favorite movies are Interstate 60 and Big Fish. I think crying and sadness are essential for a healthy life. If I could be an animal, I would be a cat—or a manatee. I am trying to develop a consistent practice of yoga and mindfulness. I am grateful for everything that has happened in my life, even the crappy stuff. I’m still trying to figure out who I am and what I believe. I don’t think we are ever finished learning. I firmly believe that the best and most important learning happens outside of school. I don’t know what else to say.
 * About Me: **


 * Expectations: **
 * 1) I expect you to try hard, even when you don’t want to.
 * 2) I expect you to treat everyone and everything with love and respect.
 * 3) I expect you to make mistakes. Mistakes are how you learn.

We will create and decide these as a class. This is our community so it is our responsibility to work together to make sure everyone feels, safe, welcome, and happy. We will pause at certain points in the year to reflect on the list we have created. We all have the right to add, eliminate, or revise rules throughout the year, but the class must agree to it.
 * Positive Actions: **


 * Required Materials: **
 * An open mind
 * 1 notebook, at least 70 pages (college ruled is preferred)
 * 1-inch binder (or a VERY sturdy folder)
 * Pencils or pens (whatever legible color you want)
 * Bring an independent reading book to class everyday

You will receive a list of learning goals for the course. In general there are four main things I believe it is my duty as an educator to help you with:
 * Goals: **
 * 1) Increase your self-awareness, as people and as learners.
 * 2) Learn to communicate productively with yourselves and others.
 * 3) Help you learn to love and respect everyone and everything.
 * 4) Help you become more comfortable asking your own questions and looking for your own answers.

I use a points system for grades. You will accumulate points for each assignment and your overall grade will be determined by the number of points you have received divided by the number of total possible points.
 * Grading: **

There will be few tests (mainly vocabulary) and as little homework as possible. The bulk of your grade will come from completed class work and assignments, vocabulary tests, sample portfolio entries, and end-of-unit assignments.

You will be allowed to revise your work to improve its quality. I almost never give extra credit.

There is no penalty for late work. If you do not turn an assignment in on time, you will complete a Late Assignment Sheet and work with Derek to determine a new due date. Semester Grades Quarter 1 -- 40% Quarter 2 -- 40% Final Portfolio -- 20%

There will be no final exams. Instead, you will create a portfolio throughout the entire year that demonstrates what you have learned and proves that you have learned it. Instead of answering my questions on an exam, it is your responsibility to prove what you have learned.
 * Portfolios: **

You should keep all of your work throughout the entire semester. I will give you opportunities to reflect on what you have done and learned as we go. We will also create sample entries throughout the semester to help familiarize you with the process. During review week you will finalize your portfolio and prepare a 10-12 minute presentation. You will give your presentation during finals week.

The portfolio itself and the presentation will each count for half of your Final Portfolio grade.

The portfolio will require you to do three things:
 * 1) Demonstrate what you have learned throughout the semester and prove that you have met class learning goals.
 * 2) Use your own work as supporting evidence.
 * 3) Make direct connections between your work and what you have learned to show how you have learned it.

You will be asked and encouraged to read independently outside of class and bring your independent reading material with you to class every day. The purpose, like our summer reading, is to encourage the habit of reading for pleasure and to explore your interests. You may read fiction such as novels, graphic novels, and short stories, nonfiction such as newspapers, biographies, magazines, or educational blogs. It is best to read a variety of genres throughout the year. You may check books out from our classroom library whenever you like (or Chinquapin’s library). __Any reading material that you have been or will be assigned for class does not count as independent reading__. If you check out books from the class library, you must respect and return them.
 * Independent Reading: **

You may email me with class-related questions or concerns at any time. I will respond as promptly as possible. I will also take class-related calls/texts at any time until 8:00 PM any day of the week. Keep in mind that I will likely be less available during weekends. I go to bed early and wake up early, so I will be less available later in the evening.
 * Communication ** :

This is not MY class. This is OUR class. I am not here to feed you information and test you on it. I am here to facilitate and guide your learning. Your education is YOUR responsibility and success in this class depends on how well you construct your own understanding, not how well you memorizing mine.
 * Miscellaneous: **

Learning does not happen in isolation; you will work together to learn with and from each other.

Keep in mind that __YOU have the POWER to determine your own attitude__. What you look for is what you see. If you choose to approach this class (and your life) with a positive, enthusiastic attitude you will have positive experiences. If you choose to employ a negative state of mind you will be robbing yourself and those around you of life. CHOOSE to enjoy everything.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to see me about what you missed and speak to a classmate to catch up. Let me know about absences in advance if possible.

You already know whether or not cheating is acceptable. You need to decide for yourself if a grade is worth sacrificing your integrity and credibility.

Please feel free to speak to me about any problems or difficulties you might have during the year. I will work with you as much as I can to help.

// Your preparation for the real world is not in the answers you’ve learned, but in the questions you’ve learned how to ask yourself. //   // --Rilke //

// If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. //   // --The Dalai Lama //

**Schedule For the Year:** Cooperative learning Classroom environment || What kind of classroom do we want to have? || None || Cooperation || Write two single paragraphs making a claim and using textual evidence as support || How can I turn personal experience into a story? How can my own experiences help others? || Create an original children’s book Read your book to preschool children || What is my Personal Legend? || Personal Legend Podcast ||
 * ** Unit ** ||  ** Topic **  ||  ** Questions or Themes **  ||  ** Major Assignments **  ||
 * ** Fall Semester ** ||
 * 1 || Course introduction
 * 2 || // Twelve Angry Men // || Truth and Certainty
 * 3 || Memoir || What is my story? || Write your own memoir ||
 * ** Spring Semester ** ||
 * 4 || Children’s Book Project || What makes a good story?
 * 5 || // Bless Me, Ultima // || Identity and Perspective || TBD ||
 * 6 || // The Alchemist // || Identity and Perspective
 * 7 || Poetry || Communicating meaning through Figurative and Literal Language || Written poems ||

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