English IV Honors - Video Explainer                                                            Mr. Calandro

 Dear Class,

            Welcome to English IV.  I hope all of you had a good summer and are ready to get started.  We have a lot to do this semester and little time in which to do it.  

Grading

• Projects / Essays (45%) – This will include Essays, Projects, Presentations and Speeches. 
• Quizzes (35%) – Quizzes will be given weekly and can include vocabulary, diagramming, literary terms, readings, notes, and any material being covered that week. Pop-quizzes will be given as necessary.
• Classwork / Homework (20%) – This will include participation grades, homework, journals, poetry journals, and anything else we complete in class.

Classroom Procedures

• Tutoring – I will be available for tutoring on Wednesday after school or by appointment.  I'm happy to work with you if you can't meet then.
• Homework Policy – You will lose 2% off your grade for every hour it is submitted late for up to 24 hours after the due-date.  After 24 hours the assignment is a zero.
• Make-Up Work – If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to get your make-up work upon your return and submit it within two days. It can  be submitted via the Absence Make-up Form.
• Major Projects – larger assignments will be accepted a maximum of 2 days late with a penalty of 10 points per day.

Classroom Materials List

• Beowulf translation by Seamus Heaney
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1831 edition)
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Class Rules

Many of these rules are covered in the handbook.  Students will be expected to follow all the rules outlined there in addition to the rules explicitly stated here.  Please familiarize yourself with the handbook.  I reserve the right to contact parents or refer students to the office at any time.  My standard discipline procedure is as follows:

1^st time: warning

2^nd time: warning, parent contact

3^rd time: warning, parent contact, office referral

• Seating – Students will be assigned seats and expected to sit in that seat every day. Failure to do so will result in a parent contact or referral.
• Disruptions – Students are in class first and foremost to learn and anything that interferes with the teacher’s ability to teach or student’s ability to learn will not be tolerated. It is important to know when to talk, when to listen, and when to think; good questions require thought.
• Food – The administration has requested that no food be allowed in the room. Unless food is given to you by a teacher, nothing will be eaten in class.
• Cheating – Cheating is a violation of the honor code.  Plagiarism is cheating, and you will receive a zero for the assignment and/or be referred to the office. 
• Cell Phones/MP3 Players –Phones will be confiscated and given to the administration. No warnings.

Dear Parents,

           I am happy to have the opportunity to work with your son/daughter and hope to be in contact with you throughout the semester.  I believe education is not something that stops at 2:55pm and resumes at 8:00am, and for me this means that I need to work with you to make this the best experience possible and to head off problems before they start.  If you have concerns do not hesitate to contact me, and, please take a moment to be sure that your student understands what is expected in my classroom.  This is going to be a great year; I look forward to working with you and your child.

-Anthony Calandro            anthony.calandro@ucps.k12.nc.us