Ms. Deborah R. McCarthy
English Language Arts, 10th Grade
Education:
Master of Arts in Teaching at Tusculum University, TN
Master of Science in Administration at Central Michigan University, MI
Bachelor of Science in Business Management at the University of Mary, ND
Associate in Arts for Leadership at Rose State College, OK
Associate in Applied Science for Information Management at the Community College of the United States Air Force
About Me: I am a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, and I graduated with my teaching degree from Tusculum University in 2018. I am currently state-certified to teach business and English courses. I have two daughters, Elizabeth (27 years old) and Catherine (18 years old), who make this momma so...proud. Elizabeth graduated from Cherokee High School in 2015 and is now a registered nurse, and Catherine graduated from Volunteer High School last year and is attending Lincoln Memorial University. My experience during my military tenure, parental experiences, and various teaching opportunities have given me the tools to help students become self-directed and lifelong learners. I love being a teacher, and I hope to instill a love of learning in my students.
English Language Arts (ELA) Syllabus
for 10th Grade
Class Description:
Welcome to English/Language Arts! Prepare for an excellent academic year packed with learning and understanding. From improved writing to fascinating debates, we will immerse ourselves in a world of learning that will pique your interest in learning the foundational skills necessary for your future.
Our focus this school year will be learning and developing our skills as critical thinkers, readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. These skills are essential for success in other school subjects and further developing critical life skills. This course combines language arts and literature.
The literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, comprehending, and thinking are taught in this course. Students gain practice in grammar, punctuation, and writing skills. You can expect assignments in all writing modes identified by the State of Tennessee: argumentative, narrative, and informative.
I challenge you to be serious about your education. Let's make this educational journey memorable! Let's work together to master the material this academic year!
Link to Tennessee Academic English/Language Arts Standards:
Link to Hawkins County Schools Family Information:
Canvas:
Canvas is an online platform for uploading classwork or homework, completing quizzes/tests, and writing discussion posts. Each student will have access to Canvas, the main access area for student assignments. I will post assignments, slides, and any video references as needed. Students will be taught how to access my classroom during the first week of school; this tool can be used when absent or during in-class assignments. I will look for your Bell Ringer submissions, assignments, and class discussion posts.
Google Classroom:
Each student will also have access to my Google Classroom. I will periodically post assignments, Google Slides, and video references used during class. Students will be taught how to access my classroom during the first week of school. This tool can also be used when students are absent or during class assignments. Grades will not be correctly reflected on Google Classroom or Canvas; for appropriate grades, refer to Skyward.
Grading:
If you do not have a Skyward access code, you can get one from the office. All grades will be updated weekly, so please check Skyward for all grades.
Grading Weight:
Daily Classwork: Bell Ringer, Class Participation, Quizzes, Group Collaborative Assignments--40%
Tests: Essays, Book Report Presentations, UNIT Exams--60%
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Final/EOC is calculated separately in Skyward, 20% of total.
Grading Scale:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
Honors Course only:
The average in an honors course may not exceed 103%.
This will include adding 3 percentage points to the grades used to calculate the semester or yearly average.
Absent Work:
Personal responsibility and accountability are paramount in my class. All students are expected to turn in all writing assignments and projects on time. All homework assignments will be turned in at the beginning of class. Any assignment that does not make it into the bin by the beginning of classroom instruction will be considered late.
It is the student’s responsibility to ask for missed work. When a student is absent, check Canvas for the missing assignments. The student has one week from the date of absence to turn in the missing work. If I do not receive the assignment within 1-week, you will receive a ZERO. Any MAJOR assignments turned in one day late will be given a maximum grade of 80%. Any major assignment turned in two days (or more) late will be given a ZERO. (*Note: The only exception to this will be if prior arrangements—due to unforeseen family circumstances or medical emergencies—have been made and approved by me. In the event of an approved arrangement, the assignment must be submitted to me no later than two days after returning to class.)
Procedures/Expectations/Rules:
No disrespect, dishonesty, or disobedience; follow school and classroom procedures and expectations/rules.
1. Come in and begin the Bell Ringer work; you will have 10 minutes to complete it.
2. The Lesson will begin after the Bell Ringer.
3. Choose one person from each grouped table weekly to be the group leader. This group leader will get the curriculum books and ensure the group’s table and area are debris-free.
4. You will complete an EXIT ticket each day. The only exceptions are when we go to the library or do independent reading.
5. Make sure you are engaged during the class.
6. At dismissal: 1- pack up, 2- group leaders gather work, and if applicable, put classwork in the turn-in bin before leaving, clean up the group tables, and 3- exit the room quietly.
7. For Fire Alarm and/or drill: follow the teacher to evacuate.
8. No cell phones or earbuds allowed during class. If you have your phone, earbuds, or any other electronic device during class other than the school’s Chromebook, I will follow the Hawkins County Schools handbook procedure policy.
Bell Ringer:
You will complete your Bell Ringer on paper and turn it in for grading. If you are absent, it’s your responsibility to make up your bell ringers during your absence. Bell ringers will be done Monday–Friday, minus the library/reading day.
Springboard Curriculum:
We will be using the Springboard curriculum. You will be given a consumable copy of the book; you will complete assignments or take notes in this book. Please DO NOT tear up, write graphic words or drawings, or ruin your book. You only get this one book; I do not have any spare books, so please take care of your book. I will have a place on the bookshelf for you to keep your books in my class.
Classroom Library:
I have a private library. All books were purchased with my personal funds. Please respect the books and take care of them for future readers. If you damage a book, you will be held responsible; therefore, you will be held accountable for replacing the book with an equivalent book.
BOLD (Books Open Learning Doors) Independent Reading Assignment:
You will be required to read a book (no graphic novels, only chapter books) every six weeks for this class. You will have 30 minutes to read your book in class every other Friday. Once a month, you will complete your Reader Response Packet. Remember that it is YOUR responsibility to keep up with your continuous reading to stay caught up. You will give a book presentation to the class after the nine weeks. You may make a mini-movie (many free apps) or a slide show presentation. You will also have to write a 5-paragraph reader response essay about your book, due on the day you give your presentation.
Friday (2 times per month):
Much of the reading for this course is expected to occur outside of class. You will be given reading time on two Fridays each month. Once a month, we will go to the school library to choose a book for additional reading. You will be required to complete a Reader Response worksheet for your library book once a week on Friday. If absent, you must complete your Reader Response worksheet and submit it in Canvas.
Tennessee Academic Standards:
As students master the standards, they will demonstrate independence, build strong content knowledge, respond to the varying demands of audience/task/purpose/discipline, comprehend as well as critique, value evidence, use technology and digital media strategically and capably, and come to understand other perspectives and cultures. I have attached a link to the standards on this syllabus.
10th Grade English II Overview of Classwork Requirements
(Subject to Change)
We will use the SpringBoard curriculum
BOLD (Books Open Learning Doors) Chapter Book Response to Literature (Essay) & Presentation: Must complete for each 9-week grading period
Presentation: Your choice—Independent Reading Mini-movie Presentation, or slide show
5-paragraph essay about your book
SpringBoard Curriculum
Unit 1: SpringBoard English Language Arts (ELA)—The Power of the Argument:
Text Type: Informational
Writing Focus: Argumentative Writing
Grammar Focus: Lessons 1-5
Activity Lessons 1.1 - 1.15
Language Checkpoint: Using Parallel Structure
Embedded Assessment 1: Creating an Argument
Embedded Assessment 2: Participating in a Debate
UNIT Exam
Unit 2: SpringBoard ELA—Persuasion in Literature:
Text Type: Short Stories and Novel
Writing Focus: Informative/Narrative
Grammar Focus: Lessons 6-10
Activity Lessons 2.2 -2.22, 2.24
Language Checkpoint: Using Noun Agreement
Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Literary Analysis Essay
Embedded Assessment 2: Writing a Short Story
UNIT Exam
Unit 3: SpringBoard ELA—Voice in Synthesis
Text Type: Literary and Information
Writing Focus: Narrative
Grammar Focus: Review as needed
Activity Lessons 3.2 - 3.19
Embedded Assessment 1: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
UNIT Exam
Unit 4: SpringBoard ELA—Praise, Mock, Mourn
Text Type: Literary
Writing Focus: Argumentative
Grammar Focus: Lessons 11-15
Activity Lessons 4.2 - 4.19
Language Checkpoints:
Subordinate and Coordinate Clauses
Recognizing Frequently Confused Words
Embedded Assessment 1: Writing an Analysis of a Piece of Creative Writing
Course Novel Study: “Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
ENG II FINAL Exam
Benchmark (Part I & II) Exams:
Benchmark 1: Sept. 23-Oct. 4, 2024
Benchmark 2: December 2-19, 2024
Benchmark 3: March 3-14, 2025
End-of-Course (EOC): Test Prep (2nd Semester)
EOC Test: April 14-May 6, 2025
Remember to be KIND to yourself, your classmates, and your teacher. We will have a great school year! I’m so…happy to be your teacher!
If you need to get in touch with me, please email me: deborah.mccarthy@hck12.net
I can be reached at (423) 357-3641, ext. 5376