Sanborn Regional School District

Kingston-Newton, New Hampshire

Sanborn Regional High School

 

Course Outline – START

Teacher: Connie Carson, 642-6501; email: ccarson@sanborn.k12.nh.us

 

Goals/Outcomes:  Students will develop or reinforce the skills used by competent readers and writers.  Students will develop study skills and academic thinking skills to succeed in school and become lifelong learners.

                                                         

Instructional Outcomes:  Students will learn 1) reading strategies; 2) effective study skills; 3) vocabulary; 4) writing skills; 5) speaking, listening an viewing skills.

 

Frameworks and/or Essential Skills to be covered:  Career Development Curriculum Frameworks; Curriculum Standard 1:  Students will demonstrate a firm grounding in the interactive language processes of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing as well as the ability to use those to communicate effectively.

 

Text:  Vocabulary Workshop, Jerome Shostak

           Bronx Masquerade, Nikki Grimes

          Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer

          Night Shift, Stephen King

 

Course Content:  Students will develop and reinforce reading and writing strategies using the theme of identity.  Essential questions to be addressed include:  What are the strategies used by good readers before, during and after reading?  What are my strengths and weaknesses as a learner?  How do my learning styles and study habits impact my progress in school?  What can we learn by reflecting on the relationships of characters in stories and books?

 

Course Activities:  Course activities and assignments will include but will not be limited to:

 

direct instruction/practice                                  tests and quizzes

class discussion                                     daily writing  (Types 1 and 2)

research and related tasks                                 project presentations

small group work                                              in-depth writing assignments

independent reading                                                    (Types 3, 4 and/or 5)

vocabulary practice

 

Requirements: Students are required to have the following in class daily:

 

1.  blue loose-leaf notebook with paper and dividers (working notebook)

2.  pen or pencil

3.  assignment book

4.  self-selected reading book

 

Technology:  Students will use Microsoft Office tools such as word processing, Publisher, Inspiration, Power Point, and will access the Internet.

 

Methods of Evaluation:  Written work, class participation, reports, projects, tests, and quizzes are always that will be used to evaluate student performance.  Quarterly grades will be based on the following percentages:

 

            Classwork                                40%

            Tests, projects, presentations    20%

            Homework                               20%

            Participation                             20%

 

 Participation:  Being in class and on time is very important. A great deal of learning takes place through teacher modeling and interactions with other students and these lessons are difficult to make up.  The agenda will be posted daily, and students will initiate their own learning upon entering class.  

 

Absences:  When a student returns from an absence, he or she is responsible for finding out what was missed.  For every day that a student is absent, he or she has the equivalent number of days to make up missed assignments for full credit.  In cases of special circumstances where assignments cannot be completed in a reasonable time frame, please speak with me directly to make arrangements for make up work.

 

Assignment Policy:  Students are expected to complete assignments on time.  Late work will be accepted for partial credit.  Please note that I am an avid user of Edline, and keep it updated consistently.  Most assignments and all homework will be posted, as well as information and, at times, photos, relative to the day to day activities taking place in START. 

 

 

Please note that students must complete this course successfully in order to graduate.

           


August 29, 2005

 

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians:

 

Please read this course outline for START thoroughly. 

 

Parents/Guardians: I look forward to working with your student.  Please call me at 642-6501 or email (ccarson@sanborn.k12.nh.us) with any questions or concerns you have regarding your student and his/her progress.  I’m also happy to meet with you before or after school.

 

Please return the lower portion of this form to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Connie Carson

 

 

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                                                                                    START Semester I (9-2005)

 

Please return this portion of the form:

 

 

 

I understand the course outline.

 

 

 

___________________________________________     _______________

Student Signature                                                                      Date

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________       ________________

Parent/Guardian Signature                                                         Date