ESL English
Course Syllabus
Mrs. Nelson

 

Course Description:    ESL (English as a Second Language) is a language arts class designed for those students whose native language is not English.  We learn parts of speech, reading comprehension skills including vocabulary and fluency, and writing skills.  The students also spend time working at their own level on the PLATO computer program.  The levels they are placed on come from their most recent ISAT testing scores.

Grades:   Grades come from 3 sources.  Daily Assignments is the first category.  This would include any grammar or writing assignment given in class.  Tests and quizzes also fall in this category.  The second category is DOL (Daily Oral
Language).  On the days that we do DOL, students’ grades for that assignment go in this category.  The purpose of DOL is to review with students correct grammar usage and to put the grammar rules that they are learning into practice by having them find the errors in a couple of sentences.  The third category is Preparation.  This is worth five points daily.  Points are taken off for unexcused
absences as well as for not coming prepared with the materials needed to work for the day—pens, pencils, paper, homework from other classes, etc.

Make up work:   Work that is missed before mid-trimester can be made up until midterm.  Work that is missed after mid-trimester may be made up until the end of the term.  Work may only be made up from excused (this includes absences excused by a parent note) or school verified absences.  If a student misses a day and is not excused, the work from that missed day cannot be made up.  DOL cannot be made up.

Absence Policy:   Students may have 6 excused or unexcused absences.  The only absences that do not fall in this category are school verified absences (field trips) and sicknesses verified with a DOCTOR’S note.  On the 7th excused or unexcused absence (excluding the 2 scenarios mentioned above), that student’s grade will drop a full letter grade with no opportunity for raising it.  After two more absences, another grade drop will come into effect.  This pattern will go on until the 12th absence.  After 12 excused or unexcused absences, it will no longer
be possible for the student to pass the class.

Example:         Student X has 5 absences excused with a parent note, 2 unexcused absences and 2 school excused absences.  At the end of the term that student has a “B” in my class.  Because that student has 7 absences that fall into the excused/unexcused category mentioned above, Student X’s grade will automatically drop to a “C”.

Tardy:  A student is tardy is he/she is not seated at the time the attendance is taken. Attendance is usually taken immediately following the tardy bell. 3 tardies = 20 minute detention.

Student Signature:____________________________________________

Parent Signature:______________________________________________