Syllabus, Rules, and Supplies Needed 

Tutorial Time: 3:20-4:00

Email: caink@lisdtx.org 

Twitter: @MrsKaylaCain

Conference: 4th period, 10:22 - 11:07

 

View Weekly Creative Writing Lesson Plans

 

About This Course: 

The study of creative writing allows high school students to earn one-half to one credit while developing versatility as a writer. Creative Writing asks high school students to demonstrate their skill in such forms of writing as fictional writing, short stories, poetry, and drama. All students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the recursive nature of the writing process, effectively applying the conventions of usage and the mechanics of written English. The students' evaluation of their own writing as well as the writing of others ensures that students completing this course are able to analyze and discuss published and unpublished pieces of writing, develop peer and self-assessments for effective writing, and set their own goals as writers.

 

The goal of this course is to give students the skills necessary to pass the English II STAAR EOC. 

 

Supplies needed EVERYDAY:

Blue or black pen

Pencil

Highlighters

Folder used ONLY for Creative Writing

Notebook paper

Independent reading book

School Chromebook 

 

NOVELS: 

NOTE: These are subject to change if different stories will better serve the students. 

1st semester: The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd

2nd semester: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare

 

Standard Classroom Policies & Procedures

Rules and Expectations

All school rules and policies will be upheld in my classroom. For clarification on particular items and issues, please refer to the 2023-2024 LHS Student Handbook.

This class will follow the LHS Cell Phone Policy:

Students will not be allowed to use cell phones or earbuds during class.

1st offense: device taken to the office and returned to student at the end of the school day

2nd and 3rd offenses: $15 fine and device returned to student at the end of the school day

4th offense: $15 fine and device returned to guardian at the of the school day and two days of ISS

Grading System/Late Work

Daily grades: 50% of grade

Major grades: 50% of grade 

 

Students who wish to improve their grade if their assignment is failing may correct or redo the assignment for a passing grade. 

 

Plagiarizing and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated.  Students caught plagiarizing or otherwise cheating will receive a zero, without chance to correct or redo,  in the gradebook for the assignment on which they cheated.

 

Late and missing work is accepted but 10 points will be deducted on the first day late, 20 points the second day late, and 30 points the third day late. After 3 days, the assignment will receive a grade of 50 if turned in before the end of the grading period. Assignments never turned in will receive the grade of 0.   

Monitoring Grades

Parents and students are encouraged to use Family Access to monitor grades.  In order to foster independence in students, if a question arises regarding a particular grade, communication between the parent and student should be the first step. If there are still questions, feel free to email the teacher.   

 

Absences/Make-up Work

When students are absent, it is their responsibility to obtain missing assignments.   The work will always be available in the  "Absent File" in the classroom. Some assignments will also be posted in Canvas. Students may meet with the teacher during academic period or tutorials to make-up missing quizzes or tests and receive missed instruction. Arrangements may be made for a different time if necessary.  Students will have three days to complete any make-up work before it becomes considered late work (including tests). 

 

Year At A Glance

1st 9 Weeks

Unit 1: Figurative Language: Create My Ideal Bookshelf, write story using figurative language

(TEKS: 1B,C,D,E,F,G, 2B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)

Unit 2: Essay Writing: ACES mnemonic device, revising and editing multiple choice practice, writing about a STAAR story

(TEKS: 1A,C,E,F,G, 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)

 

2nd 9 Weeks

Unit 3: Fiction in Historical Context:  The Secret Life of Bees, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 background information, write short constructed responses and extended constructed responses

(TEKS: 4A,TEKS: 1A,C,E,F,G, 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)

 

3rd 9 Weeks

Unit 4: Independent Reading Book Study: 

Author research, Today While Reading assignments, My Book in One Word, Partner Book Discussion

(TEKS: 4A)

Unit 5: Analyzing Poetry: “Pyramus and Thisbe,” “A Dream Within A Dream,” TPCASTT, Short Constructed Response

(TEKS: 4A, 1A,C,E,F,G, 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)

 

4th 9 Weeks

 Unit 6: Analyzing Drama: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, extended constructed response

(TEKS: 4A 1A,C,E,F,G, 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)

Unit 7: Final STAAR Prep: Poetry - TPCASTT, ACES essays and short answers, multiple choice strategies - revising, editing, and reading

(TEKS: 4A,1A,C,E,F,G, 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G, 3A,B,C, 4B,C)