Course Syllabus

Instructor Name: Ms. Cassandra Edwards Room #: 113

Google Telephone #: 336-560-7679

Email Address: edwardc@gcsnc.com Remind Code: @mcatact

NOTE: Students are responsible for reading, understanding, and following their syllabi. Any messages received on weekends will receive a response during the work week. Please allow a 48-hour turn around on returning emails (unless marked “Urgent”)

Other Information:

Parent/Teacher Conference Days and Times: Scheduled by email, phone or Remind app.

Tutoring Days and Times: Scheduled by email, phone or Remind app.

Course Description:

ACT Prep is a course that allows students to prepare for the college entrance tests with a primary focus on the ACT test. This class is designed to help students improve their ability to score well on the test as well as familiarize them with the components of the test. The purpose of this one-semester class is to help prepare college-bound students to score adequately on the test and/or to raise their scores to a higher level. With a renewed emphasis at the local, state, and national levels to improve test scores, ACT Prep is a course that was created to improve those scores.

Through a rotation, students will spend the semester studying the content of the ACT subtests with a focus on English, Reading, and Science. There will be Math content explored but we will not take a deep dive into the Mathematics portion of the test. Students will begin the semester by taking a pretest in each subtest to help determine what skills and knowledge are needed to be improved in order to boost their overall score.

This course complies with the curricular requirements described in the Guilford County Schools

English III pacing guide and with Common Core State Standards for eleventh grade. It is also aligned with the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards which can be found online at: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/college-and-career-readiness/standards.html

Course Objectives/ Learning Outcomes:

Students will:

Prepare for the ACT exam, with a combination of extensive practice and in-depth studies of strategies.
Explore every subsection will be covered in detail, with custom-tailored approaches developed for each student based on their skill level and goals.
Engage in activities tailored to strategies and dissecting the exam
Participate in the completion of multiple full-length exams.
Utilize online programs and websites for additional practice.
Examine detailed score reports and be able to convert scores and assess areas of strength and weakness

Course Content/Textbook:

THE OFFICIAL ACT^® PREP GUIDE is the textbook we will be using for this course. It is available for individual purchase on Amazon or tetxbooks.com but the purchase is not required. I will provide the assigned chapters and readings from the textbook in print form. Students will be able to access online versions of test as well.

During this course students will have the opportunity to practice other skills that are essential for success on the ACT such as pacing, test-taking strategies, learning test vocabulary, and discovering ways to reduce test anxiety. From the tests that the students take, they will discover their weak areas, and they can work specifically on those areas to improve their scores. If they really work hard and try to improve by taking these tests, they will find that their scores will improve. The more they practice the ACT tests, the better they will become. Well-prepared students are more likely to score higher on the ACT, which may increase their chances of receiving scholarships and enable them to have more options when selecting a college. This is not a comprehensive list but rather the basics from which we will focus on during this course.

A review of English grammar and usage--the primary component of the English portion of the ACT--will be included, as well as test taking strategies and tips. Students will also learn how to increase their reading comprehension for the reading portions of the test.
In the math portion, students will receive a thorough review of basic math concepts needed for the ACT. They will practice these and learn test taking strategies with practice tests and quizzes..
In the science portion, students will review key concepts, learn how to read scientific passages effectively, and learn how to interpret data.

Course Expectations:

STUDENTS

Join classroom Remind. Text 81010 and enter message @mcatact
Be on time and prepared for class each day.
Check Canvas daily for assignments, especially when absent from school. (This is your responsibility)
This class has been designed to prepare you for college-level coursework. Focus and diligently take care of all assignments, both in class and at home. Procrastination is not your friend. Stay on top of your assignments so you do not get behind on your work. Complete and submit assignments on time. Points will be deducted for late assignments submitted whether in class or online.
Keep an open mind and good attitude. Do your best so you can enjoy class. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Every scholar in the class has an abundance of life experience and knowledge to share.
Be an active participant in class and watch corresponding instructional videos for extra assistance.
Be prepared and plan accordingly to completing the weekly assignments.
Acknowledge your struggles and seek assistance for them. I am available to assist in your success.
Have academic integrity. Plagiarism is not okay and will not be tolerated!
You will have to complete some tasks outside of class. It is important that you complete these tasks as to not limit class time on activities and assignments.

PARENTS

Join Remind as a parent.
Provide student with materials needed for class (1 subject spiral notebook and colored highlighters). Please let me know of any hardships
Encourage your student to be punctual to class and have all assignments completed in a timely manner.
Encourage your student to study for any upcoming tests/quizzes or assignments.
PLEASE STRESS the importance of a cellphone free environment UNLESS being utilized for an in- class activity.

Classroom Guidelines:

I will respect all students and expect the same from each of them. This refers, but is not limited to, appropriate language and attitude, compliance to directions, and showing respect for the learning environment, adults and peers.
This is a cellphone free environment. When you come into the classroom place your phone in your designated slot. The use or display of phones, electronic devices, headphones, earbuds/air pods, hairbrushes, hats, hoods or headgear are NOT ALLOWED in class. If displayed, they will be confiscated until the end of class.
When absent, students can find any missing assignments upon returning from absence in the designated file folders. Student will fill out necessary request to take any missing quizzes or tests. Then and only then will teacher give student access to quiz or test.
IF ABOVE RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED, PARENT CONTACT WILL BE MADE VIA PARENT APPROVED METHOD (TEXT, REMIND APP, PHONE CALL, EMAIL)

Grading Policy:

Students will always be informed ahead of time if an assignment will be counted as a Test grade.

A = 90 -100

B = 80 - 89

C = 70 - 79

D = 60 - 69

F = 59 and BELOW

I = Incomplete

Grades will be updated in PowerSchool weekly. Expect to spend a minimum of 3-5 hours each week preparing to do well in this course. Expect to spend this time reading and fully participating with communicating, preparing and completing group and individual assignments, as well as preparing to take quizzes and tests.

Weights for Assignments

It is important that students complete all assignments assigned in class. However, some are weighted differently. The breakdown is below:

Test/Projects/ Essays 40%

Quizzes 25%

Classwork/Homework/Participation 35%

All work is to be submitted electronically via Canvas.

Late work will be accepted as long as the module remains open. Once you notice a module is closed in Canvas work is no longer being accepted for that assignment. Once modules close, they WILL NOT be reopened except for extenuating circumstances approved by principal. Points are deducted for late work.

Assignment Make-Up Policy:

If students miss tests, quizzes, and/or assignments because of absences, it is their responsibility to find out what they missed and arrange a time and method of making up that missed work by sending an email, Remind message, phone call or written message in class. Students have three days to turn in make-up work after an absence. After that time, grade will turn into a zero in the grade book.

Reteach/Retest

For any test or quiz taken students will have the opportunity to earn points back by doing test corrections. For any grade below 70%, students may retake that test or quiz one time. The highest score a student may receive on a retest is 70%. Note: There may be certain assignments (e.g. projects or final drafts of essays) to which the reteach/retest policy will not apply.

Group Assignments

Students will be assigned to a Group to complete various group activities throughout the semester. A grading rubric will be posted with the assignment. If a Group member does not participate, their name will not be included on the assignment. Group assignments cannot be made up WITHOUT WRITTEN PARENT/DOCTOR NOTE OF ABSENCE.

Attendance and Tardy Policy:

Attendance is key in all classes. In addition to the following district policy to earn credit for the course, students leaving early for practice or games MUST be signed out at the office by a parent or guardian for their absences to be excused. Students WILL NOT be dismissed from class without parent/guardian COMING INTO the building to appropriately sign student out. Students can make up work if absent, however, a zero will be entered in the gradebook until missing work is submitted. Missing assignments will lose points DAILY if absence is unexcused.

Tardy Policy:

If a student is late to class, he must obtain a note from the office to enter class. Parents will be notified via parent contact method if students are habitually late to class. Students can make up work if absent, however, a zero will be entered in the gradebook until missing work is submitted. Missing assignments will lose points DAILY if absence is unexcused.

Leaving the Classroom:

Students may use the restroom once during class but NOT during the first 20 minutes nor the last 20 minutes of class. Students MUST use the restroom ON THE 1st floor ONLY unless maintenance requires the restroom to be closed.

Students will ONLY be dismissed by the teacher and are not allowed to simply walk out of class. Before leaving the room, student should pick up any trash items around their area. Students must stay in class the entire period unless a note from a teacher on staff is provided or they are required to leave for travel due to extracurricular activities.

Phone Policy:

Cell phones will be collected from students at the beginning of class and returned at the end of class. Students will be allowed to use their phones only for academic purposes. Parents can contact students during class time by calling the school (336-691-0941). Students who need to make a call for an urgent need may request access to use the classroom phone.

Students who refuse to follow these guidelines will be directed to an administrator and parents will be contacted. The teacher or the administrator may confiscate the phone for the day if this is a repeated offense.

Academic Integrity/Dishonesty:

Academic honesty enables each of us to fulfill our potential, learn effectively with and from one another, acquire specialized knowledge and skills, become informed, responsible and creative thinkers and have pride in our institution’s standing. To these ends students are required to submit work representative of his own effort accurately and truthfully without cheating, fabrication, falsification or forgery, multiple submissions, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse, according to the policies in Guilford County Schools Student Handbook on Academic Integrity.

Although students may discuss assignments with others in this class, the final answers that a student turns in for grading must be written independently by the student, and reflect the student’s own efforts, knowledge, understanding and expression of ideas. Use of others’ work constitutes academic dishonesty. In addition, offering or providing work to others is also a form of academic dishonesty (complicity). If a student has questions or is confused about what is or is not appropriate regarding this, or other issues of academic integrity, please err on the side of caution.

Academic dishonesty may include but is not limited to copying work belonging to another student or plagiarism (using information, ideas, or phrasing of other writers without proper acknowledgement). Academic dishonesty may be punished by failure on assignment; failure in course; and/or expulsion from school. If a student is found responsible for academic dishonesty, the student will be referred to the principal immediately for consequences to discussed and rendered.

REMINDER: ALL A & T FOUR MC STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ABIDE BY THE GUIDELINES OF OUR SCHOOL CREED AND THE ESSENTIAL 10.