All Students: Free Smart Office 2 App

This weekend (Sept. 8-10) Smart Office 2, an Microsoft Office-type app, is free for iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch devices. It allows you to create and edit word processing documents, as well as spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

Even if you've already done your literary terms presentation, this may be a handy app for the future.

(There are versions for other devices, but as far as I can tell, they're not free.)

All Students: Half Price Books' Labor Day Sale

Half Price Books stores are selling everything for an extra 20% off this weekend. It's a great opportunity to get your texts at a low price -- while they last.

Sale runs from the August 28th through September 4th (Monday).

Here's a list of stores in the Metroplex.

ACT Prep: Syllabus

Please print a copy of this syllabus, have a parent sign it, and bring it to class

Mr. Mikesell - Rm. 138
cmikesell@dallasisd.org
http://mikesell128.blogspot.com
Tutorial hours: Mon. & Thurs. 4:30–5:30p
Mornings by appointment

ACT Prep SYLLABUS

“Life is short. Learn hard.”

Course Outline
Through this course students will develop skills necessary to excel at the ACT exam. This course is based on materials developed by The Princeton Review; while other techniques may also lead to success, students are expected to conform to the methodologies of Princeton Review.

Class Norms

• Be Prepared
• Be Positive
• Be Polite
• Be Participators

(Campus/district policies will be observed also)

Homework
Homework will be assigned regularly. Much of it will be outside reading; otherwise it will usually be due before the tardy bell rings two days after the assignment. Homework will not be accepted the same period that it is assigned. Classwork not finished in class will be treated as homework, with the same deadlines/penalties.

Late Work
Students who have not turned in homework within the first 5 minutes of class the day it is due will be assigned to the after-school Patriot Academy. Work turned in within two days of the due date will be accepted with a 15% grade reduction. Each week an assignment is late will result in an extra 15% reduction in grade.

Consequences
1st Offense: warning
2nd Offense: hallway “conference”
3rd Offense: call to parent
4th Offense: administrative referral
(Fighting, drug- and gang-related activity will result in immediate administrative/security involvement)

Classroom Entry Procedure
To make entry into the classroom as smooth as possible, please make sure you’re observing dress code policies. Do not block the door tucking in your shirt, adjusting your ID badge, etc. Once you’ve entered the room, please get your journal. Find your desk and begin the bellringer exercise. Pencils should be sharpened before the tardy bell rings.

Spelling / Vocabulary / Grammar / Punctuation
All are important, and students are expected to turn in assignments with proper care taken in each of these areas.

Notes and Keeper Sheets
Take notes (we will review the Cornell system in the first semester). You will also be provided with “Keeper” sheets reviewing the basics of key areas we’ll be studying. Keep them all handy. Use them for studying.

Classroom Supplies
Bring these to class every day:

• A 3-ring binder, at least an inch thick
• A 70-page spiral notebook or loose-leaf paper
• Blue or black pens, pencils, highlighters
• A great attitude

Dishonesty
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. At a minimum, zeroes will be recorded in the grade book for either offense, for all parties involved in the cheating or copying. Additional consequences may apply.

Grading Scale (district standard)
40% Classwork/Homework
25% Tests
20% Projects
15% Six-weeks Exam

Essays
While the essay is an optional part of the ACT, all students will practice essay-writing techniques.

Leaving the Classroom
Permission to leave the classroom once the tardy bell has rung will be granted in emergency situations. Please monitor your liquid intake: only one restroom pass per student will be granted each month.

Test Make-Up
Students who fail a test will be assigned to the next Patriot Academy opportunity. Students MUST attend the Post-Test Tutorial before they may retest or submit test corrections.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My child has shown and discussed with me the syllabus for his/her ACT Prep class.

I will do my best to provide the support he/she needs to be successful in class.

____________________________________
Student Name

____________________________________
Parent Signature

____________________________________
Phone number

All Students: Analyze Class Expectations

Below are the expectations I have for my students every day:

• Be Prepared


• Be Positive


• Be Polite


• Be Participational <-- that's not a word!


• Be Participators

On a separate sheet of paper, list three things for each expectation that describes what a student who meets that expectation looks like and/or does.

Brainstorm why I included the fourth bullet point even though it was wrong, and add it to your analysis of the expectations.

At the bottom of your page of analysis include your expectation(s) of the class you're enrolled in as well as your expectation(s) of me as your teacher. Write these in complete sentences.

All Students: Pablo Neruda's "Poetry"

After reading the poem, below, find a word or phrase that describes how you feel now, at the beginning of this school year. Copy down that word or phrase and then write why it applies to your life.

Poetry
by Pablo Neruda

And it was at that age… Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.

(From: 'Memorial de Isla Negra')

You must write in complete sentences. Do not just write down the word/phrase and then write a statement beginning with Because. Those aren't sentences and won't be accepted.

If you missed this assignment on the first day of class: Grades of 85% will be given for written-only responses. Grades of 100% will be given for presenting orally, in front of the class.