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Language Arts Position Paper

 

  • Language Arts
    Ms. Sherri Gerber
    Position Paper
    2025-2026


    Course Description:
    This course continues instruction in all Language Arts areas.  The program centers on literature, composition, grammar, and vocabulary. This course will also focus on strengthening reading and writing skills and will review specific skill areas covered on the Keystone exams. Various novels and short stories will be utilized.
    *Each student will be instructed according to his or her IEP goals.

     
    Material requirements:
    All in-person students will be expected to have their chromebooks in class daily AND HAVE THEM CHARGED!!!!

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  • All virtual students will be expected to use their chromebooks daily from home.  Virtual students may choose to have hard copies of the stories/novels we read. You just need to let me know and be willing to pick up the materials in the office.

  • *No other devices should be used.


    Grading Policy:
    Your grade will be based on total points.  The amount of points will vary from quarter to quarter.  Your grade will be made up of:

  • *Classwork

  • *Membeans (NO DUBIOUS MINUTES OR NO CREDIT)

  • *Homework

  • *Tests (including a midterm and final)/Quizzes 

  • *Reading Comprehension
    *Writing Assignments
    *Participation


    Classwork/Homework:
    Work is absolutely due on the assigned due date or the student will receive a grade of a zero. Assignments will be given well in advance and with ample time to complete.  In most cases, students will have time during class to complete, or at least start, assignments. Once we review answers in class, you cannot be given credit for that assignment.
     

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    Expectations:
    My expectations for each of you this year in both the quality of work that you submit and the manner in which you conduct yourself on a personal and academic level in this classroom are very high.  Each of you should bring to class an open mind, a respect of your peers and their views, a willingness to question the unknown and investigate your interests, an eagerness to participate in class, and finally, a sense of humor, the expectation of yourself to work hard, learn a lot, and have some fun too.

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  • Plagiarism: See policy form below.
     

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  • **VIRTUAL STUDENTS -  Asynchronous Only

  • *Check our Google Class page DAILY for assignments/announcements.

  • *Email me if you have questions regarding your assignments.

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  • **IN PERSON STUDENTS are expected to:

    *Enter class promptly and in an orderly manner. Sit in your ASSIGNED seat. AT THE END OF CLASS, STAY IN YOUR SEAT UNTIL THE BELL RINGS OR I DISMISS YOU. GATHERING AT THE DOOR BEFORE THE BELL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

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  • *Since the bathrooms will be unlocked between classes, students should use the lavs between the periods and BEFORE coming to class.  In the case of an emergency, permission to sign out during class will be granted. However, this should not happen daily. Students will be allowed to leave class three times a marking period, unless a documented medical condition is on file with the school.  

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    *Students will NOT be permitted to visit their lockers or leave the classroom for any other reason.

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  • *Students are permitted to bring a water bottle to class. Students may NOT bring any other type of drink to class or any other type of container.  No tumblers of any type are permitted.

 

  • *SAME CELL PHONE & EARBUD POLICY!!! - ADMIN HAS ALREADY POSTED THIS, BUT WE WILL DISCUSS IT IN DETAIL.

 

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FOR ALL STUDENTS:

*Any violation of the rules (specific to my class and/or established by administration) will be immediately reported to administration and handled in the utmost serious manner.  All rules are in place for the safety of everyone and must be respected, regardless of your personal opinions. As things change, additions, deletions, and modifications to these rules may occur.  In addition to the hard copy you are receiving (IF IN-PERSON), this entire document plus any changes that are made to it, will be posted on Google Classroom, so no excuses for ‘not being aware’ of these expectations will be accepted.


 

*If you need help, I will be available from 2:30-3:00 p.m. by appointment only.  Please email me to schedule an appointment.

 

*If you or your parents/guardians have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at sgerber@tamaquasd.org or (570)668-1901.

Sincerely,
      Ms. Gerber

 

 

 

Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty

I have heard the teacher’s discussion of plagiarism and academic dishonesty. I understand that I must use research conventions to cite and clearly mark other people’s ideas and words within my paper. I understand that plagiarism is an act of intellectual dishonesty as is cheating. I understand it is academically unethical and unacceptable to do any of the following acts:

 

  • 1. To submit an essay written in whole or in part by another student or writer as if it were my own.
  • 2. To obtain an essay from any AI or any other essay-producing website and submit it as my own. 
  • 3. To utilize AI to complete my assignment and pass it off as my own work.
  • 4. To download or cut-and-paste from an essay from the Internet, then quote or paraphrase from it, in whole or in part, without acknowledging the original source.
  • 5. To restate a clever phrase verbatim from another writer without acknowledging the source.
  • 6. To paraphrase part of another writer’s work without acknowledging the source with a citation clearly distinguishing that material from my own. (Note that using one citation at the end of a paragraph is insufficient to mark multiple passages in that paragraph as another writer’s work).
  • 7. To reproduce the general substance or organization of another writer’s argument without acknowledging the source.
  • 8. To take work originally done for one instructor’s assignment and re-submit it to another teacher as if it were unique to his or her class (this is self-plagiarism). 
  • 9. To ask a family member, another student, or any other writer to produce an essay on my behalf, or allow others to revise that material so thoroughly that the product is largely the fruit of another’s labor.
  • 10. To purchase essays and submit them as my own from an online source (or any other source). 
  • 11. To cheat on tests or quizzes–includes hidden notes or signals, viewing another student’s work, revealing the answers on my own paper to another student, through verbal or textual communication, sign language, or other means of storing and communicating information, including electronic devices, recording devices, cell phones, headsets, etc. (And any other way not mentioned here).
  • 12. To photograph an examination and pass it on to a student who will be taking that examination later. 
  • 13. To copy another student’s answers/work and submit the work as if it were the product of my own labor. 
  • 14. To take turns “swapping” reading assignments and doing homework with other students. 
  • 15. To allow another student to “borrow” or “help” with work and reproduce it as his or her own. 

 

I understand that the consequences for committing any of the previous acts of academic dishonesty can include a failing grade on that assignment, as well as a write-up referral. I understand that my parents/guardians will be notified, as well as any honor society of which I may be a member. I will not plagiarize or cheat.