Designing a Back to School ELA Class Syllabus: Tips and Tricks
Does your school start soon? If so, you might be working on writing a syllabus for your class. Determining what to write and how to structure the layout can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you're teaching a class for the first time. In this blog post, I'm going to share some tips and tricks for creating a syllabus.
1. Learn how your school defines a syllabus
Each school has different terminology, so I encourage you to check what your school's expectations are for a syllabus. I define a syllabus as "a document that contains classroom rules, policies, required materials, a list of themes and books that students can expect to encounter during the school year, etc."
Some schools use phrases like "course guide" or "class norms." Others take a "welcome letter" approach. A "course guide" might be more specific about major exam and project deadlines, while a welcome letter might be a simple message in which teachers share about themselves and the general themes of their classes. The easiest way to find out is to email your academic coordinator or dean and ask for samples of successful syllabi that teachers have created in the past.
2. List any contact information that you're comfortable sharing
You can choose how much contact information to include, but I recommend including:
- Your classroom phone number or a phone number that you've developed specifically for school-only calls (Google Voice will let you set up a free phone number that you can access through a web browser.)
- Your school email address
- A class Zoom link if you teach online or have virtual parent-teacher conferences
- Office hours and days in which parents and students can set up meetings
3. Explain how you plan to communicate with families
Building relationships with families is important. It is important for families to know that the teachers are on their side and want to see their children succeed. One way that you can strengthen that relationship is by providing clear pathways for communication, whether that is through an email newsletter, a private Facebook group for families, a texting service, etc.
Here are some neat ways that you can help families connect to your communication services:
- Include a QR code in which families can take a Google Forms survey and share about their at-home access to technology, preferred language, goals for their students, contact information, etc.
- Add a QR code to sign up for information services (email newsletters, class website, etc.)
- Film a YouTube introduction video and share a QR code to view it
4. Write a simple course description
A course description should be a maximum of 120 words. It needs to include the following information:
- What students will learn in your class
- Why these topics and themes will matter to the students in the future
- How the course will prepare the students for their future academic experiences and professions
- Special experiences in your class (field trips, events, major projects, etc.)
- Instructional methods that you plan to use
5. Make a bullet point list of the units
This section of your syllabus should be short and to the point. I recommend creating a bullet point list that has the titles of each unit (ex. Dystopian Fiction Unit) in the sequence in which they will be taught. Some teachers include the start date for each unit, but there's always a chance that could change.
6. Share your grading system
Demystify your class grading structure by sharing the following information:
- The categories of work you grade (Ex. Work habits, oral assignments, written assignments, assessments, daily work and homework)
- A brief explanation of what each of those categories mean (Ex. Written assignments are long-form writing projects, such as essays and fictional short stories.)
- How each category is weighted in your overall graded system (Ex. Work habits = 15% of the overall grade)
- How students and parents can monitor grades throughout the semester (Ex. We use an online portal called _____ to post grades. You can check it by using a username and password provided by our IT Specialist. Please email me if you notice any discrepancies.)
7. Write your classroom motto, norms, and expectations
This section of your resume should be simple and memorable. Think about writing it in the same way that a marketing firm brainstorms jargons and commercials for brands. Use words that will stick in students minds and can be easily referenced throughout the year. These terms should be prominently displayed on your classroom wall so that your class can be reminded of how important they are.
Here are a few tips for developing your class motto, norms, and/or expectations:
- Start each phrase with a verb that immediately shows what students should do in your classroom.
- Keep each phrase a similar length. (Ex. Listen carefully. Be kind. Ask questions.)
8. Create an absence policy
- An explanation for how to communicate with the teacher and request information about homework, etc. in the case of an absence
- How turn-in dates will be affected by absences
9. Explain your cell phone policy
Every teacher is different. You may be comfortable allowing cell phones in class for note taking and research purposes. Others may have a strict no cell phone policy at all times. Make sure to clarify how and if cell phones are allowed to be used in the classroom, what happens if students are caught using cell phones without teacher permission, and where to safely store cell phones during no-use class times (in lockers, in a teacher-provided box in the classroom, etc.)
10. Develop a late work policy
Handling late work situations can be stressful for teachers. One of the best ways to minimize headaches and arguments with students is to have a clear policy that students are made aware of at the beginning of the year.
Check with your administration to see if there is a school-wide policy you should follow. If not, you need to create your own. Consider creating a three-column chart that breaks down the late work policy by situation. In the left column, summarize the situation type. In the middle column, summarize what type of documentation or communication is needed to verify this situation. In the right column, explain what type of due date extension or project modifications will be offered.
- Illness or injury
- Death/funeral/marriage
- Travel
- Mental health
- Overlapping deadlines in other classes
- Technology issues
Make sure to be consistent with your late work policy. If you make an exception for one student, you will need to make exceptions for any other students who request the same thing. Long-term, this can lead to a lot of extra grading work on your end, especially at the end of a grading period.
11. Write a statement about academic honesty, plagiarism, etc.
Every teacher dreads dealing with situations in which students cheat or plagiarize. While you can't prevent every instance of academic dishonesty, you can be proactive by:
- defining what you mean by cheating and plagiarism
- modeling ways to incorporate outside sources and share what citation method you prefer (MLA, Chicago, etc.)
- provide links or QR codes for students to learn more about citing other sources
12. List any supplies that will be needed for the course
Most schools provide textbooks and other large materials, but you may have specific supplies that students will need for your class. Create a bullet point list that includes:
- Must have supplies
- Optional supplies
- Suggestions of where to buy the supplies at an affordable rate (this is optional, but it can be a useful resource for parents/guardians)
- How to privately contact you or the school for support if the student needs financial assistance
13. Include a clause that mentions the syllabus is subject to change
Empathetic teachers respond to the needs of their students and the needs of the school. One of the most important lessons the recent pandemic has taught me is that life changes quickly, and we have to be flexible. I always include a note at the bottom of my syllabus that mentions that rules, assignment dates, etc. are subject to change. This protects me from future parent and student backlash if I need to make a last-minute adjustment.
14. Consider including a media/video release form
Each family has different standards for what media they feel is appropriate for their child to view. It's important to work with families to make their preferences feel heard and respected. I recommend including a simple message that explains why you will be using media, what your maximum ratings are, etc.
Here's an example message: "This year, our class will watch various forms of media to understand the context of our literature units more deeply. We will watch video clips about historical and social issues that connect with the books we are reading. Any movies we watch will have ratings of PG-13 or lower."
Below the message, include a sign-off section with a message like this one: "My student is ALLOWED or NOT ALLOWED (circle one) to view the media described above." Then, include a line for adults to write their printed name, signature, and the date.
15. Create a parent/guardian sign-off component at the bottom.
Including a sign-off portion on the syllabus encourages accountability and ensures that more parents see your class expectations.
At the end of your syllabus presentation, make an announcement such as, "Take a look at the bottom of the page. There's a sign off section. I want you to take this syllabus home and show it to the adults you live with. Ask them to read over it with you. Then, sign your signature and ask your adults to sign their signature. Please tear/cut off that section and bring it back to me by the end of the week."
Some students have parents and guardians who work nights, are traveling, etc., so I try to give a few days for students to bring back the signed portion of their syllabus.
16. Use apps to create an eye-catching syllabus design
If you want your students to read your syllabus, try to make the design compelling and accessible. In recent years, I've seen several online examples of infograph-style syllabi that summarize key information through colorful graphics. Although you may not have time and capacity to create that style of a syllabus, consider plugging in a few simple graphics (like the pie chart for the grading policy).
I am obsessed with the website Canva. It has free design tools for teachers and a wonderful blog that offers design tips. Another option is to check out a website like Teachers Pay Teachers for some syllabus design templates that can be used in platforms like Google Docs or Google Slides.
17. Create slides to summarize the key points in the syllabus
Reading an entire syllabus aloud as a class can get boring, especially because it requires students and teachers to look down at a sheet of paper. For the first week of class, consider making slides that summarize the main ideas in your syllabus. Then, students can look up and have an open discussion about the syllabus.
18. Keep your syllabus posted in your classroom for students to access throughout the year
Find an easy-to-access spot in your classroom, such as a bulletin board by the door, and pin your syllabus.
Congrats! If you're still reading, that means you made it through a lot of information. Now, it's time to get started with your syllabus design. I hope that this post makes you feel a bit more empowered as you prepare for the beginning of the school year. Please feel free to share any questions or tips you have about the syllabus design process by leaving a comment below.
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