I want you to succeed in my classroom. These are my expectations and procedures for promoting the best learning environment for everyone.
PART 1: EXPECTATIONS
DECORUM
- Observe the Shire Agreements
- Enter class without headphones on
- Remove headphones any time I am addressing you or the class
- Hoodies, hats, sunglasses or anything else besides your own prescribed glasses that obscures your face or head are to be removed during class
- PDA: Class is not the place. That includes holding hands. Do it outside of class.
- Girls, cover your cleavage; boys, draw up that belt a couple of notches so we don't have to look at what rhymes with that.
RESPECT CLASS TIME
- Know when class starts and be working at or before that time.
- Handle all business outside of class time
- Enter class in a quiet, respectful manner to set a productive tone
- Find a seat without any delay and prepare to begin working immediately
BE PREPARED
- Use a pencil or blue or black ink pen only
- Turn in loose-leaf binder paper only! DO NOT submit work ripped out of a spiral notebook, or on paper that is otherwise ripped, wrinkled, etc.
- Come to class with previous class work and homework assignments completed
- Come to class with any other materials you will need for the class that day
PARTICIPATE
- Listen carefully to the introduction and directions for the day
- Ask questions when you don’t understand something; it’s never ok to just do nothing.
- Remain in class for the entire class period
- Work productively for the entire class period
PART 2: POLICIES & PROCEDURES
CLASS TIME
1. Many people are often late to class. These are usually the same people who think I'm too hard, confusing, mean, etc., and who often do not earn credit. What they don't seem to realize is the significance of their tardiness. So, let me elaborate on why being late is not such a small thing:
a) It violates ½ of our rules: Mutual Respect and Attentive Listening. You are interrupting when you come in late, disrupting the learning environment, which makes it a respect issue between myself and everyone else who was on time. It also makes it difficult for those who were on time to continue following along. Therefore…
b) It doesn’t just hurt you! It robs time from other students when I have to explain the tasks again (and again and again, for each new late comer) instead of helping students who were on time and need help. Therefore…
c) I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF! I will carefully introduce the day’s lesson and give directions and answer questions about it at the start of class. I will be too busy helping students who were on time to re-explain everything to late comers! Therefore…
d) If you are late, you should count on being confused with no one to blame for it but yourself. Do not bother people who were on time by trying to get them to explain it either; I won’t allow it. They need the time to do their work.
e) If you are late and need help getting back on track, you can
a. Read the assignment calendar (if a computer is available)
b. Observe what others are doing and mimic them
c. Get help as soon as I am free
d. Schedule an appointment with me outside of class time
2. Follow the directions given. Ask for help if you need it! I really do want to help you! And there really is no such thing as a stupid question, as long as it’s a sincere one.
3. Remain attentive and productive throughout the period. Things that I will get bent about include, but are not limited to:
- Not caring
- Not working
- Being late
- Not paying attention
- Not being prepared
- Talking about unrelated things
- Telling me that you were talking about the assignment when you clearly weren’t
- Telling me to “chill”. I will not chill. You are a student. Be one.
4. Class work you do not complete during class is homework. If an assignment is due and you won’t be able to complete it in class, I expect you to work on it at home. If you are having trouble completing an assignment, please talk to me about it before the assignment is due so we can create solutions.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. The best place to store your work is in your well-organized and carefully-maintained binder. I will not assume responsibility for anything you leave behind or lose.
2. When I give you something, I expect you to:
- keep it
- take care of it
- use it
- and be able to produce it quickly when asked to
You need the things I give you in order to be successful. Do not leave handouts and other materials behind when you leave class. Do not lose them in your rat nest of a backpack or binder, either. I will not give you extra copies.
3. When you have completed an assignment, turning it in is just as important!
a) Turn in your work when you finish it! I may not always ask for specific assignments, so assume that if I gave you something, I expect you to complete it and turn it in.
b) Nobody cares more about your work than you do. I do not recommend allowing others to hand in your work for you.
c) NEVER, EVER HAND ME ANYTHING TO TURN IN FOR YOU, EVEN IF I ACCEPT IT! I am extremely busy, and also absent-minded, which is not a good combination for you! Turn in your own work!
d) Leaving work behind you when you leave class DOES NOT COUNT AS TURNING IT IN! Not only is leaving papers behind you lazy, it is also disrespectful and rude. BEWARE! I will recycle (or re-file) any papers that are simply left behind, and you will not receive another copy from me.
e) Place your finished work NEATLY INSIDE THE CORRECT TRAY. Many students have claimed I lost their work, when in fact they were sloppy in how they turned it in (putting it in the wrong tray, not getting it inside the tray, leaving it in some weird place, etc.). Do not expect me to search for your misplaced assignment. Turn it in properly in the first place and this won’t be an issue.
4. When you miss work for any reason, it is ALWAYS your responsibility (not mine) to find out what you missed.
a) Never come up to me and say, “I need the work I missed.” Instead, read the assignment calendar
b) It is always a good idea to meet with a responsible friend OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME to get clued in on what you missed.
c) After you have made up your assignment and class time, be sure to submit a make up form with your work attached so I can make the necessary grade adjustments
5. I will return or comment on your finished work within a few days. If necessary, we will review the assignment as a class; otherwise, I will simply return it to you with written feedback.
6. Keep your graded work! It is valuable! I expect you to retain your graded work for the duration of the term. Here are several important reasons for keeping your graded work:
a) Studying for tests
b) Helping you with future assignments
c) Comparing the quality of your work over time
d) Keeping a record of your work in the case of an error or dispute
