The expectations, rules, procedures and consequences of my classroom are intended to keep the classroom environment safe, orderly, and productive. Please respect the rules that we can maximize learning time together. The rues are not hard to follow, nor are any of them "out of the ordinary". They are simple expected behaviors for middle school students in this classroom. There should never be a rule that does not have a purpose.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Classroom Expectations:
1, Respect yourself, the teacher and others
- Show respect for the teacher, yourself and others at all times.
- Respect other's property. Avoid touching or writing on anything that does not belong to you (including desk, textbooks, teacher's belongings, walls, smart-board, etc...unless otherwise asked to do so). Don't expect others to clean up your messages. Please pick up after yourself.
- Respect yourself and the rest of us by using appropriate language and wearing appropriate language.
- Be KIND.
2. Put Forth your best effort at all times
- Always do your OWN best work.
- Put learning ahead of getting good grades.
- Put quality ahead of just getting it done.
3. Be Prepared for class each day
- Come prepared with all materials necessary:
- An organized class binder containing all necessary materials and handouts.
- Loose leaf paper, pens (blue or black), and colored pencils & markers.
- A red or purple pen for grading in class or underling important elements in note-taking.
- Highlighters for emphasizing important text
- A planner to help keep you organized (preferred Imagine Lincoln Agenda book)-the most successful students are organized.
- You must immediately begin on the warm up activity or Journal entry (5 minutes).
- Be "physically" and "mentally" present in the classroom.
4. Following directions when given
- When directions are given, do you best to follow them the first time. If you are confused of have questions, ask. I would rather have you stop class to clarify than be off task while everyone is working.
5. Pay attention, participate and ask questions
- Engage in what is gong on in the classroom. If you have a question, ask it! Otherwise, II might not know until the test that you didn't understand something. There are no stupid questions, and chances are, if you are wondering about it, someone else in the class is to. Be proactive about your learning and don't be afraid to ask for help. If you feel most comfortable waiting until after class, that is okay, too, but do keep communication open between us.
6. Take responsibility for your actions
- If you are confronted about a rule infraction, own up to it . Don't deny it, lie about it, or blame someone else.
- Take responsibility for missed assignments.
- All rules will be ENFORCED. Students that choose to break these rules, choose to have points taken away from their learning readiness grade, and face the possibility of additional consequences.
Class Rules
1. Turn off cell phones & electronic devices
- Electronic devices (CD players, Ipods, handheld games, mini-TVs or personal DVD players, cell phones, pagers, etc..) are not permitted in the classroom.
- Cell phones should be turned off and invisible during the class period. If I see or hear your phone it will be taken away. Refusal to turn over the cell phone will be treated as insubordinate behavior.
2. No food or drink, except water
- You may drink bottled water in the classroom. If a spill occurs, please clean it up immediately and inform the teacher.
3. Arrive to class on time & ready to learn
- When class begins, you need to be sitting in your assigned seat.
- You should immediately begin on the warm up activity or journal entry.
- Be "physically" and "mentally" present in the classroom.
4. Never line up at the door before dismissal
- Please remain in your seat until I have dismissed you. Never line up at the door before dismissal. Remember I dismiss you.
5. Do not cheat, plagiarize, or copy work
- Cheating is completing unacceptable. If I see you cheating on any assignment...I will give you a zero and report to parents as well.
- Plagiarism (copying work from another source without giving proper credit) is completely unacceptable. If you plagiarize on any assignment with no opportunity to re-do the work credit.
6. Use polite and appropriate language
- Offensive, derogatory, and profane terms are not tolerated. In order to have a safe classroom environment where all students feel comfortable, no put downs, swear words, or slang words with demeaning connotations will be tolerated. Remember, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it all!
7. Do your best work & turn it in on time
- Remember that the work that you turn-in is a reflection of your effort on the assignment. Think about the following expectations when your are preparing an assignment that I will review:
- Write your full name, section number and DATE on all assignments.
- All work must be neatly done and legible in order to receive credit.
- Never turn any assignments in with the "fringes" from that assignment. Likewise, assignments that are bunched up, crinkled, illegible, sloppy, or contain stains or holes are unacceptable.
- All MAJOR assignments ESSAYS & PROJECTS MUST BE TYPED. If you don't have a computer at home, the Media Center or Library is a great place to work on essays! Final draft format for typewritten work is as follows: 12-point font, such as Arial, Comic Sans, Times New Roman, etc. (nothing to difficult to read as a font that prints using capital and lower-case letters).
Classroom Procedures
1. Turn in homework to the proper bin
- Homework is due at the beginning of the hour when you come to class. I will not accept work completed once class begins.
2. Sign the tardy book and put pass in box
- If you are tardy, you are expected to sign in if you arrive to class after the start of the hour or if you leave class before the end of the hour. Be sure to note on the sign in sheet whether you have a pass. If you do, leave it in the tardy pass box.
- Excessive tardies will affect your learning readiness grade and other consequences.
3. Pick up after yourself before you leave
- Take all of you belongings, pick up an scrap papers around your, and put your desk back in line before you leave each day.
4. Get missed work from absent bin/folder, then ask teacher for missed quizzes
- Attendance is essential for optimal learning. Being on time, and present and in class physically and mentally will be part of your overall grade. You may not be excused from my class by another teacher without first seeking my permission.
- If you are absent it is your responsibility to obtain any missed classwork. Begin by looking for missed handouts in he ABSENT bin/folder pertaining to your class hour.
- Follow-up with teacher if necessary.
- Make arrangements to take quizzes and tests immediately. It is your responsibility to make these arrangements, I will not and cannot track you down. If you do not make-up quizzes in a timely manner (before graded, you will earn a "zero" on the quiz or test.
Class Consequences
1. Verbal warning
2. Call home
3. Detention
4. Referral to administrator Principal (Ms. Young)
***Serious offences can, at the teacher's discretion, result in more severe consequences regardless of previous steps taken. Any infraction of the rules may affect your learning readiness grade. It can also cause for further action at the teacher's discretion***
Ms. Cowart
"In teaching others we teach ourselves" - Proverb