Attitude:  Bring a good one.  A positive attitude can make all the difference. 

 

Bathroom and Water Breaks:  While I understand that nature can call even in the middle of class, bathroom breaks can be very disruptive if they frequently occur.  You may miss important material, too.  Please try your best to use the restroom before or after class.  If I notice a pattern developing, I will pull you aside to help figure out an alternative trip schedule.  If your class follows Life Sports, I will be sure to offer a water break to the entire class midway through the period.

 

Class Participation:  Critical!  Good class participation does not simply mean contributing frequently.  Being an active participant means listening carefully, coming prepared, asking questions, and making insightful contributions to class discussion.

 

Drama:  I love drama.  However, social drama is a different story.  Try not to let it interfere with class dynamics.  If an issue arises, see your advisor for help.

 

Expectations:  I expect you to be honest, to be respectful, and to strive to do your best work.   You can expect me to be fair, to be respectful, and to strive to provide helpful, timely, and consistent feedback.  I will try my best to return all work within a week of its due date.

 

Focus:  You will frequently have class time to work on portfolio assignments.  If you use your time wisely, you will have less work to complete at home.  Try to remember this when your mind starts to drift on a Friday afternoon.

 

Grade Record Sheet:  You are responsible for keeping track of your points earned throughout the trimester.  Your grade record sheet lives at the front of your binder and should be up to date.  I will sit down with you after unit tests to make sure your grade record sheet is up to date and accurate.

 

Homework:  You will have homework for this class almost every night.  If you do not complete an assignment, you will receive a zero.  However, you must still complete the assignment by the next class period.  If you fail to do so, you will receive a warning.

 

Independent Learning:  Woodlawn School aims to develop independent, lifelong learners.  You are expected to turn in your own work at all times.

 

Judgment-Free Environment:  Please respect your classmates.  I have zero tolerance for eye-rolling, snickering, or verbal criticism when someone else asks a question or makes a comment.  It’s perfectly fine to disagree, but it’s not okay to belittle someone else’s ideas.

 

Keep it Clean:  Respect the classroom by leaving it the way you found it, please!  If you use classroom supplies, put them in the return bin.  Any clothing or supplies left in my room during the week will be taken to the lost and found in Mrs. Schultz’s office.

 

Locker Trips:  Come to class prepared!  This means bringing your binder, notebook, pen/pencil, agenda, and book(s) every day.  You have three locker passes each trimester.  Once you’ve used up your passes, subsequent locker trips receive a warning.

 

Make-Up Work:  For each day of excused absence, you have two days to make up your missed work.  You are responsible for figuring out what you’ve missed.  When you come back from being out, check the “look here if you’ve been absent” binder.

 

Notebook:  Your notebook (composition book) will be home to most of your written work.  Entries should be clearly labeled according to the instructions given in class.  Keep your notebook with you at all times! 

 

Organization:  Also critical!  We will work on organizational strategies throughout the year.  It is to your advantage to be consistent with where you put your assignments, with using your agenda, and with taking notes.  Poor organizational skills can do some serious damage on your overall grade.  The work may be exceptional, but if you can’t find it, you don’t get the credit you deserve!

 

Penmanship:  If I can’t read it, I can’t grade it.  Please try to be neat.

 

Question-Asking:  Good questions can make a discussion all the better.  I welcome questions.  However, questions that are off-topic or that will most likely be answered at the beginning of class (think “what are we doing today?”) can get frustrating.  Try to use your filter!

 

Respect:  This is my one class rule.  Respect yourself, others, and the school at all times. 

 

Sharing Notes:  If you are absent, you can copy a classmate’s notes – by hand.  The photocopier is not to be used for copying notes.  Likewise, you are responsible for taking your own notes in class.  I encourage study groups, but it’s not okay to rely on a classmate to take notes for you on a regular basis. 

 

Transitioning:  You will often have multiple kinds of activities in any given class period.  It is to your advantage to transition from activity to activity as quickly as possible so as not to hold the class up.  Likewise, it is important to make a smooth transition into class.  You should be seated and ready to go with all of your materials at the beginning of class.

 

Unit Tests: We will have a test at the end of each three- to four-week unit.  If you need extra time, you may use up to half of the allotted test time.  (In most cases, roughly 27 minutes!)  You can finish a test during lunch – not life sports – or after school.

 

Vocabulary:  We will be using the Vocabulary Workshop text throughout the year.  You will have a new vocab. list (and quiz!) every two weeks.  Sometimes we will put the vocabulary book aside and pull vocabulary from your novels.

 

Warnings:  Warnings will be issued for disrespectful behavior.  If you receive a warning in my class, I will notify your advisor.  Depending on the number of warnings you have received, your advisor may contact home.

 

Xtra Help:  I will be available for extra help on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 – 8:15.

 

You:  Are my priority.  If you have a question or problem, please don’t hesitate to see me before or after class.  In fact, come see me even if you don’t have a question or problem!  I love visitors.   

 

Zest:  Above all, this should be a fun-filled, exciting year.  You will learn a lot, but you should have a lot of fun, too.  May the force be with you!

 

 

Mrs. H ☺