Classroom+Expectations


 * Guidelines for Success: **
 * **Be prepared and ready to learn everyday **
 * **Listen, ask questions, take notes **
 * **Participate with respect **
 * **Do your best in all things **
 * **Maintain a positive attitude **

- Quick Write: 5 to 10 minute journal activity - Homework Check - Daily Lesson - Independent work
 * What can I expect a typical day’s agenda to look like? **


 * Materials: **

 Students must bring his/her materials to class every day. Check the wall outside of my door for what to anticipate daily. Students must also bring his/her outside reading book to class every day.


 * What is my grade based on? **


 * Tests and Projects 30%
 * Daily Work and HW 30%
 * Quizzes 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Vocabulary 15%
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Independent Reading 10%
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Participation 5%


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Is there any EXTRA CREDIT? **

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">YES! Each month there is a new writing assignment. Please check with me for more information.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Topics we’ll cover: **


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">grammar
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">vocabulary
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">short stories
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">novel study
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">poetry
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">reading
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">writing (essay)
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">drama


 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 26pt;">RESPONSIBILITY ** ||  **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 26pt;">RATIONALE **  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 28pt;">Be respectful. || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">This includes respecting others (peers, teachers, administrators) and property. Treating others with respect is a way to show good character and integrity. If we are to learn from one another, respect is essential. So, even if you disagree with someone or don’t particularly care for them, common respect is still expected because that person is a human being.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Respect also applies to property, both physical property and written property. You risk breaking trust with me and others if you choose to cheat on homework, plagiarize, or damage someone else’s things. Show some integrity; make good choices. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 28pt;">Be a participant. || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We have larger classes this year, and it’s important to me that each of you has an opportunity to have a voice in the classroom. To do that, you will need to be both an active listener as well as a courageous speaker. What you think and how you think matters, so share it with us; we can’t have a community without it. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 28pt;">Be kind. || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">While this is an elementary concept, even adults struggle to do this well, but you will be surprised by how many problems can be overcome by simply showing kindness to others. The Golden Rule is “golden” for a reason; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 28pt;">Be prepared. || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You wouldn’t show up at a concert without your ticket or at your soccer game without your cleats, so since your job right now is to be a student, make sure you come to class with the proper materials. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 28pt;">Be on time. || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Showing up on time is a sign of respect. It shows others that you can manage your time in such a way that you make that meeting or class a priority. Arriving late to class is not only an inconvenience to you, but also to me and your fellow classmates. ||


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Possible consequences for inappropriate behavior **

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Remember: Your behavior is your responsibility. You avoid the following consequences by making good choices from the start. Inappropriate behavior results in the following:


 * 1) <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You will be moved.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You will lose points from your participation & behavior grade for each “mishap” during the semester.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We will conference after class.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your parents will be contacted, and together we will develop a school-home intervention.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You will receive a discipline notice and a trip to the office.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Absences/Make-up Work/Late Work **


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Active participation is essential in this course. You must have a valid reason for being absent. Please check the school handbook for a list of excusable absences. //You// //should not expect to excel in this class without consistent attendance.//
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Only students with excused absences are given the opportunity to make up their work. //It is your responsibility to make arrangements for make-up work!// If possible, make arrangements with me //before// the absence.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If you do not have your work at the beginning of class on the day it is due, it is considered late. However, because all assigned work is valuable, even late work will be completed by the student and evaluated by the teacher for partial credit.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1 day late: loss of 50%


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tardies/bathroom **


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You must be in your seat when the bell rings in order to be considered on time.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Students must ask to go to the bathroom before the tardy bell rings. Students can also ask to go when we are independently working. If a student asks to go during direct instruction, then he or she will receive a tardy.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Homework **

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I will never give “busy work.” If I assign homework, it is important. Homework is due at the beginning of class.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Small Groups **

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We will work in small groups on a regular basis in this class. Small groups are how decisions are made, how we learn to communicate better with others, and how ideas are created, adjusted, and challenged. I think you’re going to be surprised by how much you learn from each other and how nice it is to have a voice in the world—at least the world of our classroom.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Extra Help **

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I am more than happy to provide extra help to you! Here’s what you can do:


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Set up a time to meet with me either before or after school.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Email me from home.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">I am excited about this school year and look forward to getting to know each of you! Please contact me with any questions. **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Meredith McLemore **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">M.A.Ed., Secondary English **