CLASS POLICIES

Mrs. Williams

Room #102

2006-2007

Late and Tardy Arrivals

A student who is not in their assigned seat when the bell sounds is considered either late or tardy.

A student is late if he or she arrives with a pass after the bell. If a teacher needs to keep you after class, please obtain a pass from him/her. Late students need to pin their pass to the corkboard located by the door. There is no penalty for arriving late with a pass.

A student is tardy if he or she is without a pass after the bell. If a student is not in their seat when the bell stops ringing and does not have a pass, he/she will be given one warning, all tardies after that will result in a detention.

Absences

After an absence a student must return to class with an absence slip from the office. All absence slips are to be pinned on the corkboard by the door and I will return it to you by the end of the period.

If a student is absent from class, he or she is responsible for completing the assignment(s) that were missed. The student will have one day for every absence to make up the missed work. If the work is not turned in by that time it will be regarded as late work and will follow the same guidelines as the handbook.

One Day Late: -30 Points and Name on the ZAP list

Day Two Late: 0 in the grade book and a detention

Behavior

My belief is that all students deserve an environment where they can learn. Behaviors from students that keep others from that environment are not acceptable in my classroom. Behaviors that are in violation of class policies and rules will result in a verbal warning and your name on the “Wasting Time” Chart. If your name already appears on the chart then a detention will be given. Each week the chart will be erased and your slate will be clean.

Do note that some offenses will lead straight to a detention, and if a students name is continually on the “Wasting Time” Chart no more warnings will be given.

Academic Honesty

It is expected that students will do their own work in my classroom. A student found copying, plagiarizing, or cheating in any way will receive an automatic zero and have a phone call made to their parents. In addition, a write-up of the incident will be given to the principal.

Homework

You will be required to keep up with all papers from my class. Please put them in your folder designated for my class. Every fourth week we will have a notebook check to allow you to get things in order and see what work you may have missed and help you to see where you need to be. At the end of every 9 weeks you will receive a grade on you notebook, so keeping up with all of your papers will be very important. You always need to keep your assignments and handouts to study for tests.

Bell Work

At the beginning of every class period you will be required to write the objective of the day in your journal. This journal or spiral is to be dedicated to just your science objectives’ and any notes that we may take. The objective for the day will always be located on the overhead projector at the front of the classroom. Every 9 weeks I will grade your journals for the correct amount of objectives. If you are absent a day you will need to get the missing objective from your neighbor or another student in the class.

Hall Passes

If for any reason you should need to leave the classroom, such as going to the restroom or if you have forgotten something in your locker, I will need to sign your hall pass. The hall pass can be found in the back of your planner, there will be numerous spots for signatures, but remember that every teacher uses the same pass and that is must last you all year.

Science Labs

It is my goal this year to allow you to do as much self-discovery as time will allow. In order to reach this goal we must work together. Labs can be lots of fun, but are more importantly a hand on way of fully understanding science concepts.

There are several safety rules that govern over labs that we will do in class. These rules are for your safety and must be abided by. I will introduce you to lab safety in the first few weeks of school and revisit these safety procedures with each lab.

All polices, procedures, and rules are to be followed during labs, any failure to follow these will result in a wasting time warning. If a consistent signature is required while doing labs, those students will no longer participate in labs, and other work will be provided.

CLASS PROCEDURES

Mrs. Williams

Room #102

2006-2007

Entering the Classroom

Each day when you arrive, I will have your bell work listed on the overhead. When you enter the classroom, walk in quietly, go directly to your seat and get to work immediately on the bell work. Failure to enter the room in an orderly way will result in your name on the wasting time chart.

Please do not wait for me to remind you to begin. I need to take roll and attend to other duties for the first few minutes of the period. When I begin class, the objective will be taken down, so don’t delay.

Extra Handouts

If you need a handout because you were absent or if you lost your

first one, they will be located in the white turn in box labeled “Extra Handouts”. I keep lots of extra handouts for each assignment in that box. Do not ask me for handouts, go straight to the box.

Seating Assignments

I will assign seats for you after the first week or two of the school year. At the beginning of each nine week period, we will change seats, just to give you a change of scenery! Please don’t ask me to temporarily change seats. Changing seats with a classmate will result in a detention.

Morning Announcements

During one of the morning class periods, our principal will

lead us in saying the pledges and they will make announcements. During that time, I ask that you say the pledges in an appropriate manner. Our pledges are important and we should show respect. Any misbehavior during that time will result in a detention.

Terrific Tickets!!

Terrific Tickets are tickets that I give out to students when I notice

you doing “something good, “ such as good behavior, participation, good lab safety, improved work, etc. When you receive a ticket from me, sign the ticket and put it in the class period box located in between the windows. Every other Friday, I will draw one ticket from each class period box and reward you with a treat! It’s my way of thanking you for doing a good job in my class.

Materials for Class

Books, binders and other materials brought to the science

lab should be placed under your desk. Please keep the desks clean while we are working.

Also, each day bring a pencil or pen and your folder to class.

There may be other things as well. I will post what to bring each day on a dry erase board outside my door. You will always need to bring a pen or pencil, paper and a folder.

Asking Questions

With a lab full of students, it’s necessary to have an orderly

way to let me know that you need help. I will help each student as quickly as I can. While you wait… please be PATIENT!!! My rule is for each student to keep working on the assignment…do as much as you can without my help…I will be there!!! Those students who remain quiet and continue to work will be the ones I go to first.

If we are having a classroom discussion I want as much feedback as possible, but do remember that you are not the only on in the class with some thing to say, and that all questions are relevant to the discussion.

Headings

Each paper, handwritten or typed, will have a heading. The heading will read:

Top left hand corner Top right hand corner

Name – First and Last M. Williams

Date Class period

Headings may be hand written on worksheets, but for work that is printed from your computer, headings must be TYPED.

Dismissal from Class

The bell does not dismiss the class, -- I do. Do not pack up until I dismiss the class. Do not leave your seats until I dismiss the class. “People who pack fast shall leave last.” Please leave your work area clean when you leave. Throw away all scrap paper on your way out, return your “I Need Help” under the mouse pad, and PUSH YOUR CHAIR in. Another student will be coming to class after you and they deserve a clean work area.

Remember, your Mom isn’t here to do it for you!!! I’m a Mom – but I’m not yours!!!! Clean up after yourself!! J J

“Let’s Talk” Box

Located on the file cabinets next to my desk is a pink box. That box is my “Let’s Talk” Box. Feel free to put notes to me in it. Make sure your notes are appropriate. There may be times that you want to tell me something without others knowing, or you may want to share something without me knowing who you are. You don’t have to include your name. Please feel free to share anything – always be honest!

Visitors in the Classroom

I feel very strongly about behavior in my classroom when a visitor

is in my room. When we have a visitor that needs to speak with me, you are to be on your best behavior. I expect there to be no talking during our work time anyway, so when a visitor enters the room, work will resume as it normally would. NO TALKING! Those that misbehave will be asked to sign the book.

Also, if YOU visit my room during a class period other than your regular period, please knock on my door and I will come and let you in. My room is no different than my house! I wouldn’t expect you to come to my house and walk in without knocking! I wouldn’t come into your room at home without knocking! Please do the same in my classroom. Walking into a classroom unannounced can be very distracting for students trying to do their work. THANK YOU! J

When I Leave the Classroom

The same policy goes when I need to step out of the room for a moment. WORK WILL CONTINUE – no talking.

Turning in Work

All assignments are to be placed in your appropriate class period

box in the white boxes located by the door. Please be sure to file your

paper in the correct class period. No assignment should be placed on my desk.

CLASS RULES

Mrs. Williams

Room #102

2006-2007

Come to Class on Time

Standing outside the door and rushing in after the bell has begun to ring will constitute a tardy. You must be in your SEAT when it begins ringing to be counted on time.

Remain in your Seat

Remain in your assigned seat unless you have permission to get up. Throw scraps away at the end of the period on your way out. Roaming around the room is not acceptable. You may get up to sharpen your pencil but try and take care of that before class begins.

Talking

This may be harsh to some of you, but talking during work times is not permitted. I love for students to participate in class, but sometimes it gets a little loud. Talking while you are working slows down your progress. From my experience, I have seen that many students are very distracted by others talking around them. Working on new concepts in science requires a lot of concentration for most students, so a quiet working environment is necessary.

There will be times that I allow talking. For instance, when I give paired or group work, or when we are active in a classroom discussion. I will also reward you for a good day’s work by allowing talking at the end of the class period while we are cleaning up for the day.

Please come into class each day remembering that talking in the lab will result in your name going on the wasting time chart. We have so much to learn this year – talking distracts us all!!

Attend to Personal Needs before Coming to Class

Please be sure to use the restroom and get all needed supplies before coming to class. Once the tardy bell has rung, class has started and you won’t be able to leave to take care of these things without me signing your Hall Pass sheet.

My Things

My desk, chairs, computer and lab equipment are off limits for students. Students are not allowed anywhere behind the desk. Also, please do not use materials off of my desk, such as stapler, tape, pens or pencils, or the remotes used for the projector and screen. On the counter, I have provided you with a stapler, tape, and other items for your use. Please don’t use mine.

Food or Candy

Food or candy is not allowed in the science lab. Occasionally, I give out special treats. This is the only time that food or candy is acceptable.

Internet Usage

The Internet has wonderful information and contains lots of fun! We will use the Internet frequently for assignments. The only time you are allowed to use the Internet is when I instruct you to for an assignment.

Students, at times, feel that they can go to the Internet and take a quick look at something or play a quick game while they are supposed to be working on an assignment. This is unacceptable. You will sign the book for this offense. There are also times I give an immediate detention for this if it becomes a problem. Your parents or guardians and the school want you to be safe while on the Internet. That’s why we have this rule.

My Time

When I talk, it’s “My Time” and I expect your attention. I expect to see your eyes - look at me and truly listen, this not only goes for me but for any student that may have the floor in my classroom.