Primus's Biology Regents Expectations, Procedures and Consequences

The expectations, rules, procedures and consequences of my classroom are intended to keep the classroom environment safe, orderly, and productive.  Please respect the rules so that we can maximize learning time together.  The rules are not hard to follow, nor are any of them “out of the   ordinary.”  They have simply expected behaviors for high school students in this classroom.  If you have any questions about any of these rules, or why they are in place, you have the right to find out – please ask me as soon as possible.  There should never be a rule that does not have a purpose! 

Thank you for your cooperation! 

CLASS EXPECTATIONS

1.      Respect yourself, the teacher & others

·         Show respect for the teacher, yourself and others at all times.

·         Respect others’ property.  Avoid touching or writing on anything that does not belong to you (including desks, textbooks, teacher’s belongings, walls, chalkboards, etc.). Don't expect that others will clean up your messes. Please pick up after yourself.

·         Respect yourself and the rest of us by using appropriate language and wearing appropriate clothing.

·         Be a kind person.

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

.         Looseleaf paper, pens (blue or black), and pencils

.        A red or purple pen for grading in class or underlining important elements in note-taking

.        Highlighters for emphasizing important text

.         A planner to help keep you organized

4.      Follow directions when given

·         When directions are given, do your best to follow them the first time.  If you are confused or have questions, ask.  I would rather have you stop class to clarify than be off task while everyone else is working.

5.      Pay attention, participate and ask questions

·         Engage in what is going on in the classroom.  If you have a question, ask it!  Otherwise, I might not know until the test that you did not understand something.  There are no stupid questions, and chances are if you are wondering about it, someone else in the class is too.  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.      Preserve a positive learning environment

·         Student actions that interfere with teaching or learning in the classroom will NOT be tolerated. 

·         Use class time to learn Biology.  Please do not spend your time grooming, sleeping, talking, writing notes, playing cards, listening to your iPod, text-messaging friends, or doing work for other classes.

·         Minimize classroom interruptions by arriving at class on time and not leaving the classroom during the hour.

7.      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 safety rules will be enforced.  Please read your safety rules.  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. Cell phones & electronic devices

·         Electronic devices (CD players, iPods, handheld games, mini-TVs or personal DVD players, cell phones, etc..)  should be turned off and invisible during the class period.

Cell phones will be placed in front of the classroom in a box as students enter the room. If I see or hear your phone it will be taken away:

Consequences:

1. Given a verbal warning.

2. Conversation with parent(s)/and, or guardian(s)

3. Referral to administration 

         Students may ask permission to use cell for in case of an emergency.

 *Refusal to turn over the cell phone will be treated as insubordinate behavior.

2.     Food or drink/water

·         You may drink bottled water in the classroom. If a spill occurs, please clean it up immediately and inform the teacher.

·         Must throw out food wrappers and/or leftover food.

3.      Arrive to class on time & ready to learn

·         When the bell rings, you need to be sitting in your assigned seat. 

·         You should immediately begin on the warm-up activity or missing work.

·         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, not the bell.

5.      Do not cheat, plagiarize, or copy work

·         Cheating is completely unacceptable.  If I see you cheating on any assignment… even for another class… I will give you a zero and report the incident to the other teacher as well as your assistant principal and parents. 

·         Plagiarism (copying work from another source without giving proper credit) is completely unacceptable.  If you plagiarize on any assignment you will earn a “0” on that assignment with no opportunity to re-do the work for 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 accepted. Remember, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at 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 you are preparing an assignment that I will review:

.        Write your full name and hour on all assignments.

.         All work must be neatly done and legible in order to receive full credit.

CLASS PROCEDURES

1.      Turn in homework to the proper bin

·         Homework is due at the beginning of the hour when you come to class.  Turn absent/late work into the absent/late work bin. 

2.       Sign the tardy book & put the pass in the box

·         If you are tardy, I follow the tardy policy outlined in your student handbook. 

·         You are expected to sign in if you arrive at class after the bell has rung and sign out 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

3.      Pick up after yourself before you leave

·         Take all of your belongings, pick up any scrap papers around you, and put your desk back in line before you leave each day.

4.     Get missed work from the absent bin, talk to your study classmate, then ask the teacher

·         Attendance is essential for optimal learning.  Being on time and present and class physically and mentally will be part of your overall grade. 

·        

CLASS CONSEQUENCES

1.      Verbal warning

2.      Call home

3.     Referral to administration