OUR CLASSROOM CONSTITUTION con sti tu tion (noun) 1.the system of beliefs and laws by which a country, state, or organization is governed 2.a document that describes this system 3.an established law or custom Mrs. Christoffel Team 8-2
Each citizen of this classroom community is responsible for understanding and following the procedures and routines. Please make notes as needed to help you remember them. The environment we create together is the environment that helps us reach our goals and SUCCEED! Entering the Classroom: You must be in the room by the time the bell rings or you will be tardy! Do not wait for me to start class. YOU start class by being in your seat on time and working on targets/reading quietly. Thank you. Daily TARGETS: Once you get to class, the first thing you should do is read the daily targets on the front projector. You are responsible for completing any tasks listed for the day. Sometimes you will have bellwork to do as well. These activities require NO CONVERSATION and will be completed within the first 5-7 minutes of class. If you finish early, please check your work, review unit notes, or read silently. DO NOT TALK TO OTHERS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE FINISHED. It is distracting to those who are still working. Student Agenda/Homework: The student agenda will be used daily to record all assignments (short or long term) that are listed on the board each day towards the finish of class. Assignments will be posted daily on the homework bulletin board. Before the end of class each day, you will be required to copy the information from the board into your agenda. Long-term assignments will also be listed. Homework assignments will also be posted on our team website and Google Classroom. Leaving the Classroom: Anytime you leave the room, you MUST first ask my permission, and make sure it is only at a time when there is a break in the classroom activity, NOT when teaching and learning is taking place. Remember preparedness is a goal for every one of you. I advise you to come to class prepared and use the bathroom during passing periods. If you are running late, it is important to come to the classroom FIRST and ask permission to leave than to be late. DO NOT ABUSE THIS PRIVILEGE. Passes: Passes for the hall, nurse, LMC, Student Services, office, etc. are located on the front board by the classroom entrance. If you are called down to any of these places by intercom, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE PASS WITH YOU AND UPON RETURN FROM YOUR DESTINATION. Take the appropriate pass and be sure to put it back on the board when you return to the classroom. Please see me at the end of class if you need a lunch work pass or QUICK PASS. Late Arrival: Excused late admittance to class is only permitted with a pass from the office or your previous teacher. If you come to class late without a pass, you will be sent back to get one. When you arrive to class, it is YOUR responsibility to read the daily targets projected on the front board, turn in homework, pick up papers, etc. 2
Tardiness: If you are tardy (i.e. late to class with NO pass), you will need to redeem a trimester agenda slip. For the first tardy, you will then receive a verbal warning from me. Three tardies will result in detentions, parent/team conference or office referral. Required Materials: During the class period, all materials should be in or under your desk unless needed for an assignment. For Social Studies You Will Need: o Pen(cil)s o Agenda o 1 Composition Book (100 pages) o Folder o Reading book o Any designated books (HOLT Call to Freedom) Check the SUPPLY LIST on the classroom door BEFORE class for any additional required supplies such as: colored pencils, tape, glue, scissors Classroom Supplies: You may borrow classroom supplies (markers, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, tape) from the drawers labeled STUDENT by the counter. A stapler is also available for student use. You do NOT need to ask me simply take what you need. Please be sure to neatly return all borrowed materials when you are finished with them. DO NOT ABUSE THIS PRIVILEGE. Teacher s Work Space: Please do not go behind my desk or take anything off my desk/table or counter area without permission. This includes pens, papers, Post-Its, tape, stapler, etc. Any available student supplies will be located in the labeled STUDENT. Sharpening Pencils: Pencils may be sharpened BEFORE class begins or during a break in instruction. An electric pencil sharpener is located on the counter. There are handheld sharpeners in the STUDENT drawer by the electric sharpener. Be sure to come to class with more than one pencil, limiting the need to sharpen them during class. Handing in Papers/Homework: All assignments need to be turned in to the appropriately labeled black trays located on the side table between the windows. Occasionally, I may collect papers. If desks are in rows, papers will be handed in to the RIGHT. The last person in each row will neatly stack papers facing the same way. I will then come around and pick them up. If working in groups, I will assign one person to collect and check papers following the same procedure as above. Paper Heading: All papers/google Docs must have a heading on them. NO HEADING, NO CREDIT! You are responsible for your work. Here is the procedure for paper/google Doc headings: Mrs. Christoffel 8/19/15 Social Studies Pd. 1 3
Assignment Requirements: I WILL ONLY ACCEPT QUALITY WORK. Assignments must be on time, complete, and legible for full credit. Papers also need to have the proper heading. All work must be done in pencil or blue/black ink. Also, any typed work must be done in BOLD or colored text using 12 point font unless otherwise noted. I will NOT accept any paper work done in red ink, gel pen, or highlighter, or papers with frayed edges. In that case, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO CREDIT. Late Work: NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Breaks: At times, we will take a natural break if necessary. During this break, you will be able to move around, read, snack, or chat quietly with friends in the classroom. End of Class: You are to remain in your seat until I dismiss the class. You should not pack up early. You may begin packing up your materials ONE minute before the bell rings/class period ends. Please remember the bell does NOT dismiss the class. You do not dismiss the class. I dismiss the class. Before you leave: o Return any borrowed materials. o Clean your desk and floor area. o Check your agenda with the homework board for assignments. o Check to make sure you have all of your supplies and books. o Push in your chair. o Politely say good-bye and thank you to your teacher. Voices in the Classroom: To ensure a pleasant and productive learning environment, students will be expected to maintain an acceptable level of classroom noise. Excessive noise will result in the loss of classroom privileges or other obtainable consequences. Classroom Posture: All students are expected to KEEP: 1. Feet on the floor. 2. ALL FOUR legs of the chair on the floor. 3. Hands on the top of the table. 4. Head up with eyes on the speaker. 5. Anything NOT BEING USED in the UPPER OUTER corner of the table. BARK Procedures: Bulldogs are respectful, responsible, and keep their environment safe. When you walk in the hallways as a class, you are to walk in a single file line with your voices off, so as not to disturb the other classrooms. You are to follow these procedures even as an individual when going to your locker, bathroom, the nurse, front office, the LMC or other school destinations. Team Agenda Slips: As a team, you will receive 10 agenda slips for each trimester. These are to be used for EMERGENCY only. Save them for the TEAM RAFFLE!! 4
Attention-Getters: We are going to have fun this school year, and you will work hard! Occasionally, I will need to get your attention in order to teach. I might do any one of the following: o Ring the bell. o Turn off the lights. o Count backwards from FIVE. (When this happens you will stop, look, listen, and will be silent by the time I get to ONE.) Absent Policy: If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to check the homework board and the ABSENT BIN on the counter for any missing work and the team website. All assignments, notes, and forms you need will be placed in the folders by date. Remember, you are allowed one day for each day you are absent, with the exception of long-term assignments, to make up the work. If a long-term assignment has been given, you must comply with the due date even if you have been absent. Be sure to check the folders when you return! Please see me or email me if you need assistance completing any make-up work. Absent Buddy: You will be assigned an absent buddy each trimester. This buddy will be the person sitting with you at your table. You must complete an Absent Buddy Form, located in the back of the room by the X-Time board, when your buddy is absent. Please fill out the form with work missed, and put the form in the designated folder hanging on the wall by the X-Time board for the absent student. Attendance: Attendance will take place at the start of EVERY period. Please be sure to be in your assigned seat on time in order to be marked PRESENT. Cooperative Groups: You will often work in small groups or with a partner. When working in groups, you will need to apply teamwork skills and often compromise with the opinions of the group. Make sure you ALL give and accept ideas to help the project run smoothly. Everyone needs to do their part and contribute to the final product of each assignment. Taking Tests: Be certain to STUDY and come prepared for a test with sharpened pencils. There should be NO TALKING and no movement around the room during a test. If you choose to talk during a test, you will lose points. After the completion of a test, you should be actively engaged in reading a book silently. When You Finish Early: If you finish an assignment early, make sure you CHECK YOUR WORK! There are usually other assignments you can be working on as well. If all work is complete, you should be actively engaged in reading a book, studying or re-reading unit notes. 5
Emergency Drills: At various times throughout the year, important emergency drills (fire, tornado, bus evacuation, etc.) will take place. At these times, students are expected to act in an appropriate manner, taking these drills seriously. You should be silent, listening to instructions, and walking in a single file line at all times following BARK procedures. The will be consequences for not following directions. If the Teacher Steps Out of the Room: For a variety of reasons, I may need to step out of the room. A well-functioning community can maintain order without their leader present. The same expectations go for you. All rules and classroom procedures stay in place. Guest/Substitute Teacher: All who enter our classroom are to be given the Red Carpet treatment. All the same rules apply. The classroom should still run smoothly, even in my absence. Intercom Announcements: No matter what the activity, when someone interrupts on the intercom during class, you should stop what you are working on, be silent and listening. This especially includes morning announcements. Lockers: You will have the opportunity to go to your locker in the morning, before class, and before lunch. Having a locker down the hall or downstairs is NOT an excused tardy. If you are having trouble getting to your locker and to class on time, create a plan. For example, get all subject materials to class before 8:00 AM and put them on your desk. I do not mind you doing this, but I do mind if you are late. Also, please ask for assistance if you are having locker problems. For security purposes, your locker should be LOCKED at all times! Snacks: During breaks, you may have a snack. Only nutritious snacks (fruit, veggies, yogurt, granola bars, pretzels, crackers, etc.) will be allowed. Water is the only drink allowed in the room. If abuse of this privilege takes place, you will lose it! Gum: Gum is allowed in my class. HOWEVER, if chewing gum becomes a distraction or health hazard, you will be asked to spit it out into the trash can. Multiple infractions will result in a detention. Trash: Garbage/recyclables can only be thrown out during work time, not when the teacher is instructing. Please get up and walk to the trash can to throw out your garbage. If you choose to throw out your garbage from a distance (i.e. shooting baskets), you choose to face the consequences. Personal Grooming: There is to be no hair combing, make-up application, mirror checking, or any related personal grooming tasks during class time. Personal grooming needs are allowed on your own time. 6
Classroom Bingo: Students who demonstrate positive character traits will be invited to sign a square on the classroom bingo board. Every so often, I will randomly draw cards to determine the winners. Winners will receive a small prize or treat. The more squares you sign, the better your chances of winning, so make good choices! Research/LMC: We will visit the LMC (Library Media Center) at time to work on research. When in the LMC: o Enter and leave QUIETLY in a single file line so as not to disturb the other learners following BARK procedures. o Sit in the assigned section. (No more than 3 people at a table.) o During research work time, meet in the proper location, get organized, and quietly wait for my instructions. Classroom Library: If you would like to check out a book from our classroom library, please complete the required information on the library card located on the inside cover of each book in the reading corner. You may only check out ONE book at a time for no more than 2 weeks. Please be responsible in returning classroom library books. If lost, you will be expected to pay the replacement cost of the book. Silent Reading/Studying: This should be happening at any spare moment! You may sit on the carpet to do your reading and/or (odd numbered days for boys & even days for girls). However, be careful who you choose to sit with if talking or goofing around takes place, you will be asked to sign the Carpet Violators poster. After 3 violations, you will lose carpet privileges for 3 weeks. X-Time: This time replaces Advisory and is intended to provide EXTRA help and EXTEND learnings. Also, X-Time gives us the opportunity for social-emotional learning and team development. This time will provide students the opportunity within the schedule to get help with teachers and retakes. PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. S.O.S. Log: Students will complete a daily log to record the assignments they are working on during X-Time. If you go see another teacher for help, you must record the teacher, class, and assignment on the S.O.S. log before you leave to get help. ** ATTENTION: If you still have this book of expectations & routines at the end of the school year, you will receive 5 extra credit points added to your final grade!! 7