Mrs. Goertzen s Classroom Policies and Procedures What is expected of you? Be Respectful - Please be respectful to other individual s thoughts, ideas, opinions as well as their belongings and space. As always, respect goes both ways. Be a Critical Thinker - Ask the how and why questions. Draw conclusions and make connections. One goal of this class is to stretch your mind into directions that are unfamiliar. Be your own Writer/Reader - Learn about your own style of writing. At the same time, be willing to try out new ways of learning. By doing so, you can express your individual ideas, thoughts, and opinions so others understand you best. Be a Contributor - My goal is to make this classroom conducive to learning. What does that mean? That your discussions, thoughts, ideas, opinions and actions are relevant to what is taking place in the classroom so that others are not being distracted from learning. What will you need? Your writing notebook, current reading materials, and a writing utensil.
What will be graded? Core English Classes & Adolescent Literature - Major Projects - 30% Reading Quizzes - 20% Paragraphs - 20% Vocabulary Quizzes - 15% Journal Entries - 10% Directed Reading - 5% Creative Writing - Major Assignments - 70% Weekly Assignments - 20% Journals - 15% Journalism - Yearbook - 25% Newsletter - 25% Newspaper - 25% Weekly Challenge - 15% Class Intercom - 10% Speech - Speech - 60% Quiz - 20% Other - 20%
Do I accept late assignments? Yes; but with the following stipulation. If you do not turn your assignment in on the day it is due, it is expected of you to turn it in the following day. You will also be given a HAWK slip. The best grade you will be awarded is a B+ the following day. If you do not turn it in the next day, the best grade you will be awarded is a C+ on the next day, and so forth. *College Prep Students - I do not accept late assignments. Your future professors will not hand out second chances. Do I allow redos on reading quizzes? Yes; but only one a quarter. The best grade that you can receive on a redo is a 70%. *College Prep Students - I do not allow redos as your future professors will not accept redos. Journals Why write a journal - Writing in a journal helps to develop your own style of writing and voice. To experiment with writing in different forms: personal, literary, etc. Writing in a journal is your opportunity to share your opinions, ideas, etc. It also helps to develop your critical thinking skills. How often will you write - Journal entries are due every Friday, by the end of the day. You can work on these after completing your vocabulary tests. There may be other opportunities during the week for you to write in your journals as well. How long are journal entries? - Each class has a designated length for their journal entries.
ØFreshmen: 100 words ØSophomores: 150 words ØJuniors & Seniors: 200 words Depending on the prompt, this word limit may change. If it does change, you will be notified in the writing prompt. What will you write about? - Topics will vary each week. You will be given two options to choose from each week. Who will read my journal? - I will be the only individual reading your journal unless you willingly show it to others. Journals will not be discussed with others except for these situations: ØYou write about harming yourself ØYou write about being abused at home or at school ØYou write about terroristic threats How will journals be graded? - If you meet the journal entry criteria and put forth your best effort, you will receive a 100%. If you fail to meet criteria and put forth little or no effort, you will receive a reduced or failing grade. Directed Reading Why Directed Reading - Directed reading gives you an opportunity to explore other material that you didn t know you enjoyed. It s also good practice! What will you be reading - Each quarter you will have four options of literature to read from for Directed Reading. Your Directed Reading test will be administered the final week of each quarter.
Vocabulary Each week you will be responsible for knowing 10 new words. Vocabulary terms will be taken directly from the text you are currently reading. The vocabulary words will be introduced to you at the beginning of the school week. You will be tested over these materials on Friday or the last day of that week. You will be graded on correct spelling, grammatical usage and usage in a sentence. You will receive three bonus points for using a bonus topic (two given each week) as the theme of your sentences. You will not receive these points if the majority of the sentences do not use the vocabulary terms correct. I reserve the right to use my judgement when awarding these points. Additional Rules and Procedures Cell Phone Policy - When entering my room, you will have the opportunity to place your cell phone in neutral zone box. If you place your phone in the box and your phone goes off during class, I won t worry about - it s in the neutral zone. If you decide to keep your phone on your person or in your bag and it goes off, then I will be forced to keep your phone for the remained of the class period. If you become a repeat offender, I will start asking for your phone at the beginning of each class. If it becomes an even greater problem, we will begin the rules found in the handbook. Bathroom Breaks - You may use the restroom during class work time. Seating Charts - I will assign a seating charts and change them as I see fit.