Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!

It’s _______________ .Fill in the time and period.

You are in room A104. (Or 305)

You may be thinking, “Am I in the right place?”

If your schedule says Mrs. Phyllis Walker, English I, then you are in the right room!

If you have a technological device with you which allows you to send an email, please take it out, and send an email to me at the following address:pwalker@athensisd.net .

When you have finished, please turn OFF your device, and stow it in a place where it will be SAFE for the duration of the period. Thanks!

I will reply to your email and forward this PowerPoint to you at 4pm. This procedure works any day that I am not involved in a motor vehicle collision, or that the zombie apocalypse does not occur.

Contact Information

P. O. Box 541

Athens, TX 75751

Tel. 903 288-2229

email pwalker@athensisd.net

Office Hours: M-F, 7:15am-4:30pmCall, email, or text for an appointment, please.

Leave a voicemail if you call. If I am in a mandatory team meeting, I will return your call as soon as possible.

MISSION

Mrs. Walker’s English I (Lit. & Comp.) class is a respectful classroom established to build a foundation for excellence in literacy through academic, behavioral, and social success.

Important FAQ for Day 1:

“When’s lunch?”

Lunch A = 4B+5B+6B

Lunch B = 4A + 5B + 6B

Lunch C = 4A+5A+6B

Lunch D = 4A +5A + 6A

Answers to FAQ about week 1:

Headphones may not be worn in the hallways.

7 minutes tardy = 1 absence

1st period must have a tardy slip.

3rd period teacher will call home if absent.

Detentions with teacher, admin., Saturday school for missing work.

WELCOME to English I !

Welcome to English I, (Lit. & Comp.)

I am here to teach; you are here to learn. I will do my job; you will do yours, and together we will utilize this year wisely and beneficially.

A positive attitude is the key to success. Let’s keep it all the time.

Class Syllabus

Short Stories

Novels

Dramas

Orations

What works will we explore?

PoetryEssays

Selected works

Major AssignmentsWeb Quests

Novels

Dramas

Data CardsNovels

Dramas

Critical Analyses

Major Works Seminars

Rules

Feel free to do anything you want as long as it doesn’t cause a problem.

If a problem occurs, I will do something.

Class Policies

There are only five basic classroom policies.

Following these policies will help keep our class environment peaceful and productive.

If you choose not to adhere to the policies, there will be logical consequences.

Why do we have policies?

A policy is a plan that guides our actions.To do things effectively, we have to adhere to some common sense policies:

Governments invoke laws to help maintain peaceful communities.Companies have by-laws in order to facilitate productive work environments.Games have rules to create a baseline standard of play.

» So, to be successful in learning, you need to follow some basic classroom rules! I call them my class policies.

Classroom Policies1. Be ready to learn. Come to class on time

prepared with all your materials, homework, and texts.

2. Always act and speak in an appropriate and respectful manner. Please keep your hands to yourself.

3. Follow all district policies such as no food/beverages in class, comply with dress code, etc.

4. No personal electronics allowed.

5. Respect the classroom environment by participating/focusing on the assigned tasks.

Possible Behavioral Consequences

Warning

Conference with student

You call home and explain to parents

I make formal parent contact

After school detention or Saturday school

Referral to Administration

Class Procedures

We will only be reviewing the most commonly used procedures at this time.

Refer to your Student Handbook for a more complete list.

Procedures may be changed or added to if the need arises.

Field trips, library day, emergency situations, and testing days will be different from the norm. Each has its OWN set of procedures. Please be flexible.

Why Do We Have Procedures?A procedure is the way that we do things.To do things efficiently, we have to follow some simple procedures, for example:

To open your locker, you have to select your combination as directed by the lock manufacturer.To cook a delicious meal, you need to follow the steps in the recipe.To place a call on your phone, you need to dial the number in the right order.

» So, to be successful in learning, you need to follow some simple procedures!

ENTRANCE – Check Mind Map

Make sure you have all necessary materials for the class.

Enter the classroom quietly.

Pick up any handouts and do any housekeeping items quickly and quietly.

Go directly to your assigned seat.

Get ready for work with your composition book, blue or black ball point ink pen, and textbook, if applicable for that day.

Right After the Bell Rings

Immediately start your entry task.

When you finish, wait quietly and read in your individual or book club novel.

During Instruction

Listen to the teacher/speaker with full attention.No pencil sharpening, talking, moving about the classroom, or whispering.Ask permission to speak by raising your hand and waiting quietly to be called on. After instruction, make sure you understand the concept. If not, ask questions by mentioning which part you didn’t understand.

If the Teacher Raises Her Hand

Stop whatever you are doing at that moment.

Face the teacher and wait silently.

Quietly, notify any classmates who haven’t noticed that the teacher has raised her hand.

No talking or whispering. All of your attention should be given to the teacher.

When You Are Absent

Ask your neighbors what we did.

If you have questions about assignments, check with the teacher at an appropriate time. Do the work at home.

If you missed a test because of an excused absence, inform the teacher and arrange a time to make up the test after school.

» You will have one day to make-up work for every day you are absent.

While You Are Working

Make sure you read or listen to the directions about your work and understand the directions.If you didn’t understand, quietly ask for help from other students sitting around you.If you are asked to help, be polite and help.Talking to each other should be no louder than a whisper. Respect each other and be friendly.Use your time wisely. Put forth your best effort to finish your work on time.

After You Are Finished

Check your work and the directions one more time to see if you missed anything or did something incorrectly.

Check to see if the heading is written correctly on your paper.

If the assignment is to be turned in, do so.

If appropriate, read quietly in your seat.

Maintaining the Classroom

Pick up any garbage 2mm in diameter or more.

Recycle papers (4x4 inches or more).

Do not intentionally deface school, personal, or another’s personal property.

Dismissal

Clean your work area and take all garbage to the trash can.

Wait in your seat for the teacher to dismiss you.

Leave quietly, ONLY after you have been given permission to do so.

You will know you have been dismissed when you hear Mrs. Walker say, “Have a nice day!”

When You Have a Tardy

Report to attendance office to get tardy slip.

Knock on the classroom door.

Enter the classroom quietly, hand Mrs. Walker your slip, and go to your seat after signing in.

You will not be excused from any work you missed. Quietly, get the assignment and do the work at home.

More Attendance Procedures

If you are 7 minutes (or more) late, you will be marked absent!

» If this absence will be excused, go to the attendance office to get your excuse note.

When There Is a SubstituteWe treat guests in our room as courteously or better than we treat Mrs. Walker.

Sit in your assigned seat ONLY.

Maintain proper voice levels.

Remain on task.

Be helpful and courteous.» Subs will report behaviors (good & bad)

and proper consequences or rewards will be applied.

» If your name is not signed by yourself on the sub’s roster, then you will be counted absent.

Mrs. Walker’s A Little Different

If you tell me that you are “sorry,” then I will tell you that you’re not. “Sorry” means a person of low or bad character. I may also tell you that I’m not mad at you for whatever it is that you think you did.

Q-TIP : “Quit taking it personally!”

Final Thought

“Learning without reasoning leads to confusion; thinking without learning is wasted effort.” 

~Confucius