Classroom Procedures for English 9

Mrs. Postma’s Class

“If you believe it, YOU can achieve it”

Brent Martinson, HHS Principal

Class Materials:

  1. You must always come prepared to class. Bring your book (if we are using one at the time), Silent Reading Book, binder, and a pen/pencil to write with. Keep all papers in your binder (See below in Binder Section). There will be Binder Checks at random for a grade!!!!
  2. Please understand that responsibility is a big part of life. You are responsible for your materials and work that you will need in class.
  3. The excuse, "I forgot it in my locker," is really not an excuse. If you didn't forget to come to English class, then I don't see how you forgot your book or homework.

Classwork and Homework:

  1. If you are not done with classwork, you will usually be allowed to take it home, but you must turn it in the next time the class meets. This must be done at the beginning of the period. I will no longer take it at the end of the period.
  2. Homework is due on the due date @ the beginning of class.
  3. I expect homework and classwork to be your own work. Any papers I receive that are the same or appear to not be your own work will receive an automatic zero. Both papers will receive the zero. I allow for you to help each other with assignments, but it is another thing for you to sit there until someone is finished and just copy their work. This is not allowed.
  4. Late work will count for a maximum grade of 50% and will not be accepted any later than at the beginning of the next class that we meet.

Grades:

  1. I am expecting that all of you are at least making an attempt at being a
  2. responsible student as well as making it a priority to keep up with your work and grades.
  3. We must make an agreement right now that we will do what we have to do to ensure that Failing is not an option.
  4. Check your grades via Harmony. I update grades as soon as I get the chance to doso.
  5. It is your responsibility to ask questions regarding your grades. Don’t wait until right before the 9 weeks is over or until the Semester is over to start checkinginto your grades.
  6. I will communicate with you and your parents/guardians as needed to ensure that I am holding you responsible for your performance and effort.
  7. Compete with yourself to be the best YOU can be!!! Don’t settle...
  8. I grade on a Straight Points basis; therefore, nothing will be weighted. In order to check your grade, look on Harmony, or simply multiply your total points by 100,then divide by the total points in the class.
  9. There are four grading periods. Each grading period consists of approximately 9 weeks of schooling. There are 2 semesters. You will receive a grade for each 9 weeks and you will also receive an overall grade for each of the two semesters. Your 1st 9 weeks grade will count for 40% of your semester grade, your 2nd 9 weeks grade will count for 40% of your semester grade, and your Final Exam grade will count for 20% of your semester grade.

Absences

  1. Being present in class and on time is a very crucial ingredient needed for you to be successful. Please do not be absent or late if you don’t have to be. Your presence in class is important to me … just as it should be important to you.
  2. I understand there are school-related absences, but please keep in mind that you are still responsible for your missed assignments. Even if your absence is excused, you will still need to make up your work.
  3. You will be allowed to make up your work/assessments for excused absences. For each day you miss, you will receive one day to turn in your make-up and/or make up the quiz/test that you missed.
  4. It is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and to get tests made-up. In most cases, you will need to come in during your study hall, lunch period or some other time to make up tests that were taken while you were gone.
  5. Communicate with me if at all possible to stay updated on what we are doing while you’re gone. Email me @

Tardies:

  1. If the bell rings and you aren’t in your seat and doing your board work, YOU’RE TARDY!
  2. If you enter class after the bell rings, you must sign in before sitting down or talking to me.
  3. Carry your books with you to other classes if you are going to be late getting your books from your locker. Being tardy causes disruptions in the class and keeps you from maximizing your learning, please don't be tardy.
  4. Remember that you should always be prepared for class. If you have to run back to your locker, you will need to fill out a pass or will receive an automatic tardy.

Leaving Class:

  1. You will be allowed to leave the room if you have your planner and a pass filled out and ready for me to sign. In most situations, only one student at a time will be allowed to leave. Please understand that if you abuse your time out of class, you will lose the privilege of leaving with a pass.
  2. Do not expect to use class time to change your schedule, get cookies, go get your books, or anything like this. You must take care of these things before school, during lunch, during passing periods or after school.

Food and Drink:

1. Students are allowed to bring any food or drinks to the classroom.

Daily Procedures to Follow:

  1. You must be in your seat before the bell rings.
  2. By the time I walk into the classroom, you should be doing your board workQUIETLY (Make sure to number and date each entry and keep these together inyour binder since I will be doing Binder Checks)
  3. If I’m talking or someone in class is presenting or addressing the class, you’reNOT talking
  4. If you have a comment or question, you need to raise your hand and ask in a politemanner.
  5. Please do not do/say anything that would be considered rude, inappropriate, ordisrespectful to myself or anybody else.
  6. Follow directions and TRUST ME because I am the adult in the room.
  7. Come ready to think, focus, follow directions, and be productive.
  8. You must stay in YOUR regular seat until the bell rings to dismiss you from class.
  9. Participate & be involved/engaged in what is going on.
  10. You need to ask to leave your seat and try to do things so that they will interruptthe class as little as possible. Ex: Don’t sharpen your pencil for fifteen minutesor scream while you blow your nose.
  11. Sit straight, no slouching or napping, leaning back, or anything of the like.
  12. You will not line up at the door at the end of class - stay in your seat until the bellrings.

Laptops:

  1. You will each have a specific laptop number. You are to only use the laptop that you are assigned. Should your laptop not be working on a given day, come talk to me and we’ll switch it out.
  2. Upon getting your laptop, you need to check it over to make sure that there isn’t anything physically wrong with it. If there is some sort of physical damage to your laptop, you need to let me know a.s.a.p. or you will be responsible for the damage.
  3. When putting your laptop back, you need to show me that it is ok before turning it in.
  4. Make sure that you put your laptop back in the right spot and that it is plugged
    back in.
  5. When plugging your laptop in, you need to use a cable that is meant to go to the given location being used. Ex: Don’t stretch a cable from the top row to the
    bottom row.

Binder / Organization:

1. Your success in life and in this class will heavily depend on how organized

you are on a daily basis.

2. I expect your binder to be here every day, and I expect it to be organized
according to my rules and regulations.

A. Binder can only be for THIS class (I don’t want anything from any other

class in your binder).
B. You need to have dividers with tabs for your binder
C. You need to have each of the following sections IN THIS ORDER
-Loose leaf paper
-Board Work (individually numbered/dated and on own side of sheet)
-Notes
-Handouts (anything I give you that isn’t graded)
-Homework (anything I give you or you do that is graded)
-Vocabulary

3. Again, there will be randomized Binder Checks for points!

Gadgets and Technology:

  1. Absolutely no ipods, mp3's, cell phones, laptops, tablets, or any other electronic devices are to be visible in my class unless I say otherwise. Please don't take them out or use them without being told because I will strictly follow the handbook rules.
  2. In addition, earphones should not be showing; they should be put away completely.
  3. Absolutely no cell phone use, especially texting during class. I WILL pick up your cell phone and turn it in as a violation. No excuseson this one.
  4. My rules comply with the updated 2012-2013 school rules. (I was on the handbook committee which helped decide the rules for electronic device usage)
  5. All electronic devices are expected to be turned off and are not to be used or seen until I give you permission to do so.

6. Technology is great, but you must follow the rules for this to work! I will not
tolerate any misconduct.

Violation of the WCD guidelines (including iPods and headphones) will result in the following: (47)

1st Offense - Friday School

2nd Offense - Saturday School

3rd Offense - Out of School Suspension (OSS)

Subsequent Offenses will result in continued OSS days