Daily Life/Materials needed, and Class Expectations:
Class Constitution: In order to make sure all students have a voice in our class we create a class constitution! In this class constitution we define what we need in order to be successful this year. Example of past constitution:
We, the students of _________, in order to form a more perfect class, agree to abide by the following constitutional rules:
1. We will come to class prepares (pencil, pen, paper, binder and work)
2. We will come willing to learn and try new things even if we think it is hard or boring
3. We will settle down after our one minute of open forum
4. We will go the bathroom before class, or before/after lunch
5. We will be on time for class
6. We will speak kindly to one another, our teacher, and about ourselves.
7. We will ask questions in order for everyone to learn.
I, the teacher of the wonderful _____ team, in order to form a more perfect class agree to abide by the following constitutional rules:
1. Be prepared to teach my students
2. Be willing to slow down if my students need more time to learn a concept
3. Answer our questions politely
4. Treat all students with respect
5. Explain what my students need to learn clearly
6. Grade fairy
7. Prepare my students for the next grade
8. Teach my students how to be better citizens
Discipline Policy: While I know my students would not intentionally break our constitution, it is important we all know what the possible negative consequences are to negative behavior. These consequences are defined by the Wake County code on conduct:
· 1st Time: Warning and/or removal to buddy teacher
· 2nd Time: Write up &Parents Called with Possible Lunch Detention
· 3rd Time: Parents Called/Detentions (ASD/ICS/OSS as assigned by the adminstrator)
Grading Policy –
· Assessments……………………………………………….. 20%
· Class work/Participation…………………………………. 40%
· Homework………………………………………………..…..15%
· Learning Extension…………………………………………. 25%
Homework Policy:
Personal teacher view on homework: I realize that studnets are very busy after school and homework can often be a challenge. With that thought in mind I promise that the only reason I will assign homework is to help a child master a concept. I will never assign busy work or homework just for the sake of having something to do. Anything I assign has a very specific purpose and is worth the time investment. Having said that please make sure to get done any homework I do assign.
Homework Hint: I have a homework board in class in which I write the ENTIRE weeks homework on it. I also have all student write the entire weeks homework in their agenda on Monday for their parents to see and sign. I collect the work on Friday unless otherwise noted. This gives students the chance to balance things like football practice, dance classes, and a social life with homework. Just make sure that when the work is due………….you turn it in on time…
1. Assignments will be specific and based on previously studied concepts for enrichment and/or review purposes.
2. Homework is considered an integral part of class instruction and is used to guide instruction. It is reflected in a student’s work habit grade.
3. Research-based guidelines for minutes of homework per day:
Grades 3rd – 8th 50 minutes day
Late Work – Because I am very fair about the amout, type and time given for home work I am pretty strick about Late homework. I am also fairly strick about any other form of late work. Think of this as preperation for the real world. What would happen if you turned in work late at your job? You might not have your job for long. So, in support of helping you the student become a better responsible citizen the following is my late policy with work:
Late work is anything that is not turned in during the class period that it is due. The point is to be prepared please!!
· 1st Quarter- Late work will be accepted, 10 points will be deducted from your score. This means that the maximum points you can earn on a late assignment will be 90 out of 100 (B).
· 2nd Quarter- Late work will be accepted, 20 points will be deducted from your score. This means that the maximum points you can earn on a late assignment will be 80 out of 100 (C).
· 3rd Quarter- Late work will be accepted, 20 points will be deducted from your score. This means that the maximum points you can earn on a late assignment will be 70 out of 100 (D).
· 4th Quarter- Late work will NOT be accepted.
Typical Daily Schedule:
· Settle -In Activity
· Reading/Writing Connection
· Mini-Lesson 1
· Mini-Lesson 2
· Wrap up/Review & Clean up
Materials:
· Big durable stylish back pack
· 2 in. Binder – This binder will be for both LAnguage Arts and Social Studies
· 8 pack dividers: You will need the following dividers for both LAnguage Arts and Social Studies.
labeled: 1)Lang. Art Settle In 2) Lang. Arts Class Work 3) Language Arts Handouts 4) Writing 5) Social Studies Settle In 6) Social Studies Class Work 7) Social Studies Hand Outs 
Homework
· Pencil Pouch
· pencils, and colored pencils
· black/blue pens, & Red pens
· Three different color high lighters,
· pocket pencil sharpener
· Eraser
· Small stapler that fits in the pencil pouch
· Small 3 ring hole puncher to put inside of the binder
· LOTS of lined paper (college/wide rule…what ever is on sale)
· Index cards…lots
Class Donations: Parents if you can help out here are a few of the basics I know I need each year.
· Large bottle of hand sanitizer for the entire class use. Tthe children stay healthy during the cold season 
· Soft box of tissues for your child nose
· Extra pencils & pens for when your child forgets theirs.
· Eraser tops (for when their eraser gives out)
· Pencil lead (for when they run out of lead)
· Cool looking Sticky-notes (for our class wide think tank projects).
· Quart and gallon size zip lock bags
· Electric pencil sharpener ( someone please be kind and donate this)
· Baby wipes (you would be amazed how many we use)
Tardy Policy: Every minute your child is with me is so very important! Being late can be equated to robbing your child of thier education one minute at a time. Therefore if you enter the room once I have begun to close the door you are late.
1st time: Warning
2nd time: Parent Contacted
3rd time: Lunch Detention
4th time: ICS/OSS
Absence:
1. Bring me your note at the beginning of class so I can do my part of the paperwork.
2. Go to the absent folder at the front of the class and get your missing work. You have one day for each day you were absent to get the work completed and turned back into me.
Rest Room Break: Here is another one of those sticky middle school topics:
It seems that many times the bathroom is more of a social hour. Therefore to help with this problem please be aware of the following bathroom procedures.
As a team we will have designated bathroom times. You can also use the bathroom between classes. HOWEVER, if you need to use the rest room do NOT be late to my class because of the bathroom.
Exception: Sometimes I have had student who have a medical condition that nesscitates the more frequent useage. If this is the case I am more than willing to make exceptions. I will need a note from your doctor, AND phone conference with your parent in which we set up boundaries for frequency.
Daily Procedures:
Turning In Work: Hand in papers in the drawer with name, date and your period on it.
Handing back work: Papers will be returned the last 5 minutes of class on Friday.
What to do if you need my attention:
Raise your hand and wait politely. It might take a moment, but I promise I will get to you.
Moving around the room:
If you need to move around the room DO NOT cut in front of people or interrupt teaching. Walk where there is the least amount of disruption.
Roles In small group: when working in small groups each person will have a role (note taker, discussion leader, time keeper etc..) and will be expected to fulfill their duties in order for the group to succeed and earn a passing group grade.
Checking Out Classroom Materials:
Take an index card and put the name of the book, the date, and author and put the card in the Book Borrowing box. You can take the book home for one week. Then you must bring it back and physically show me you still have the book before renewing it.
Participating In Class Discussion:
Be respectful of your classmates. Rude comments will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Each one of my students are valuable and have something significant to contribute to our class community. No put downs of any sort are ever allowed. Not even if your “just joking”.
What to do if you finish early:
1. Check your work. Is it “A” quality by a teacher’s standard?
2. Raise your hand and ask me to review your work. Then go to the Early Bird Box and choose a fun folder.
Mrs. Shirley –“ism”
· When I say “Give Me FIVE”:
This means look straight at me, stop talking and be ready to listen.
Final thought:
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At all times remember that while I am tough I care. You as the student are important to me. Your sucess as a individual is important to me. Please know that if your struggling with something I will do everything I can to help you. You matter!
