Mrs. Hilton’s Classroom Values:
I expect my classroom to be a positive learning environment for all students and that very few behavioral problems will occur. Therefore, I have certain classroom VALUES which help the classroom run smoothly. As a result of these values, students need to follow a few specific rules.
Value #1: RESPECT yourself, your classmates, your teacher, your classroom, and your education. Disrespectful behavior affects not only your ability to learn but others’ as well.
PAWS rules! (Please follow directions first time given, Always keep hands/feet/objects to one’s self, Walk inside building, Speak Appropriately)
Stay on task at all times during class! Pay attention to the lessons, videos, presentations, etc.
Mrs. Hilton dismisses class! The bell doesn't dismiss class. Everyone must remain seated until the entire class is dismissed.
Value #2: RESPONSIBILITY
Come to School/Class on Time! You are tardy when you are not in your seat when the bell rings. You will be expected to begin working when the bell rings. If you are tardy..............
Be Prepared for Class! This includes all class materials and textbooks. Bring your AR book ALWAYS.
Complete Your Assignments! – Be responsible by completing assignments on time and with full effort. This includes all in-class/out-of-class assignments and projects, as well as, studying for and taking quizzes or tests.
Value #3 KINDNESS - Treat others better than you want to be treated!
Don’t interrupt! (This means raise your hand to speak to me and/or other students, use the restroom before class, and get up from your desk only in an emergency.)
Be Honest! Don’t cheat or steal from others. Don’t make excuses for your actions.
Any form of bullying will not be tolerated.
Classroom Behavior Consequences
“The word fair means that each student gets what he or she needs to be successful. Being equal means that each student gets exactly the same thing.” - Brian Mendler
Fair and equal do not mean the same thing, although many times they can. Each student is an individual and will be treated as such. I promise I will always do my best to be fair to each and every one of you in this class. But many of you will get different consequences, homework assignments, tests, quizzes, etc. which may not be viewed as equal. These things will be based on what each student needs to be successful. This means I will not always be treating all students exactly the same way, or what you view as equal. Most of the time, the following consequences will occur; however, they may not occur in this particular order. Sometimes different consequences will be given for the exact same behavior. All consequences will almost always be personal and private.
· Warning
· Detention
· Phone call home
· Recess Suspension
· Removal from room and/or sent to see principal
· OTHER
Daily Class Supplies:
· Chromebook
· Assignment Notebook/Agenda
· Pens and/or Pencils – you can use any utensil as long as it is legible; all students may type assignments as needed if preferred and must be attached to the original worksheet.
· Separate folder for history (can be a section in your accordion folder)
Classroom Procedures:
When the bell rings, students are expected to be in their own seats already working on their daily bell work and following all classroom procedures. Mrs. Hilton will now direct you to do the following tasks. You are responsible for knowing what you need to do every day when you walk into the classroom.
Bell Work:
Check Google HW Calendar
Write your assignment in your agenda
Take out your homework to be graded or make sure your homework is turned in on classroom. We will grade or discuss most assignments in class the day they are due.
Other Procedures:
Students will be allowed to leave the classroom only at appropriate times deemed acceptable by Mrs. Hilton. Only TWO students will be allowed to leave the room at a time.
Restroom: Using the restroom during class will not be a daily activity. Only 2 students will be allowed in the bathroom at any given time.
To the Library/Office/Nurse: To go to one of these locations, ask Mrs. Hilton for a pink hall pass. This will need to be signed by the librarian, secretary, or nurse when you leave their location to return to class.
To your Locker: Please bring everything with you that you will need for class. You will only be allowed to your locker if it is an absolute necessity and Mrs. Hilton deems it safe to do so.
Homework Expectations: (Applies to all assignments given on paper in class or on Google Classroom - There is no difference!)
Unless otherwise stated, homework will be due at the beginning of class the next day our class meets. It is highly recommended that students and parents alike access student grades via the online grade book through the PowerSchool portal. Not only can you see overall history grades, but can also see when upcoming assignments are due, assignments that are yet to be graded, individual graded assignments, assignments that may be missing or late, and even absent work. Assignments without a grade are not factored into the overall grade unless the assignment is late. All late work is factored as a zero until the assignment is turned in. Absent and missing work can be identified by clicking the individual assignment and see the added teacher comment.
Absences: If you are absent, please check Google Classroom first to see if anything you missed is posted there. Often, assignments posted there can be completed even though you were not in class. You can also check the class HW calendar, PowerSchool, or see Mrs. Hilton upon your return. You may have one extra day for each day absent, up to 5 days, according to our Absent Work Policy in the student handbook to turn in your absent work. Homework is considered late and points will be lost if it is not turned in after your extension. Homework assigned before your absence is due the day of your arrival back to school. You only have extra days if the assignments were assigned during your absence. If the first day of the absence occurs on the day of the test, the student should be ready to take the test upon his/her return to school. If the absence is prior to and includes the test day, the will have an equivalent amount of time as allowed in the homework policy to prepare for and take the test. This should not exceed one week after his/her return.
Extra Credit: Points are often handed out during class for various activities and positive behaviors. All students also have the opportunity for extra credit by completing their choice of tasks available each quarter. Please see the yearly extra credit opportunities handout for more information about that. These opportunities should be taken advantage of because extra credit will not be given when it is asked for or on an individual basis. Extra credit is not necessary to maintain an above average grade in my classes. Do the work the first time around at your best ability and you earn the best credit available.
Cheating/Plagiarism: In accordance with the seventh and eighth grade rules, if cheating occurs, all students involved will receive a zero on the assignment, project, or test. The student will also be given a detention, which the parents will be asked to sign so that they are aware of the situation. Please note that giving and/or receiving answers is considered cheating. In my classroom, a large portion of a student's grade comes from homework. Even if we work on an assignment together in class or with a partner, once you leave my room, the assignment ALWAYS becomes an individual assignment and students are expected to do his/her own work. Otherwise, it isn't a reflection of the student’s progress or learning.
Examples of situations that may occur that would constitute cheating or plagiarism are as follows:
*Comparing/Discussing answers on ungraded work
Ex. “Hey, I don’t think I did my HW right. How did you do #20?”
*Receiving or giving an answer to ANY question on an assignment
Ex. “Hey, tell me what you get for #20?”
*Directly copying answers.
Ex. “Your answer for #20 looks good, I’m going to write it down. OK?”
*Copy and Pasting from the internet or using AI generated responses
Ex. “I should just cut and paste this internet article into a doc. How will Mrs. Hilton ever know?”
Ex. "I can just have AI write my essay for me."
Good alternatives if a student needs help:
*Asking Mrs. Hilton or another middle school teacher for assistance on anything you don't understand.
*Asking Mrs. Hilton to spot check your work if you are not confident in your understanding or direction.
*Having your parents assist you on your homework (re-teaching or spot checking) without giving you the answers. (However, this should be done on a very limited basis. If you frequently do not understand how to complete the homework, please let me know. My assignments are designed for students to be able to complete them without parental assistance.)
Consequences for Late Homework:
Keep in mind that consequences for late work may vary from teacher to teacher across the school. Here is a brief overview as they pertain to my classes.
Homework is considered late if 50% or more of the assignment is not complete, the assignment was left at home, or the assignment can’t be found.
All late assignments will be counted in the gradebook as a zero until the student turns it in which will affect weekly eligibility reporting and could deem a student ineligible for extra-curricular activities.
Late assignments will be accepted up until the end of the current chapter/unit at which point they will stay a zero with no chance of making it up. This time frame may vary depending on the length of the unit. Rule of thumb, if we took a quiz/test on the material from an assignment, the assignment can no longer be made up and a zero will remain in the gradebook.
PowerSchool should be checked regularly to see what late assignments a student may have.
Students are responsible for seeing what late work still needs to be done and turning it in. Mrs. Hilton will not give repeated reminders of any late work, so write yourself reminders in your agenda when necessary.
Penalty for each late HW assignment = deducted from your percent earned after the assignment is turned in.
All Online Work - 20% OFF no matter what and how late!
All Class Work - 50% completion grade only no matter what and no matter how late!
What to do if you have late class work:
Tell Mrs. Hilton immediately at the start of class if you do not have your assignment complete.
Get an Excuse Me Slip from Mrs. Hilton and fill it out to explain the reason for the late assignment and turn that back in to Mrs. Hilton. Return to your desk. DO NOT GO OUT IN THE HALL. Complete the assignment as it is graded/discussed in class to earn your half credit! Yes, that means you may fill in all the correct answers! If you cannot complete the assignment while it is graded/discussed in class, you must complete it on your own to earn your half credit.
Mrs. Hilton allows you to fill in the answers as we grade it for multiple reasons.
a. So you don't miss out on further instruction and discussion of the topics the work covers.
b. Eliminates goofing off or wasting time in the hallway
c. Less late work grading for Mrs. Hilton and students get correct work to study from sooner
d. Eliminates late work from piling up and students forgetting about it
e. A 50% is better than a 0%!
Remember all late work is counted as a zero in the grade book until the assignment has been graded or you prove to Mrs. Hilton that the assignment is complete. At that time, Mrs. Hilton will not grade the assignment for exact right and wrong answers but instead simply award 1/2 credit for completion. All students are then encouraged to check their work with another classmate so the correct material can be studied.
The only time a student will be sent to the hall to work on an assignment is to catch up on absent work as needed.
Please note that all late work is NOT always graded immediately once it is turned in nor updated in the grade book right away. All late work grades will for sure be updated by midterm/end of the quarter.
At no time will Mrs. Hilton allow any work, quizzes, or tests to be redone for a better grade, unless Mrs. Hilton believes it is in the student's best interest. Mrs. Hilton will reach out to a student if redoing work is necessary.