General Rules

1. Behavior

   1. I expect my classroom to be orderly.  There are three main rules:

      1. Keep your hands to yourself.  Do not take others things, do not touch people; be mature young adults.

      2. Respect each other.  We will have discussions in class, I expect you not to agree with each other; however, I expect you to be polite and respectful to each other.

      3. Participate.  Please. No one has fun when I spend all day talking to myself.

   2. Violations of rules, including those in the student handbook will result in disciplinary action.  I will give you one warning before removing you from class:

      1. First Violation -- Verbal Warning

      2. Second Violation -- Referral

   3. Substitute Teachers are to be extensions of myself.  As you will respect me, I expect you to respect the substitute.  If you are unable to be respectful to the substitute, expect a letter to be sent home detailing the behavior, as well as having a conversation with me about exactly why you misbehaved.

      1. When I have a substitute, the class which gets the worst report from the substitute will receive double the work of any other class… if the other classes are writing two pages, you will write four.  If you are the worst class again, the work doubles again. So if the others write two, you write eight, then sixteen, then thirty two.

2. Music

   1. The classroom, after direct instruction will typically have music playing -- this music will change throughout the year; the students will hear everything from classical (Beethoven, Tchaikovsky) to postmodern (David Bowie) and everything in between.

   2. I encourage you to bring your own music.

   3. Rules:

      1. You must wear headphones to listen to your own music.

      2. I should not be able to hear it.  Cochlear hairs are important!

      3. No music during direct instruction, this includes having headphones on, around your neck, playing from around your desk, etc.

   4. Music is a privilege, not a right.  If you cannot be mature about listening to music, I will rescind your right to listen to music in my room.

3. Food / Drink

   1. Food and drinks are not allowed in classrooms.  Water is the exception to this rule.

   2. Containers must be sealable containers.  This means no fast-food drink cups, plastic cups, coffee cups, etc.

   3. No gum -- seriously, I'm not sure how you manage to not keep it in your mouth but I am sick of scraping it off my floors.

   4. I drink coffee.  A lot of coffee. Probably an unhealthy amount of coffee.  I’m an adult. When you are my age, feel free to bring coffee into my classroom.

4. My Desk

   1. Do not get in my desk.

   2. Do not go behind my desk.

   3. Do not touch items on my desk.

   4. Pretend my desk and the desk area is lava!

5. Bathroom and Drink Rights

   1. On my back door is a bathroom pass.  You must take them if you go to the bathroom or get a drink.

   2. If the pass is there, feel free to go take it and go to the bathroom.  You do not need to ask to go, or do the potty dance, etc. If the pass is there, and you have the need, use it.

      1. You are young adults, be respectful of this privilege.

      2. If you go an excessive amount, I will rescind your bathroom privileges (if there is an issue, like you had Taco Bell for lunch, let me know and I’ll understand having to go to the bathroom a lot).

      3. If you take an unusual amount of time in the restroom, I will rescind the privilege (again, if you had Taco Bell for lunch, just let me know).

      4. If I hear that you have been goofing off instead of being responsible, you’ll not be allowed to use the restroom in my class.

6. Leaving Class

   1. If you need to leave class for something other than the restroom (nurse, office, prison), please take the yellow pass.  I will be happy to send you on your way after you ask permission.

7. Miscellaneous Items

   1. If you are seated close to my desk, I may call upon you to answer my phone if it rings.  You will answer it, “Lenon’s classroom, student speaking.”

   2. Do not abuse the computers in my classroom.  If you need it to look up a word, or something academic, I understand.  If you need to use it to text your BFF about the wicked awesome boy that talked to you in the hallway, I will not understand.  

   3. Life happens, I understand.  If you’ve had a bad day, let me know.  I’m here if you need me.

Submitting Work

A lot of the time we will be working in groups -- I always, always, expect you to submit your own work.  

That means if Billy Sue and Billy Bob are working together and Billy Sue makes the document then she will be able to turn it in but Billy Bob will not. 

 When Billy Bob tries to turn it in, it will pop up a red box in the lower left hand corner which says "Couldn't attach file.  Attach a file you own."

Billy Bob will traditionally do two things.

1. Say "oh well" and not turn it in.  This will result in Billy Bob getting a zero.

2. Come to me and tell me that it's "broken" and that he has tried to attach the file "300 times."

Now, you cannot attach a file you don't own!  This means that if Billy Sue made the file, she owns it, not Billy Bob.  Billy Bob, when he and Billy Sue are done, needs to go to "File" and "Make a Copy."  He will then follow the prompts and have a copy of the file.  Then, and only then, can he submit the file.

Late Work

• I will be happy to accept late work up to 2 weeks past the due date.  There are obviously exceptions, if you need more time, just let me know.  

• If you miss a lab, you will be expected to purchase the supplies and do the lab at your house -- fill out the form and turn it in and I will grade it.

• Missed participation points are not able to be made up.

• If you decide you don't want to do the work and then are surprised that you are failing, I doubt I will give you an extension.