Classroom Management Expectations

AP Literature and Composition

ERWC 11

Student Expectations:

1. Cooperate and respect with your teacher and classmates

2. Ask the right questions 

3. Carry out your basic student responsibilities(be prepared, take notes, etc.)

4. Put away all cell phones and electronics during class time. If needed, you will be provided with chrome books. In other words, FOCUS on class material. 

5. Be positive

Teacher Expectations: 

1. Be respectful

2. Be patient

3. Know the material

4. Answer questions

5. Be clear

Eating: Food is an essential source of energy to help us focus in class. I am fine with light snacking in my classroom as long as the following rules are respected: 

1. Clean up after yourself. If a mess is left even once, the class will no longer be allowed to bring food. 

2. Be conscious of what you bring to eat. Nothing sticky or too crunchy that could be distracting.

3. ABSOLUTELY NO GUM. You will be asked to spit it out and I will confiscate what gum you have left. I used to teach Junior High and o...the HORROR! Don't let me relive that. 

Restroom: Although the general rule in my class is that once students come in, they stay, I will make allowances for emergency situations. When leaving, sign the log and take the pass. Students who continually abuse the privilege will find that they no longer have that privilege. I ask that students please try to take care of their needs before class. Exceptions are made for accommodations that are outlined in IEP’s and 504’s. ​

Materials: To avoid overcrowding at desks, please take out all necessary materials(IE: pen/pencil, notebook, textbook/book) from your backpack and then place your backpack underneath the desk or on one of the hooks. 

Students will….

• comply with school and district rules while in class or on campus.

• demonstrate integrity in their work, submitting no work not your own.  

• respect the property and opinions of others. Keep hands to yourself, don’t curse or interrupt.

• bring text, paper, and a black ink pen(s) and at least 1 #2 pencil to class daily.

• be in your assigned seat and prepared to work when the bell rings. Remain seated at the end of the period until dismissed by the teacher.

• complete and turn in assignments error free, on time, using correct format.

• except for water, keep no food or beverage on desks or consumed in the room.

• conduct personal grooming (hair, nails, perfume, make up, deodorant, lotion, etc) outside the room.

• all personal devices will be safely put away during class time. All students will be provided with a chromebook if the internet is required for the lesson Neither SSHS nor teachers are liable for loss or damage to personal electronic devices on campus.

• track their grade, acquiring absent work/make up tests (you have one week to make up tests missed), and requesting instructor help as needed.

• take responsibility for the learning process (ask questions, check website, contact teacher)

• actively participate in class, demonstrated by actively engaging in discussion and assignments and/or consistent attention focused on class (no sleeping, working on other classes, play on electronics, etc).

When possible, discipline will be worked out between the student and the teacher. However, anything that disrupts the learning environment to the detriment of the entire class cannot be permitted to continue.

Infractions of school rules or class expectations will be dealt with as follows:

• Usual escalation of consequences: verbal warning/conference with student; detention referral & parent contact; disciplinary referral.  Repeat offenders will be dealt with more harshly. Behavior is considered cumulatively.

• Altering/damaging electronic devices = office referral & possible school-wide loss of computing privileges.

• Severely disruptive behavior such as repeated disruptions, fighting, cursing, physical assault, or verbal abuse of the teacher/others will result in immediate referral.

CELL PHONE POLICY 

I know it’s hard to live for five seconds without checking your phone, but studies have consistently shown there are many positive effects on putting the phone down and being in the moment. In fairness, I too will turn off my phone during class time. 

SSHS CELL PHONE AND EARBUD POLICY

Students are required to store their turned-off cell phones and ear buds in their backpack/tote or store them in the classroom caddy throughout the entirety of the class period, unless use is expressly permitted by the teacher.

If a student refuses to relinquish the cell phone/electronic device and/or headphones to a staff member when asked, that student will meet with an administrator. This meeting may result in detention, parent conference or in school suspension.

DISCIPLINE RESPONSE

• Teacher asks student to put the phone away.

• Teacher asks students to put the phone away and emails parent (with student and Admin over Discipline cc’d). 

  • Teacher will record in Aeries Discipline action taken. 

• Cell phone/device will be confiscated from the student, stored in the office, and returned to the student at the end of the day. Cell phone confiscation is entered into Assertive Discipline by an AP and parent will be contacted.

TARDY POLICY (Seniors... I get it, but please don't be tardy, especially if you show up with a Starbucks and none for me). 

1-3 Tardies 

Verbal warning

Automated Blackboard message

Warning from teacher

4 Tardies 

Written warning;

Parent communication;

Document in Aeries 

Automated Blackboard message

Written warning;

Parent phone call 

5-9 Tardies 

(or 1 tardy of 30+ mins.)

Referral for tardiness;

Repeat verbal warning and remind of future consequences

Assign lunch detention;

Document in Aeries;

Parent contacted via Blackboard

Lunch detention;

Sign tardy policy

10-14 Tardies 

(or 2 tardies of 30+ mins.)

Referral for tardiness;

Repeat verbal warning and remind of future consequences

Assign after-school detention;

Document in Aeries; Parent called;

Potential: loss of privileges, conference 

After-school detention;

Sign tardy policy; Potential loss of privileges

15-19 Tardies 

(or 3 tardies of 30+ mins.)

Referral for tardiness;

Repeat verbal warning and remind of future consequences;

Reduction in Work Habits grade

Assign any combination of: SART conference, referral to SRO, multi-day detention, parent chaperone, and/or loss of extracurriculars like dances; Document in Aeries;

Parent called; Conference or SST

Sign SART contract/tardy contract;

Conference; 

SART conference, referral to SRO, multi-day detention, parent chaperone, and/or loss of extracurriculars like dances,

Assignments include all work completed throughout the semester such as homework, classwork, essays, tests, quizzes, reading, etc. All assignments are expected to be turned in on time. Major and Formal Writing assignments must be submitted via hard copy for a formal evaluation/grade; electronic submission won’t be an option. This will be announced when assignment is given.

• Hard copy submission—Drafts may be submitted via hardcopy in your yellow legal pad on Fridays during Writer's Workshops. IF you are having issues with the internet, you may also request to submit any final drafts/work via hardcopy as long as you obtain permission prior. Communication is key for any and all allowances. 

• Electronic submission options: Most graded work will be submitted on Google Classroom and turnitin.com. Turnitin.com is used as a way to check for balance and originality within a piece while Google Classroom is used for grading. To receive a formal grade on a Major or Writing assignment, it must be turned in to BOTH websites, unless otherwise stated.

 If you cannot print your assignment, or google classroom and turnitin.com is down, you may email me your assignment. Emailed work is a placeholder, proving your work is done, not “in progress”. It does not entitle students to more time to complete/edit the work. Formally submitted work must match emailed work or the student receives “no credit” for academic dishonesty. The email simply verifies that it was completed by a certain time. 

Late Work Policy

• As a general rule, Minor Assignments may be submitted up to a week past the due date while Major Assignments may be submitted up to 4 weeks past the due date. Assignments will be marked as late and it will be noted in Aeries. Assignments that are not submitted will receive a zero. 

• Extended deadline arrangements due to 504/IEP, school events, “dress rehearsal week”, Road Show, concerts away from campus, medical needs, etc. need to be worked out prior to the due date. I'm not a mind reader and I have 180 students to keep track of so let's help each other out. Remember, I want you to succeed, but communication is always key. Individual due dates will be arranged to accommodate these needs. There is no grade penalty for pre-arranged extension of due date. These date are NOT to be open ended, but a specific date as determined by the teacher, based on student needs.

• If students need an extension for personal reasons, the request must be made prior to the deadline and approved by the teacher. 

• If a student requires an extension for personal choice reasons (didn’t do the HW or forgot it at home, etc), then the student has one week from the due date to submit the missing assignment for all Minor Assignments and until the Drop Dead Date for all Major Assignments. After that, the assignments will not be accepted. 

• Make up Work— Check the website for work missed during absence AND ask a classmate. Hand make-up work to the teacher or submit online. Students have one day for each day of excused absence, beginning with the day of return, in which to make up work missed. “Pop” quizzes cannot be made up. There isn’t time in class for make ups; tests/quizzes must take place before or after school, during ACE, or by other arrangement.

Revision Policy  

All essays (other than FRQ's) will have the opportunity to be revised as long as you submit the essay on time. You may revise it as many times as you wish up until the “Drop Dead” date for the semester.  I will only take a revision if it is clear that you have fully revised the essay, addressing all issues. Otherwise, the essay will be returned to you for you to make another attempt. No essays will be accepted after the “Drop Dead” date for the semester in which it was assigned.

• 1. 1. Semester 1 Drop Dead Date: 12/06/2024

     2. Semester 2 Drop Dead Date:  5/23/2024

I always make an effort to help any student that asks for it. All a student needs to do is ask and we can figure out some way to provide needed help. The best time to receive tutoring is to come in during ACE. If you would like to schedule for a time outside of ACE, please go to the Contact Page and fill out the Office Hours Form. Then, send a follow up email as well. PLEASE NOTE: I am currently in grad school working towards my PhD so my availiabilty after school is limited. If you want to receive help after school, you need to give me at least 1 Day notice. 

However, if you want to receive more extensive and consistent tutoring, please talk to either Mr. Duda or Mrs. Hazelwood at Santa Susana High School. They are in charge of the after school tutoring program and can direct you to a tutoring program.  

Plagiarism and any other activities that result in a student presenting work that is not his or her own from that semester is academic fraud(this includes AI writing because a computer wrote it, NOT you). Academic fraud is reported to the counselors, the vice principal, and a note is placed in the student’s cumulative file (permanent record). Disciplinary action WILL be taken, beginning with a zero on the assignment and a maximum penalty of a drop-fail for the class. Please see the Academic Fraud Policy for further info. 

Please note: Self-plagiarism is NOT ALLOWED. This is when you take a previously graded assignment and attempt to re-use it for another class or assignment. Such incidences will be treated as academic dishonesty.  

AI POLICY
We live in an ever changing, technological world. The use of AI programs can enhance our educational experience when used appropriately and with prior teacher approval. However, if used incorrectly, the use of AI, such as ChatGPT, can severely limit our learning. 

We live in an ever changing, technological world. The use of AI programs can enhance our educational experience when used appropriately and with prior teacher approval. However, if used incorrectly, the use of AI, such as ChatGPT, can severely limit our learning. 

PROPER USE

• Supplementation, not Substitution

• Prior Teacher Approval

• Originality and Attribution

  • If you use AI, follow MLA guidelines to give it credit. 

IMPROPER USE

• Academic Dishonesty

• Insecure Privacy and Data Sharing

  • Never share private information, even your own. 

When communicating with an instructor, students need to be mindful of traditional rules:

• The ‘Subject’ line should state who you are and what the Email is about (RE: Jane Smith, Period 2, Question about tonight’s HW or Joe Smith’s “PEAO: Narrow Fellow” Period 6).

• Begin with a courtesy opening which addresses the teacher correctly (Dear Mx. McGrath, or Mx. McGrath, or Dear McGrath,)

• Keep the message brief and to the point.  Make certain attachments are attached.

• Remember that you are ASKING the teacher to take his/her time to assist you, often on the teacher’s personal time.  Phrase your request accordingly; do NOT make demands.

• Remember to thank the teacher for his/her time in your original message.

• Send a ‘thank you’ response if/when the teacher gets back to you.  It is always the responsibility of the student or employee to respond to the teacher/employer.

• Do not ask for information you can easily locate elsewhere (on the website or from a classmate).

• Do not ask for privileges not available to all students:  to be excused from work assigned, or for alternate assignments because you don’t like the assignment or think it too much work.  (Accommodations are available for students with a current IEP or 504 as stated in the report).

• Ask specific questions rather than stating “I don’t understand”.

• Expect a reasonable turn around time for a response.  The teacher is not in your hurry.  Not all Emails require a teacher response (eg: HW turn in). Understand that any email sent after 7pm will not be answered until the following morning. 

• Remember it is the student’s responsibility to bring a HARD COPY of your emailed placeholder by the next business day, whether we meet as a class or not.  HW not brought in hard copy is late and will not be accepted.

• You are responsible for printing a hard copy of your HW at home, or you may pay to print in the library from your sent messages.  The instructor will not print your HW for you, nor may you use the classroom or department printers for this purpose.

• Instructors will only keep HW emails for 24 hours after which they may be deleted.  Keep your own records.

Once a semester, students will be required to create their own reading plan that will help them to accomplish their own specific goals. Students are required to have an outside reading book with them in class at all times.  There will be 10-20 minutes of in class reading during class twice a week, unless otherwise instructed.  Please be sure that all books are at your appropriate reading level(IE: no fan fiction, elementary level books, etc). If you are not sure, please ask. 

Please open and read through the document below for full instructions on the Assessment for Independent Reading. (Please Note: Due to the HIGH demand of outside reading as part of the AP Literature and Composition class, students enrolled in AP Lit will be help to the CP Plan score standards). 

Individualized Reading Program

IRP Reading Log Prompts

IRP Portfolio Template