Be Prepared

Come to class mentally ready to learn.  School is your job and you should prepare accordingly.  This means completing homework on time, coming to class with a charged Chromebook, adding upcoming due dates to your calendar/planner, and taking care of personal matters (refilling your water bottle, getting a snack, bathroom break or even pencil sharpening) BEFORE class begins.

Bring your Chromebook (with charger) and your material (notebook and writing pens) to class daily. Please note that you will NOT be allowed to leave class to retrieve missing material.

Be ALL that you can be...... honestly

Learning is your responsibility and it is hard work. Sometimes classes can be hard because there is a lot of content to learn quickly or may be because the topic is complex and difficult to master. Learning a foreign language is hard, being bilingual is even harder. I know, English is NOT my native tongue either. That's ok. I get it. I don't expect you to know everything, otherwise why would you be in my class? 

Do your own work. If you use notes when it is not allowed, copy someone else’s work (anyone's--someone in your class, a tutor, someone on the internet, anyone!), let someone copy your work, use a computer translation, or are dishonest in your work in  any other way, you will receive a zero on the assignment or test,  your parents / guardians will be contacted, have a disciplinary referral to the school administration.

I do expect you to give your best efforts and to show that you are honest with yourself and accountable for your learning. We will make mistakes together, we will learn from them and grow. All I ask is that you SHOW me that you work hard, honestly, and with the desire to learn and become the best that you can be. I believe in you, so you should.

Be Respectful

School is a public place where everyone should feel safe. For example, do not take pictures/save video from our class. You should not share pictures or video of anyone but yourself.  

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Listen politely when the teacher or another student is speaking to the class.  

Raise your hand and wait to be recognized, if you wish to speak.

Your appearance, actions and communication must be appropriate for a school setting.  Offensive or inappropriate actions, speech (written or verbal,) clothing, symbols or other visuals will be cause for removal from the classroom.  

You do not have the right to interfere with the learning of others by disrupting class activities. Such interference will be cause for removal from the classroom and may result in further disciplinary action.

Be In class ON TIME

It is very important to come to school every day. 

Prolonged or frequent absences have a negative effect on students' academic progress as well as their connection to their school community.  It is especially important to be present and on time so that you don't miss important content and you get the repeated practice required to assimilate new content. Too many absences and you will get behind very quickly. 

We take attendance every time we have class together. Class starts when the bell rings. At that time, you should be seated at your desk, with your Chromebook closed, on your desk, your phone turned off and put away in your backpack and your material ready for note taking.  

If you are tardy, please enter the classroom quietly and go directly to your seat. Get ready to work right away and wait for a break to explain why you were late. 

Unauthorized use of phone/CB/computer during class

Phones AND earbuds are to be put away in your backpack at the start of class every day.  It should stay there unless you receive direct instruction from me to use it. IF I see you using your phone in class without prior authorization, you will receive one warning. Second warning, your phone will be taken away until the end of class. Third warning you will need to go and get your phone at the end of the day from the front office. Fourth warning, it will stay at the front office until your parents come and pick it up!

Chromebooks and computers will only be used as needed for classroom activities. They should remained closed unless I tell you to use it. 

Be Studious

The pace in this class is quick, very quick! If you do not keep up with each new lesson, you will be lost. Imagine doing algebra if you never learned addition! I will give you new information in bite-size pieces, but it is up to you to do your work when it is due. Do your homework carefully and thoroughly every day. If you are not sure, try your best instead of leaving it blank! Show up for class, every day, participate, stay engaged and PRACTICE! I don't expect you to know everything but I do want you to ASK QUESTIONS and reflect on what you know and what you still need to work on. Make corrections when we go over the work in class. Be accountable for your learning and PRACTICE (did I say that already?). READ all the time! Do your work on time. Try to integrate new vocabulary words into your writing and speaking. Be on the look out for new vocabulary outside of class and school. Learn by doing! This is a higher level class. You will not earn an A without effort. If you are present and engaged, you will find it easier to keep up.

Some tips to be successful:

Follow directions.

Listen carefully and write down important information in your notebook. Stay organized and neat.

Focus on the class activities.  Social chatting with others verbally, by computer or cell phone interferes with your learning and the learning of others.

Volunteer to participate.  It reinforces your engagement and improves your learning.

Create good-quality work, whether you are working alone or in a group.

Take the responsibility to ask for help if you need it.