In addition to the rules outlined in the Student Handbook/Code of Conduct, class rules are as follows:

• Show Kindness and Respect toward each other’s ideas, opinions, thoughts, and property.  This includes the teacher.

  • Any actions such as profanity or any other form of disrespect to the teacher or fellow student will result in being held after class, immediate disciplinary referral, or sent to the Dean of Students--depending on the severity of the act.

• Computers: The computers are a privilege not a right. Technological shenanigans should not occur. 

• Absolutely NO earbuds or phones -- that means, it should not be on your desk, in your lap, in front of your laptop, conveniently in arm's reach in your backpack, etc either.  

  • Cell phones can be in one of five places during class: 

    • (1) My desk, where they will be guarded with the utmost care, 

    • (2) your locker under your heaviest textbook, 

    • (3) buried in your purse or backpack under a cinder block hopefully crushing the screen, 

    • (4) at home floating face down (or up for that matter) in a jar of battery acid, or 

    • (5) finally, the bottom of the sea, the Missouri River, or deposited in an active volcano (your choice). 

  • Places the cell phone will NOT be: your hand, your pocket, on your desk. If I see it, it is mine. Second offense, you will be asked to go to the Recovery Room. This same rule applies to ear buds and head phones, unless you are given permission. You can be a digital zombie the other 22 1/2 hours of the day. Learn to disconnect. It is for your own health.

• Come to class on time, prepared to learn. It is extremely important for you to (physically and mentally) attend EVERYDAY. No sleeping in class. Sleeping is defined as putting one’s head down on the desk with or without the eyes open. You can not focus lying down. If you are in Advanced Placement, this rule should be superfluous (unnecessary).

• Use passing period wisely. Seriously. Use this time. Grab a drink. Go to the restroom (don't stop to ask me first, as I, too, might need to use the passing period for personal needs). You will still be marked tardy if you are absent, so plan accordingly. *Teachers are required to take attendance within the first few minutes of class. 

  • Restroom Breaks: When it comes to restroom breaks, I am aware that at times one must be granted a pass during class. I am also aware, as a 40-year-old (-ish) mother of two who drinks far more cans of Mt. Dew than she should, that the need may arise to visit the restroom or get a drink of water. Do not abuse this. It is distracting (and annoying) to be asked 25-30 times/day, "Can I go to the bathroom?" so please, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just do your best to try to go during passing period, at the end of lunch, or - at the very least - not every day in this class period.   

• Make up work/Late Work: If you are absent, it will be your responsibility to find out what we did during your absence. Teachers typically have the day's/week's agenda items in our lesson plans, on the board, and in Google Classroom. You, as a young adult, can go to Google Classroom to get the gist of what was covered and the assignments. Do not ask me what we did in class or email me questions unless you have first looked in Google Classroom. 

  • • • Missing a quiz or a test: If you are absent during a quiz or test, you will be expected to make up the quiz or test when you return. It will be your responsibility to ask to make up the quiz or test. Please do not interrupt class lecture to make up your work; make your best judgment as to an appropriate time in class to make up your work. Keep track of your missing work in the event the current class's events take precedence. 

• Do your own work. Cheating, such as -- but not limited to -- copying homework, looking at another student’s computer/electronic device/paper during a test or quiz, using a “cheat sheet” in any medium (phone, screenshot, etc), giving answers to other students, intentional or unintentional plagiarism will result in a zero for the students involved, as that is precisely where I will assume your level of proficiency currently is.

• Extra Credit: There's no such thing, per se. BUT oftentimes, if you show a specific level of proficiency in class -- as in, you are an active participant -- your scores will reflect. 

• Some "don'ts"...

•      1. Don't line up at the door at the end of the period. 

•      2. Don't write on the board.

•      3. Don't move to a different location in the room

In addition to the aforementioned rules, the following also apply:

• Close Reading Students are expected to "close read" nearly every article given to them throughout the course of the school year. This skill is indispensable for college success and critical for comprehension. Grades are given frequently in an attempt to master this skill.

• Quizzes Quizzes will usually be given after material is read in class or read at home. This includes vocabulary and reading quizzes. Any phone usage during a quiz will result in a zero--no matter if the student has finished.

• Tests All tests are announced and cover all the material discussed in class-especially material presented on the board or written in google docs/shared on my site. Assessments consist of fill in the blanks, multiple choice, open-ended questions, open-response, and essays. Any phone usage during a test will result in a zero--no matter if the student has finished. Many assessments are "formative" in nature, so students will be given additional opportunities to demonstrate the consistent level of proficiency.