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What is your grading policy?
What happens if I turn in work late?
What is Pre-AP (pre-advanced placement)?
Pre-AP is an advanced (notice that in the title?) course for students to help begin preparing for college and is designed to be a rigorous preparation for AP courses at Steele or Clemens high schools. Students enrolled in Pre-AP are expected to be hard workers who recognize the importance of a college education. Students do not have to qualify for the course through a test or grades, though they will be expected to participate in and successfully demonstrate completion of above-grade level readings, projects, and activities. The class is intended to be challenging, but the benefits to students are well worth the extra work.
Some of the benefits of taking Pre-AP and AP courses are that students are prepared to be successful in college and may even receive credit for college courses while still in high school through AP exam scores in their Junior and Senior years. Please visit the College Board's website for more information about AP courses and exams.
During this year, we will be reading several (at least 6) novels, doing at least one in-depth research project, preparing for the TAKS Writing and Reading tests, creating art, analyzing different forms of communication, learning about our community, and dozens of other things. Basically, this year you will be growing academically, socially, and emotionally. We will laugh, we might cry, we will probably get angry, and we will decide to make changes.
What school supplies do I need?
Students are expected to bring the following items to class EVERY SINGLE DAY. Failure to bring required supplies may result in detention, assigned the same day the item is missing. Detention will run from 7:45-8:08 or 3:20-3:45 and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from school. Other items may be required at times throughout the year.
1. Student planner (issued by Dobie the first day of school)
2. Student ID card (issued by Dobie)
3. Standard supplies (such as pens, pencils, highlighters, loose-leaf notebook paper)
4. A three-ring binder (may be shared with other classes)
5. A working brain well nourished by healthy food, healthy sleep patterns, and a healthy attitude. (Store stock tends to run low; set this up early!)
Optional: personal copies of novels. Due to our large class sizes this year, we will barely get by with some of our novels. You may wish to purchase your own copy; it's always good to own a good book! If you do purchase a novel, don't worry about buying new, or hardback, or even the same edition we use in class. Used paperbacks (as long as they have all the pages) are just as good as any other copy, and sometimes they come with fun notes from previous readers!
Optional and greatly appreciated: boxes of tissues, art supplies (construction paper, glue sticks, markers, etc.), hand sanitizer.
What is your grading policy?
Essays (and other writing assignments): 30%
Homework and Daily Work: 30%
Quizzes and Ringers: 20%
Projects and Exams: 20%
What novels will we be reading this year?
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (Pre-AP only)
Messenger by Lois Lowry (Pre-AP only)
When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Parks
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor (Pre-AP only)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
What are your classroom rules?
My rules are very simple and are more like a philosophy. I believe that all people should treat all others with respect and dignity; that people's behaviors should be appropriate to their surroundings; that people have choices about their behaviors and attitudes; and that people's attitudes shape their lives.
I expect that students arrive on time with necessary supplies and enter the classroom with an attitude conducive to learning. During class, I expect students to be participating in whatever activity may be going on. I expect students to treat each other well and do their parts to create an environment that fosters learning for all students. Students should recognize that they have jobs in the classroom: show up every day prepared to learn, do the required work to the best of their abilities, and be positive elements in the learning environment. After class, I expect students to leave the classroom in a way that is ready for the next group of learners.
Without listing a multitude of misbehaviors, the following types of activities will not be tolerated:
*mistreating of anyone (teasing, name calling, or ostracizing)
*mistreating of anything (writing on desks, leaving trash on the floor/ground, etc.)
*mistreating of curriculum (not doing assignments)
Consequences for misbehaviors include detention, parent contact, and office referrals. Students are expected to inform their parents when they have been assigned detention and to make sure they have transportation home. Riding the bus is not an excuse for missing detention.
What happens if I turn in work late?
Students are expected to turn their work in on time. I always give more than enough time to complete an assignment or project, if you do not procrastinate! Work will not be accepted more than two days late and will be discounted 15 points per day. The best thing to do is just turn your work in on time.
May I eat, drink, or chew gum in your room?
According to the student handbook, neither food nor drink is allowed in the classroom. Be sure to eat breakfast and lunch and get a drink at the water fountain on your way to class. You may chew gum as long as I don't see it, hear it, or find it under desks. That means don't blow bubbles, don't play with it with your fingers (do I really need to tell you how gross that is? I don't want to touch your paper after you've been playing with your spit, thank you very much), and don't sell it or pass it around to your classmates! By the way, selling personal items on campus is not allowed. That being said, if you or a sister sells Girl Scout cookies, I might make an exception!
How do I contact you?
My conference period is 2nd period, from 9:10 to 10:05. The best way to contact me is through email. You can use the link at the top of the page to send me a message. You may call the office (619-4100) or my voice mail (619-5691) but it will almost always be at least a full day before I can return a call and I will most likely not receive your message until the end of the day. I can usually return an email within the same school day. If you are a parent or guardian and send an email, please be sure that your child's name is included, especially if you have different last names!
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