Class Policies
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Attendance:
Tardies: All classes are consistent with the school's policy regarding tardies. Absences: You are responsible for making up work missed due to excused absences. You must make arrangements with me immediately upon returning to class. I will not remind you to make up missed assignments. Electronics:
Please turn off all electronics, including phones, music players, etc., before you enter the classroom and place them in the teacher's desk. Any cellphone or electronic device on display will be placed inside the teacher's desk. If the problem persists, the device will be sent immediately to the office, where you may retrieve it at the end of the school day. 7th and 8th Grade Ms. Zaro Room 1 Basic Classroom Policies
Class Rules This year, students were able to brainstorm class rules, but have come to an agreement that each of the rules created fall under one or more general categories: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. Feel free to check out the Rule posters the students created. Basic Assignment Information In this class, assignments vary length, ranging from a 10 min in class assignment to a long-term biography report to be presented in the Spring. Students are expected to begin class assignments immediately after instruction and to ask questions of both their peers and teacher if they do not understand. Long-term projects will always have detailed assignment directions which students are expected to keep in their binders as a reference. The goal of assignments in this class is not to confuse students, but to assist in their learning. If a student does not understand instructions or are stuck on an assignment, it is their responsibility to bring it to the teacher’s attention before leaving class for the day. I cannot read minds, therefore, students must be willing to communicate their questions so I can clarify any misconceptions. Students will receive homework every night. I expect students to be spending 10 mins multiplied by their grade level (7th= 70 mins/night; 8th = 80 mins/night); however, more time might be needed for some students. My suggestion is to divide this time into manageable increments. (15-20 mins Reading, 15-20 mins Writing, 15-20 mins History or Science, 15-20 mins Math). In addition to daily homework assignments, students will also receive long-term projects, some of which require partners. I will give some time in class to work on long-term projects, however, students are expected to communicate via their Walden Academy email, phone, and other times outside of class (i.e. recess). Consistency of time and place help ease the struggle with homework. Encourage your child to do homework at a set time every day. Have a study area set up at home in which all needed supplies are at hand. For some, quiet background music works; for others, it is a distraction. Late Work Classwork: Students are expected to complete all assignments in a timely manner. Any assignment that is due by the end of the day will be late if not turned in by 7:50 am the next morning. I understand that on occasion, students need more time than what is given in class. Students will not be penalized if their classwork is turned in before class the next day. Students have 1 day to submit late classwork (up to 80% credit). For example, if an in class assignment is due during class on Monday, they have until Tuesday morning to submit their work for credit. Late classwork past the one day deadline will be worth up to 50% credit. No late classwork will be accepted after 5 days (1 week) past the original assignment date!!! In the previous example, if an assignment was turned in past 7:50 am the following Monday morning, it will not be worth credit, however, I will still correct the work to further student knowledge and understandings) Homework: All homework assignments are due on the due date assigned. Some are overnight while others have longer work terms. A running list of homework and due dates is posted on the board at all times. If a student is submitting late work, they have 1 day after the due date to receive up to 90% credit. Every day after that subtracts 10% of the possible points available (2 days late = 80%, 3 = 70%, 4 = 60%, 5+= 50%) Homework submitted after 5 days past the original due date will be corrected but will only be worth 50% of the original points. No homework will be accepted 2 weeks after the original due date!!! Tests/Exams:
All tests can be corrected for UP TO 100% credit. After a student has received a graded test, they have 1 WEEK to correct the test for make-up credit. Tests are not made to "trip" students. If a student can put forth the effort and demonstrate their knowledge through the test make-up, they deserve the grade.
Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting is a great way to build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and improve academic and social skills. It usually takes between twenty and thirty minutes. First thing each morning after our opening, the children and teacher gather in a circle. We begin by greeting each other. Every day, your son or daughter hears his or her name spoken by a classmate in a friendly and cheerful manner. Next, a few students share some interesting news followed by a conversation with the class. This helps students listen carefully, think about what they hear, formulate good questions, and learn about each other. When students share, they have a chance to feel that their ideas are valued and that the other students care. After sharing, there is an activity for the whole class. This usually will be an energizing game that gets each student to start their day with a smile. The activity time helps the students learn how to cooperate and solve problems. Finally, we read the Morning Message chart which helps students think about the day ahead. Sometimes, we review a reading, punctuation or math skill, or we question and ponder the big ideas that outline our history and science units. This is also a time when we learn about and practice our CARES (cooperation, assertion, respect & responsibility, empathy, and self-control). Every day, Morning Meeting lets students know that school is a safe place where all their feelings and ideas are important. Later in the year, we’d love to have you visit a Morning Meeting. You’ll see for yourself why we’re so excited about this start to our day. Behavior Management/Discipline Individuals: This year, students will be receiving mostly positive reinforcement through tickets that will be entered into a weekly “prize” drawing. Being on task, helping a peer who is struggling, picking up trash, and much more can earn a student 1 or more tickets. All tickets (except those that are pulled) will be left in the ticket bin until the end of the year. The higher frequency of good behavior will result in more tickets in the bin. The rewards; however, are semi intangible. The students have helped create these rewards and are things such as “15 min free play for the class,” “1 late homework pass,” “ 1 classwork pass,” “1 pizza party with 5 friends,” or it could just simply be “great job!” Tables: In addition, table groups will earn points for consistently following directions, staying on task, etc. At the end of each week, the group with the most points will receive 5 tickets per person to be entered into the raffle bin. The second group will receive 3 tickets a piece and the third group will receive one ticket a piece. Students will soon learn that when they have more tickets in the bucket the probability increases that their name will be called. Whole Class: Every week, the word “RAFFLE” is written on the board. When the entire class is off-task, talking, distracted, part of a letter will be erased. For each letter left on the board, one name will be pulled out of the Raffle bin. On the flip side, students may earn back letters as long as the entire group is on task, quiets down when the teacher gives an attention signal, etc. Consequences: Even with this positive behavior management system, there comes a time when a student needs to reflect on his/her own behavior. This results in a “Behavior Reflection.” Only after repeated reminders, warnings, and one on one discussion, will a Behavior Reflection be given. This is a document that the student fills out and discusses with the teacher. The parent signature that accompanies these documents is required based on teacher discretion. This is a document that is the result of communication and compromise between the student and the teacher. If a parent signature was required, it is due the day after it is assigned. Failure to return the behavior reflection will result in more serious consequences. Students might begin losing privileges, taking time outside, or for a last resort, be sent to the director. Class Signals (Bathroom/Water/Etc) During class there are established norms for when students are allowed to get out of their seat and when they are not. There are four hand signals: one for the bathroom, one for water, one for sharpening a pencil, and one for a general question. Each student is expected to remain in their seat until the teacher okays their hand signal (i.e. If the student needs to use the bathroom, the teacher will let them know if it is an appropriate time to go after seeing the appropriate signal). Otherwise, students can wait to get out of their seat until transition time to do such miscellaneous tasks as throwing away trash or putting away supplies. Students are expected to use their breaks appropriately. There is a morning recess from 10-10:20 and lunch recess from 12-12:45. Breaks will not be given until 30 mins after recess. If there is a medical reason for your child to use the bathroom more frequently, please contact me. In regards to access to clean water during the day, we ask that you send your student to school with a full bottle of water. There is only one drinking fountain and as it is outside of the classroom, students miss instructional time if they need to leave the room. As a reminder, only water is allowed in the classroom. Students bringing in soda or other sticky substances will be asked to either dump it out or place it in the fridge to be retrieved at the end of the day. Birthdays I recognize and celebrate birthdays with a song sung by the students unless the student has chosen to opt out of a birthday celebration. If you would like to send snacks with your child, please let me know ahead of time so I can leave plenty of time for the celebration. Emails This year, we will be utilizing technology much more than the students have been exposed to in the class. Due to the curriculum needs, students will have Walden Academy Gmail accounts. Students are encouraged to communicate with each other on assignments and make edits to collaborative work. These are not private! I reserve the right to read any emails if there is a situation. Science Fair:
The Walden Science Far will be held on March 4th, 2014. It will be followed by the Glenn County Fair from March 31-April 3, 2014. This is an excellent chance for students to explore an idea or topic in science using the scientific method. Students may work alone or work cooperatively on a group project. Begin exploring some interesting ideas! Good Morning Walden Monthly assemblies will be held the first Monday every month. Each month one student will be selected to receive a CARES award. These are the character traits that we will be emphasizing—cooperation, assertion, respect & responsibility, empathy, and self-control. At the end of each trimester students will also be recognized for academics and attendance. In academics, students who are high performing as well as those who make the largest gains will be recognized. Perfect attendance awards will be given to students who are in class on time all day every day.
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