Ms. Leaphart’s Cell Phone Policy

Before entering my classroom, students need to put their cell phones away so that they are neither visible nor evident (through signs such as ear bud cords sneaking up the neck…).

At the beginning of each quarter, I enter ~80 participation points into the grade book for each student (1 per day of the quarter). These are listed as “Management” points. If a student’s cell phone is visible/evident inside my classroom, that student will lose points (2 per violation of the policy). If a student violates the policy more than once in a given classroom, he/she will lose 2 more students, be referred to the office and I will call the student’s parents/guardians.

What ifs…

What if I’m expecting/receiving a possible emergency call?

Mention this to me at the beginning of class so that I’m aware and/or ask to go to the hall/bathroom and answer your phone.

What if I want to listen to music while I work?

We can listen to music as a class. I will do my best to accommodate different tastes in music styles by rotating student requests.

What if I need to look up a definition/other information?

I will provide appropriate resources (dictionaries, Chromebooks etc.) for any assigned work.

What if I want to take a picture of an assignment or notes on the board for later use?

Writing the information down by hand will help you to process and store the information.

Paw Print Newspaper Cell Phone Booth

Cell phones are a tool that we have come to rely on in journalism—for conducting and recording interviews, for selling ads, for taking photos, and for engaging in social media. Because of this, there will be a few exceptions to the cell phone policy in the Paw Print class.

Each day at the beginning of class we will set up the “phone booth”

·  Any student needing to use a phone to retrieve or post information to social media or make ad contacts must sit down at this phone booth while using the phone.

·  Any student needing to use a phone to sell ads or conduct an interview must either sit at the phone booth or step into the hallway to make the call.

·  Students may use cell phones as cameras/recorders when outside of the classroom reporting on a story. Students may only use cell phones as cameras/recorders inside the classroom with permission of Ms. Leaphart.

·  If sending a photo or other information from a phone to the Paw Print computers, students must also sit at the designated phone booth.