Ms. Barbour’s Rules and Policies
Fall 2017
Daily Supplies
You will need to get a composition book by this Friday. You will also need lined paper, blue or black pens and a three-ring binder or folder for keeping handouts and your work.
Communication
*Check the agenda on the board as you come into class.
*You or your parents/guardians can e-mail me at .
*Check my page on the Marshall website for assignments.
*Check your grades on Jupiter.
*Sign up for Remind text messages or e-mails. I’ll post instructions on my Marshall page.
*Ask questions during or after class. I’m here to help.
Organizing/ Keeping Your Work
*I expect you to keep your handouts and your work in a binder or folder. Put papers in chronological order with this Rules and Policies sheet on top. If you keep all your work, you will be able to talk to me about an incorrectly inputted grade.
Tardy/Truancy Policy
*If you are not in your seat before the bell rings, you are tardy. If a student is tardy repeatedly, I may ask him or her to stay after class. First period tardy policy: Please be aware that I will be giving quizzes and writing prompts at the beginning of the period. If you come in late, you will need to make up the writing prompt/quiz on your own time (before school, nutrition, lunch or after school) –but only if your tardy is excused.
* I will accept make-up work when you have an excused absence, but not when you are truant. If you are absent, ask me the next day about what you missed. Talk to me about missing work before or after class. Make-up work must be turned in within two days of your absence.
Grades
Quizzes/tests 30%
Participation/group work 20%
Essays 35%
Homework/class work 15%
Bathroom Passes
*You will get three tickets per semester that you can exchange for a pass to the bathroom. Save your tickets for extra credit.
Classroom Rules
1. No eating or drinking in class.
2. No electronic devices without permission.
3. No talking when a student or the teacher is addressing the class.
4. When you enter class, take your assigned seat.
5. Stay in your seat until the end of the period.
Guiding Principles for the School Community
We’ll discuss these further:
1. respect
2. appreciation of differences
3. safety
4. responsibility
5. honesty
6. life-long learning
And Finally…
I’d like you to appreciate the time commitment that you’ll need to make to this class, whether you are or in one of my AP classes or not. English is not an “easy” class where the same thing is taught year after year. Instead, every year is crucial to building the skills you’ll need in college and beyond. The good news about college is that you’ll have a lot fewer multiple-choice tests. The bad news is that instead of tests, you’ll often have to demonstrate your knowledge through writing. You’ll need to be able to read difficult texts quickly and you’ll need to be able to show –through your writing—that you understand and can respond to the big ideas contained within them. You’ll have synthesize ideas from multiple sources and develop your own original arguments, using your sources in support. These are not the kind of skills you get from reading the Spark Notes version of books. Pay attention to the kinds of skills that I’m trying to impart and you should do well in this class (and beyond). Take the easy way out at your own peril.