Class Syllabus: Our Community

(Mr. Johnson’s class, room 302, Mulcahy Middle School)

YOUR NAME HERE: ______DATE:______

Our Procedures: How We Do Things in Our Community

1. Student desks, tables, and chairs

Your desks and floor space are to be cleaned daily. Make sure your supply caddy and pencil box are stored in the proper place and are neat and clean. Please empty your trash containers as we clean up at the end of the day. Your group will not be dismissed until your area is clean. Our classroom is our home and we should treat it that way.

2. Pushing in Student Chairs

Whenever you leave your desk, remember health and safety by completely pushing in your chair to allow your classmates to move safely around the classroom. Also, you need to remember the educational purpose of school and show proper posture (sit up) in your chair to show you are always ready to learn. Remember health and safety by keeping all four chair legs on the ground.

3. Transitions

Transitions are the time between activities when we switch from one lesson or subject to another. Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.” I also like to say, “Time is precious, more valuable than gold or silver.” We must listen to directions and transition quickly, quietly, and carefully to ensure no time is lost before the next activity. Quick, quiet, and careful transitions will allow us to be on time for break and lunch.

4. Teacher’s desk (and cabinets) and neighbors’ desks

Please think about property loss and damage before you use anything that isn’t yours. My desk and cabinets are absolutely off-limits to you unless I give you permission to get something like a stapler, a tape dispenser, or colored paper. Taking without asking is stealing. Be sure to ask your classmates before borrowing anything from their desk. Treat their property with the same respect you expect from them.

5. Drinks

You are responsible for getting water during break and recess. Instructional time is not the appropriate time to visit the water faucet. If it is absolutely necessary, the signal to get water is three fingers (in the shape of a W) held to your chin, with only your index finger touching your chin. You may bring your own water to class as long as it is in a tightly closed container and does not interfere with learning. Remember the educational purpose of school, and never ask for water while I am teaching a lesson (including guided practice time). Only ask during independent practice, group collaboration, or any other quiet working time. You may take a quick drink on your way in the door, but no more than three students at a time!

6. Sharpening pencils

We will not be sharpening pencils using the mechanical sharpener during the school day. Getting up to sharpen your pencil during a lesson will cause a serious disruption of the learning process. If you need to sharpen your pencil, you may use your manual sharpeners in your caddy. You are responsible to always be ready to learn with a pencil or pen. You are welcome to use the electric sharpener before school, at break, after school.

7. Paper

Paper is located in the top shelf of the grey supply caddy at the back of the room near the door. You should make sure you start each day with enough paper, but please take only what you need. During the school day, only paper distributors (or those with permission) have access to the paper supply in the grey caddy.

8. Restrooms

You are encouraged to use the restroom during break time. In the event of an emergency, you may hold up your fist with your thumb between your index and middle finger to indicate that you need to be excused to the restroom. After permission is given, you will sign out on the bathroom sign-out sheet (on the sink), take a green vest, and go directly to the 5th/6th-grade restrooms and come directly back. In order to make sure your trip to the bathroom does not create a serious disruption of the learning process, you must not talk to other students at any time after you leave your seat. At no time should more than four students be in the bathroom. Remember the rule: “More than four, out the door!” That means if you are the fifth person, you need to wait in front of the door for your turn to use the bathroom. Bathrooms are not places to play; do your business, wash your hands, and return to where you need to be.

9. Lunch workers

Several times a year, our class will be responsible to send six students to the cafeteria to serve as lunch workers. You will be dismissed 15 minutes prior to the start of lunch to ensure you have enough time to get ready. If you want to be a lunch worker, you must make good use of class time. If you have been wasting time in class, do not expect that I will select you for this important job. 10. Getting your attention

I will use several signals to get your attention. When you hear any of the following signals, you are expected to stop talking and working. Your eyes are to be focused on me and your ears should be listening for additional directions. Here are some of those signals: “If you can hear me, clap twice”; “and stop” (clap, clap); “three and two and one” (“Mulcahy”); I silently raise my hand, wait for all student hands, and then say, “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, you may put your hands down.”

11. Recycling

We recycle at Mulcahy. In our room, all recyclable bottles and cans are to be placed in the small blue bin by the door. Anything else recyclable (paper, cardboard, other plastic containers) goes into the two larger blue bins. Tissues, paper towels, and pencil shavings are trash.

12. Appropriate noise level

I have a ‘stop light’ on the front whiteboard that indicates the appropriate noise level at different times of the day. Regardless of the light, you may be out of your seat only with my permission. Red: Absolutely NO speaking is necessary. Usually red lights are used during quizzes, tests, or independent work time. Yellow: speaking is permitted only to a group member (ask for help, borrow pencil, etc.). You must use whisper voices. Remember about time, place, and manner whenever you speak with a classmate. Green: speaking is permitted in quiet, respectful tones. A green light usually indicates group collaboration time.

13. Tissue & Trash Time-Out

If you need to blow your nose, get paper, or throw away/recycle trash, please indicate by making a “time-out” signal (T-shape) with your hands. Use this signal also if you need to get paper or other supplies from the materials tub near the door. You may not ask while I am not teaching. Please do so quickly, quietly, and carefully so you do not cause a serious disruption of learning.

14. Computers

After using the computers, please be sure you wrap the headphone wires, push in your chair, and take any personal items (e.g. notebook, pencil) back to your seat. Please treat our computers and accessories (mouse, keyboard, headphones) with respect so that they will last for years to come.

15. Lining up

At the beginning of the day, you are to line up outside the classroom in two straight lines in number order (1-16 and 17-32). I expect you to line up quietly whenever we are in the halls. I will greet you all and explain what you need to do when you enter the classroom. After morning break, you will line up in the same two lines in front of the bathrooms at the end of the 300-wing building. After lunch and P.E., you will line up there as well; we will return to the classroom together in one line. If you know someone is not yet in line, please leave his or her spot open. When walking through the hallway, there is no talking, so we don’t create a serious disruption. When we line up for lunch, make sure you are in alphabetical order if you student number does not fall in the correct order.

16. Safety drills: fire, earthquake, and lock-down

Fire drills: When the fire alarm sounds, quickly, quietly, and carefully assemble in our normal two lines in number order. I expect you to walk down the halls in one line, to the drill, and then back again, all without talking.

Earthquake: When the earthquake drill alarm sounds (or in the event of an actual quake), immediately “duck and cover” by placing your head and as much of your upper body as possible under your desk. Remain under your desk until you hear an announcement telling you to return to your seat. Please do not talk.

Lock-down: In the event of a lock-down drill, everyone is to proceed to the front of the room (by the whiteboard) and sit down on the ground behind the desks and be totally silent. The door will remain locked and the lights will be off. Remain hidden and silent until we receive instructions.

18. Backpacks

Backpacks should be hung on the back of your chair. They should not be under your desk, chair, or in walkways, where they present a health and safety problem. No one is allowed to open another student’s backpack without their permission.

19. Entering the classroom

Remember…“Lost time is never found again” (Benjamin Franklin). Before you enter the classroom, I will let you know what you need to work on by telling you or by writing directions on the board. You need to walk quietly into the classroom and follow the directions you have been given. Entering the classroom is not an extension of break time; it is time to focus, listen, and resume learning. Every morning, the first thing you need to do after taking your seat is to record the day’s objectives on your calendar. If you are entering the classroom late and you aren’t sure what to do, quietly ask a neighbor, read a book, or work on an assignment.

20. Walking in the halls

When we walk in the halls, we must walk quietly and avoid talking. We don’t want to cause a serious disruption for other classrooms. You need to stay in a single-file line and always remain in number order. For your safety, never walk through the “red zone” outside every door.

21. Cafeteria and library

After quietly walking in the halls, I expect you to enter the cafeteria and library just as quietly, with nothing louder than whisper voices. Just as our classroom is our home, the library is Mrs. Martinho’s home. I expect you to follow all her directions and remember time, place, and manner at all times. In the cafeteria, you need to seat yourselves and remain in number order. You need to show respect to whoever is speaking. Be a good audience by applauding respectfully to honor those who are performing or being recognized for their achievements.

22. Student participation

I expect everyone to participate during class discussions. When students share in pairs or groups, I expect to hear “academic conversations”, and not off-task talking. Stay focused on the task. When I ask a question, I usually will be asking the entire class; please don’t raise your hand until I ask for someone to answer. I may also call on someone who didn’t volunteer. I do this to make sure everyone is paying attention and learning what I am teaching. Sometimes, I will ask whole groups or the entire class to “chorally” (all together) respond to a question. It is disrespectful to interrupt me or another student by calling out. Remember, if you use your right to speak at the wrong time, you will take away another person’s right to speak. Always use formal, academic language, show courtesy to others, and speak in complete sentences.

23. Early finishers

If you are finished, you never need to ask, “What do I do now?” On the board, you will find a “Must-do/May-do” list, and/or a list of this week’s homework (homework is usually assigned Monday and due Friday). Once you finish your “musts”, you may work on as assignment from the “May-do” list. “Mays” will always include: double-check completed work for completeness and accuracy; read silently; take an AR test if computers are available; complete any unfinished, make-up, or missing work; work on Lexia. No one should ever sit at their desk with nothing to do. Be responsible and find a meaningful task.

25. Passing in Papers

Students will pass papers to a group member. The student must double-check all papers for the following information: name & number, date, and assignment (see #32). Then arrange your papers in number order and make sure they all face the same way. Place work in the correct tray.

26. Trade & Grade

You may exchange papers with a partner for grading. It must be done in a pen that is different from the color that was used to do the work. I will provide you pens for grading. You need to write C/B (corrected by) and your name at the bottom of the paper. Pencil is never acceptable for grading. You are expected to be completely honest and fair while grading a classmate’s paper. If you grade your own test, I expect you to be honest and accept the grade you have earned. Academic dishonesty (cheating) is a very serious offense and will not be tolerated. No one has that right.

27. Pencils & Pens

You are encouraged to use a pencil for all subjects so that you can erase and correct errors. You must use pencil for math. If you use pen for any non-math assignments, you must use either black or blue. Assignments written in red, pink, green, orange, or other colors will not be accepted for credit.

28. Cursive

I expect you to be able to write proficiently in cursive. I will not always require you to write your assignments in cursive, but you must be prepared to demonstrate that you can write neat, legible cursive. If you aren’t skillful at writing in cursive, please let me know right away so I can get you some practice worksheets.