Mrs. Mak's Classroom Guidelines
Five Guidelines For Success:
1. Respect: Treat others the way you want to be treated
a. Respect for personal differences
b. Respect for property
2. Responsibility: You are responsible for your own behavior
a. Recognize personal space
b. Use words wisely
c. I over E especially in C
3. Participation: Come prepared to learn and share your ideas
a. Bring all materials necessary to aid in learning
4. Awareness: Listen to others and follow directions
5. Follow all school rules and regulations
Students who are positive, contributing members in this class will receive:
1. Verbal praise
2. Written praise
3. Positive parent contact � notes and phone calls home
4. Leadership roles, special honors and privileges
5. Class rewards
6. A positive classroom environment
If your behavior prevents our class from functioning, the following order of
consequences will apply:
1. A verbal warning
2. A five -minute conversation with me after class/school.
3. Detention
4. A conference with your parents
5. Meeting with administration
Events, circumstances, etc. have their origin in ourselves. They spring
from seeds which we have sown. - Henry David Thoreau
Homework Policy
Homework is an important part of our curriculum. The objective of homework is to strengthen
skills and reinforce knowledge learned in our classroom.
Because Language Arts includes Grammar, Spelling & Vocabulary, Reading & Literature and
Composition, the amount of homework and time students spend on assignments will vary. Expect
Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary homework to revolve around reinforcing workbook and practice
exercises. Reading & Literature and Writing assignments are for the most part longer -term
projects
that might be either analytical or creative. These longer- term assignments may span weekend days,
but many times you will only have Language Arts homework Monday through Thursday. All
homework will be posted in our classroom and on my �Teacher Web� page that can be accessed
through the Haworth website www.haworth.org/dir2/mrsmak.html.
In all Language Arts subject area homework assignments are worth 20% of student�s grade.
Regardless of the subject, completed homework will receive full credit. Any incomplete work
receives an automatic 65 (D). If a student fails to hand in homework they will receive a 0 (F).
Papers and projects (not homework) are due no later than the end of the day on the day that they
are due. Unless a student is absent for illness, in which case the assignment is due upon return, a
paper handed in at any other time is a late paper. The penalty for late compositions or projects is
one letter grade off per day late.
Because our studies are intense there will be times in which students may re-do assessments if they
did not completely master the intended content or skills, and the student has demonstrated sincere
effort to prepare for the assessment the first time it was given. Rigorous relearning and review will
qualify a student to redo an assessment. Redoing an assessment is a privilege. Students must re-do
assessments within one week of their return otherwise the original grade stands. The higher of the
two grades will be recorded. Occasionally, assessments cannot be redone, but instead students may
correct their mistakes and receive half credit for each item they correct. Students must re-do
assessments on their own time, not during direct teaching time in our class. In order to redo any
test, major project, major writing or quiz, students must first submit the original work signed by a
parent and request a retest or redo opportunity.
Compositions should be typed, double-spaced in 12-point type New Times Roman font, with
standard margins. If writing or literature assignments are handwritten, blue or black ink is
acceptable. You may use pencil when completing homework or daily assignments that are not being
turned in (grammar, vocabulary, spelling) or in-class work.
Neatness counts! Messy homework or compositions will not be accepted. They will be returned to
you for revision or recopying and will be treated as late papers.
Papers with no name will not receive credit. Papers without the correct middle school heading will
receive two points off.
Parents are encouraged to provide instructional assistance, including: designation of a study area,
adherence to specific homework time period, positive support, and supervision, as well as parent /
teacher communication.
Personal growth, mastery of English language skills, and knowledge are more important then
grades. Please try to keep a clear perspective on your achievements. While we focus on academics,
we will also try to evolve into confident and compassionate individuals.
If students or parents have any questions regarding our homework policy or any of our
assignments please e-mail me at Maketansky@nvnet.org.
Procedures
Beginning Class
1. Entering Class:
You are expected to be at your desk with all the required materials when the bell rings. If you are
not, you will be marked late. If you are late three times I will make a phone call home, and you will
receive a two detentions.
You must check the blackboard for the daily assignment. You are expected to start on the
assignment immediately. If there is no assignment, you must review homework, read, or sit quietly
while you await further instructions.
2. Announcements:
No matter what is going on in class, it must be quiet for any announcements made over the public
address system. Even if the announcements do not pertain directly to you, please be quiet.
3. Fire Drills or Emergencies:
If there is a fire drill or any other emergency, you are expected to comply with the school regulations.
You will walk quickly and quietly out the nearest exit, stay together as a class and wait for further
instructions. If you are in the bathroom or anywhere else in school, then you are to exit the building
immediately and find the nearest teacher or administrator.
4. Absences:
If you know in advance that you will be absent, talk to me about any assignments you might miss.
As long as you had an excused absence you are able to make up the work you missed while you were
out for full credit. You have three days to make up the work, after that it is recorded as a zero.
Absences are your responsibility. I will not remind you of the work you need to make up. You need
to see me before, after class or school, or during a quiet assignment time. Do not disrupt the whole
class for what you missed personally. Previously announced tests, projects and compositions are due
the day you return to school if you are absent on the day they were assigned to be due.
Class & Work Requirements
1. Daily necessities:
Bring all materials to class each day and be ready to work. (You will not be allowed to return to your
lockers for forgotten supplies.) Coming to class unprepared will result in a point (zero) for the day.
At the end of the marking period points will be totaled and deducted from your final grade.
Textbooks must be covered and kept in the condition that they were received in.
Your notebook and folder must be neat and organized as we will be taking notes and adding work
regularly.
2. Following Directions
It is of the utmost importance for you to get the information you need to be able to do well and
complete this course. You will need to PAY ATTENTION. I will only say things twice.
3. Paper Headings:
All papers must have the following heading:
Name: Date
Homeroom Subject
4. Signal For Getting Your Attention:
My hope is that our class will be a place where creativity and positive energy thrive. There will be
times when I will need your complete attention and cooperation. At these times, I will hold up two
fingers for peace. This is your signal to come to full attention.
5. Signal For Getting My Attention & Moving Around The Class:
When you need my attention to ask a question you must raise your hand. If you need to use the
bathroom, get a tissue or throw something away you must ask. Please remember that these tasks
should be accomplished before or after class. So use you common sense before asking. If you must
leave our classroom, you�ll need to take our pass, which will be located in the front of our room.
You
may only leave when the pass is available.
6. Talking During Seatwork:
When you are working independently, I see no reason why you can�t speak quietly with one
another.
This is a privilege though, and will be taken away if you abuse it. Also, please realize that if your
talking is hindering someone else�s work, you will need to be quiet.
7. Activities To Do When You Finish Your Work:
Bring a book to class or:
When you have completed any required assignment, read, or complete a practice activity that will be
made available. I highly recommend these activities, as they will reinforce your language arts skills.
All completed practice material will be held in your portfolio and considered at the end of each
marking period.
8. Movement In and Out of Work Groups:
We will be working together on many projects this year. During these times, you will need to be
considerate and respectful of each other and of class rules. Each member of the group is responsible
for bringing their own materials and level of participation. If there are problems, group work will be
severely limited.
9. If You Need Help:
I am usually available before school, during lunch and after school for extra help. If at any other time
you feel the need to speak with me, I will be happy to schedule an appointment with you.
10. Dismissal:
You must wait to be dismissed at the end of each class.
Our Classroom
1. Keep It Clean:
We will be spending a lot of time in our classroom. Therefore, it is necessary that we regard it with
care. Starting with your locker and desk, then working outward, you will be responsible for keeping
our class neat and clean. Also, if you use any of our community materials you will be expected to put
them away properly. You will be asked to stay after class/school to help clean up if this is not taken
seriously.
2. Taking Home Class Materials:
You will be allowed to borrow books from the class library. You will have an individual library sign
out card, and a two-week limit on all books borrowed. If you lose or destroy a book, you will be
asked to replace it.
3. Audio-Visual and Computer Equipment:
Always ask permission to use any AV equipment in our room. Our policy is, you break it - you buy
it. Whether we use the school lap- tops or the computers in Mr. Talty�s room, please do not ask if
you can �surf the net�. The answer will always be NO!
4. My Desk:
My desk is strictly off limits unless I directly give you permission. Feel free to use any of the
materials found at the Student Supply Stations in the front of the room.
5. Substitutes & Other Visitors:
If I am out for the day, you are still expected to follow our class rules and procedures. You are
responsible for any and all assignments. You should treat any substitute/visitor to our class with
respect and afford them the same treatment you would like to receive if you were a �stranger in a
strange land�.
6. Mrs. Mak�s Web Page:
I will be updating our class web page weekly. You will be able to keep up with assignments, test
schedules and reading selections.
http://www.haworth.org/dir2/mrsmak.html
Grading System:
1. Writing and creative assignments will be scored with various middle school rubrics
2. In each subject grades for homework assignments, performance (participation, effort,
production) projects, tests and quizzes carry different weights. They are as follows:
Grammar: Tests: 60%
Homework: 20%
Performance: 20%
Spelling & Tests: 60%
Vocabulary Homework: 20%
Performance 20%
Literature: Homework: 30%
Performance: 70%
Composition: Homework: 30%
Performance: 70%
At the end of every marking period your grades are averaged together using the following
percentages and grading scale:
Grammar: 20%
Spelling & Vocabulary: 20%
Composition: 30%
Literature: 30%
A+ 98-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D 65-69
A 94-97 B 84-86 C 74-76 F 0-64
A- 90-93 B- 80-83 C- 70-73
