How To Be Successful In Class...
- Where can I find help when I'm not in class?
- Are you ever available outside of class to help me?
- How can I pass your class?
- Do you want people to pass your class? Or do you TRY to fail people?
- Can I use Cliff's Notes, Spark Notes, PinkMonkey.com or watch the movie?
- Are you nice or mean?
- How can I get a speedy trip to the office from your class?
- I've heard you don't like to give detention -- cool!
- I lost, or forgot at school, a paper that I need to do tonight's homework.
- I went to class but forgot my homework in my locker (or at home) -- now what?
- What do you mean by 'free reading'?
- I don't understand the 'word of the week' idea. Could you explain?
Where can I find help when I'm not in class?
Look on your class's links page for a links you may find useful
for class. Or, if you are just looking for a good site for
interesting information, look on the general links page.
If you are having trouble with a specific unit, topic or work you
may want to find more information about it to help you understand
it more.
OR, if you are just interested in learning more about something
we are doing in class, check here.
If you want more information and you can't find anything here to
help you -- ASK ME! I most likely have something that I just
haven't listed here -- or maybe I have a book or article on it.
Are you ever available outside of class to help me?
Yep. I am here every day until at LEAST 4pm. I am usually in my
room -- or in the office and will be right back.
I am also here by at least 7:30 every morning (usually earlier if
weather is good).
How can I pass your class?
Remember that paper I handed out on the first day of class? On
it I wrote out MY GUARANTEE to you. Here it is again:
IF
*you do all the work when it is assigned (including reading)
*you pay attention to my critiques on your returned papers
*You incorporate my comments to improve your work
THEN
*I know you will benefit from class discussion
*you will have very little to study for quizzes and exams (incl.
midterm and final)
*your work will support your average
AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY PASS THIS CLASS FOR THE YEAR WITH AT
LEAST A 65%!
Do you want people to pass your class? Or do you TRY to fail people?
Of COURSE I want students to pass my class! My goal is to have
you learn from what I have to say, from what the authors have to
say, and from what your classmates have to say.
I am willing to do what I need to do to HELP you pass -- however
the major effort has to come from you. It should not be more
important to me, than it is to you, if you pass.
My quizzes are just to check that you have read -- basic
understanding-type questions. I am not going to try to trick you
into knowing what color socks the character wore in scene 2
(unless it is crucial to understanding the story).
And I create my own exams. I test you on WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED
IN CLASS, what you have had to do for homework and overall
understanding of the work itself.
Can I use Cliff's Notes, Spark Notes, PinkMonkey.com or watch the movie?
Certainly. I encourage you to use any outside source you may be
able to find to help you understand a story we are working
through in class. I love UNABRIDGED books on tape myself (I
listen to them during my commute).
I know the material that is in those types of sources. Some is
credible (can/should be believed), much is NOT. You have to
remember that anything other than the original source is an
INTERPRETATION of the work. UNABRIDGED = same as in the
book 'abridged' = shortened from the original form (you aren't
learning everything that we are in class). My job is to be
your 'sparknotes' by explaining things during class discussion.
If you are more of a visual learner, a movie version of the story
could really benefit you. But realize, they are condensing a
full-length book into a 2 hour movie, so you are missing
information. Plus, the people making the movie may have changed
what was originally written.
Sparknotes can be a great tool. I would suggest reading a
summary of a chapter in Sparknotes, and then skimming the real
chapter in the book from class. That way you know what is
SUPPOSED to happen in the book, and you can skim the actual story
to pick up the detail that Sparknotes doesn't have time to
mention.
Utilize these tools as often as you wish. But make sure you use
them IN ADDITION TO the real text we are using in class, not just
trying to get away with using the shortcut. I know the original
material and create my exams to test how well YOU know them...
Are you nice or mean?
I am fairly easy to get along with in my classroom IF you
remember these things:
*you are here for a reason, as am I.
*I have a responsibility to teach while I am here -- and to try
to help my students learn
*you have a responsibility to try to learn, and at the very least
to NOT disrupt while I am teaching and they are learning
*I will not entertain any negative attitudes while you are in my
classroom.
If you cannot control yourself for 40 mins/day -- you have no
need to be in here.
How can I get a speedy trip to the office from your class?
Misbehave in the classroom.
Disrespect someone or something in the classroom.
Ignore requests to get back to what you should be doing during
class.
I've heard you don't like to give detention -- cool!
Yeah -- cool! Detentions lack imagination. I prefer to be
creative with discipline.
I am generally good at thinking something up off the top of my
head -- but I have a few favorites that I use when I need to.
Your behavior in here is YOUR choice. How I deal with it is MY
choice.
{evil grin}
I lost, or forgot at school, a paper that I need to do tonight's homework.
Don't panic. If you lost the paper you can get another in the
extra handout bin. If you just forgot it you are in the right
place. This website has 3 pages of handouts. First look in the
page for your class handouts (En10, etc...). IF it isn't there
just look in the general handouts.
Anything I use in most of my classes will be in the general
handouts page. If you still can't find it -- call someone from
class that you trust would have the CORRECT information.
I went to class but forgot my homework in my locker (or at home) -- now what?
IF you do not have your homework with you when I collect it
during class it is considered LATE (=50%). I will have the pile
of collected papers. If you do it during class and turn it in
before the bell rings -- it is LATE. If you left it at home and
e-mail it to me as soon as you get there -- it is
LATE. IF you run to your locker after class and show it to me --
it is still late.
I DO accept late work within a week of it being due
(originally). This means that if it was due in class on Tuesday,
you have until the end of school on Monday to get it to me to be
counted late. Late work is ALWAYS better than a 0. 0's will
NEVER add up...
**For students who show that they regularly have work done and
with them, I may cut them a break for an offense like this.
However don't count on it.
What do you mean by 'free reading'?
Reading is crucial to success in school. Most of the time here
you are TOLD what to read. Free reading days are meant to give
you an opportunity to exercise your choice in reading, and
hopefully increasing your willingness to read what you are
assigned at other times. And if you are not a strong reader, the
practice of reading more will certainly help to improve your
skills.
Free reading days are NOT study halls, however. It is for SILENT
READING only, not sleeping, talking, doing homework or running
errands around the school.
When you come to class you should ALREADY have a book to read.
If you are lacking something that day, you are welcome to borrow
a newspaper or book from my classroom library BEFORE CLASS
STARTS. Reading notes from friends does NOT count as free
reading!
I don't understand the 'word of the week' idea. Could you explain?
Each week there will be a new vocabulary word on the board in my
class. I will explain the word and use it in a sample
sentence. If you know the word, great. If not and the sample
doesn't help, ASK! Your assignment is to write three sentences
that will not only use that word, but imply the meaning of the
word by using CONTEXT CLUES. You have all week to create these
three sentences. You may NOT use the sample sentence. Be
creative -- have fun -- learn the vocabulary! Sentences will be
checked on Friday. If you have not clearly identified the
meaning you will not earn full points. These vocabulary words
are fair game for a quiz at any time. : )
