Routines and Procedures

Procedure—an established method for how you complete a task. Routine—is what you do and when you do it; a regular course of action.

Procedures: Entering the class  Entering the class means just that—lingering in the doorway is not actually entering a room. If you are in the room and seated when the bell rings, you are on time. Good job!! If you are in the doorway you are tardy—that’s something you can work on.

 When you enter the class get your composition book, return to your seat, and begin bellwork. You can either put your belongings at your desk on your way to get your book or not. Always keep your belongings out of aisle.

Using the restroom  LET ME START BY SAYING YOU SHOULD USE THE RESTROOM DURING YOUR PASSING TIME, NOT DURING CLASS TIME. Having said that, if it is serious and you have to use the restroom, please raise your hand and make the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for “restroom” and wait to be acknowledged. Once I see you, you may get up, get pass, sign out on clipboard by the door. When you return, you must sign back in and return pass to the proper place. You will walk out in a quiet, non- disruptive manner. (If you have a serious emergency—like “OMG!! I’m gonna barf!!” just get up and run to the restroom!) And unless it is an emergency, please use the restroom within the first 10 minutes of class or within the last 10 minutes of class. DO NOT USE THE RESTROOM PASS TO RUN AROUND AND WAVE AT YOUR BFF AND WALK PAST YOUR CRUSH’S CLASS TO STALK THEM! Additionally, if you are one of those students who like to get the pass every day at the same time (usually this is done to relive the boredom of school—not due to restroom needs), please reconsider this as I will ask you for medical verification if it continues. If you get medical verification stating that you must use the restroom every day at the same time I will be happy to allow this. However, again, if you are just using the pass to get out of class, stop.

Asking to get a drink of water  If you’d like to get a drink of water from the water fountain, please raise your hand and make the American Sign Language sign for “water” when I acknowledge you. Once this is done, you may exit the classroom in a quiet, non-disruptive manner. Please return immediately after in the same manner.

Getting into groups/pairs  I will be assigning pairs and groups within the first week of class. Your partner/group is your partner or group and that is that (note: if there is a serious exception like, “She bullies me and wants to kick my butt and threatens me! I don’t want to be her partner!” you MUST let me know. If you don’t tell me, I do not know that there is a potential problem. There is no shame in trying to make your learning environment as conducive [adjective—making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible] to learning as possible). You will have a partner called “4,” a partner called “8,” and partner called “12.” If I tell you to get together with your partner “4,” you will already know who it is. Same with 8 and 12. One person will be responsible for getting materials in each pair or group.

Cleaning up after groups or pairs  Group work can be messy, therefore we need a procedure in place to know how to clean up. If you are asked to move desks into pairs you must put them back exactly as they were. The same thing applies for groups. One person will be responsible for returning materials in each group or pair.

Pairs can be side-by-side or facing one another, depending on which partner you are with. You will only do facing if I instruct you to do so.

Groups should be neatly put together. When finished, desks should be returned neatly to their original position.

Asking and answering questions  The appropriate way to ask or answer questions in class is to: o Raise your hand o Wait to either be called on or for me to give you a number. o If I call on you, answer. If you are given a number, remember your number and that is the order you will answer in. . Additionally, (and this is a big one) please enunciate clearly. Speak loud enough so that everyone can hear you. Mumblers and low-talkers are difficult to hear, understand, and take seriously. Ladies, you have strong voices—use them! The high-pitched little girl whisper is cute in the movie Pitch Perfect, but not that awesome in class.

Turning in work  Each class has its own “inbox” labeled with your class period. ALL work goes into this box—not on my desk or in my hand—all work goes in the box. If it is homework, you should turn it in as you walk in the classroom. If it is classwork, we will pass work forward and one person from each row or group will turn in work for everyone.

Getting graded work  Each class has its own “outbox” for graded work labeled with your class period. You may get your graded work either before the bell rings or after class. We will not take time during class to pass back work (generally. There might be the occasional exception, but for the most part, you are responsible for collecting your own graded work on your own time).

Absent getting work  I will provide each of you with a calendar for the month with most of the assignments and due dates on it. I will post the calendar online and in class as well. It will be updated as needed. So, if you miss a day or two, you should be able to look at either the paper copy I have provided or online and see what it is you are missing. This eliminates the need for you to come to me “Miss! Miss! What did I miss this week! I was absent!” If there are any handouts, quizzes, etc., they will be in a file labeled by the day of the week. So: o If you miss class Wednesday and return Thursday, you can go to file, look under Wednesday, and grab any handouts from that day. o If you miss Wednesday through Friday, and return to class Monday, you go to file and look under the file labeled “Last Week” and in that week, look under each day individually for any handouts, etc. o If you miss several weeks, look in the “Past Weeks” file, find the week(s) you missed (Week 1=1st week of school, Week 2=2nd and so on), and take all papers for that week.

Leaving classroom  Everybody is always happy to see the end of a class! It is so exciting! You get to be free! Mingle! Socialize! That DOES NOT mean get up 5 minutes before the bell and stand around in front of the door. DO NOT DO THAT. Stay in your seat until the bell rings unless instructed to do otherwise.

Routines: Listening to announcements  When announcements are on, be respectful and listen quietly.

Bellwork  You will have daily bellwork to complete for the first 10 minutes of class every day. The bellwork will look as follows: o Mondays—Quote responses o Tuesdays—Quote responses o Wednesdays—Journal question o Thursdays & Fridays—Quote responses, journal questions, and vocabulary  Here is what you do when you are finished with your bellwork: return your composition book to the proper place, take out your vocabulary and create vocab squares which you will turn in every Monday. This is what you will do until we are ready to come together as a class. Please note this is an inappropriate time to socialize or text, instagram, snap chat, vines, fb, etc.

Cleaning at end of class  If we have made a mess it is your responsibility to clean it up. If you have paper or other detritus (noun —waste or debris of any kind), YOU are to clean it up. Not me, not the custodial staff, not your classmates—just you. It is rude, ill-mannered, and pretty low class to not clean up after your self or to litter. Be mature. Be classy. Handle your stuff. Every. Single. Day.