“High achievement always takes the place in the framework of high expectation.”
– Charles Kettering
Welcome to English Class! I have written this letter to answer any questions you might have about how to be successful in my class. I will let you know all the specifics so that you do not have to guess what I expect from you. This letter can be something for you to refer back to at any point to refresh your memory on my expectations for you. So let's start with a few questions you might have for me.
Being prepared is essential. I expect you to bring all the required materials. You need your Chromebook, charger, 3-ring binder, lined paper, journal, and a pen. Please bring any textbooks we will be using that day. You are also required to come to class with your assignments completed and ready to discuss them in class. If you fail to complete your assignment, you are not only hurting yourself (as you will be unable to participate in class, which is a large part of your grade), but you are also jeopardizing the lesson plan prepared for that day. I will make sure the class is meaningful, but you need to make sure you do your part as well.
Most assignments will be completed on your Chromebook and submitted in Canvas. Please use MLA formatting for your paper headings. Put your full name, the teacher's name, the course, and the date in the top left corner of all of your writing assignments. Remember to proofread your work before submitting it. If your assignment has too many careless errors, I may ask you to try again and to resubmit it. All assignments, including discussion posts, should be written using complete sentences unless otherwise noted.
Each day counts! You can come to this class each day with the expectation that what I have planned for us to do is important and you need to be there. Yes, there are unavoidable situations that require absences. Nevertheless, this does not have to set you back. Keep in mind that this class is a graduation requirement and must be repeated if you do not pass.
It is your responsibility to make up any work! You need to have a plan. Be proactive. (Ex: Ask a friend to take notes and text you if you are out.) Any work you miss will be in Canvas Modules. You need to log in and see missed assignments. For an unexcused absence, it would be in your best interest to have most of the work done even before you come back to class. The exception to this might be if you were unable to access the internet or if you were too physically unwell to do schoolwork. In these cases, have a parent send me an email. For excused absences, you have three days to complete the work. Please keep open communication about absences. If you can notify me in advance that you will not be in class, please do so.
Mutual respect will be upheld above everything else. There are no exceptions to this rule. We will often discuss and debate topics both in person and in Canvas. This is important because we can learn to see things from different points of view. Our classroom is a place where everyone can feel comfortable sharing ideas. No student will be degraded, harassed, or humiliated by me, or by another student. When someone is talking, let them finish. Be a good listener, and think before you speak. Online Canvas discussions are to be courteous and respectful at all times. We do not have to agree, but we do have to show respect.
Professional cell phone etiquette will be upheld. This means your phone should not be seen or heard during class. As you enter the room place your phone on “silent” and store it in the phone organizer. Your phone should never be out during class without explicit permission from me. This shows common courtesy and respect for our classroom learning environment.
Now that I have answered some of your questions, I would like to describe a little bit about how I see this classroom, and I hope that you will learn to see it this way as well.
A classroom is a community of learners, and it is a team effort. Most of the curriculum for this class you can learn completely on your own from a book or the internet. However, what is unique about a classroom is that it is a community where people from different backgrounds, with different points of view, can come together to work towards the same goal. Each of you brings a valuable opinion and way of looking at life into the room. I expect you to come to class each day ready to share your point of view and to listen to your classmates’ opinions. We will be communicating our thoughts, values, and perspectives through discussion and written expression. I hope that you will achieve a sense of ownership regarding this class because it is what you bring to the class, that will determine how much you take away from it in the end. In this class, every student is a writer, a thinker, a leader, a dreamer, and a world-changer.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Griz