English III Welcome to our classroom P12 Mrs

English III Welcome to our classroom! P-12 Mrs. Spresser INSTRUCTIONS: Seat yourselves down each row, starting at the front left, ordering yourselves alphabetically by last name without talking. (You may use hand signals and rearrange as necessary. )

Identify Yourself • Last name, Preferred Name (name you go by)

Who I Am • Education • Teaching Experience • Family • Background • Interests

What I’m Like • Sense of Humor • Serious About Education • Respectful

How to contact me 1. www. spresser. com or spresser. cascadehighschool. com 2. spresserr@bedfordk 12 tn. net 3. Remind notifications: 1. English III: @spresser to 81010 2. English III Honors: @spreshonors to 81010 4. You may follow my classroom Twitter or Instagram account for class updates and English- and reading-related posts: @Mrs. Spresser.

What will I be doing this year? 1. Reading increasingly complex texts (American literature focus) and reflecting on those texts 2. Supporting arguments and assertions by citing relevant evidence from texts 3. Working to improve writing and revising skills in narrative, argument, and informative modes 4. Comparing, contrast, and synthesize information from multiple sources related to a common topic. 5. Learning new vocabulary, with a focus on learning Greek and Latin word parts, which form the basis for many Romantic languages, including English and Spanish 6. Completing research, learning MLA-style formatting 7. Reviewing grammar and mechanics skills and implementing them properly in our writing 8. Reviewing literature terms and using them to discuss literature All in preparation for. . .

Grades Students will be graded by the state grade scale below. A = 93 - 100 B = 85 - 92 C = 75 - 84 D = 70 -74 F = below 70 Typically, assignments will be weighted as listed below. For example, a quiz will count twice as much as a classwork grade. Students will be made aware of the value of each assignment when it’s given, as weights are subject to change.

Materials Every day, you need to have: • 1 -inch 3 -ring binder • College-ruled notebook paper • Reading journal • Writing instrument • Independent reading book • Textbook or class novel when assigned It will benefit you to also have tabbed dividers, highlighters, and sticky notes, though these are not required.

Notebook Your notebook (3 -ring binder) will be used every day. I will check it periodically for a grade. Keep it up to date and organized so you can always find what you need. Bring it daily! Tabs Literature Reading Vocabulary Writing

Independent Reading You will be reading at least one book of your choice per quarter. You will maintain an independent reading journal that will be checked periodically and will be a major project grade at the end of each quarter. More on this later. In the mean time, go ahead and pick up a book. Challenge yourself.

Plagiarism is the act of stealing or passing off (the words or ideas of someone else) as one’s own. This includes: 1. Copying either sections of text or entire papers from another individual or the internet. 2. Quoting sections of text without properly crediting a source. 3. Failing to use quotation marks around a direct quote. 4. Giving incorrect information about a source. 5. Changing words but using the same sentence structure of a source.

Plagiarism As a school, we encourage original thought and, therefore, do not tolerate plagiarism. Plagiarism will be dealt with on a case by case basis (e. g. , Blatant plagiarism may result in a zero. In some cases the student will be asked to re-do his/her work for 50 percent credit. ) Repeat offenders will not be allowed to redo work for partial credit and will be referred to the office. Honors students may be removed from an

Absences Please make every effort to be here every day and be here on time. Your participation is pivotal to your success in this class. If you do need to miss, check the appropriate period folder for handouts and the assignments binder for assignments or check our class website. If you need help understanding your missing work, please check with three peers before you check with me. All work must be completed within

Late Work Late work is subject to a 10% reduction for each day it is late, up to 50% off. All assignments are relevant to what we are learning at the moment, so if you don’t do an assignment when asked, it will not benefit you as intended, though you will still be required to complete it. Turn in your work on time, all the time!

Classroom Guidelines

Guideline #1: Be respectful. 1. Treat all people, including yourself, with respect. Remember we are all here to receive a good education – this is impossible without mutual respect. 2. Raise your hand be called on to speak. Speak in turn. Actively listen to others. 3. Get permission before leaving your seat and only ask to leave your seat outside instruction time. 4. Treat the learning environment with respect. Check your surroundings and leave them neater than you found them. Take your materials with you to keep our classroom more organized.

Guideline #2: Be prepared. 1. Be in your assigned seat and quietly working on the assigned bellwork when the bell rings. 2. Come to class with all materials. Always have an independent reading (SSR) book in case you finish work early.

Guideline #3: Go all in. 1. 2. Always stay on task. Give your work your best effort.

Guideline #4: Risk productive struggle—no opting out. Don’t give in because it’s too hard. 1. 2. Try anyway. You must venture an answer when asked a question. You may not opt out. (No “IDK”)

Guideline #5: Do nothing that prevents learning from happening. 1. 2. 3. Follow directions the first time. Refrain from speaking when the teacher is speaking. Keep your hands and feet to

…and Follow all CHS and Bedford County Schools rules.

Following guidelines will result in: 1. Verbal acknowledgment 2. Heart of a Champion tickets 3. A stress-free learning environment 4. A pleasant and orderly classroom atmosphere 5. A happy teacher, therefore a happy classroom

Not following guidelines will result A disorderly classroom, disruption of learning, and in: being on my bad side, which means any or all of the following — 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. You will be spoken to about your misbehavior. I will take action I deem appropriate to make sure guidelines are followed. Your parents will be contacted. As a last resort, you will be sent to the principal’s office for further intervention. At my discretion, I will go straight to more severe consequences for more pressing or severe

About Discipline I deal with all discipline on a case by case basis and try to do so individually and outside of class time (sticking to my “do nothing that prevents learning from happening” rule). Just because I don’t yell at you in the middle of class does not mean you should not expect later consequences. You will often know by the look on my face what your future holds.

Guidelines Check Tell which number guideline (if any) is not being followed in the following situations. If you think the behavior is acceptable, write “acceptable. ”

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bella is caressing the arm of the guy next to her. Eddie lays his head down on his desk when he finishes his work. Jeff says the answer immediately as soon as it pops into his head. Kelly spits a spitwad into Jennifer’s hair. Brian goes to the pencil sharpener while the teacher is lecturing. Jasmine leaves a food wrapper on the floor under her desk.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Cassie leaves her textbook on the floor under her desk. Houston makes his partner do all the work. Beth pulls out her independent reading book to read before she finishes her test. Mike comes into class and sits talking to his friend after the bell rings. Melanie is trying to get her math homework finished before next period. Leila asks Mrs. Spresser for a pencil after she’s been sitting without one for the first

Classroom Procedures

Cell phone rules 1. Cell phones should be turned off and put away. 2. You may only use a cell phone for educational purposes with prior permission from me. Ask first. 3. You may read from Kindle, etc. , on your phone only with express permission, and the first time you are caught doing anything else on your phone, you will lose the privilege for the year. 4. Ask your parents/friends not to text you during class time or not to expect an answer during that time. 5. You may not charge your phone in my room. 6. Consequences for cell phone violations will be per board policy:

Cell phone rules 1. 1 st Offense - Level I Confiscation: The device will be confiscated to be returned to the student at the end of the next school day or the parent/guardian may pickup at the end of the day. 2. 2 nd Offense - Level II Confiscation: The device will be confiscated for 5 calendar days. The parent/guardian may pick up the cell phone at the end of the 5 days. 3. 3 rd Offense and Thereafter - Level III Confiscation: The device will be confiscated for 30 calendar days. The parent/guardian may pick-up the cell phone at the end of the 30 days.

Other Electronic Devices 1. Same rules as cell phones apply. 2. You may not listen to music. You may not use headphones.

Bellwork 1. Getting started: You will read your independent reading book during the first five minutes of class daily. You will complete a menu item from the Independent Reading Bellwork Menu over the passage you read for the day. 2. Purpose: The purpose of this work is three-fold—to get you in the frame of mind for learning, to give me a couple minutes for housekeeping duties (like taking roll), and to give you valuable reading time. 3. Accountability: I may occasionally take it up for a classwork grade. Additionally, if you are ever found not to be doing the work, you will be in violation of class rules and will face consequences. 4. Quiet: Remember that bellwork is part of class and is

Food Rules 1. 2. 3. 4. You may have snacks and drinks from the vending machines. No canned drinks or glass bottles. Everything you drink must have a lid and be contained in some way. This reduces chances of spills. Food cannot distract you from working. If you are eating instead of working, your food will be confiscated until after class. If you choose to eat in class, you must bring the food with you. You may not leave to go to the vending machines, and if you are late because you were waiting in line at the vending machine, you will still be considered tardy.

Restroom Rules 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. You may only use the restroom in this room before class (and back in your seat by the time the bell rings), after class, and during independent seatwork. Independent seatwork means I am not talking to the class, we are not watching a presentation, etc. If you are working independently, and you cannot hold it any longer, you may use the restroom, but do not be disruptive to the class. If your restroom use is habitual and keeps you from getting your work done, you will be asked to only go before or after class. Please be responsible with your bathroom use or all use of the bathroom will be banned.

Inside Restroom/ Locker Passes 1. 2. You only have three of these per semester. Use them wisely. Once they are gone, each trip inside will result in parent contact followed by office referral. No exceptions. In order to go inside, you must sign out with your destination and the time and sign back in when you return, and you must have your hall pass with you.

Tardies 1. 2. Your tardies across all classes accumulate. I will mark you tardy in the system, and if you are tardy for any 3 classes, you will be assigned detention. This is not just for my class, but for all classes throughout the day. You will be considered tardy if you are not seated, working on the bellwork, when the bell to begin class finishes ringing. If you have a note from another teacher for being late, it must be for an education-related purpose and you must not be more than 5 minutes late. If you require more than 5 minutes in the other teacher’s classroom, you must come get permission first. It is your responsibility to make

When you are absent 1. Please make sure to turn in any work that was due the day you were absent. This is due upon your return. 2. Get the work you missed from the side board and table and/or the class website. If you are confused, please check with three peers before asking me. 3. Missed work for excused absences is due in 5 days. 4. Please be responsible if you choose to go on field trips. Assignments due on days of planned

When you forget an assignment 1. Label a blank sheet of paper as you would the assignment, with the assignment name as the title. 2. Write on the paper why you did not complete the assignment and what you plan to do differently in the future to prevent missing homework. 3. Sign the paper. 4. Turn it in when everyone else is submitting their assignment.

When you finish class work early 1. Work on unfinished ENGLISH assignments. 2. Read your independent reading novel. 3. Review vocabulary words. 4. Start working on tonight’s homework. 5. If you have done all the above, you may complete a magazine study.

Independent Reading 1. You must have an independent reading book with you in class every day and be reading it during any extra time you have. 2. You have a specified amount of reading due each quarter and must maintain a reading journal, completing multiple entries for each book, with a culminating assignment at the end of the quarter. Additional book projects may be completed for extra credit. 3. I do not give you time in class to go to the library or choose books.

So how do I get a 1. Use the student computer to browse school library book? selections and see if a book is available. Go during study hall or before or after school. 2. Use classroom. booksource. com to see our classroom library selection (accessible from anywhere). The username and password are spresser. A. Find the book on the bookshelf by author last name. B. Check it out from the online library. C. Check it back in when you are finished. Consider reviewing the book for future students’ benefit. D. Please take care of borrowed books. The vast majority of these I have purchased with my own money. I have put a lot of care into making the classroom library a useful resource for you.

So how do I get a book? 3. Use Barnesand. Noble. com, Amazon. com, Goodreads. com to find genres, summaries, and reviews of books. More resources are available under Reading Resources on spresser. com. 4. Purchase books in bookstores, online, at Goodwill, or at yard sales. 5. Check a book out from the local library. Libraries also sometimes have book sales. 6. Ask a reader for recommendations on books to read or good places to get books. Maybe they’ll even lend you one!

Class Dismissal 1. I dismiss you, not the bell. 2. Please do not start packing up prior to the bell or my telling you it’s okay to do so. 3. Wait until I finish and officially dismiss you with, “Have a nice day, ” “See you tomorrow, ” “Have a good weekend, ” or some other friendly farewell.

Passing in Papers 1. Write your name (first & last), your desk number, and the date in the top right corner. 2. Place your paper on top of the papers you receive. Pass the papers to the person in front of you on their right side. 3. Front row students, pass your stack of papers to the left or front. Place your papers on top of the papers you receive. 4. I will collect all the papers from the person who ends up with all the papers. Let’s practice this!

Other Procedures 1. As we encounter new activities, I will let you know how to do each of them so that you’ll never be in the dark. 2. If there is a procedure you are unclear on, please ask!

Please remember… I truly believe in your potential and I want you to believe in it, too! We are going to have an awesome year! — Mrs. Spresser