1. Mrs. Burrows’s Class Room 610 6th Grade ELA
Welcome!!

2. WELCOME!! Questions everyone wants answered on the 1st day:
Where do I sit? You are to sit in alphabetical order by last name until I learn your names.
Will this teacher treat me fairly? Yes, Always!!
Who else is in this class? Let’s see! Line up at the front of the class! Let’s find our sets alphabetically.
Always remember to:
Be respectful!
Be responsible!
Be honest!
Be safe!
Do your best!

3. Mrs. Burrows’s Guidelines
Guidelines are general Rules that apply to this classroom and must be followed to ensure this classroom is running properly!

4. Guideline #1 Be Responsible!
On a piece of paper write down what you think it means to be responsible.
Turn to your Shoulder partner – That’s the person sitting next to you not across from you.
First decide who is partner A and who will be partner B.
Partner B will go first and share with partner A what they think being responsible means.
When I call OKAY or clap it tells you it is time to change and give the other person a turn.
Each pair will share their partners definition of being responsible to the class.

5. Guideline #2 Be Responsible!
In this classroom being responsible includes: Students who are in their assigned seat working quietly on the Bellwork when the bell rings to avoid being counted tardy. (Not standing by the trash can!)
Students who have taken care of all personal business before coming to class. You need to be in here to be learning!

6. Guideline #3 Be Respectful!
No eating, drinking (with the exception of bottled water), or SLEEPING in class!**
Cell phone usage is encouraged, but limited to academic activities only. You may not use a cell phone to listen to music, and MP3 players are prohibited in class!
On your paper write down some of the educational websites you have been to over the summer. If you brought a cell phone get ready to find my website here at Oakland Middle School. Share how you found my website with your shoulder partner.
Partner B tell your partner about a website you visited this summer. Show them the website. Decide together if this is educational or not, and if so what makes a website educational.
When I say OKAY or clap, it tells you it is time to change and give the other person a turn.
When I call time again each pair will share their partners information with the classroom.
Once everyone has had a turn
**Life is not fair, but it is equal!

7. Guideline #4 Be Respectful!
In this classroom being respectful includes: No talking out of turn, and not talking over the teacher or your classmates!
There will be plenty of opportunities for your voice to be heard and ideas to be expressed in this classroom.
On your paper write down how you will be terrific at this because you are in 6th grade and ready!

8. Guideline #5
Be Safe!
I have no patience and zero tolerance for foolishness or horseplaying!

9. Guidelines cont…
Be sure to follow all the guidelines set in the RCS Student Parent Handbook. They will be enforced.
Including:
Tardy policy
Dress Code – The Dean’s will go over this, and will be coming in to check every day at 8:00 a.m.
Cell Phones Policy – Academic Use Only

10. Guidelines cont… Remember to: BE RESPONSIBLE with all materials and HW
BE RESPECTFUL at all times to the instructor, your classmates, and YOURSELF
BE HONEST- Don’t lie and don’t steal.
BE SAFE- Don’t do anything that you think I wouldn’t like for you to do!
DO YOUR BEST- Ask questions, participate in class, and make a difference.

11. Following Guidelines Following guidelines will result in:
Verbal Acknowledgement
A Stress-free learning environment
A classroom that operates as a community of respect and learning!

12. NOT following Guidelines will result in:
1st:
Warning- Removal Chair
2ND:
Educational Assignment- Parental Contact
3RD:
Early Morning School- Parent Verification
4th:
8th Period- Parent Verification
5th:
Dean Referral- Parent Verification
**Note: You may be referred to your DEAN if your offense is severe enough the 1st time.**

13. Golden rule
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “You teach people how you want to be treated.”

14. Classroom Procedures A procedure is the way we do things.
It is not a rule, so you will not be punished or rewarded for doing it. It’s just how we make the classroom run.
To make things work we must follow procedures. For example:
To open your locker, you have to select your combination as directed by the lock manufacturer.
To cook a delicious meal, you need to follow the steps in the recipe.
To place a call, you need to dial the number in the right order.
The Classroom is no different. To learn, we must have procedures!

15. Entrance Please Enter QUIETLY! Sit in your assigned seat.*
Take out materials.
Review daily agenda.
Begin assigned Bellwork!

16. Tardiness
EXCUSED: If you are excused, you should have a pass. Place the pass on my desk and go immediately to your desk and begin working.
UNEXCUSED: If you do not have a pass, then collect a sticky note from Mrs. Burrows and write your name on it. Have a seat and expect to turn in your sticky note and receive a consequence before the end of class.

17. Getting Your Attention
There will be times when you will be working in groups or individually and I will need the attention of the class.
I will:
Stand in the front of the room and wait.
Clap in a sequence/series
You will:
Respond with the same clapping sequence/series
Get quiet
Face me
Wait for instructions

18. How to head your papers!
Name
Mrs. Burrows
ELA 3RD Period
Date

19. Example…
Jane Doe
Mrs. Burrows
ELA: 1st Period
August 15, 2011

20. Instructional Time
Please raise your hand when you have a question and response.
Do not talk while anyone else is talking.
Please do not interrupt with unrelated questions.
Follow instructions completely before beginning your task.

21. Restroom Pass You will not be given a restroom pass.
Please do not ask to use the restroom during instructional time because the answer will always be NO.
You will not be allowed to use the restroom the first 10 minutes or last 10 minutes of class – school wide policy.
Note: For emergencies, raise your hand for me to come over and discuss the nature of the emergency.

22. Passing in Papers Place your paper on the GROUP BINDER.
Binder Captain makes sure the papers are all upright and facing in the same direction.
Binder Captain will raise their hand to indicate your group is completed.

23. Finishing Classwork Early
You may quietly read your novel for Read 2 Write.
You may work on other ELA class assignments or make-up work.
You may start working on that day’s homework.
You may NOT wander around, talk of topic to a friend, or be out of your seat.

24. Group Work
Several times in the class, you will be asked to work in groups.
Assigned Groups:
Sometimes I will assign groups and you will have to work in these groups without complaint or asking to switch. You must:
Work together and complete the task.
Stay focused.
Include everyone as an important part of your group.
Use the roles given to you to help you lead and direct your group.

25. Group work Student Choice Groups or Pairs
I may let you pick a partner or group from time to time with the following understanding:
You must stay focused and on the task.
The assignment must be completed in the allotted time. If it is not, then you will not receive credit.
If you are not working on the assigned task, then your group will be changed.

26. Moving Around the Room
When teacher/student instructing or talking or during a discussion:
DO NOT GET UP AND WANDER AROUND MY ROOM!!
Do not ask to get out of your seat during discussions unless it is an emergency.
If you need to be out of your seat, then ask permission by raising your hand and pointing to what you need (i.e. pencil, tissue)
If you have trash for the trash can, then leave it sitting on the far right corner of your desk for me to remove at a convenient time.

27. End of Class The teacher dismisses you NOT the bell!!
Please DO NOT start packing up your things until you are dismissed.
You may leave when the teacher says, “Have a good day!”
Please make sure your desk and the area around are free of any trash and that you throw it away on your way out.

28. Absences
It is your responsibility to find out what you have missed while you were out. Edmodo is a wonderful resource that we will be using to stay up to date when you are absent.
Check the folders for anything you may need to pick up.
Check with me AFTER class to see if you need to makeup anything else.
Per RCS policy, you have four days per absence to complete makeup work.

29. Late Work
I do not accept late work!!! If you are absent, then please refer to the section titled absences. Any zeroes received as a result of late work will not be replaced unless you decide to do the alternate assignment. This policy is to prevent students from copying another student’s assignment and turning it in for full credit.

30. Always Remember…
I KNOW that each and every one of you has what it takes to succeed in this class, and I hope that you adapt the same attitude!
Have a WONDERFUL school year!
My contact info: