Classroom Expectations + other items

The following are items that students need to know in order to help themselves, (and the class as a whole) participate in the learning process, and maximize their achievement.

Materials  

The following materials are required for ENG 10-11-12 and should be brought to class daily.

1.                            A 2 inch three-ring binder with ample loose-leaf.

2.                        Pens and pencils (use blue or black ink only for submitted

         material).

3.                        5 dividers

4.                        Novels or other texts that are assigned to you

5.                        Other items you will be asked to bring to class

Students should also be sure they have their logon names and passwords to use the school’s computers.  Any Internet permission forms must be completed.

HomeworkHomework is required on a regular basis and may consist of small one-night assignments or longer, larger assignments.  Since you will know the dates of major assignments and projects, it is advised that you do your course work regularly.  Eleventh hour cramming or completion of work often is neither beneficial to the student’s performance or an indication of a student’s best work.  It is expected that assignments will be turned in on the date they are due.  Regular homework completion helps ensure a student’s success in the course. There will be circumstances for late work.  Work should be passed in on time.  There is a direct correlation between time spent on work/assignments and a student’s final grade.   More notes on Assignments according to provincial expectations, (with some more of my own expectations) are below.

Assignment Policies:   Mr. Nauss

Halifax Regional School Board

Assessment and Evaluation Policy

3.0 CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS3.1 Students will be provided with multiple opportunities to demonstrate theirprogress toward achievement of outcomes.CODE: C.007ProgramASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND COMMUNICATION OFSTUDENT LEARNING POLICYRevised September 24, 2008Page 3 of 43.2 Students, in consultation with their teachers, are responsible forcompleting all assignments.3.3 All assignments will have reasonable due dates.3.4 In the event that a due date for an assignment is missed, it will be at thediscretion of the teacher and principal to extend the deadline.3.5 Students who do not adhere to the extended deadline will have missedthat opportunity to demonstrate achievement towards the outcomesaddressed in that assignment. 

In accordance with the HRSB policies, I have developed specific policies that you must follow.

Assignment Policy  (A variety of assignments make up a major part of your grade, i.e., 80% of your semester's mark).

Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.  You may pass work in later that same day, but you should be used to the practice of being precisely on time and this is a great place to practice. A legitimate absence from the entire school excuses you from passing in an assignment; however, I would expect you to e-mail me an attachment of the assignment, (at some point please) to prove that it has been completed by the due date. If you are in school for any part of the day, it is your responsibility to get your assignment to me or pass it in to the main office.  Work should be passed in on time and expecting an extension after a minor illness likely tells you have not even started the assignment in the first place until a day or two before it was due. Therefore, why should you be granted any kind of extension?  This is not fair to others who have been working on the same assignment for extended periods.  There is a direct

correlation between time spent on work/assignments and a student’s final grade.  Moreover, missing a day of school, (especially if you're not sick) does not excuse you from keeping up with your work/studies.  It is your responsibility to make sure I receive your assignments.   Further, there are specific guidelines and procedures for formative and summative assessments that are not submitted on their respective due dates.

(If you are legitimately absent, assignments or tests and quizzes that need to be written are due or shall be written on the next school day that you return.)

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS.

YOU WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY ACHIEVING SUCCESS   IN THIS COURSE IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS AND HAND THEM IN ON TIME.  YOU NEED TO GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS.

REMEMBER THAT I CAN ONLY HELP YOU IN A LIMITED CAPACITY IF YOU ARE LATE FOR CLASS OR IF YOU TRY TO CATCH UP ON WHAT YOU MISSED, (IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABSENT) IN THE 10 MINUTES BETWEEN CLASSES.  YOU SHOULD VISIT ME AT NOON OR EARLY ENOUGH BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN IN THE DAY SO THAT YOU CATCH UP IN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAY POSSIBLE.  THAT IS WHY YOU ARE GIVEN FREE TIME AT SCHOOL.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE THIS TIME WISELY AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS!!

Assignment Format

UNLESS YOU ARE DIRECTED TO DO OTHERWISE, ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE WORD-PROCESSED AND DOUBLE-SPACED.

You will be expected to word-process all homework assignments and follow the prescribed format given for the assignment unless directed otherwise. 

I will be expecting a paper copy of all assignments.  Do not leave printer problem/paper shortage issues until the last minute.  You should be sure things will work far in advance of your expectations.  Machines will surely let you down more often than they will perform.  "YOU" are the one you can count on!!

Include a correctly formatted cover page for all assignments unless instructed to do otherwise.  This course will use MLA format for citations and "works cited" pages.

Electronic Assignments

If you are unable to print an assignment and get it to me on the required due date, I expect that you will send the assignment to me via e-mail to the following address gnauss@hrsb.ca, see my "contact me" page on my website or use gmail gnauss@gnspes.ca

You are still required to provide me with a paper copy of your assignment.   I will not mark electronic versions of assignments.  The e-mailed attachment simply proves that you have completed the assignment on time.

If I do not receive a paper copy within two school days of your return from an absence. (as we may agree), I may not mark the assignment.  This may impact your summative evaluation.

Very Important - for students

In keeping with point 1.4.1 from the HRSB Assessment Policy/Procedure that states:

Students will be provided with multiple opportunities to demonstrate their understanding of the outcomes including: quizzes, tests, guided responses, essays, personal reflections, film studies, creative projects, presentations, and unit studies. Throughout the semester, students may feel they have not successfully demonstrated their understanding of particular outcomes and would like another opportunity to do so. Students need to make arrangements in accordance with the assessment and evaluation policy in a timely manner in order to obtain this opportunity.

English requires commitment to achieve the outcomes. Students are responsible for accepting responsibility and ownership for their own learning through active involvement in the assessment and evaluation process in order to discover how they learn best and to understand exactly where they are in relation to the defined curriculum outcomes.

In order for students to take advantage of the second opportunity for an assessment he or she must demonstrate a commitment to learning the material with which they struggled.  No small part of this is attending class, and extra help sessions to cover the material in question. 

Assignments/Tests/Projects: Included but not limited to:

“Specific to ENG 10-12”

Short Story Assignment (s)

Book Review (s)

Independent Novel Study (ies)

Essay(s) (Expository and Literary/Critical)

Three-part independent novel study assignment (Optional)

Shakespeare Essay or Project

Class presentation – Seminar (Group presentation on a topic of interest)

Written Or Key Passage Commentaries (Literary Analysis writing)

In-Class Assignments

On-going minor assignments

Poetry Project

Small plays or Tableaus for the class

Tests, Quizzes

Novel discussions

Oral critical thinking assignments (these require prior preparation and will be presented to the class)

Speaking and Listening Assessments (varying length and complexity)

Small nightly assignments along with regular homework assignments such as recall/respond, making inferences, drawing conclusions vocabulary study, preparations for presentations, grammar and other  applications pertaining to English.

Some projects may change, not be assigned, or be augmented depending on class progress through respective units, time constraints, and student interest.   I will let you know.

                            

Writing Folder   - ECM 11-12

Some class time may be used for independent reading and reflection writing.  This writing may be part of a writing folder.  Some parts of this folder will contain assignments from handouts given by the instructor and other parts simply assigned to you to be completed.  It is expected that students complete everything assigned in this folder as it is part of your mark, (summative evaluation).  Of equal importance, it is part of your personal growth as writers/thinkers. 

Classroom Expectations·      Electronic devices that disrupt and distract, and are not necessary to a school classroom environment are to remain off and out of sight during instructional time unless I ask you to use them.  I may confiscate the device if it proves disruptive.

·      Throwing of objects, (paper, pens, etc.) will not be tolerated at any time.

·      No food or drink other than water is to be consumed in class.

·      If students are talking during an assignment that requires discussion they are to quiet down immediately when announcements come in through the PA or if my classroom phone rings.

·      Students will be assigned a seat. This is to ensure you spend your time learning and not socializing inappropriately.  If this arrangement does not work, and you are asked to move by me, you must immediately comply without complaint or argument.

·      Students should not lay their heads on the tops of their desks.  Students who are ill may visit the health center.

·      Do not write on desktops.

·      Makeup is not to be applied during class.  Lip lubricant should not be shared.

·      Garbage and recycling should be placed in the proper "waste stream" bin in the hallways, the garbage can in my room, or the recycling blue bin in my room for recyclable paper products.  It should not be left on the floor, behind objects or underneath desks, or on my bookshelf. Use the proper waste collector for waste material and do not just throw things someplace. NOTE:  THE BLUE BOX IN MY CLASSROOM OR THE BOOK ROOM, (FOR PAPER ONLY) IS NOT A PLACE TO DEPOSIT RECYCLABLE PLASTICS LIKE WATER BOTTLES.  YOU MUST DISPOSE OF THESE PARTICULAR RECYCLABLES IN THE PROPERLY DESIGNATED 4-STREAM WASTE CONTAINER IN THE HALL.

·      Students are expected to arrive and be seated prior to the bell to begin class.   (><)

·      Regular bathroom visits are not allowed.  Students who have a medical reason for frequent bathroom visits are asked to bring a note from home or from a doctor.  There are appropriate times to leave a classroom; use common sense.

·      Students are asked to please slide their chairs under their seats before they leave the class, or place the chair upside down on top of the desk if it is the end of the day, (depending on our style

of seat) and to remain in their seats until the bell rings or when I am through delivering announcements, depending on circumstances.

·      Inappropriate language is not allowed.

·      I will be available at noon, (when I am not on duty) for extra help, by appointment.  You may also make arrangements to see me at 8:15 on a given morning, by appointment.  I can not help you best during the 10 minutes before class begins after you have been absent.  That is "short-changing" you in my view.  Depending on the circumstances, consider seeing me another time when I can focus on the issues with less time constraint on both our parts. 

·      STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND COURTESY.  ADOPTING AND USING GOOD MANNERS IS A VERY IMPORTANT LIFE

SKILL!

Let's Avoid this!! :}

Now to the other issues!

Teacher-Parent Information

Special Note to Parents:    Information regarding assignments and their due dates may be found on my website at: http://gnauss.hrsbteachers.ednet.ns.ca/   -  Most things can be found under “Documents” on my website or, join me on my google classroom ™ by obtaining a password.  Not everything gets uploaded. For example, sometimes the skill involved is "note-making" and it defeats the purpose of the activity for me to post notes on my website if it requires you to demonstrate the skill of listening and copying them yourself.

Use the address above or link from the CP Allen, (school's) website under "staff directory" when you are not actually on my page. Click on "Mr. Nauss". Use a password under the google classroom app to enter my google classroom.

Further, you may contact me via this page with any questions you may have.  If your son/daughter is aware that you are checking my site on a regular basis, they may see us working together as a team to help ensure they are working to potential.  Should you have difficulty navigating my website, I may be reached at the school at (902) 832-8964 (ext. 7551342) or through e-mail at: gnauss@hrsb.ca

                

A note on plagiarism

Academic fraud occurs when a person borrows the intellectual property of another individual such as information or data from books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, music or educational disks, or audio/visual disks, and does not give the necessary credit in an appropriate way.  To avoid academic fraud, (plagiarism) document your sources.  As Diane Hacker in A Canadian Style Manual suggests: “you must cite all quotations, summaries, and paraphrases as well as any facts or ideas that are not common knowledge.  In addition, you must be careful to put quotation marks and to express all paraphrases and summaries in your own words.” Remember, 

A) Cheating is wrong.

B) It is easy to get caught! 

Example:  It is common knowledge that the first moon landing was in 1969 and that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first astronauts to walk on the moon. 

Example:  The following is not common knowledge: "As a general policy, the local authorities may have adopted their own standards that define the answer to the question of when to change speeds on a highway.  However, many places simply draw an imaginary line across the road from the location of the sign and use that as the division between the two different speed zones.  Therefore, the speed limit should go into effect after you see the sign and at the point where you pass the sign.  Feel free to slow down a bit early, but not to speed up a bit early."

 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/At_what_point_does_the_speed_limit_come_into_effect?_Once_you_see_the_sign_or_after?  ↑

Further, study guides, ( paper or electronic) should not be used in place of reading  original material. You should remember that your work is a personal response to literature and requires critical thinking from only you.  Remember to use parenthetical citations and a works cited page when completing assignments.  Also, keep in mind that utilizing parenthetical references and works cited pages are not a sign that you are academically "wanting". You are using ideas you learned from literature and texts thus, you should cite frequently to prove this.  You did not know the subject matter of a novel/play/poem until you read it unless it is an original work by you.  Hence, the need for citations.  See my MLA pages on this website to help you with this task.  I will "preach" this to you, but it is up to you to follow through correctly and thoroughly.  Do not plead ignorance on this issue.  You will be given handouts and verbal reminders.  Also, this website speaks to most if not all of your immediate needs in terms of explanations and examples. It is better to do an assignment and earn (for example) a natural 72, or 68, or 81 and have it be your own accomplishment.  This way you know where you stand in terms of you own skill set and can improve from there.  Cheating will not allow this to occur at all, and it is difficult if not impossible to cheat all the time for the rest of your life.

 The consequences for academic fraud are as follows:

  -students may be given another chance to demonstrate the

   skill expected of them on the assignment, (i.e., do the assignment over again)    

             -the student can be referred to the Principal for              

              subsequent disciplinary action, including suspension.

             Students may lose their exemption privileges            

Absenteeism

It is expected that students attend all classes.  If students are legitimately absent, it is expected that parents/guardians will phone the school within two days of the student’s absence.  Failure by parent/guardian to do this may warrant a call home pursuant to the Charles P. Allen student handbook information concerning attendance.

Exemption Procedure (Does not apply to English as English exams may not be exempt.)

Charles P. Allen implemented an exam exemption policy in the fall session of 2010.  It is based on attendance.  If you seek an exemption you should be in school in your designated classes everyday "on time".  Any unexcused absences will defer you out of an exemption automatically.  Additionally, more than 6 excused absences in any course will result in loss of exemption privileges.  Further, 4 cumulative "lates" to any class = 1 unexcused absence =play again next semester.  This is a tough policy to follow if you skip or are habitually late.  These are good things to drop from your "M-O" anyway and you get to exempt an exam as a prize!  Good luck. 

Charles P. Allen has automated dialling technology to alert parents and students of possible absenteeism. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that parents/guardians please call in your son/daughter's absences to avoid unnecessary messages from the school.  Students are asked to please make sure your teacher and the office knows where you are and what you are doing if you are not in school on a given day especially if your absence falls under the categories of "J" (sanctioned activity outside school - does not count as a skip, or "ACT" (special circumstance as determined by school administration - does not count as skip). These and other circumstances require careful planning and notifying of the appropriate persons, (guidance especially). Teachers/coaches may often notify all who "need to know". There should be no guess-work as to where you are during a school day.  Bottom line, unless you are on a school trip/school sports activity, there is an emergency/problem at home, or you are sick, you should be in class.  Yadig?

Late(s)

Students are expected to report to class on time.  Students may be recorded late if they are not in class before the second bell.

Tests and Quizzes

Students are expected to write all tests.  If a student is absent on the day of a test, with the parents’/guardians’ permission, (i.e. parents have called guidance and excused the absence), the test may be made up or “excused” depending on circumstances.  There will be no make-up tests once a student has written the test the first time. Further, there are no "extra credit" assignments for students. English has "built in" opportunities for you to demonstrate outcomes a number of times as well as "practice activities" the precede a summative event.  This allows you to show me your best work.  Further you should do your work when it is assigned.

 

Missed Time

Students are 100% responsible for all work and assignments missed during their absence.

Face Your Work "head on" and Conquer!!

Mr. Nauss' Philosophical Notes

Rules of the Classroom (and life!)

1. If you open it, close it.

2. If you turn it on, turn it off.

3. If you unlock it, lock it up.

4. If you break it, admit it.

5. If you can’t fix it, call someone who can.

6. If you borrow it, return it.

7. If you value it, take care of it.

8. If you make a mess, clean it up, (and use a garbage can/eco-bin/blue box).

9. If you move it, put it back.

10. If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.

11. If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.

12. If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.