Class Mantras
1. The Journey Is The Thing.
2. Generosity of Heart.
3. Cooperation Makes It Happen.
2. Generosity of Heart.
3. Cooperation Makes It Happen.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ms. jennings' Classroom
The purpose of this list is to provide you with the procedures of Ms. Jennings' classroom. It is NOT a list of rules—just the boundaries that are in place to ensure that you and I have a great time in here. Please keep this as a reference for the semester.
- Emergencies—First, NO PANICKING! Second, please wait for me to give you instructions. You will need to follow me in a single file line outside to the soccer field. You must stay with the class at all times. If I can’t find you, I will assume you are dead and will send the appropriate people after you. I will take role outside when we are in line. Until the administration dismisses us, you will need to stay in your single file line.
- Entering the classroom—Please come in quietly and begin reading your play. We will read at the beginning of every class for 15 minutes. This will give you and opportunity to complete your play evaluation assignment. You must bring your own play to read. You will be considered tardy if you are not in your seat when the bell rings.
- When you are tardy—Come in and slip quietly into your seat. Although you may be tempted to do so, please do not talk to those you pass on the way to your seat. Treat this as if you were late to a movie…you wouldn’t want the movie audience throwing popcorn at you because you were so distracting. Just try to be as respectful as possible.
- Leaving the classroom—When we are done with our class, please make sure your desks are in straight rows.
- End of the period dismissal—I will let you know when it’s ok to start packing up. Please wait for me to signal you. I may have a lesson that runs pretty close to the bell. I promise to give you plenty of time to pack up.
- Asking a question—For the love of all that is holy, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND! As amazing as it seems, I don’t have the ability to filter 45 students voices at once. It just sounds like your shouting and angry. If we are working silently, I will come over to your desk so that the others in the classroom will not be distracted.
- When you need a pencil or paper—If you need a pencil or paper, you may ask your kind neighbor if they have some that you may use. If you are not sitting by any kind neighbors, you may—at the appropriate time—ask me for some. An appropriate time is defined as a time when I am not giving instructions or announcements to the entire class. Please wait for a break to ask me. Also, please return any writing utensils to the cup on my desk when you are finished using them.
- Sharpening your pencil—Sharpeners make lots of noise. Please wait to sharpen it if I’m giving instruction to the class. You wouldn’t stand up in the middle of a graduation ceremony and interrupt the speaker to blow your nose. Same concept here.
- Turning in your papers—If we are turning in an assignment as a group all papers are going to be passed to person on your right. The person at the end of the row will put the papers in the assignment box. Otherwise, you’ll put all assignments in the blue box at the front of the room. Please find the slot with your class period on it and put them in there. Late assignments need to be turned in to the black tray on top of the blue box.
- Responding to my request for attention—I use two procedures to get your attention. 1) Quiet Coyotes and 2) Shave and a Haircut. For Quiet Coyotes I will simply hold up my “coyote” in the air. As soon as you notice this, hold up your “coyote”, stop talking, and look at me. Once you have your “coyote” in the air, you should not do anything else, including make noise, except wait for what I have to tell you. For Shave and a Haircut I will clap out a rhythm and you will need to finish it. Once you have finished it, stop talking and look at me.
- When you are absent—Please check the website at www.willowcreekdrama.weebly.com for the latest information on what you missed. If you still are confused after looking at the website, please come and talk to me.
- When a visitor enters the classroom—We may have many people coming in and out of our classroom. The administration, other teachers, and aides frequently come in. Most of the time just ignore them. They may be there to observe my fine teaching, a student, or just passing through. It just becomes distracting if you shout out things to them, ask them to write you a note, or whatever.
- If the phone rings—Please wait quietly until I am finished with the phone call. If you all start talking when I’m on the phone, I won’t be able to hear a thing. Most phone calls last less than 30 seconds.
- Working cooperatively—I realize that you are not BFFs with everyone in the class. I don’t expect you to be. I do expect, however, that you be willing to work with everyone. It doesn’t mean that you have to agree with them all the time, but you should never put them down, call them names, ignore them, etc. because of their opinions. Compromise when possible. If you are having an extreme situation please come and talk to me privately and we will work it out.
- When you need help or a conference—You may do one of two things: 1) come up during a class break or down time in class or 2) write me a note and stick it in my mailbox. The mailbox may be used if you are uncomfortable speaking to me face to face, to write me complimentary notes, or just because you like writing notes better.
- Progress reports—please have your parents sign and return all progress reports by the next class period.
- Where to find assignments or handouts—Most assignments can be downloaded from the website. Please go there first. If you have trouble accessing them from the website, please come and get a hard copy from me.
- What I expect when you turn in a paper—I expect you to write in pencil, blue pen, or black pen. My tired old eyes have a hard time reading things that are written in anything else. Please include your first AND last name (since there may be 5 Kaitlyns in the class!) and your class period on EVERYTHING you turn in.
- What to do if you finish early—You may read your play, work on homework for another class, write a thank you note to a parent or another teacher, work on a play evaluation, work on extra credit, go over your assignments, or check your grade. This is not an all inclusive list. There are many other things you can do that are not distracting to others. Unfortunately, all electronic devices must be kept out of sight. That means no texting, no Ipods, and the like.
- If you need to use the restroom—Again, please wait for an appropriate time to ask me if you can use the restroom. Try to use the restroom before or after class. You must have your hall pass to use the restroom. For the answer to the hidden link question, please click here.
- Hall passes—I will only allow you to use your hall pass twice during each term. You will not be allowed out of the classroom after that. Your hall passes need to be your own. You can’t sell them to your neighbor. Sorry Charlie.
- Extra Credit—Check the website for ideas. All extra credit is due one week before the term ends. No exceptions.
- Stuff in the classroom—If it ain’t yours, don’t touch it. You will be responsible for it if it breaks.
- Electronic Devices—They don’t work in my classroom. The room is a dead spot in the school so don’t even try. If I do seem them out, I will give you one warning. After that, they go to the office and you risk losing them permanently. You also run the risk of having them stolen or broken. Don’t chance it. If it’s vitally important the person who NEEDS to talk to you will have to do so at lunch or in between classes.
- You’re AWESOME!—It’s going to be a great year.