The Panther Plan
Welcome to our classroom for the 2008-2009 school year! This year will be great for all of us if we respect one another and follow the behaviors detailed here.
Classroom Rules
1. Students will be seated and working with all materials ready when the bell rings.
2. Students will follow directions the first time they are given.
3. Students will complete all personal grooming (hair, make-up, etc.) outside, before class begins.
4. Students will not disrupt other students in any way including leaving seats, talking out of turn, etc.
5. Students will follow all other school rules.
Consequences
Steps are generally sequential but can be skipped in extreme circumstances.
1. Warning (verbal or written)
2. Discipline Essay (contract) assigned to be completed and signed by a parent by the next school day.
3. Parent contact
4. Referral
Absences
1. STUDENTS are responsible for obtaining any work missed due to an absence and must do so they day they return.
2. Work missed due to absences will be accepted until the end of the 6-week grading period in which it was assigned.
3. Teachers will provide missing work upon request only
Late Work
Late work will receive a 30% penalty regardless of the number of days it is late and will only be accepted during the 6 week period in which it is assigned.
Agendas
Students are to record all due dates, assignments, topics and homework in their agendas. THIS IS PART OF YOUR GRADE FOR THIS CLASS!!!
Grading Policy
All assignments (including tests) will be graded on a point system. Assessment will be based on class activities, participation, exams and projects.
Grades are earned based on a standard scale:
A- 90-100% B- 80-89% C- 70-79% D- 56-69% F- 0-55%
The Website (www.mrroughton.com)
Almost everything that happens in our classroom will be available on Mrroughton.com. All assignments, tests and lectures are posted on a weekly basis in the This Week in Class section. Additionally, you can contact me through the website at any time. If you do not want your student’s work or image to appear on the site please send me a note or call me. I hope, however, that you will enjoy seeing them working in my room throughout the year.
Interactive Presentations
Interactive presentations in our class are a modern twist on an old idea. We will use clips from popular movies, television shows and music to bring our history information to life. Last year my students thought it was a punishment when we didn’t do an interactive presentation! When was the last time you felt that way taking notes? You will enjoy these, but more importantly, you will learn from them.
Parents, since our presentations do use media from the popular culture you may wish to view them ahead of time. Every parent has a right to know what their student is doing in school. You can be sure that the presentations conform to both the district standards and to my own but I still encourage you to set up an appointment to view them ahead of time. If there is a concern I can provide edited presentations with the media removed.
Movies
We will not be watching many movies in our class this year. Most movies have no more than 10-15 minutes of really good content so why waste an entire period? Instead, I have taken clips from many movies and put them into our interactive presentations. Below is a sample of those used.
Ben Hur, The Gods Must Be Crazy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Aladdin, The Lion King
The Road to El Dorado, Gladiator
Robin Hood, Mulan
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, First Knight
For TV clips we will use King of the Hill, Animaniacs, Looney Toons, The Simpsons, Pinky and the Brain, Saturday Night Live, various commercials and a whole bunch of History Channel/Discovery Channel shows.