Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year!

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year!

It’s second period. You are in room 113. You may be thinking, “Am I in the right place?” If your schedule says Mrs. Sacha Mike, AP Literature & Composition, you are in the right room!

Contact Information 1801 East Edison Avenue Sunnyside, WA 98944 Tel. 509.837.2601 Ext 3331 email [email protected] Office Hours: M W F 2:30 - 4:30 Tuesday & Thursday by appointment only, please.

MISSION Mrs. Mike’s AP Lit & Comp class is a respectful classroom established to build a foundation for excellence in literacy through academic, behavioral, and social success.

WELCOME to AP! Welcome to AP Lit & Comp. I am here to teach; you are here to learn. I will do my job; you will do yours, and together we will utilize this year wisely and beneficially. A positive attitude is the key to success. Let’s keep it all the times.

Class Syllabus What works will we explore? Short Stories Yellow Wallpaper A Rose for Emily Story of an Hour The Veldt Novels Wuthering Heights Frankenstein The Scarlet Letter Gulliver’s Travels Dramas M. Butterfly Merchant of Venice The Importance of Being Earnest Oedipus Rex Orations Funeral Oration of Peracles Catilinarian orations of Cicero

Poetry Ode on a Grecian Urn Blackberrying Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers The Flea Essays Selected works Major Assignments Web Quests Novels Dramas Data Cards Novels Dramas Critical Analyses Major Works Seminars

Class Policies There are only five basic classroom policies. Following these policies will help keep our class environment peaceful and productive. If you choose not to adhere to the policies, there will be logical consequences.

Why do we have policies? A policy is a plan that guides our actions. To do things effectively, we have to adhere to some common sense policies: Governments invoke laws to help maintain peaceful communities. Companies have by-laws in order to facilitate productive work environments. Games have rules to create a baseline standard of play. » So, to be successful in learning, you need to follow some basic classroom rules! I call them my class policies.

Classroom Policies 1. Be ready to learn. 2. Always act and speak in an appropriate manner. 3. No food, or drink allowed.* 4. No personal electronics allowed. 5. Respect the classroom environment. *Water and medical necessity are the ONLY exceptions*

Possible Behavioral Consequences Warning Conference with student You call home and explain to parents I make formal parent contact After school detention Referral to Administration

Class Procedures We will only be reviewing the most commonly used procedures at this time. Refer to your Procedures handout for a more complete list. Procedures may be changed or added to if the need arises.

Why Do We Have Procedures? A procedure is the way that we do things. To do things efficiently, we have to follow some simple 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 on your phone, you need to dial the number in the right order. » So, to be successful in learning, you need to follow some simple procedures!

ENTRANCE Make sure you have all necessary materials for the class. Enter the classroom quietly. Pick up any handouts and do any housekeeping items quickly and quietly. Go directly to your assigned seat. Get ready for work.

Right After the Bell Rings Immediately start your entry task. When you finish, wait quietly and read in your individual or book club novel.

During Instruction Listen to the teacher/speaker with full attention. No pencil sharpening, talking, moving about the classroom, or whispering. Ask permission to speak by raising your hand and waiting quietly to be called on. After instruction, make sure you understand the concept. If not, ask questions by mentioning which part you didn’t understand.

If the Teacher Raises Her Hand Stop whatever you are doing at that moment. Face the teacher and wait silently. Quietly, notify any classmates who haven’t noticed that the teacher has raised her hand. No talking or whispering. All of your attention should be given to the teacher.

When You Are Absent Ask your neighbors what we did. If you have questions about assignments, check with the teacher at an appropriate time. Do the work at home. If you missed a test because of an excused absence, inform the teacher and arrange a time to make up the test after school. » You will have one day to make-up work for every day you are absent.

While You Are Working Make sure you read or listen to the directions about your work and understand the directions. If you didn’t understand, quietly ask for help from other students sitting around you. If you are asked to help, be polite and help. Talking to each other should be no louder than a whisper. Respect each other and be friendly. Use your time wisely. Put forth your best effort to finish your work on time.

After You Are Finished Check your work and the directions one more time to see if you missed anything or did something incorrectly. Check to see if the heading is written correctly on your paper. If the assignment is to be turned in, do so. If appropriate, read quietly in your seat.

Maintaining the Classroom Pick up any garbage 2mm in diameter or more. Recycle papers (4x4 inches or more), plastic bags, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. Do not intentionally deface school, personal, or other’s personal property.

Dismissal Clean your work area and take all garbage to the trash can. Wait in your seat for the teacher to dismiss you. Leave quietly, ONLY after you have been given permission to do so.

When You Have an Excused Tardy Report to attendance office to get tardy slip. Enter the classroom quietly and go to your seat. You will not be excused from any work you missed. Quietly, get the assignment and do the work at home.

More Attendance Procedures Unexcused absences do not need to go through the attendance office. Just come straight to class. If you are 10 minutes (or more) late, you will be marked absent! » If this absence will be excused, go to the attendance office to get your excuse note.

When There Is a Substitute We treat guests in our room as courteously or better than we treat Mrs. Mike. Sit in your assigned seat ONLY. Maintain proper voice levels. Remain on task. Be helpful and courteous. » Subs will report behaviors (good & bad) and proper consequences will be applied.

Final Thought “Learning without reasoning leads to confusion; thinking without learning is wasted effort.” Confucius