Ms. D's Rules & Regs

MS. D’S RULES & REGS Cell: 347-343-1920        Email: Daynard@ gmail.com

THE GOOD NEWS

The good news is that is I am kindly and understanding by nature. I care about your whole life, not just how you are as an English student. This means that you may call me on my cell, or email me at home, if you have a serious problem that prevents you from functioning in my class. I will also meet with you any time I can to help you with work or to discuss issues. I will help you do well in my class if you show you are willing to work hard and be honest with me.

IEP AND ELL

All students with IEPs, 504s, and ELL MUST schedule an interview with me to take place WITHIN THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL.

HOMEWORK

No late homework will be accepted unless you have been out sick. The homework is DUE THE DAY YOU RETURN. Since the syllabus is posted online, there is no excuse not to do homework when you are out, unless you are severely ill.

The expectation is that you will do your homework on your own and not share work with other students. Anyone caught copying homework, whether copyer or copyee, will get a zero on the work and a phone call home.

LATE PAPER POLICY

You may hand in papers late without penalty (!!!!!!) IF you ask for an extension at least ONE DAY ahead of time. If you have not asked for an extension, your paper will be downgraded one half a grade OR MORE, at my discretion, depending on when you get it in.

PROOFREADING EXTRA CREDIT

If you turn in a paper on time along with a draft that has been printed out and carefully hand-edited/proofread by you, you will receive 3 extra credit points.

TEST EXTENSION POLICY

You have a one-time-only “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card per term. This card allows you an extension on ONE test or quiz. You must ask for this extension at least ONE DAY ahead of the test or quiz. Further, you must pledge that you will not seek information about the test from anyone who has already taken it. Evidence that you have broken the pledge will result in a zero on the test or quiz for both cheater and cheatee.

TEST REDOS

If the entire class does poorly on a test, I will generally redo the test. Students on IEPs will usually have the opportunity to do a makeup test if they do poorly on the first one.

PAPER REVISION POLICY

You may revise a paper for a better grade at any point in the term EXCEPT the last week of the term.

CHEATING

We will be completing an Honesty Curriculum in class with an optional pledge. Anyone caught cheating OR helping someone else cheat will receive a zero on the assignment and MAY fail the entire term. There will also be phone calls to housemasters and parents.

SPARKNOTES

Steer clear of SparkNotes. For one, these notes are not always correct. For another, reading SparkNotes instead of a text constitutes cheating. Using ideas from SparkNotes for the basis of a paper constitutes plagiarism. 

INTERNET

While I don’t want ever to “forbid” you from researching and acquiring knowledge, I do want you to avoid searching the Internet for paper ideas. When I ask you to respond to a question about a text, I want you to limit your response to your own ideas. Going online to find the “correct” or a “good” idea will skirt perilously close to plagiarism.

LATE TO CLASS

There is a three-minute “window,” after which you will be marked late. If you are late to class please do not also disrupt the class by talking. Three times late to class will result in a cut and a detention.

ABSENCES

If you have more than two unexcused absences, you will “N” out of my class. Absences must come up “excused” in the computer on the day of the absence, not after the fact.

CLASS WORK AND ABSENCES

You are still responsible for all class work when you are absent. If you miss a quiz or test, you must complete that quiz or test the SAME WEEK you miss it. Obviously, if you’re absent on a Friday, you must take that quiz on Monday (or Tuesday, for G block) the following week. The burden of reminding me that you need to make up a quiz is on YOU. Failure to make up a quiz in a timely fashion will result in a zero.

CLASS BEHAVIOR

Basically, anything that is not class work is not permitted. Let me itemize for clarity: Talking to friends once class begins; doing other class work; texting or using cell phones; using headphones; eating. Bottled water is acceptable. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE TURNED OFF AND PUT AWAY.

I will give one warning. The second time you will be assigned a detention. The third time will result in your being sent to your housemaster.

CLASS PARTICIPATION GRADES

Class participation is worth 100 points per term. That is about 20% of your grade. To do well in class participation (90+) you should aim to participate every day, even if it is only to ask a question. Here is the rough breakdown:

90 – 100:         This person actively participates in class discussion every day. Asks thoughtful                                questions, helps the class go well.

85 – 89:           This person participates a couple of times per week.

80 – 84:           This person is attentive to class discussion, but does not participate actively.

60 – 79                        This person is “checked out” of class, does not participate, or is disruptive by talking                      to others during class. Anyone behaving in this way will be spoken to privately,                               possibly requiring a parent or counselor conference.