ENG1DB Classroom Rules and Guidelines
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In order to create a cooperative, productive, and welcoming classroom
environment, the following guidelines and rules have been put in place,
and will be adhered to by all students in accordance with the White Oaks
Secondary School Behaviour Code.
If you know what is expected of you, you can strive to be your BEST from
the first day of class to the very last day!
Attendance
 Regular attendance is absolutely crucial for your overall success in this
course. Any time that you are absent, the absence must be accounted
for with a phone call to the main office from a parent or guardian (a note
from a parent or guardian may also be required in some cases).
 Any unexcused absences will result in a phone call home from me and/or
the main office (and referrals to the principal or vice-principals will occur
in some cases).
 If you know that you are going to be absent from class ahead of time,
please inform me one-on-one or by email (robinsonas@hdsb.ca), so that I
am able to provide you with the work that you will miss beforehand (after
all, you do not want to fall behind on your course work).
 You are encouraged to check the course website
(www.englishwithmissrobinson.com) for any handouts, class notes or
PowerPoint presentations that you miss, and you can easily print these
from home. In addition, extra photocopies of class handouts are always
kept in Mrs. Robinson’s Class Handout Container in our classroom. This
container is separated by the weeks of the course, so please show
initiative by helping yourself to the handouts that you do not have, and
put them safely in your course binder. Be responsible and be organized.
 Please remember that when you are absent from any class, you are
missing the course curriculum, key learnings, important
information/instructions, opportunities for significant skill development,
assessment activities, evaluations, and the daily fun that we have in our
classroom!
Lateness
 Lateness interrupts our class and negatively affects your learning, as
well as the attention and learning of your fellow classmates, so be
considerate and always be on time for class.
 You are considered late when you arrive to class after the bell
(whether it is ten seconds or ten minutes after the bell…you are late). If
you are regularly late to class, you are sending me a clear message
that you do not care about your success in the course, and you are
telling your classmates that you do not care about them or about
disrupting their learning. This is unacceptable!
 If you do happen to arrive to class late, please enter the classroom
quietly, sign the Lateness Record Sheet, take your seat, get out your
required books and materials, and follow along with the lesson.
 Three unexplained/unexcused lates will result in a phone call home. If
your lateness persists beyond this, you will be referred to the main
office to speak with the principal or a vice-principal.
The ‘Buddy’ System
 If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to make up for any
incomplete work, which includes getting any handouts or notes that you
may have missed.
 To help with this, I strongly recommend that you take advantage of our
class ‘buddy’ system. Find yourself a ‘buddy’ in the class as soon as
possible (this should be a reliable person who can collect handouts for
you when you are absent, and who can update you on the things that
you miss in class when you are away).
 Be sure to exchange phone numbers, emails, and even Facebook
information with your class ‘buddy’ (if you feel comfortable), so that you
can easily communicate with one another about the class.
 Although the course website will be regularly updated with the handouts
and activities from our class, if you require more context for these
handouts or you do not have internet access, a ‘buddy’ will still be very
helpful!
Class Expectations for Daily Conduct
 Please arrive to class prepared every day. Bring writing utensils
(pens/pencils), lined paper, your course binder, your homework, and any
required reading material.
 Beverages and small snacks are permitted in the classroom, but all
garbage must be properly disposed of by the end of the class or this
privilege will be taken away for everyone. Finally, the class will be made
aware of all student allergies, and students will respect these allergies by
not bringing food or products that other students are allergic to…NO
FOODS WITH NUTS ARE PERMITTED IN THE SCHOOL!
 ipods or portable music players are only permitted in the classroom during
independent work time. Please note that these devices MUST be put
away during lessons and class discussions. If this privilege is abused, it will
be revoked.
 Cell phones are not permitted in the classroom at any time (this includes
receiving calls, making calls, texting, taking notes, taking pictures, playing
games, looking at photos/videos or going online to search the internet).
Your phone should be out of sight and out of mind during class. It should
be put away in your school bag or your locker (it should never be sitting
on your desk or your lap). If this expectation is ignored or defied after one
warning, cell phones will be confiscated and taken to the main office for
pick-up (and Mr. Stieva will have a discussion with you about proper cell
phone use at that time).
 Demonstrate RESPECT at all times for yourself, myself, other students, and
property. Be sure to alert me to any problems that may be occurring in
the classroom that I appear to be unaware of, and if you have any
concerns about anything in the course at any time, please notify me as
soon as possible. Make sure that you approach all issues and concerns in
a calm and mature fashion.
 Do not ever hesitate to ask for help from me or from your peers. Our
classroom is a cooperative learning environment. By the same token, offer
assistance to others when you see an appropriate opportunity (i.e. be
someone’s class ‘buddy’ and be reliable).
 Feel free to ask me for one-on-one assistance with course work either
before school, after school, or during my prep periods #2 or #3 in the
English office on the South campus (room A303). Try to make an
appointment with me beforehand, so that I am expecting you. You can
email me with brief questions or for points of clarification at
robinsonas@hdsb.ca. However, the more questions that you can ask me in
person, the better! This makes for clearer explanations and more
immediate communication.
 Behave appropriately in the classroom environment at all times.
 Always be your best and do your best. Always do your homework and
daily assignments.
 All course evaluations MUST be handed in by the specified due date,
otherwise a call home will be made.
 Always be on task in the classroom and be cooperative! Try to enjoy what
you are learning! Be positive and enthusiastic! Do NOT give up when you
face a challenge! Persevere!
Consequences for NOT Meeting Course Expectations and Rules
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Some or all of these consequences may occur if you are being disruptive
in the classroom, if you are interrupting student learning, if you are not
meeting course expectations due to poor attendance/work habits, if you
are failing to adhere to classroom etiquette/rules, or if you are not
reaching your full potential in the course:
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A verbal warning from your teacher
A student/teacher conference
Parent contact and/or conference
An alternate work environment
Principal/vice-principal intervention
Your overall grade in the course will be negatively impacted
Organization is the Key to Success
 Carefully organize your binder, notes, and class handouts in a way that
makes sense to you (but that does not mean a mess of crumpled paper in
your backpack). Choose a worthwhile system and follow it! Make sure
that you can easily access your work, find your homework, and store your
course materials. You will need this important information/work for
homework checks, the completion of evaluations, studying for quizzes,
tests, exams, etc.
 You should separate your course binder into the following units, and
ensure that you organize all of your class handouts/activities accordingly:
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Course Outline/Introductory Course Information
Short Story Analysis Unit
Novel Study Unit (To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
Poetry Analysis Unit (A Variety of Poems)
Play/Drama Unit (Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare)
Book Club Unit (A Choice of Selected Books)
Identity and Media Awareness Unit (A Variety of Media Texts)
Grammar Resources
Literary Essay Writing Resources
Evaluation Handouts and Feedback
Final Performance Task (Summative Assignment)
Final Exam Preparation
 “The secret to success lies in an individual’s ability to organize. An
organized space equals an organized mind where more ideas can form
and grow.” – Mrs. A. Robinson