7th Grade
English Language Arts and Reading
Rule #1
No talking during announcements!
All About Me
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Born and raised in Beaumont
My birthday is October 19th
Graduate of Hardin-Jefferson High School
Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of
Houston
I have two sons: Jamison (6 ) and Finn (almost 3)
This will be my 8th year to teach and my 1st year at Henderson.
My favorite movie is Thelma and Louise.
My favorite book is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
My favorite children’s book is Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.
In my spare time I like to spend time with my boys, clean, and
read.
Be Professional
 Be on time
 Be in dress code
 Use professional language
 Be prepared with your supplies
 Be on task at all times
 Look and be attentive, sit up straight
 Keep your hands to yourself
My Pet Peeves
 Grooming while in class (brushing your hair or putting on
make-up)
 Having food or drinks in the classroom
 Behavior that is not gentleman-like or lady-like
 Sleeping or having your head down
 I simply DO NOT tolerate sleeping. Students who sleep will
stand by their desk.
 If you don’t feel well, go to the nurse.
 If your boyfriend/girlfriend just broke up with you or you are
having family issues, talk to me about it. I will usually let you
be secluded and write in your journal that day.
Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy
 Cell Phones are not allowed to be used in the classroom.
 Definitions of cell phone use:
 Texting (anyone, including your mom)
 Talking
 Ringing
 Vibrating
 “Looking at the time”
 Playing games
-During certain projects I will allow RESEARCHING on smart
phones, but you must always ASK!
-iPads are allowed in my classroom at all times except when you
lose your privilege by using it to do something not pertaining to
class.
Cell Phone Policy cont…
 Simply turn it OFF before you enter my room.
Exceptions:
- We are in a crisis situation.
Examples of what IS a crisis: Your life is in danger or, maybe, you accidently left
your curling iron on this morning before you got on the bus and your whole
house could burn down. ASK before use!
Examples of what is NOT a crisis: Your girlfriend/boyfriend just broke up with you
via text message and your life is forever ruined; Obviously, they weren't “The
One” since they didn’t even have the dignity to do this face-to-face and not
worth anymore of your time texting him or her, your mom, or your BFF about
it. Prove yourself better than your ex and confront them about it BETWEEN
CLASSES or, better yet, AFTER SCHOOL. Another common example of what is
NOT a crisis is when your mom is texting you about what shade of eye shadow
looks best on her or even who is picking you up from school that day. Handle
these matters at lunch or between classes. I’ll be more than happy to tell her
this as well.
Class time belongs to ME and your fellow classmates; not your mom, dad, BFF, exboyfriend or ex-girlfriend, or anyone else for that matter.
Cell Phone Policy cont…
 1st offense- hand over cell phone to me sweetly and you
can pick it up from me after class.
* If you refuse to hand it to me, then it becomes an office
issue, as you are being insubordinate, and you can
suffer the consequences.
 2nd offense-hand over cell phone to me sweetly and
you can pick it up from me after school.
 3rd offense- hand over cell phone to me sweetly and
you can pick it up after you spend 15 minutes in
tutorials. Time is added to this after each following
offense.
Procedures and Expectations
 A general day in Mrs. Hyde’s classroom:
 Warm-up / Vocabulary(5-8 minutes)
 Lesson (30-45 minutes)
 Student Activity (Around 45 minutes)
 Clean Up (1-2 minutes)
Content Covered
Better Reading Comprehension, Fluency, and Analysis with:
 Poetry
 Short Fiction and Flash Fiction
 Nonfiction
 Novel (The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien)
 Drama
 Informational Texts
 Persuasive Texts and Media Interpretation
 AR
Better Critical Thinking Skills with:
 Formulating Connections Across Literary Texts (Open-Ended Response)
 Research and Synthesis (Gathering information from several sources and then processing
that information into their own thesis statements)
 Inferencing (Drawing conclusions based on evidentiary support or reading beyond the
black and white)
Better Writing Skills with:
 Personal Narrative Writing
 Expository Writing
 Grammar and Usage Practice within their own writing
Better Written and Oral Communication with:
 Vocabulary (Sadlier-Oxford)
 STAAR Vocabulary (Content Vocabulary)
Coming in and getting started
 Look at your daily supplies list posted above student
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supply area.
Please come in and gather the supplies listed.
Sit down in your assigned seat.
Look on the board and there will be a warm-up or a
vocabulary activity for you to do. You will only have
about 5-8 minutes for the assignment. When the timer
goes off, it is due.
Usually the warm-up will be a brief writing assignment
 Always put a date and title on your warm-up
Restroom
 Ask me
 As long as I am not lecturing and you have been on task, I will
most likely say YES.
 However, I only allow one student out of the classroom at a time.
So, if you see the RR pass gone, you may not go at that time.
 It is possible to lose RR privileges:
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Being on your cell phone during class time
Being gone way too long
Finding out you were doing something else while out
Failing my class
Being regularly off task in my class
Having a record of being truant or just simply having a record
Coming back with evidence from the vending machines
Absences
 When you are absent and it was an excused absence, you are eligible to
make up the work. Go to the following Wiki Website to get your
assignments. I will not discuss make-up work during class. If you do
not have internet access at home, I will expect to see you in tutorials
the day after you have been absent.
www.hydeenglish7.wikispaces.com
 This is your job, not mine. I will not hunt you down with make-up
work.
 If you missed one day, your make-up work will be due one day after you
get back. Missed 2 days, then 2 days after you get back. Place all makeup work in the “IN” box on my desk or you can email it to me a
chyde@hjisd.net.
 Warning: If you did not turn a legitimate excuse in to the office, this
means you were truant (an unexcused absence). You may not make up
work for truancy; Either get your note turned in or get a ZERO.
The end of class
 If I remember, I will give you about 2 minutes to put
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your supplies away and clean up your work area.
When putting your supplies away, make sure all books,
texts, and envelopes are placed neatly in your assigned
area. Please place class supplies in the drawers they
actually belong in.
Look around your work area. Is there trash on the
floor? Clean it up. Can you help anyone else in your
area clean up? Be a good citizen.
No one leaves until my room is clean.
I dismiss you, not the bell!
Supplies Needed for my Class
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1. 1 package of multi-colored highlighters
2. Blue or black pens
3. Pencils
4. Loose-leaf, wide-ruled filler paper
5. 1 pocket portfolio (folder)
6. 2 Wide-Ruled Composition Notebooks
7. 1 package of 3x3 (400ct) sticky notes (do not get the "Super-Sticky"
kind, off-brand is great!)
 8. Some multi-colored pens OR a single multi-colored pen
 9. 1 book ring (1 1/2" - 2") and 1 package of 3x5 lined index cards OR 1
pre-ringed, lined index card set. Please do not get spirally bound index
cards. Cards will need to be added to the ring throughout the year. If
you are unsuccessful in finding one of these, just get a package of lined
index cards and we will figure something out with a large paperclip.
 10. You will be receiving an Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workbook. If
you would like to write in your workbook, please bring $14.45 to pay for
the book. Otherwise, you can use notebook paper to record your
answers.
Supplies (cont.)
Optional Supplies
You can get 2 Warm-up Passes when you bring the following
communal supplies that I assigned to your particular class. You do
not get additional Warm-up Passes for additional supplies. These
supplies are not required. I tried to keep these optional supplies
around $3-$4 based on Target's or Wal-Mart's current back-toschool sale prices. Thank you for your generosity!
 2nd and 3rd pd.-- (1) ream of computer paper (colored or white)
 4th and 5th pd. -- (2) boxes of markers (fine or broad tip)
 7th and 8th pd. -- (2) packages of 10 ct blue or black pens and
(1) package of 24 ct pencils
I am not partial to any brand name, specific package, color, or
design for any of the supplies on my list.
Today:
 1. Practice getting supplies
 2. Write name and class period on envelopes, decorate
envelopes
 2. Questionnaire
 3. Homework: Parent’s signature on Wikispace paper.
If you bring it back signed tomorrow, you will get
1(one) Warm-up Pass. Tomorrow only!