English Class Guidelines and
Procedures
RULE #1….RESPECT
This includes
• Absolutely NO talking while I am talking
• Respecting others in class
• Please no smart comments during class on
what we are studying, what is said, etc., and
please no talking back; please answer with
“yes,” and see me after class with a problem
You will receive ONE warning before a referral
Restroom/Locker
Passes
• 10 passes for the entire semester
• Must give me a pass to go to the restroom or locker
(includes getting water or tissue)
• No pass = no leaving the room
• Limit = two passes per week
• For each pass left at the end of the semester, you will
receive one point added to a test grade (10 possible
points).
Materials
• Bring all materials/assignments to class everyday
(books, pencils, pens, etc.)
• Do NOT leave them in here
• Leaving books in locker = a pass to borrow one from
Ms. Pournelle if she has any in the room
• Leaving assignments in locker = a pass to retrieve
them
• A book cover for textbooks would be NICE
Materials (continued)
• Borrow from a friend
Make-Up Work
• YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!!!
• YOU must make up work within 3 days of excused absences
• Unexcused absences = 0; only 7 parent notes allowed and then
assignments will count as 0s
• More than 10 unexcused absences = you cannot get your driver’s license
• Quizzes and tests will more than likely have to be made up after school
• Ask a group member about handouts, and see the “Make-Up Work
Station” in my room as well
• Check your period’s envelope for any handouts you missed (YOU MAY
STILL HAVE TO COPY A FRIEND’S NOTES IF WE TOOK NOTES ON THE
HANDOUT!)
• SIGN UP with me to make up tests/quizzes after school! During one-act
season (August, September, and October), you will need to come on
Fridays or during another period of the day; talk to me to set this up
during these months.
• Find a reliable friend you can count on for notes
• I WILL NOT ASK YOU for work. Go to a group member FIRST; you may
come to me with additional questions.
Class Discussion
• Raise your hand and be acknowledged before
speaking
• Show respect for others’ opinions
Starting Class
• Tardy = Not in the class room BEFORE the bell
rings
• 3 tardies = write-up
• Bell = NO TALKING, in seats, copying and
completing warm-up (either model sentence,
Power Writing, OR Journal)
Exemption Policies at VHS
• If you have missed more than 3 days, you cannot
exempt.
• If you have more than 3 tardies, you cannot exempt.
• To exempt, you must meet the absence and tardy
requirements and have at least a 75.
• You cannot exempt the same exam both semesters.
• EOCTs (Georgia Milestones) cannot be exempted.
• If your class has a Milestone, you will still have some
sort of comprehensive test during final exam days.
Warm-Up: Model Sentences
• Keep in Model Sentences section of your notebooks to keep
with you
• When the bell rings, you must write the following on your
Model Sentence page:
– The DATE
– The sentence
• Follow directions for that day (you will have the same
sentence all week)
• Model Sentences will be timed
• I will regularly check for completion/effort and will take up
some weeks for a grade.
Power Writing
• Power Writing will be kept in a section of your notebook that you keep
with you
• There will not be a Power Writing every day, but if there is, the topic will
be on the board and will usually deal with the literature we are reading.
• Power Writings will be timed.
• At the end of the time, you will count your words; the goal is to increase
your word count each time we complete a Power Writing.
• Power Writing will be taken up at the end of the semester for a QUIZ
GRADE.
• Power Writing must include the following:
– The date (these will be checked and graded by date, so PLEASE
include that!)
– A full paragraph
– The number of words written at the end of each paragraph.
Anchor Journals
• Anchor Journals will be kept in a separate section of your
notebook.
• You will receive a list of topics and will work on these
throughout the entire semester.
• An “anchor activity” is any activity that you work on when
finished with the day’s class work (you should never have
time to just sit).
• You will choose 60-75 journals from the Anchor Journal list
(you will receive the specific number of journals you must
choose when you receive the list).
• You will write a FULL paragraph (at least 4-5 sentences) on
each topic.
• Your Anchor Journal will be taken up at the end of the
semester for a TEST GRADE (date to be announced).
Homework
• MOST homework will be READING outside of class.
• I will assign pages or chapters to read, and you will have a
READING CHECK the next day as a homework grade.
• These CANNOT be made up. If you do not read and don’t
know the answers, the grade stands.
• Any homework assignment that we go over in class the day
it’s due CANNOT be made up.
• Any assignment that we do not go over (essays, etc.), you will
be allowed ONE day to turn it in late for a 75. Indian Café this
year will be given on an individual basis by each teacher.
• For major assignments (essays, projects, etc.), you will be
allowed ONE day to turn them in late. Points for promptness
will be deducted on the rubric.
IF YOU FINISH AN ASSIGNMENT
EARLY…
• Complete an assignment I have for you on the board, or. .
.
• READ!!!!
• READ!!!
• READ!!!
• WORK ON ANCHOR JOURNALS OR other ANCHOR
ACTIVITIES!!
• I NEVER want to see you sitting at your desk doing
nothing, putting your head down, OR working on any
work (reading, homework, etc.) from any other class (I
WILL TAKE IT UP!).
• If you don’t have an assignment, ALWAYS get out a book
of your own, or GO GET A BOOK OR FROM THE SHELF!
Class Participation Grades
• Each Monday, you will start with a 100 for the week in Power School
(grade book) for class participation.
• Each day you will get to keep 20 points, and your 100 will become
permanent on Friday if you participate in class every day.
• You will receive deductions to your 100 for the following:
– Not paying attention or not knowing where we are when Ms. Pournelle calls
on you
– Putting your head down in class or sleeping in class
– Consistently not having materials (pencils, books, study guides, worksheets,
etc.)
– Not having attempted your warm-up when Ms. Pournelle comes around to
check (Model Sentences, Power Writing, Journals)
– Not helping your group when we are working together
– Not fully participating in PALS reading when assigned
– Not completing silent reading assignments and reading guides
– Not working on your Anchor Journal or any other assigned Anchor Activity if
you finish early
– Texting or looking at your phone during class
– Reading/working on something not pertaining to this class
– Any other lack of participation that Ms. Pournelle sees
Ms. Pournelle does not want to see…
• Cell phones, text messaging, iPods, CD players, ear buds (even in
hallway; teachers ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE EAR BUDS IF SEEN AT
ALL) etc. (School policy: Cell phones will be taken up if they are
seen IN CLASS.
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– 1ST offense = taken for the day
– 2nd offense and above = taken for a week (You may use them before and
after school, at lunch, and between classes!)
Students out of dress code = trip to the office/referral
Food, drink, or gum in class
Applying make-up in class, brushing hair, looking in compacts, etc.
Completing work, reading textbooks, etc. from OTHER classes.
The work will be taken up.
CHEATING (punishable by a zero and/or an immediate write-up) –
no mercy
Getting out of desks without permission (Please stay seated until
the bell rings.)
Packing up before given permission
Spraying cologne, perfume, or ANY scented spray/lotion!!!!
Grades
• All grades are out of 100 points
– Class work, homework, and participation = 22%
– Quizzes, minor essays, and minor projects = 23%
– Tests, major essays, major projects,
Recitations, research = 35%
- Final Exam/Milestones
= 20%
Grades
20%
35%
22%
23%
Groups will…
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be set for the 1st 9 weeks (maybe longer)
work together in class on some assignments
Work on some projects
Compete for points with review games
Sticky-Note Bonuses!
• I often award sticky-note bonuses. These can be
given out for winning a group competition,
listening, following instructions, participating in
class, etc.
• If you receive a sticky-note bonus, I will specify if
it can be used on a test grade or a quiz grade; you
can save it and stick it on whatever test or quiz
you want throughout the semester (these cannot
be used on essays).
Test Re-dos
• I will allow you to re-do one test per semester.
• You must choose whether or not you want to
re-do the test within five days of me returning
your grade to you.
• Once those five days pass, you cannot re-do
the test, and once you re-do a test, you
cannot re-do another one. Choose wisely!
• This applies to tests only, not quizzes.
Remind 101
• Don’t depend on it!!
• I will use it sometimes, not all the time!
• All parents and students, send a text to this
number: 912-386-0383
• 10th grade: type @vhs10 as the text and send
it
• 9th grade honors: type @vhs9 as the text and
send it
As a review, remember that . . .
SHIRTS
VHS
PANTS
Shoes