Classroom Rules and Expectations

Classroom Rules/Expectations of Behavior:

I think that I have very simple, straight-forward classroom rules and expectations. I will be discussing these in class tomorrow, but here's a quick recap:

• Please be on-task during classroom time (visit later)
• No cell phones (as per school policy; unless otherwise instructed); if your parents really need to get in touch with you, they should call the office. Please don't bring cell phones to class, or if you do, please remember to turn them off!
• Please don't listen to music on MP3 players or iPods during class time, unless I have given you permission to do so.
• Be polite. You should be listening during class lectures or when your classmates have questions to ask (you might have some of the same questions).
• Be on time. If you are late, please enter the classroom quietly and apologize for being late. If the door is locked, I have started the lecture or there is a class presentation in progress; I will open the door and let you in as soon as possible.
• Clean up after yourselves. Please don't leave garbage on the floor. I like my classroom fairly neat and tidy.
• Don't bring junk food to class. Healthy snacks only. Or you could always wait until lunchtime.
• You may chew gum in class on the following conditions: don't chew like a cow, I don't want to see the gum or hear you chewing it, that's just gross.
• Late assignments: 10% is deducted for every day an assignment is late. If you have an excused absence, then there is some flexibility with this rule.
• Please make sure that a parent or guardian calls the school to have absences excused. If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence you will be assigned a mark of "zero".
• I will be contacting parent/guardians if you have unexcused absences.
• Please adhere to the school's academic honesty policy which is on the back of your course outlines.
• Please do take holidays or time off in January, because this could potentially interfere with Diploma Exams or school-based exams.

Posting on the Blog:

Here are some simple rules that I have established for using the blog, and some other informational items:

• Please post on the blog anonymously.
• If you feel the need to identify yourself, or clarify which grade you're in, please use your initials and your class and section (for example, K.G. in Social 20-3).
• Some of you may have your own Blogger accounts. Please don't post on this blog using your Blogger ID, otherwise you may have people visiting your blog that you may not want to see what you're posting.
• Please be courteous, polite and respectful when posting comments on the blog. Don't be rude to your classmates on the blog.
• Please be patient with my response time.
• Please post comments and questions on the blog prior to 10 p.m.
• Between 6-8 p.m. I am usually not online.
• Please do not post links to questionable materials.
• Inappropriate comments will be deleted. Please don't do this, it's a waste of my time, I could be doing more productive things, like answering questions that you may have

January 15

IB 30/35

Luckily we finished off the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain" today in class. Please make sure that you answer all of the questions on the film study sheet. We when we get back from the exam break, we'll be getting ourselves organized for a debate on the U.S. decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan to end the Pacific War.

I will also be giving you a World War II test in February, more details about this in February.

Social 10-1

No classes today for Social 10-1 students. I will see the Period 3 class tomorrow at 8:50 am, with Period 4 to follow. Here's my tutorial schedule for Social 10-1 students in class you want to come in and look over your old unit exams:

• Monday, January 15th: not available
• Tuesday, January 16th: available from 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Wednesday, January 17th: 8:10 am to 11:40 am, 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Thursday, January 18th: same as above (Grade 9  tours are happening, but I'm supervising in my classroom)
• Friday, January 19th: Final Exam Part "B" (not available)

January 12

Here's my schedule for next week for my Social 10-1 students:

• Monday, January 15th: not available
• Tuesday, January 16th: available from 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Wednesday, January 17th: 8:10 am to 11:40 am, 12:25 pm to 3:10 pm
• Thursday, January 18th: same as above (Grade 9  tours are happening, but I'm supervising in my classroom)
• Friday, January 19th: Final Exam Part "B" (not available)

January 11

I’m available to my Social 10-1 students tomorrow from 8:30 am to 11:30 am and from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm. It would be a good time to go over past unit exams.

January 10

Social 10-1

I had you fill out the scantron sheet for your Final Exam Part "B", you were also assigned your seat for the exam. Please remember that this final exam will be written on Friday, January 19th from 9 am to 11 am in the Main Gym. If you miss this final exam, you will NOT be given a second chance to write it. Make sure that you show up by 8:45 am with your textbook (drop it off in the bins outside the Business Office). Depending on which class of mine you're in you would played a different review game that took the entire period. I'll see you in class again on Tuesday. I will post a schedule of my availability here on the blog tomorrow. I won't be available tomorrow because I am supervising the English 30-1 Diploma Exam. You NEED to start reviewing for your Social 10-1 Final Exam. 

IB 30/35

I showed you the video "Blitzkrieg to the Bomb" and gave you a notes package to go along with it. We started another video called "White Light/Black Rain" that we will finish off on Monday of next week. I'll be breaking you into debate groups next week. We'll be debating the usage of the atomic bomb to end the war in the Pacific in 1945.

January 9

IB 30/35

We talked about the Normandy invasion briefly today, and then I showed you an excerpt from "Saving Private Ryan". We'll be trying to wrap up World War II prior to the exam break, but it will be tight.

Social 10-1

We finished with our film study of "Contagion" today. After the film you handed in your film study sheets. I also gave you the study guide for the Social Studies 10-1 Final. Please remember that you are writing Part B of the Final Exam on Friday, January 19th.

Jauary 8

Welcome back! I hope that you all enjoyed your much-needed break!

IB 30/35

I gave you some time at the beginning of class to read through the booklet of readings and maps on WWII from the book "The Map History of the Modern World". You should have read, highlighted and annotated this entire booklet today (if you didn't finish this in class, consider it homework). We watched Episode 7 of WWII in Colour today. We'll be looking at the Normandy invasion tomorrow and wrapping up WWII in the European theatre in tomorrow's class.

Social 10-1

We did some housekeeping today at the beginning of class, with me giving back your Unit 3 WRA II Essays and TNC Dossier Assignments. I also showed you the results of Part A of the Final Exam, and your current overall mark going into Part B on Friday, January 19th. Part B of the Final Exam is 80 multiple choice questions, it's worth 15% of your final mark in the course, and you will have 2 hours to write it. Most of you will be in the Main Gym for this exam. We started a film study of "Contagion" today which we'll finish off tomorrow.