Mr. Galuhn's Classroom Policies
The Big Three:
Be Present:
Be Respectful:
Be Accountable:
- Students are expected to attend class everyday. While excused absences are tolerated according to the student handbook, everyday of class missed is a missed opportunity to learn more or get better with a skill used to be successful in class. Weekends, Holidays, and the Winter/Spring/Summer Break represent plenty of time for rest and relaxation.
- When you're in class...be engaged in class...I have you for a limited amount of time in the day and I plan on using that time.
- Take notes during instruction
- Participate in discussion and group work
- Be mentally present and don't "check out"
Be Respectful:
- It is the expectation in my classroom that we approach each other and the content we discuss with respect.
- Often we will discuss sensitive topics or topics that some or all of you might have a personal connection or opinion about. Be prepared to have opinions challenged, but all discussion and conversation in class is to be respectful.
- Respect is a two way street, but often we do things that are not respectful without thinking or because we forget.
- Bathrooms: I'm not in the habit of telling a student they can't use the restroom, but abuse of the restrooms will result in a loss of the privilege of leaving the room.
- Cell Phones: Smart devices have their place in education, but that does not include my classroom when certain activities are happening:
- Exams: If you're found using a cell phone while taking an exam your exam will be voided and a zero will be recorded for that exam. There is no make-up for this zero.
- When someone is presenting information to the class: Use of your phone is not a right protected by the law or school policy so if I have to ask you to put your phone away more than once in a class period I'll ask you to put it in a class bin to be retrieved at the end of class. If this problem persists I will use a deans referral.
- At no time are you to use the camera functions of your cell phone on a staff member or another student in class. Students do not have my permission to photograph or videotape me in class.
Be Accountable:
- You and you alone are responsible for your success, your teachers, parents, tutors, and school resources are there to support you in that success, but make no mistake about it: YOU OWN YOUR SUCCESS.
- That being said...you have a responsibility to yourself and to me to be accountable for your actions both academic and in your interactions with your peers.
- I will enforce the school rules when it comes to behavior expectations, therefore it is up to you to follow them. (Refer to your student handbook if you need to refresh yourself)
- Keep a planner: The school provides everyone with a panther planner. Whether you use that or some other type of assistance (IPad, Calendar, Homework Application on a smartphone, etc...) it is in your best interest to keep track of when things are assigned and due dates. I do my best to give reminders, but in the end remember the top of this heading: YOU OWN YOUR SUCCESS.
Plagiarism Policy:
Plagiarism is when you present another author's work as your own. Students who commit plagiarism risk a conduct referral and will receive a zero on plagiarized work, without the opportunity to make it up.
- The goal of doing research or of writing is to form your own opinions after studying what others have published. When you quote, summarize, or paraphrase information from a source (books, articles or websites), you must acknowledge or cite that source.
- If you use someone else's words or ideas without citing them (giving them credit), you are committing a type of theft. Plagiarism can be obvious, like turning in someone else's paper or project as your own, or more devious, such as paraphrasing sections of other works.
- It is also considered plagiarism to "copy and paste" text from websites or other digital sources into your work without identifying the original author.
- How can you avoid committing plagiarism?
- When working on an assignment, take notes on where you found ideas/information.
- Write down the complete citation information for any source you use.
- Use "quotation marks" in written work when directly stating another author's words.
- Always credit original authors for their information and ideas either within your work itself and with a Works Cited page.
- If you're not sure about something...ASK!