Some people say that middle school is really difficult and a terrible time. I don’t believe that! Sure it can be hard at times, but it’s a great time for learning and growing as you progress from childhood to adolescence. As your teacher, I want to help you grow and be able to navigate your way in life.

The way I help you is in the classroom. For learning real life skills there won’t be chapters and homework, but just the way we interact with each other. Learning how to function well in life means learning how to respect other people, knowing limits, and being responsible for your actions. (As an adult, if you don't know these things you could get fired from a job, offend all of your friends, or even go to jail!) I will help you remember to treat me and others courteously. You will learn when it’s OK to joke around, and when it’s time to get serious. You will learn to be responsible for bringing your homework to class, doing what you say you will do, doing your work, and the consequences for not doing it or forgetting.

Work First
School is fun, and I work hard to design my classes to be fun for you! But the primary purpose of school is to educate you in the course material and in how to function well in life. So while we are having fun, never forget that we are here to learn first, and that means paying attention and doing the work.

Being Successful with Grades
I don't believe that there is such a thing as being a success or being a failure – there is only succeeding and failing. If you don't do well on something the first few times, you can learn to do it better and eventually be successful at it. I've seen this happen over and over again!

Sometimes people don't learn a concept the first time around. That’s OK! If it “clicks” with you a little later, you are being successful! For this reason, I will allow quizzes and exams to be retaken in order for you to get a better grade. (It won’t be the exact same questions of course, but it will be the same concepts.) Ultimately it’s methods and concepts that you want to learn, and not just “answers,” because if you understand the concept, you can figure anything out!

See my grades page for more info on how I grade.

Principles
I don’t believe in making a lot of class rules, but instead operate on just a few general principles as follows:

1. Follow the school rules
You know the school rules, and if you don’t know them, you will be given a handbook at the beginning of the year so you can read them. They are written by the school district, state of California, and the principal. We all have to obey the school rules.
For example, one rule states that students cannot bring electronic devices to school. So if I see someone with an iPod anywhere on campus, I am required to immediately confiscate it and turn it in to the office.

2. Respect
Respecting one another means treating other people and property the way you would expect to be treated yourself. It includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

• Listening when somebody else is talking, whether it is other students or the teacher.
• Paying attention and showing respect by not getting out of your seat to get a drink or sharpen a pencil when the teacher is teaching. (There will be plenty of opportunity during class work time to do these things.)
• Treating school and personal property carefully and not damaging, marking, littering, or stealing what is not yours.

3. Coming to Class Prepared
This is really just another way of showing respect. Our class time is precious, and we will not waste it because some people are unprepared and not ready to learn. Examples could include not having homework out and ready, not having a book, or not having a sharpened pencil. People who are not ready when class starts are being irresponsible, and will earn a consequence to help them learn responsibility.

Consequences
People who do not obey school rules, respect other people or property, or who are not prepared to learn will receive consequences. This is in order to correct the inappropriate behavior.

I rarely give behavior warnings as I find it to be a great time waster or opportunity for manipulation by the student. People receiving a consequence will be required to write their name on the consequence board immediately without argument.

Some of the consequences are:

• Loss of recess or other privilege
• Picking up trash on the school grounds during recess
• Cleaning school property
• Writing a 200-word, 400-word, 600-word, 800-word, etc. essay on the infraction
• Parental signature on the infraction essay
• Ejection from the classroom
• Phone conference with parent
• Referral to the Principal

You are responsible for your own learning, which is the main purpose for being at school. Learning consists of doing the class material, and getting along in life by respecting others.
People who break the principles of obeying the school rules or are disrespectful will receive consequences for their actions.
Homework is to help you learn the concepts, and it varies depending upon how well you know the material. It is due at the beginning of class on the day after it is assigned.
Quizzes and exams may be retaken up to two times each for a better grade.

Factotum
I will be choosing a person to serve as factotum to assist me in each of my classes. The Factotum will serve for a period of time and then be replaced by a new Factotum.

A factotum is “A trusted assistant who serves in a wide range of capacities.”
[Medieval Latin facttum : Latin fac, imperative of facere, to do; see dh- in Indo-European Roots + Latin ttum, everything from neuter of ttus, all.]

Room Keeper
I need someone to water the plants, collect stray pencils, and supervise the daily sweeping and end of class tidying-up of our classroom. The Room Keeper will serve for a period of time and then be replaced by a new Room Keeper.

Teacher’s Assistant
Students who show great skill in the subject material may be chosen to serve as a TA. TA’s have great responsibility and will help other students become successful in the material, and may help me grade homework or quizzes.

Pictures on the Internet
Want to see yourself and your friends on the internet? I'll be posting pictures taken at school for you to view. All students who want their picture must get a release form signed by their parent and returned to the office.

Class Rewards
Exceptional behavior, helpfulness, brilliant answers, or insightful questions deserve a reward. Classroom tickets redeemable for food or prizes will be handed out for any of the above activities.

Classroom Spirit Days
Participate in the periodic classroom spirit days and earn extra bonus points toward your grade! No contest, no judging – just show up. Spirit days will be announced and posted in advance, and could include Wacky Hat Day, Aloha Friday, Nerd Day, Dress-up Day, etc. All within the school dress code, of course.

Movie Day

Every week or two will be movie day during the lunch break. Bring your lunch and a friend and enjoy a movie with me in the classroom. Movie Day is available to all staff and Adelante Middle School students.

Game Day

Bring a game & your lunch and play in the classroom during the lunch break. Checkers, chess, Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, Risk, whatever. Remember, gambling is prohibited on school grounds. Game day is just for fun and available to all staff and Adelante Middle School students.