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Tips for high school freshmen - making life decisions, handling freedom and responsibilities, and succeeding academically and socially. Classroom rules and expectations for a productive learning environment are outlined.
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Welcome to English I Welcome back to VRHS For today, pick your own seat.
Who is Mr. Freymuth? • Army/Air Force veteran • University of Colorado • Taught high school and college • Technogeek • Tries to keep class • interesting • No tolerance for middle- • school games
Freshman year: An Important part of Your Life • You are not a junior-high schlub anymore • This year you will start actually making life decisions, looking at colleges, future plans, etc. • You are planning your life • But it’s easy to take a wrong turn OR
Freshman Year • More freedom than junior high school • More opportunity than junior high school • Therefore, more is expected of you • With the extra freedom comes extra responsibility • You are not going to be spoon-fed like in jh • But you are responsible for only yourself
How To Succeed in High School • Stay Focused – remember, you are here to prepare for the future • Take care of yourself – don’t get caught up in drama with toxic people • Think it through – remember that decisions you make now, in school and out, will have an effect on your life
How Do We Learn?“I learned something today.” – Stan Marsh • We learn by doing • We also learn from mistakes, both ours and others • “You are not a true horseman until you have fallen seven times” – Arabian proverb • “The truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others” – Chinese proverb
What’s the main goal of this class? • We will read, write, talk, and listen. • But the REAL goal is that we will think. • “If you can’t think well, others will do your thinking for you.” - George Orwell • “Life is tough. It’s even tougher if you’re stupid.” - John Wayne
Classroom Rules • BE NICE! Mr. Diller’s #1 rule • NO CARTMANS!!! (No whiners or bullies) • Be prepared for class, and be on time • Know the KWHS tardy policy • Be properly equipped: paper, pen, books • Be in your seat when class starts • Respect others • Don’t deprive your classmates of their opportunity to learn. • Don’t demean other students • Follow the Golden Rule
Playing Nice • No bullying or intimidating • No profane or abusive language • No sexual harassment • No harassment because of any difference • Race, religion, personality, clothes, etc. • We’re ALL different, and we all have something to offer. Don’t judge others; you don’t want to be judged.
Classroom Rules • No food or beverages besides water. • That’s a building-wide rule. • Don’t bring your breakfast to class. • Gum is ok, if it is discreet. I don’t want to: • See it • Hear it • Find it • Restroom breaks are limited to three minutes. • That’s plenty of time, if you don’t waste it. • If you can’t make it back in that time, you can’t leave. • You have a ten-minute passing period for that.
Homework / Class work • We have a limited amount of time per class. • Class time –vs- homework time is YOUR call. • If the class stays on track, most can be accomplished in classtime. • I don’t assign busywork. I won’t waste your time; don’t waste mine. • I don’t expect perfection, but I DO expect absolute cooperation. • I have NO PROBLEM assigning essays on how to behave in the classroom if needed.
This is a CLASSROOM This is not a game show; don’t just shout out answers. This is not a social club; don’t engage in sidebar conversations. Stay on task. This is not a basketball court; don’t throw ANYTHING at ANY TIME. This is not a wrestling match or a date; keep your hands to yourself.
Papers • We follow MLA format. You will use MLA in college as well. • Make your paper look good. • No tearout paper!! • Not folded, damaged, stained, etc. • Make it so you’re not embarrassed to have your name on it. • Turn it in ON TIME.
Music • Don’t walk in with earbuds stuck in your head. • iPods /MP3’s are NOT allowed, at any time. • I will take them on sight. • First time: lose it until the end of class • Second time: lose it until the end of the day. • Third time: referral and I call your parents • I TOLERATE NO ARGUING ABOUT IT. WHEN I SAY, “HAND IT OVER,” I EXPECT IT IMMEDIATELY.
Cellphones • Cellphones are NOT allowed • They will be confiscated on sight • First time: lose it until the end of class • Second time: lose it until the end of the day. • Third time: referral and I call your parents • I TOLERATE NO ARGUING ABOUT IT. WHEN I SAY, “HAND IT OVER,” I EXPECT IT IMMEDIATELY.
Cellphones A few examples of conversations with students when I confiscate cell phones for texting: Student: “But it’s important!” Me: “Don’t care.” Student: “But it’s my mom!” Me: “Don’t care.” Student: But it’s an EMERGENCY!” Me: “Don’t care.” (because usually, it isn’t.) Student: “But I thought class was overrrr!!!” Me: “Don’t care.”
If You Were Absent… • It is YOUR job to find out that you missed • It is YOUR job to get the makeup work done in the accepted time frame • Check the website. • I won’t hunt you down, or hound you for missing work. • Know the school policy
YOU Choose Your Grade • “Your grade is not a measure of your intelligence; your grade is a measure of your motivation.”– Mr. F. • My guarantee to you: If you do your best and do ALL the work in this class, even if you do it all wrong, you WILL pass the class. • But every year, approximately 12-14 students fail my class. How is that possible??
Why study English? • Language is our most important common bond; our ability to communicate is the basis of civilization. • A U.S. president in South America proved that. • His aide saved him from embarrassment. • Timmy and Jimmy and Mr. Mackey. • “That tomato is the cat’s pajamas. That’s five large in ice on her. The skirt is a moll for the trouble boys, so keep in check and don’t be fitted for a Chicago overcoat.”
What will we do in English I? • Grammar, Parts of Speech, History of English, Etymology • Reading • News: We will read and evaluate for accuracy, bias, importance, and impact on us. • Novels • Five People You Meet in Heaven, The Odyssey (abridged), To Kill a Mockingbird. • The Bard • History of Elizabethan/Jacobean era, Romeo and Juliet • Writing – persuasive, creative, etc. • Poetry