1. Start of Class
1.1. Assigned Seats
1.1.1. Students are given assigned seats at the start of every month to surround them with signers that will challenge and support them. Understanding that the ASL Classroom does not have desks, and the chairs are set up in a circle...so students will ALWAYS have access to signing with their friends - it just might be from across the room!
1.2. Phones Away
1.2.1. Students are expected to put their phones away at the beginning of every class. If their eyes and hands are busy with their phones, they are unable to actively participate in any of the ASL activities planned for the day.
1.2.2. I understand that life happens...including emergencies. Students are welcome to come up to me at the beginning of class any day and ask to have their phone on them for the day. I will not ask for details, but do need to know that everyone is safe and not at risk of harm. Students that proactively communicate with me are more than welcome to keep their phone nearby to quickly respond to texts or excuse themselves to the hallway to answer a phone call.
1.2.3. If a phone is out during class without prior communication with me, I will take it and hold it in a safe place. Repeat offenders will result in advancing consequences: I will take it for the remainder of the period. I will keep the phone for the remainder of the day. I will turn the phone in to the main office. I will take the phone to the main office and tell the wonderful office ladies that a parent must pick up the phone.
1.3. Backpacks
1.3.1. Students should put their backpacks under their chairs at the start of class. While there, it is less of a distraction, easier to move, and not a tripping hazard should the fire alarm go off during class.
1.4. Voices Off!
1.4.1. Students are expected to quickly turn their voices off as class begins. We may talk later in class, but it's incredibly helpful to transition to ASL by turning all voices off and starting the warm up activities on the board.
2. During Class
2.1. Voices Off!
2.1.1. If a student is voicing excessively and unnecessarily during class, their seat may be moved. It is expected in ASL 2 and up that a student is here to learn the target language...while some students may be taking this class for credit, others are taking it to pursue their dreams of becoming an ASL teacher, an interpreter, an educator for the Deaf, a speech language pathologist, an audiologist... So, students that are disrespectfully causing repeated distractions during class will be removed. If moving the student's seat is not successful, further action may be taken including: removing them from class temporarily or removing them from class for the day. Important instruction may be missed, or even assessments may be missed. Make up work will not be available in these instances.
2.2. Bathroom
2.2.1. Students should not make a fuss about going to the bathroom. Please look for a good time during the day's activities to leave the room, then follow this protocol: make eye contact with me, sign bathroom, sign your name on the board, and leave the room. I may ask you to wait just a bit, but I always expect you to return as quickly as possible!
2.3. Phones
2.3.1. Unless phones are needed for a small assignment, phones should be away in each student's backpacks from beginning of class until the end of class. If a phone is out during class without prior communication (family emergency) with me, I will take it and hold it in a safe place. Repeat offenders will result in advancing consequences: I will take it for the remainder of the period. I will keep the phone for the remainder of the day. I will turn the phone in to the main office. I will take the phone to the main office and tell the wonderful office ladies that a parent must pick up the phone.
2.4. Grades
2.4.1. I try to keep my gradebook as up-to-date as possible. All assignments should be graded roughly within 1 week, and I try to be as transparent about grades as possible. Keep an eye out for comments that may be attached to grades in Infinite Campus.
2.4.2. Weighted Grading System: This is brand new to me...but we'll give it a whirl and see how it goes!
2.4.2.1. ASL 2
2.4.2.1.1. 5% Bell Ringers
2.4.2.1.2. 5% Conversation Time
2.4.2.1.3. 15% Class Participation
2.4.2.1.4. 20% Other Assessments
2.4.2.1.5. 40% Conversation Assessments
2.4.2.1.6. 15% Final Exam
2.4.2.2. ASL 3
2.4.2.2.1. 5% Bell Ringers
2.4.2.2.2. 5% Conversation Challenge
2.4.2.2.3. 15% Class Participation
2.4.2.2.4. 20% Other Assessments
2.4.2.2.5. 40% Conversation Assessments
2.4.2.2.6. 15% Final Exam
2.4.2.3. ASL 4
2.4.3. Rubrics
2.4.3.1. For almost everything that is graded, I will try to accompany those grades with a rubric. These will be automatically emailed to each student just prior to entering grades into Infinite Campus, so if a grade is confusing, students can immediately check their email to see where the grade came from.
2.4.3.2. Almost all Conversation Assessments will utilize the same rubric...this allows me (as well as you and your students!) to see areas of weakness and growth over time as we pursue higher levels of language proficiency.
3. End of Class
3.1. Reminders and Information
3.1.1. As the dismissal bell rings, students are asked to sit calmly and quietly so that I can share important reminders about upcoming assignments or nearby Deaf Events!
3.2. Room Clean Up
3.2.1. I request that every student takes care of their space...all chairs should find a "parking spot" in the circle before a student leaves. Also, any trash created or found during class should be picked up and tossed on the class's way out of the room.
3.3. Held after Class
3.3.1. If an entire class is held after class, it is because time was wasted during class time...usually with waiting for the students to turn their voices off. I will give plenty of warning as I ask for students to quiet down and focus, then wait patiently and watch the clock until they are ready to proceed.
4. Missed Class
4.1. Let me Know
4.1.1. If a student knows that they are going to be absent, it is incredibly helpful for me to also know in advance. I can help plan a course of action for assignments that I will exempt and how we can tackle make up work together.
4.2. Check the Website
4.2.1. My website is full of up-to-date information about pretty much everything! Please keep an eye out for daily summaries, PowerPoints that were used in class, handouts that may be distributed, and even grading information for class that you will or have missed.
4.3. Infinite Campus Comment
4.3.1. If an assignment has been missed due to an absence, I will always include a comment regarding when make up work will be due. If an absence has been extensive or a student is swamped with other make up work, I am flexible to exempt assignments or extend make up work deadlines...as long as I am communicated with well in advance!
4.4. Unexcused Absences
4.4.1. If a student chooses to skip class, make up work will not be available to them. Plan wisely and accordingly.