Welcome to World Geography

Gary Edge

Room A 317

Simple Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful in this

World Geo Course

Be here.• It’s a proven fact that students who

come to school learn more and make higher grades.

• I often require that students come to tutorials in order to complete missing tests and daily assignments.

• That’s not fun for either of us.

Be on time.Moderately bad things will

happen to you if you are repeatedly tardy.

Then you will feel bad.

And I will feel bad for you.

Bring what you need with you when you come

to class.Passes out of class will be extremely limited, including

passes to the restroom.

Cell Phones, Blackberries, i Phones, etc.

• They are technological marvels of the 20th century.

• They enrich our lives in many ways.

• We love them.

BUT . . .

• You may not have yours out in this class (unless I have asked you to find information for us on the Internet).

• If I see it, I will take it – the first time and every time.

• You will not love me any more.

• You might even cry.

I Pods, MP3 Players, etc.• Music is truly a wonderful thing.• Man began to create music over

5,000 years ago.• Man began to record music about

130 years ago.• The creating and recording of music has enriched our lives in

many ways.

BUT . . .

We do not need music playing in our ears CONSTANTLY.

Music pounding loudly in your ears interferes with your brain’s ability to perform other cognitive tasks. I know you don’t believe me, but it is true.

You can only learn new things if you give your brain a chance to focus 100%.

Help! It’s hard to think in here.

Late Work

• You will be clearly informed of when assignments are due.

• Work will be accepted for only 3 days after the date it is due.

• 10 points will be deducted for each day an assignment is late.

Extra Credit• Extra credit assignments are not given.• I will provide one opportunity each grading

period to complete an alternative assignment to replace one missing assignment.

• There will be a limited time frame of one week to complete the offered assignment.

• Sometimes this assignment must be done in tutorials before or after school.

• 0’s received because of cheating will not be replaced.

Make-up Exams• All students are welcome to retake exams

for an improved grade.

• If you were absent for an exam, or would like to retake it, you must sign up for a make up time before of after school.

• This must be completed within 3 days of the original exam.

• After 3 days, all exam grades, including 0’s are final.

Homework• You will have it on a regular basis.• If you choose not to do it, your grade will

suffer greatly.• You must set aside at least an hour a week

for preparing and reading your notes outside of class.

• This will not kill you. Promise.

Supplies You Will Need• A composition book aka “your brain”–

to be used ONLY for this history course

• Ink pen – blue, black, purple, red, pink; ok any color will do.

• You don’t have a pen, ok use any type of writing device.

• A class specific list will be given out next week. I.e. first period brings chalk.

Food and Such• You may have snacks in this room as

long as you do not leave your wrappers and packaging behind.

• If you make a mess, clean up after yourself.

• You may have BOTTLED DRINKS ONLY – with a top.

• I’m a teacher – not a bus boy. (although I’m sure I would have been an outstanding bus boy)

Basic Behavior Rules

There is only one basic rule:

Always act with integrity.

Integrity?

Integrity is when

all that you say,

all that you do,

and all that you believe

blend together

to make a complete person.

Tell the truth.• Do not lie to me about why your

assignment isn’t ready on time, or why you were late to class, or why you were texting on your cell phone, or anything else concerning yourself or others.

• Only cowards lie to avoid unpleasant consequences.

• Do not ask your parents to lie for you. Don’t make cowards of them and rob them of their integrity.

Take responsibility for your own life.

• Understand that at all times YOU are in control of what YOU say and do.

• No one can “make” you behave badly.

• What you CHOOSE to say and do today will determine your life tomorrow.

• You are no one’s victim. You have control over the life you lead.

• Stop looking for someone else to blame.

Do your own work and only your own work.

• When you are assigned a job, do it yourself.• In school, as in life, you are evaluated based

on the work YOU do.• It is dishonest to copy the work of another

student or to allow others to copy your work.• Academic dishonesty is called CHEATING.• Cheating robs you of your integrity.• Cheaters will receive a 0 on the assignment

and a U in citizenship.

Treat others as your equals.• . . . because they ARE.• Every other person you meet has exactly the

same basic desire that you have.• We all want to feel safe and happy.• We express that desire in different ways.• We have different abilities, backgrounds,

and appearances.• And that is perfectly okay.• NEVER treat anyone in this room as

though you are better than him or her.

I will never allow anyone in this classroom to rob others of their emotional security by ridiculing,

mocking, or bullying.

That is shameful and foolish behavior. Do not even try it.

Understand the nature of authority.

• Authority is simply a position that a person achieves due to a variety of possible qualifications, such as age, wisdom, education, practical experience, skill, etc.

• People are usually chosen to take a position of authority because someone else believed they would be effective leaders and managers of other people.

• It is often the job of those in authority to help others develop those same qualities of wisdom, education, experience, skill, etc.

• People in authority are not perfect, and you will not always agree with them.

• But they almost always know more than the people they are leading.

• Someday, somewhere, YOU will be chosen as an authority figure over someone else.

• When that time comes, whether or not you were able to accept the nature of authority today, will determine what kind of leader you will be then.

• Think about it.

HAVE your ID.

• Those in authority say it’s a good idea.

• Therefore, it’s school policy.

• ‘Nuff said.

Respect public property.• Everyone in this community we call Haltom

High School has been entrusted with the public property we are all using.

• Only children and fools destroy things for the pleasure of it.

• If you damage anything in this room, you will be held financially accountable.

• People will think you are trash if you behave in a trashy way.

• Develop personal integrity and community pride.

Your success in school is our number one priority.

Therefore . . .

Finally . . .

I will not allow anyone to be a disruption to the learning

process.

Not at any time.

Ever.