Miss DeMers’ Welcome Handout

Our Class Learning Goals and Things to Look Forward to:

Improved reading proficiency, better writing skills, larger vocabulary, and more experience in
working in groups as well as working on individual projects. You will have practice in writing
essays and daily journals, participating in class discussions, and reading class novels.

The Rule: Each person that steps into this classroom, including me, needs to take responsibility
for their choices, no matter why they made them. Your choices affect someone. Your choices
lead to actions that have consequences. Those consequences may not involve or affect you,
but they impact more than just you. They impact all of us.

Bell Ringer Journals: Each morning there will be a prompt on the board asking you to write
about something in your journals. I expect you to be seated and writing in your journal when the
bell rings. No second later.

Book Checkouts: The books that I will make available to you have a special stamp on the
inside pages that reads: “Read it. Love it. Return it.” They are mine and belong to our
classroom, but when they are in your hands, they are your responsibility. Please treat them like
they are prized possessions (to me they are).

Be Ready for Anything: In my English classroom, you can conquer any task as long as you
have a pencil in hand and a paper to use it. With those two things plus that brilliant brain of
yours, you will be ready for anything.

Home Practice: We get a few days off of working on our craft, but we must keep building on
our skills in order to get better. This is why we practice, both together and on our own. Practice
at home but remember you can always ask questions, call me at ---------- and I will answer.

Makeup Work: If you miss class for any reason, it is your responsibility to pick up the work that
is missed. I will have it ready for you in a folder at my desk. All you have to do is ask for it. You
will have three days to complete the work. If you need more time, come talk to me.

I Want You Here: My classroom is a safe space for you, and I want you to always feel that you
can be yourself. I look forward to seeing you 5 days a week so please come. When you are
here, please behave, that way we limit interruptions and can get further into our world of English
where we can accomplish more of our goals.

Last Reminder: My classroom is a place for learning AND laughter. Please be ready to have
fun and know that one of my goals is to make you smile.