Pre-AP Expectations

Home Supplies 

•  A computer with reliable Internet access and a printer
  • If you do not have a home computer, then you still have options:
    • Sterling Municipal library allows Internet and printer use
    • Sterling High School’s library is open until 3:30 and allows students to use the Internet and printers
    • Mr. Beck may approve for individual students to check a laptop out from the library for a small security fee.  (The fee may be refundable)
• A valid email account – one for the student and one for at least one of the parent/guardians. (I may be able to assign a Gaggle account to students that they can use at school.  Currently, that is the only email account that students are allowed to use at school.) 

Optional (yet VERY helpful) Supplies

• It is strongly recommended that students purchase flash drives.  Flash drives can help students in most, if not all, classes. 
• The Student Code of Conduct allows for cell phones in school but stipulates they are to be turned off.   I have been given permission in the past to allow students to use their cell phones – not for phone calls – but for educationally related activities involving texting and smart phone application use.  For instance, I have a Twitter account that students can use to follow me and receive updates and reminders.  Applications I will encourage students to use are Kindle and Ibooks because they can download books, highlight passages, and make notes.  As of now, both applications are free for the Iphone, Ipod, and Ipad.

Written Work

• Much of the work that students generate, especially if done outside of class, will be typed and submitted to Turnitin.com.  Students will register in class together.  A valid email is needed for this account.
  • Typing rules
    • Times New Roman or Ariel size 12 font (black)
    • Double-space
    • One-inch margins
    • Original title for essays in the header
    • Other instructions from the teacher can override any of the above typing rules
• The new literature textbooks are also available online for students.  Most work involving the new textbook will be turned in through the student’s personal online textbook account.

• All novels are expected to be read outside of class by the specified due date.
• Outside reading is considered homework.
• Each novel will have some class activities as well as written work and various assessments that not only check whether students have read, but also focus in on specific skills that contribute to the success of a college-bound student.

• It is expected that students use and not abuse the technology that is offered to them.  We live in an age where the understanding of technology has risen above merely helping students become successful; instead, the understanding of the various technological tools is one of the most essential steps that students can take if they want to rise above the average student.
• Students are expected to keep up with their various usernames and passwords.  Because of the many different websites that will be used, students will probably lose track of their unique usernames and passwords unless steps are taken.  Different software programs are available that help people keep up with this information, but for classroom use, students will not only keep up with them on a Word document, but create a physical copy that will be stored in the teacher’s binder in case they are ever forgotten and needed in class.
• Microsoft Office 2007 is installed on school computers used in the classroom.  If a student uses Works at home, they will probably not be able to access their work at school.

• Academic Honesty Policy – All students are held to the highest standards of academic honesty in all work including essays, exams, classwork, group projects, and any work assigned by their teachers.
• Academic Dishonesty – includes cheating, copying the work of another student, plagiarism or unauthorized communication between students during exams.  The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising professional employee, taking into consideration written materials, observation, or information from students.
• Cheating shall be defined as giving or receiving information or help on a test, possession of any unauthorized material during a test, copying another student’s assignment or knowingly allowing another unauthorized student to copy from his or her assignment, submitting duplicate work, or having someone else complete the work on behalf of the student.
  • Penalties
    • A grade of zero on the assignment
    • Notification of parents
    • A conduct report to his or her grade level principal
    • Notification of NHS sponsors, if applicable