Welcome To Sowers Hour!

1. Welcome To Sowers Hour! • These are the classes I teach this semester • Business (first and second block) • Literacy • U.S. History

2. About Sowers • I have taught at TPS for 12years, before that I worked at Sherwin Williams as an Industrial Maintenance Sales Manager. I have also washed dishes, mowed yards, deliver pizza, worked in a sporting goods store, was an usher for the Lexington Legends, managed a hotel, painted houses and pressure washed sun decks, driveways, houses and anything else that would hold still long enough. • I have four children; Ashley ( in college ), Logan ( in college), Grace ( at West Middle) and John Spencer ( at West Middle ) • I teach Discovery, Social Studies, Business and Coach Archery • I love to read, hunt, fish, travel and help people reach their maximum potential. • I am a Christian who believes God has called him to teach at this school. • I graduated from Lafayette High School, Georgetown College and The University of Kentucky. • I have a Bachelors Degree in history, political science and social studies and a Masters Degree in curriculum and instruction. I am currently enrolled in a principal licensure program at Asbury College.

7. Classroom Rules Treat the staff, students and guests with dignity and respect Practice the ten P’s and Attending Skills Follow Jessamine County District Regulations, TPS School policies, classroom instructions and procedures Give your best effort, every class, every day. Do your part to create a safe, positive and effective learning environment.

8. Mr Sowers Classroom Contract • Guidelines- Guidelines are similar to expactations • Procedures- Procedures are how we do things

9. Guideline #1 Be in your assigned seat and working on the assigned bell Ringer before class begins, don’t be tardy!!!

10. Guideline #2 Bring ALL books and materials to class and take them with you when you leave. Do not leave personal belongings in my classroom. Clean up your mess and return materials to their proper location after using them.

11. Guideline #3 Follow directions the first time they are given. Every time I have to repeat instructions we lose valuable time and focus. I am getting old and grumpy and do not have the patience needed to repeat myself 47,000 times a day.

12. Guideline #4 Treat each person in this room with dignity and respect.

13. Guideline #5 Follow all procedures and policies as outlined in the TPS and the Jessamine County Schools handbooks.

14. Special Guideline This classroom is a “No Whining Zone”. That means that there will be no whining, for ANY reason. Everything that I do is in your best interest, so please…respect the “No Whining Zone” this semester.

15. C.A.N.T • I Completely Admit that I am Not Trying • We do not make excuses • We do not allow failure • You can not fail my class unless you refuse to participate • Life is hard, harder still without an education!

16. Following Guidelines will result in: Verbal Acknowledgement A Stress free learning environment A pleasant and orderly classroom atmosphere 160

17. Not Following Guidelines will result in: 1st Warning followed by redirects 2nd Focus Room 3rd Parent Contact/teacher confrence/admin referral Action Plan - 161

18. Severe Clause Any student who chooses to use explicit profanity repeatedly, harasses others, fights, damages school property (this includes the property of the teacher and other students), or is disrespectful (as defined by the teacher) will not be allowed to enjoy the benefit of remaining in our classroom.

19. Classroom Procedures Explain, Rehearse, Reinforce!

20. Needed supplies • You will need notebook paper, pencils, ink pens, a spiral notebook and a binder to keep your assignments in. • I will keep a supply of sharpened pencils and notebook paper at the front of the room on the table next to the door. • You are welcome to use these supplies. Please get what you need when you first walk in the classroom and return my pencils to the container on your way out. • Craft supplies are in the first black storage cabinet as you walk in the door. When you use these supplies please return them to the place and in the order your found them.

21. Entering the room Please enter quietly Have a seat Take out your materials Review the agenda Begin bell work assignment

22. Calling the class to attention • Teacher raises hand in air and keeps it up until room is ready to receive instruction. • Three S’s silent, still, seated. • Students should be seated and focused on the teacher using good attending skills. • When you receive the call to attention; • Stop talking immediately • Quietly and purposefully move to your seat. • Practice good attending skills • Prepare to listen actively, focused, engaged and receptive • Process information/instruction mentally (think)

23. Room Environments • We have three standard room environments. • Red, Yellow and Green. • These set our level of conversation, movement and location of student focus.

24. Getting Help • If you need help on an assignment or activity raise your hand until the teacher or teaching partner makes eye contact with you. Then lower your hand and wait patiently. • If you are working on an activity in a group. You must ask every member of the group for assistance and the whole group must agree that you need teacher help before you ask the teacher. • Do not shout my name, or say my name repeatedly! waive your arms wildly, get up and follow my around tapping me on the shoulder, throw stuff at me etc... Follow the above procedure.

25. Paper Heading • John Doe • Mr. Sowers • US History 3rd period or Discovery • 2 January 2012

26. Classroom Discussions • PLEASE participate • I want to hear what you have to say • Make all questions and comments relevant to the current discussion • If your question is off the topic, write it down and ask later.

27. Turning in papers • Place your paper on your neighbors desk next to you. • Left side • If you don’t have your assignment or homework completed turn in a student responsibility form. You must turn this form in to receive credit on the assignment • If/When you receive a paper, place yours on top and continue passing the stack to your left down the row. • I will come by and collect all stacks

28. Moving around the room • You must ask permission • Do not ask during a classroom discussion unless it is an emergency

29. Finish Classwork Early “What do I do next?”

30. What Do I Do Next?Activities Work on unfinished history or discovery assignments Read your “class” novel Work on your DBQ (document based question) Review vocabulary words Start working on tonight's homework

31. Grades • I have committed to using a scoring guide for tests, projects and summative assessments • Not all assignments will receive and academic grade. • Assignments that specifically measure your understanding, knowledge or ability to perform my stated objective will receive a letter grade. • Formative assignments, or assignments that mark student progress will receive a participation grade and a simple ranking of… • Got it!!! • Making Progress • Not there yet. • If you receive a ranking of got it, or making progress I may give you an enrichment assingment to help you master the content. • I will try to post you’re grades on infinite campus so you and your parents can have access to measure your progress. • Grades are not a weapon! They are an indicator of how well the teacher taught and how well the students learned the content.

32. Class Dismissal The teacher dismisses you, not the bell Upon teacher prompt, turn in work, clean up work space, gather your personal belongings Wait until the teacher finishes and officially dismisses you with: “Have a niceday”

33. End of Day • Remember I will dismiss you even if your process point level has been called wait for my signal to leave class. • When I give you the two minute warning, turn in assignments, clean your workspace, prepare your belongings to depart, when I dismiss you put your chair on top of your desk and quietly leave the room. • Remain seated until dismissed unless working on end of day procedures.

34. Life without an education, your still breathing but it is so much harder!

35. Remember… I truly believe in your potential and I want you to believe in it too! Have an awesome year! Mr. Sowers