Classroom+Expectations

Top Ten Things You Need to Understand to Excel in Room 105 // (if you do these, I guarantee you’ll excel in life) // This means so much more than bringing the physical necessities, like books, paper, pencils, and pens. Yes, you will need to bring those, but there are mental tools you need to bring to every situation as well. Are you ready to listen? Are you ready to challenge yourself? Are you ready to try?
 * 1. Be prepared **

Listen carefully: life is not about the points. Let me repeat that: life is not about the points. If you are only worried about someone else’s evaluation of what you are doing, you are missing the big picture. What matters is what YOU think about it. Are you learning the process? Are you mastering the skills? What can you do better? What are your strengths?
 * 2. Be reflective **

There is more than one source of learning and support in my class, so being respectful isn’t just about me. Being respectful means listening with an open mind to suggestions and ideas from peers AND the teacher. Being respectful means holding yourself in regard high enough to realize that your education is your responsibility. Being respectful means treating the people and things in your environment with consideration and the awareness that you are not the center of the universe.
 * 3. Be respectful **

Even if you have to fake it, be passionate in what you do. I guarantee you will get more out of class, out of any activity, if you find something within to pursue with passion. There will be times you will love what you have to do and times when it’s a yawn. We are only guaranteed a finite number of days: snoozing through things without finding the good stuff seems like an awful waste of time.
 * 4. Be passionate **

Humble doesn’t mean thinking you suck at life. Humble means being aware of your areas needing growth. Humble means being aware that you do need to grow. Humble means you know that everyone has different strengths, and some people may be stronger at some things than you are, and you have an amazing opportunity to learn from them. Humble means not putting yourself above anyone or anything else.
 * 5. Be humble **

My motto is: you get out of it what you put into it. In other words, if you want to get something out of my class, out of school in general, and/or out of any pursuit in life, you have to put something in to it. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. This is how the universe works. Even if you don’t like the plot of the book we’re reading, understand that you are learning thinking skills that are vital, so focus on what you’re getting out of it.
 * 6. Work hard **

If there is one skill you absolutely need to master not only for class but before you embark on your journey into the world, it is the ability to work with others. Let me tell you, there will be times when you would rather bang your head repeatedly against a brick wall with rusty nails protruding from it for a week straight than work with a particular person, but you will have no choice. Learning how to be patient and compromise or a tactfully strong leader will pay off in dividends, especially when you find the good folks who share the same passions and beliefs with whom to work.
 * 7. Collaborate **

Problems usually have more than one way to solve them if only we are able to step back and see it from all sides. Especially today, there are a wealth of tools at our disposal to attack writing an essay, collaborating on projects, or planning a big event. Take time to know the resources you have, like who you could talk to about what topics, the capabilities of the technology to which you have access, the materials that surround you. If you know them, you will know how to use them.
 * 8. Think outside the box **

Newsflash: life ain’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it can be just plain overwhelming or downright debilitating. These are the times when a friendly note or hug or pat on the back can mean the difference between a complete meltdown or the ability to just keep swimming. Work on being the one who gives that encouragement to those who need it. You will be surprised at how much being a blessing for someone else will lift your own spirits.
 * 9. Encourage others **

There are so many things that influence who we are and who we are becoming, but, and I need you to listen closely, we are responsible for what we choose to do with those influences. It doesn’t matter what Johnny did before you hit him or that Lisa was cheating, too. It doesn’t matter that fourteen cars were speeding past you when the police pull you over. It doesn’t matter that Tyler can ace the test without studying. You are the one who must deal with the consequences, both bad and good, of the choices you make. Sometimes, there are no second chances because life doesn’t owe us a blessed thing. So when you make a choice, own it, and accept the consequences. They will make you stronger.
 * 10. Man up. **