Korff's Classroom Team Rules and Pet Peeves
Chemistry Class, East Brunswick HS, Room L-1
Email: mkorff@ebnet.org
Voicemail: 732.613.6900 x4167
The website is updated EVERYDAY!!!! Check after 3 pm for the latest info.
1. Attendance: Be ready to start! Please be on time. Be here ready to go
before the bell. First late is a warning. Other lates will be assigned an
office detention. As soon as you get here, copy the “DO NOW” into your
lab/do now notebook spiral, college-ruled notebook. Do not wait for us to
ask you to do it. Once you are in the room, you will not be allowed to
go “wherever” you have to go. Come prepared. There is no going to your
locker. My definition of on time means being
entirely physically in the classroom ready to work in your seats. Not dilly-
dallying. No excuses.
2. What you must bring EVERYDAY to class:
REQUIRED materials:
a. Periodic Table (given in class)
b. Non Graphing Calculators ONLY. Scientific Calculator (must have LOG
key) - [recommend TI- 30 series) for Academic Chem ONLY.
c. 3- Ring Binder one inch with plastic cover. AND WITH PAPER inside. Binders should have plastic
pockets in both the front and back for organization. Keep everything in this binder because there
will be a binder quiz at the end of the quarter. Divide the binder into three
sections for Reference Sheets given in class, Packets and WS
d. Spiral 2 Subject Lab/Do Now Notebook, Pens AND Pencils.
Highlighter. Write neatly or answer will be marked incorrect. Name, date
and period must be written on all assignments and papers or points will be
deducted. All math must be done in pencil or points will be deducted.
e. COVERED TEXTBOOK. Cover your textbook and bring it back the next day when I ask for it. After
you show me your covered book with your name inside it, then you can take it home and leave it
there.
f. Thumb Drive
NOTE: YOU MAY NOT USE GRAPHIC CALCUATORS, PDA’s, iPods, MP3s, CAMERAS,
CELL PHONES, PALM PILOTS, BLACKBERRIES, LAPTOPs or ANY OTHER DEVICE THAT
STORES TEXT IN CLASS!
g. IDs!!!!! EVERYONE MUST HAVE THEIR IDs ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE THIS ROOM.
Period. This is not my rule, but a school rule. It must be visible around your neck. Not on your hip,
bookbag, pocketbook, etc. If I don't see it, you lose 5 points, go to the media center to pay to get a
new ID for $5, and will not be allowed to make up the minutes that you took away from our class.
The only time you are allowed to take off your ID in this room is during a test or a lab.
h. mini stapler with staples
i. white out, highlighter
3. Wait for proper dismissal at the end of the period. Do not pack up or
start to leave before we tell you to. Students are dismissed by the
teacher, not by the bell. If you are rude, you will stay and make up the
time. No late pass to your next class will be given. Do not leave your
seats for any reason without permission from the instructor. We work bell to
bell!
4. Bathroom: Due to safety reasons, go to the bathroom before or
after class. You will miss safety directions or instructions or lessons
that may put the safety of others at stake. Due to safety reasons, we’d
like you in this room from bell to bell.
5. There will be HW in Chemistry EVERYDAY! Absolutely! Chem-IS-TRY!
Chemistry needs to be practiced in order to excel. Embrace it. It is not a
punishment, this teacher just cares that you do well! The only way to
succeed is to practice! Wasting time will not be tolerated. No late HW is
accepted. You must have it at the time that we ask for it or it is a zero.
Assignments are due at the start of the class period. If an assignment is
not turned in at the start of class, it receives a grade of zero.
According to district policy, there is no make up for the homework that is
not completed.
6. What do I do if I am going to be/have been absent?
Steps:
a. Call/email your absent buddy or someone from your co-op group. It
is YOUR responsibility to get the assignment. Your buddy should have
collected the papers for you.
b. Check the website after 3 pm under the HW page and Do/Now Objectives to see what we did that
day.
c. Walk over to the absent folder and get your assignment. This is to
be done before school, before class. NOT while Korff is
teaching or while other kids are learning. Do not disrupt the class.
d. Do the HW, classwork, lab. If you don’t understand, get help. For
everyday you are absent, you have 2 days to make it up. LATE WORK WILL NOT
be accepted. We do not chase you for assignments. If we don’t see it by
the time it is due, you will receive a zero for that assignment. We
repeat. We DO NOT CHASE you for assignments. You were warned. Do not be upset. Take
responsibility. Don't tell me you didn't know I collected it, blah blah. We are teaching you to be
assertive. You go up to us and say, "Here is page 12 that you guys did yesterday." After class of
course.
7. What do I do if I am absent the day of the test or project? If you knew
that I was going to give a test, quiz, etc. and you are absent the day of
the assessment, you must take it the next day! It is YOUR responsibility to
make an appointment with me. If it is not made up, it will be a zero. We don't play the game of
giving a test a month after the rest of the class has taken it.
8. Perform only those experiments that you specifically have been assigned
to do. Follow the instructions for the lab implicitly and OBSERVE ALL SAFETY
RULES. Horseplay of any kind is ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN in the laboratory and
WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!
9. Safety goggles must be worn when directed by the teacher or laboratory
instructions. Be careful handling all laboratory equipment. Clean up after
yourself in the laboratory. Food or drinks (yes, this means water bottles
too) are never allowed in the lecture room or lab. These are state laws!
10. Shoes must be worn at all times in the lab. Open toed shoes are not
allowed if we are doing a lab. If you arrive at lab with open-toed shoes,
you are not allowed to perform the lab. Due to safety reasons,
you will be asked to change or make up the lab the same day, after school.
Failure to do so will result in a zero. Clothing that does not conform to
the school's DRESS CODE is unacceptable.
11. You are expected to maintain a mature business-like attitude during
lecture and lab. ONE PERSON TALKS AT A TIME PLEASE! If you wish to
contribute to a discussion or answer a question, raise your hand to be
called on by the teacher. This is not a SPRINGER room. If you have a
comment or question, please raise your hand to be recognized.
12. Academic Integrity-Cheating Defined
A. Knowingly providing your work/answers to another student for them to
copy as their own. (Giver)
B. Knowingly copying another student’s work/answers and submitting them
as your own. (Receiver)
C. Using illicit or banned materials during a test/quiz situation.
D. Knowingly submitting work completed by another student as your own.
You will be dealt with according to school policy. It is not worth it to
lose our respect and trust for you.
13. Fire Drills—Meet at the gate behind H hall if we are in L-1. Meet at
the bottom of the hill by the practice football field if we are in L-9. All
students MUST find me and check in. ATTENDANCE IS TAKEN. Failure to report
to me will cost you a zero for your weekly grade.
14. Lab reports MUST be stapled before the bell rings or I will take points
off for not being prepared. Lab reports and projects turned in late will be
lowered 10% for each day it is late. However, if the lab or project is
already returned to the other students, your lab or project will not be
accepted.
15. Work should be done in pencil when doing math problems.
**These rules will be followed so that all students can learn in a safe
environment.
**You will be given a quarterly quiz grade just for doing the right
thing.
**If these rules are violated, you will have points deducted plus
consequences.
I am available for extra help everyday before and after school. Here’s to
an enjoyable and successful year as we travel through chemistry together!
Springer learning environments are not and will not be tolerated.
All jokes made by the teachers, no matter how stupid they are, must be
tolerated.
Academic Chem:
Tests/Quizzes 50%
Labs 40%
HW/CW 10%
