Course Syllabus

Choir Syllabus 2017-2018

Welcome back, Trojans! I’m so excited to have you in my classes this year, it’s going to be fantastic! I have lots planned for us and in order for us to be successful, a few guidelines have to be followed. Happy director, happy students, happy year! These guidelines are posted around the choir room and included below:

1. No food, gum, candy, or drinks except water! Always bring a bottle of water with you to class, there’s gonna be a lot of singing!
2. Be in your place, have all materials in hand, and be ready to work as soon as the bell rings!
3. Be respectful of/to others!
4. No talking while Ms. Silva or any other adult is talking or giving instruction. Let’s please be considerate and respectful at all times!
5. Sing and have FUN!

I don’t have many guidelines, so this should be easy to follow! I also have some classroom procedures that should be followed at all times:

1. We will enter and exit the classroom in orderly fashion!
2. We know we are ready for instruction when we have our folders and pencils in hand, are standing in our designated spots, and are at voice level ZERO!
3. ALWAYS use solfege hand signs when sight reading!
4. When/if we are in a conflict with another student or other students, we will talk things out maturely and respectfully!
5. If we do not understand a concept, we will ask Ms. Silva for help!
6. If we do not remember the instructions given, we will ask THREE people to remind us before we ask Ms. Silva!
7. If we need to take our music home for study purposes, we will check out our folder with Ms. Silva before we leave the choir room for the day!
8. If we feel the need to back talk Ms. Silva, we will breathe in and out for TEN SECONDS and think to ourselves, ‘Is this respectful? Is this necessary? Can we talk about this after class?’
9. If we think about checking our phones during class, we will put our cell phones on the piano, knowing that Ms. Silva will NOT touch it or keep it!
10. We will come to class every day ready to sing and get work done!

Materials needed for choir:

1. Black, 1 inch 3 ring binder
1. $1.50 at Walmart
2. $1 at Dollar Tree
2. 1 no. 2 pencil
1. Mechanical or wooden
1. $0.30 at Mardel or Walmart

Things that are NOT allowed in the choir room unless I give it to you:

1. FOOD - this means:
1. Gum
2. Candy (ALL CANDY)
3. Chips (Yes, Takis are chips)
4. Chicken wings
5. Pizza
6. Waffles
7. Soda
8. Gatorade
9. Energy drinks
10. Prunes
11. Kale
2. Fidget Spinners/Cubes/Rubix/Toys
1. Just don’t… Unless it’s my new toy, don’t bring it. Otherwise, it IS my new toy :D
3. SLIME
1. DON’T YOU DARE PUT THAT EVIL ON ME, RICKY BOBBY
4. Bad Grammar
5. Stinky feet
1. Keep yo shoes on, boiii
6. Too much perfume/cologne/axe/body spray
1. Ms. Silva’s got severe asthma. Don’t send your loving teacher to the hospital and don’t you spray it in my room unless I ask you to :D
7. Bad Attitudes
1. We’re under the mutual understanding that we will leave our problems at the door.
2. If we have a problem, we will talk to Ms. Silva before or after class
3. If we just can’t today, we will talk to Ms. Silva before or after class
4. If we can’t talk about it, we will go to Mrs. Read’s office with a pass from Ms. Silva

As you know, nothing goes unrewarded! I will happily reward you if I see you doing something fantastic! BUT… I will also give you a consequence if any of my guidelines or procedures are not being followed. In my choir program, we are well behaved and hard workers. If you are causing an obstacle of learning in this classroom, this is the order of consequences you will receive.

1. Verbal Warning
2. Private Discussion
3. Documented Consequence with a phone call home
4. After school detention with me until 5:30 the following day
5. After school detention from the office
6. Removal of selected privileges in class
7. You will not come with us to Region auditions, UIL, or any field trips
8. If you are a 6th or 7th grader, you will forfeit your audition for Select Choir next year.

I do not want to punish you. I do not want you removed from my program or its activities. But even more than that, I do NOT want my program to suffer because of your inability to control your behavior or contain your attitude. We are a team and are expected to act as such.

Grading:

My policy for grading is this:

100 - I am completing all classwork, following all guidelines/classroom procedures, and singing at all appropriate times

90 - I am singing every day and following all classroom procedures with nearly no need to correct my behavior

80 - I am singing most days, following some classroom procedures, whispering to my friends, and I’m not on my phone

70 - I am singing for a few days, following some classroom procedures, talking a little to my friends, and I’m on my phone sometimes

60 - I am not singing very much, talking to my friends after being corrected, following very few classroom procedures, and I’m constantly on my phone

0 - I am doing nothing in class and am talking out of turn

Substitute Teacher Respect:

There are a few days that I will be out of school during the year, and I expect for him/her to be respected just as you respect me. You will not give them any problems because they do not deserve it. These men and women devote their lives to helping you as much as I and other teachers have. Please show them the greatest respect you can!

Again, I am THRILLED to have you all in my choir program! This music will be tough and my expectations for you are at a very high level, but I know we can do this together! Are you ready to work and make beautiful music together? I am!!!!!

Ms. Silva

Choir Director

Truman Middle School