Hi everyone and welcome to the Stressproof Classroom,where everyone gets to learn without stress. Before we start let’s establish our protocols or rules for an English lesson so that everyone gets to learn and I get to teach in an optimum environment...without stress. I’m going to tell you what I need, and you’re going to tell me what you need for optimum learning. Research has shown that you don’t learn when you’re stressed, so firstly, let’s make a list of what we each need for a low-stress environment and we'll write out that as an agreement between us. Now, this next proposal will also reduce stress, and allow you to learn in a much better way and be active and social when you go home. Here it is: I believe that six or seven hours a day at school should be enough time to get through everything that needs to be done. So, I’m doing away with homework. Yes. It’s true. Anything that you end up taking home is only what you don’t get finished in class. I’ll give you adequate time and guidance in class to complete the work, but if you chat or waste time you will have things left over to do. You may be required to read books or texts in your own time. My second proposal: I’m going to allow you as much choice as possible to write about and research topics that interest you. I believe if you’re interested and engaged, you’ll learn much more, and the rest of us will learn from you too! Finally, we’re going to spend this first lesson on the assessment criteria. I will show each of you where you are on your own learning continuum and you will have a clear idea of what you need to do to improve. This too, should help you see the value in what you’re learning and how you’re progressing. This hopefully gets rid of surprise or ‘unfair’ grades. In this class, your task is to develop and learn and think critically and be creative. There is no limit to your own mind and thinking – and that’s what I’ll be thinking as I work with you this semester.