
Brenda, sounds like a very "matter of fact" stance and if this is working for you then of course keep what works. If you find you are experiencing push back with this type of stance you may want to consider engaging in more of a conversation concerning the syllabus and class expectations and allow students to state their own expectations of the class in addition of your expectations of them. This topic can make for a very interesting dialog so I will be interested to hear from others on this subject.
James Jackson