Responsibilities:

Learning is best accomplished when students, parents and teachers approach it cooperatively. 

Students and the teacher have the shared responsibility for creating a learning environment.  Learning is not a passive activity so it is expected that students will engage themselves in classroom activities and discussions in meaningful ways.  The teacher will have a prepared, thoughtful lesson plan for each class.  Parents have the role of taking an active interest in the studies and the students’ homework through frequent check-ups on the students’ work.

 

 

Grades:

Grades will be divided into three parts and weighted as follows:

1. Homework: 30%

2. Quizzes: 20%

3. Tests: 50%

 

Homework is a crucial component to this class.  Class discussion and activities will generally be based off of what students have done in preparation for class through the homework.  Homework includes problems assigned from the textbook, various worksheets and projects assigned by the teacher, and reading the section of the textbook that will be covered in the next class.  Students may submit homework up to one day late with a 25% reduction in their score for the assignment.  Homework not turned in within this time will be recorded as a zero.

 

Unlike last year, students will not have an opportunity to correct homework or quizzes in order to earn back points.  However, the term grade of students who have at least a 60% homework average will be either their test average or the weighted averages as listed above- which ever is the higher of the two.

 

Students can retake each test one time. 

 

Note: You can track assignments/quizzes/tests and grades through Power School.

 

Binders:

Students should have a 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper.  Students will need two dividers- one titled “Notes” and the other “Tests.”  Past tests will be one of the students’ best study guides for upcoming tests as all tests will be cumulative.  Students are encouraged to keep their homework for the same reason (and to guard against any mistakes the teacher makes while entering grades), but it is not required.

 

Standards for Class Behavior:

1. It is the responsibility of each student to foster a learning environment in the classroom.  Part of this environment comes from showing respect towards yourself and your peers, as well as their ideas; please encourage others to contribute. This is especially important while working in small groups and with partners.  Remember that communication is peer to peer as well as student to teacher.  Anticipate a seating chart quiz on Friday of the first week of school.

2.  Upon entering the room each day, please go immediately to your seat and begin working on your daily quiz.  Neither the bell nor the teacher starts class.  YOU start class.  The quiz will be corrected about 5 minutes after the bell rings.

3. Discussions will all be utilizing the hand raising system. By following this system, everyone will have an equal opportunity to speak.

4. While in class, leaving your seat is only acceptable when class time has been turned over to you for work time. Class discussion and/or presentations (by myself, or students) is not a good time to sharpen your pencil.

5. While the teacher/speaker is speaking please be actively involved/listening at all times; this means packing up will take place after the class period has ended.

6. Please show respect towards your school and your peers by treating our classroom as a place of learning rather than a snack bar: gum stays inside the mouth; you are invited to keep your food, drinks and candy in your locker or toss them in the garbage can upon entrance to the classroom.

7. A learning atmosphere requires that every day each student comes to class on time, fully prepared and ready to engage in focused learning (using active participation).

 

Self Discipline:

Democracy requires that its citizens be self disciplined.  Therefore, your responsibility is to discipline yourself by understanding and executing the “Standards for Class Behavior”.  The sum of all of your self-discipline will be a peaceful atmosphere in which ideas can be freely shared.

 

Tardy Policy:

Don’t be late.  The school’s policy states that after three tardies the student will receive a “No Grade” on their report card.  In order to remove the “No Grade” from the report students need to arrange a time with the teacher to spend 30-minutes cleaning up the school/classroom for each tardy past the three threshold.

 

Extra credit for zero tardies will be factored into your final grade for each quarter if you have not been late for class.

 

Attendance and Assignments:

You will have to follow the school policy for completing assignments.  This policy states that you will have one additional day to complete all work for each day you have an excused absence.

 

All assignments must be done in pencil in order to receive credit.

 

The Right to Petition:

If there is a situation you feel to be unfair or unjust, it is your right to seek redress, but not at the expense of the learning atmosphere (disrupting class time).  If you see an unjustifiable situation, please explain the situation and your feelings in writing. Explain how you perceive the situation to be inconsistent with the class rules and/or expectations. Finish your description with how you would like to see the situation handled justly. Sign the petition (I only need your signature) and turn it in.  I will address the issue as I see fit, taking into account your needs/concerns.

 

Equality Statement:

This classroom is committed to equality.  Therefore, please report any cases of discrimination and/or harassment to the teacher and/or administration in a prompt manner.