Policies & Procedures

How I Run My Class

You should find a chapter’s worth of assignments posted for science class and a novel’s worth for literature class.  I feel it’s necessary to teach the students how to budget their time because although this seems to be the busy year, next year will be worse.  This way, students will know what is coming and can prepare accordingly.  Students should, and can always have their work done on time.  Again, there should be no excuses for not having time or having too much to do to get their work done.  Everything will be posted giving access to students.  In the event of an absence, lost or forgotten assignments and you have the ScienceWorks Cd checked out from the library, you will be able to run off all work from your home computer. I work to get everything graded quickly. Through the use of the online grade program, I aim to have assignments graded and posted by noon the following day, and returned in class the day after. Since we are online, I do not post grades in my classroom.  Students NEED to check the online grade program regularly against returned papers to make sure everything is correct.  They are made to check their grades once a week in Type to Learn class.

This year is about transitioning students and preparing them for high school. As the year progresses, I will be putting more and more responsibility on the students. I have several checks and balances in place with gentle reminders in the beginning which taper off by the end of the year. It’s important for students to learn this, and I feel as a teacher, it is my duty to help them prepare for the next chapter of their schooling.

Behavior Consequences

I have very strong classroom management.  Very seldom do I have problems with students.  In my classroom, I begin with verbal warnings and try speaking with the student.  In the past, this usually solves the problem, but if need be, I will email or phone home. Sometimes it’s lunch with me. If further action is necessary or the offense if severe enough or repetitive, a detention will be given.

Homework Policy / Late Work

Work is expected to be turned in the class period it is due – no exceptions!  If it is not turned in on time, a late penalty of 50% will be taken off in addition to the number of points missed.  THIS IS COSTLY!!!!  You need to remember to bring your completed assignments to class. If you are absent, it is imperative that you put “AB” or absent by your name so that you are NOT charged the late fee.  This is your responsibility to remember.

Grades

Grades NEED to be checked regularly online.  If I have not received your grade, there will be an M in place of a grade.  This means you need to check it see if you turned in the work.  Either you did not turn it in, or you turned it in without a name on it, and it will be in the outbox.  Please check the out box first.  I do not lose papers, but I am not perfect.   Please check your returned papers with the posted grades board every time papers are returned!  This creates a “checks and balances” system to ensure accuracy.  Other codes that may be instead of a grade are EX - which means they are excused from assignment.  L which means it was a late assignment or a check mark which weans I have collected the assignment in class but not graded it yet.

Assignments

There are several places to find the assignments.  Student agenda’s should have either a chapter of science or novel assignments at a time.  For the first semester, they are posted on the board in my room and will always be on the website.  NO EXCUSES for forgetting!  Besides the fact you can get the textbooks online and have access to worksheets if you choose to check out the StudentWorks cd from the library.  I’d say apathy will be your only excuse for no homework and that is not tolerated!