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Classroom Policies

My Classroom Policies:
 
Give your best effort, it is the least I can ask for.
 
  • Tests are used to challenge a wide variety of permutations of any particular topic.
  • Quizzes are more specific to the basic concept of a topic and more frequent.
  • HW/participation grade is based on the student’s behavior in class and an average of HW assignments that are periodically collected and graded.  Please be sure they are doing their HW because it is crucial to their success.
 
All assignments are distinctively labeled and I will grade them as quickly as possible.
 
All missing assignments at the end of the marking period are noted by a "39", otherwise it will show up blank during the marking period.  I do this for two reasons.  (1) I need to use a distinct number and so the system's calculator includes that assignment.  (2) If your son has not made up the assignment it should be a "0", which is not a grade that I want to enter into Genesis.  I do not give less than a 40 in the gradebook, regardless of the actual grade.  All assignments should made up within one week of the day that a student returns to school.
 
If your son is absent, they need to email me about that day's homework assignment.  It is always best to come for extra help on the day the student returns to school.

 

Extra Help:

 

Extra help is designed to answer questions a student may have about a certain problem or specific aspects of a lesson presented that day or earlier that week.  I am here every day until 2:30 and no appointment is required.  However,   due to the volume of students coming for extra help, I do strongly suggest scheduling an appointment in order for me to best help you son.

 

Classroom Procedures and General Info.:

  1. We learn one new concept a day. That’s it!
  2. I am here every single day after school for 30 minutes.
  3. I am very procedural and always give steps and explanations.
  4. I always answer every student's question before moving forward.
  5. Students can use their calculators for 99% of the material this year.  I will always specify when they can not use a calculator.
  6. The questions that are on quizzes and tests are the same problems students are asked to complete for HW. That means, if students complete their HW, pay attention in class, take the quiz on quiz day, and study before the test, it will be the 5th time they have seen a similar question.  Students need to show all their work when answering questions, so this repetition should help ensure their comfort level with the material being presented and, ultimately, their academic success.

Parent/Teacher Interaction and FAQ's:

 

Perhaps the most important thing to me is to have a healthy relationship with the parents.  In each of my ten years of teaching, I pride myself in being professional in all aspects.  I always come prepared to work and I expect the same from my students.  We work from bell to bell, and I promise you that I will always do my best to keep safety, education, and your son’s emotional well-being as my primary objectives. 

 

I am stern, but I am fair and am willing to compromise.  Please, if you have any questions, please contact me via email [email protected] or, if necessary, by phone. 

 

I update student grades regularly (a minimum of once per week), and that is my primary method of communicating a student’s progress with his parents.  Please take advantage of this outstanding resource to keep abreast of your son’s academic standing throughout the marking period.

 

I have posted my grading and classroom procedures so that there is no confusion regarding how grades are determined or what classroom expectations are.

 

 Important Points to Know about Individual Lessons…

  • We start by learning a new concept and students are given HW on basic problems to become familiar with the general process.
  • Every subsequent class/classes will begin with Q&A followed by the addition of variations to a general concept.
  • The most important thing is for students to make sure they ask as many questions as they need and to remember to check their work.
  • Students will then have a quiz (which we will correct and go over in class) to check their understanding of the lesson,.
  • Quizzes are followed up with a test.
  • This is the general flow of my class.
  • I tell the kids all the time that success in math requires a consistent daily effort.  Every day we learn something new that builds upon what we learned yesterday.  Paying attention in class, completing HW assignments regularly, and being present each day in class are all important factors in helping them to be successful.
  • Parents can help their sons at home by reinforcing the importance of completing HW assignments
  • Most of all, students should never be scared to ask a question and should come for extra help IMMEDIATELY if they don't understand something.