Classroom Schedule and Policies
Students remember!!! At the beginning of any trimester YOU ALREADY HAVE AN "A"!
But...
IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR A,
YOU MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO COMPLETE YOUR GIVEN TASKS
(that means):
You will need to
1) COMPLETE WORK REQUIREMENTS,
2) FOLLOW CLASS PRINCIPLES AND SCHOOL RULES, and
3) MAINTAIN GRADE POINTS.
***
Commitment is what transforms a promise into a reality.
It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions
And the actions which speak louder than words.
It is making time when there is none,
Coming through, time after time, year after year,
Commitment is the stuff character is made of,
The power to change the face of things.
It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.
-Anonymous
Work Requirements - Homework
The equation is simple:
Class Participation/Preparation + Practice (Classwork and Homework) = EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE!
...and now a few words about that dreaded subject, HOMEWORK....
Homework is practice. Students can't become good at any skill without practice. As your instructor, I will not assign "busy work." All assignments will be for the purpose of practicing to become better at an academic skill or to build on long-term goals. Homework is graded on a check system which focuses on effort, completion, proper use of format, showing relative accuracy/proficiency of skills and concepts of the assignment. The check system is as follows:
check plus - 6/5 points for excellent work (above and beyond)
check - 5/5 points for very good, highly proficient work
check minus - 4/5 points for fair to poor work, but fully completed
Inc. - 2 or 3 out of 5 pts. for incomplete assignment 50-75% complete
0 - for assignment not received
AB - seen on Gradelink means that students have time to make-up an assignment without a late penalty.
Any absent grades can turn to zeros if a long time elapses.
EX - seen on Gradelink means that students are excused from the assignment.
Class Participation/Preparation + Practice (Classwork and Homework) = EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE!
...and now a few words about that dreaded subject, HOMEWORK....
Homework is practice. Students can't become good at any skill without practice. As your instructor, I will not assign "busy work." All assignments will be for the purpose of practicing to become better at an academic skill or to build on long-term goals. Homework is graded on a check system which focuses on effort, completion, proper use of format, showing relative accuracy/proficiency of skills and concepts of the assignment. The check system is as follows:
check plus - 6/5 points for excellent work (above and beyond)
check - 5/5 points for very good, highly proficient work
check minus - 4/5 points for fair to poor work, but fully completed
Inc. - 2 or 3 out of 5 pts. for incomplete assignment 50-75% complete
0 - for assignment not received
AB - seen on Gradelink means that students have time to make-up an assignment without a late penalty.
Any absent grades can turn to zeros if a long time elapses.
EX - seen on Gradelink means that students are excused from the assignment.
1) LATE WORK: All assigned work must be completed and turned in ON TIME in order for students to receive the intended benefits of the practice, formative assessments by the teacher, and preparation for success on future assessments. Allowing late assignments to habitually accrue is counterproductive and encourages poor academic work habits and performance.
Late assignments for full credit will only be accepted with a note from a parent due to an emergency (no more than 3 times per trimester). There is an opportunity to receive credit for late work with a minimal deduction at any time within the month the assignment was due. Assignments must be turned in by the end of the month that an assignment was due or students will forfeit their opportunity to receive late credit consideration.
Recording late work, is not first priority, and it will be processed when time allows. Current assignments, tests, finals, and projects are always given precedence. End of trimester deadlines will be announced (and are usually two weeks before the close of the grading period).
IMPORTANT EMAIL PROTOCOL: In order to receive credit for late work, students must email me directly with "LATE WORK" in the subject line. In the text of the email, each assignment(s) should be listed with specific details, and it should be noted in what location the assignment was submitted. Failure to email this information to [email protected] before the deadline will prevent assignments from being credited.
2) ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all their classes each day whether distance learning or learning in the classroom. Please avoid unnecessary absences whenever plausible as it impedes the progress of the class and student. Parents must provide a note upon return to class and if students will be absent for school (whole-day or partial-day). It is imperative that instructor's understand that parents are aware of the absence for a variety of reasons (including internet or device failure). If emailing this information, please include "Absence" in the subject line and then explain the pertinent information in the text of the email. This is especially crucial during distance learning periods.
3) IF ABSENT: The student is responsible for inquiring about make-up work. Students should first consult Google Classroom (and the detailed instructions there), Gradelink, and a responsible fellow student for important details. If questions are still not answered, then it is appropriate to speak with the teacher either during class or via e-mail. You will receive an extra day for each day absent to make-up work. Some assignments may be waived or due dates extended as each individual situation warrants. Please note, however, that all the work done is cumulative, and that a student can never fully make-up missed presentation of information. As a result, it is often difficult to easily "catch-up." If a student is sick, they should remain at home and get plenty of rest. Other extraneous absences should be kept to a minimum whenever possible. Consider, for example, does my child really need to go to 7 Shadow Days at a prospective high school and miss 7 full days of school? These absences do add up and place a lot of stress on the student and overall class and academic progress in the long run.
4) Organization and preparation of materials are directly correlated to student success. Encourage these skills with a regular check and "spring cleaning" of the student's binders, backpack, etc. Be sure they are stocked with an adequate amount of lined paper and pens/pencils consistently. Keeping returned work in a folder at home is also a good way to check progress and to confirm grades. Keeping an up-to-date agenda and organizing study time is highly recommended.
5) Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments are to be turned in on loose-leaf paper (not torn out of a notebook) with the correct heading format. Only blue or black ink should be used and assignments done on a computer are always welcomed (font size 11-12 preferred). Please do not email formal written assignments unless there was an emergency with a printer or another digital format was required. Format for heading papers for homework is below:
SUBJECT (On first line left-hand side after margin) NAME (first line, right-hand side)
SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT (2nd line) page, numbers, etc. DATE (2nd line)
A final word on homework: After over twenty years of successfully teaching hundreds of students to acquire the skills they need to confidently undertake college preparatory level coursework at private and public high schools, I have found that assigning a reasonable amount of homework on a regular basis has been invaluable in helping students to develop the self-discipline, self-directed application, and mastery of skills they need to effectively prepare for and thrive in a variety of academic settings. Studies show that multiple opportunities to practice skills and engage in material in a variety of ways increases retention and true learning. Homework and applied projects are components of this that should not be underrated. It is vital that students receive the support they need at home to complete assignments and to understand the cumulative effect that this practice has on their overall growth. My goal is to balance the workload and avoid major overlaps or overloads with their other courses.
Grading
Currently, grades are determined and maintained through a point system or a rubric that is then converted into a percentage. The final grade percentage is based on the guidelines as set forth by the Archdiocese (see Handbook), and ample assessment opportunities will occur within the course of a trimester. There are generally three types of grades: academic, work habits (effort), and behavior/cooperation. Grading criteria used are the following:
Academic Subjects: These grades are based primarily on subject-matter assessment in a variety of ways through reports/essays/large projects, tests, quizzes, mini-projects, and homework. Grades are weighted in the order listed here from greatest to least.
Work Habits/Effort: This grade is based on the consistency of the following:
1) Having required supplies and being prepared each day.
2) Consistency in homework and academic preparedness.
3) Quality of work (i.e. effort, legibility, organization)
4) Following directions, submission protocols, and assignment specifics with care
5) Class participation.
6) Group participation and cooperation.
7) Working diligently in class.
Behavior/Cooperation: This grade is based on the consistency of the following:
1) Following all school and classroom rules and the dress code.
2) Adherence to online policies and protocols (See Online Guidelines page).
3) Displaying a commitment to learn, cooperate, and respect others.
Extra-Credit: There is extra-credit available in my class. Throughout the year, various extra-credit opportunities will be suggested. Students are free to choose any of those opportunities to gain extra-credit points before a crisis might be reached. However, "last minute" extra-credit will NOT be accepted during the last two weeks of any grading period or after grades have been finalized. Students will be given a reasonable deadline date to submit all extra-credit and remaining late work before the end of the grading period.
Grading Time Turn-over & Priorities: Generally, most homework assignments will be entered into Gradelink within 1-3 days of due date. Quizzes and smaller projects are within a 1-3 day window as well. Larger tests take about 1 week before they are posted. Tests, projects, and finals with significant written portions can take longer. Formal writing assignments generally take the most time as they are carefully reviewed a small portion at a time to ensure clarity of grading. Often, 8th grade class takes grading priority especially in light of high school application and graduation time constraints. Again, late work will be processed when time allows as more current assignments and tests are top priority.