Mrs.  McDowell

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

I would like to take this opportunity to explain some of my classroom policies and expectations.  Students are expected to behave appropriately for their age.  Tardiness will not be tolerated.  It is expected that students take initiative when they are absent to find out what they missed, and turn it in the next day.  The Westfall attendance policy will be strictly followed in this class. 

 

Students are expected to be responsible and accountable for their actions.  They are expected to treat others in the room with the utmost respect; this means other students as well as adults.  Good choices are expected.  This means the use of cell phones (phone conversations or texting family and friends/ updating or checking Facebook/ “tweeting”) and MP3 players in class are unacceptable unless otherwise directed by me.  Please leave problems at the door and enter with a good attitude and be ready to learn. 

 

I expect students to be prepared every day.  A couple required things that are also listed in the class contract is a three ring binder dedicated solely to this class as well as bringing the text book to class every day.  Again, the needed materials are listed in the class contract.  Work is due on the specified date, even in the case of an absence.  Late work will result in a reduction of points earned.  Cheating will not be tolerated.  This includes plagiarism.  The student and/or students will receive a zero and school administration will be notified.  Parents/ Guardians will also be contacted.

Let me tell you a little about how I run my classroom.  I have a "hands-on” approach with labs and I use a variety of teaching methods to help the students learn.  I also weight my grades.  Here is an explanation of how the weighting works.  Total grades are broken up into four categories.  Progress Book reflects that quizzes and tests are weighted at 35% of the overall grade, lab activities at 30% of the overall grade and assignments (which I generally grade for completeness and effort) at 25% of the overall grade and class participation at 10% of the overall grade (this includes things like being active in class discussions and activities ).  The theory behind this system is that the assignments that we do in class are to be used as practice for new concepts, the labs are for application of the new concepts and the quizzes and tests are for (everything we do in class leads up to this) assessing the new concepts.  This is a rigorous course, concepts and skills are mandated by Ohio’s standard course of study, and a lot of the concepts build on each other, making participation in class a must.  While each category is not weighted the same, it is important for students to do their best in each category in order to achieve the highest grade possible.  For example, assignments are worth 25% of the overall grade.  So if a student does none of the assignments, but has a 100% in the other three categories, the highest overall grade they would be able to earn would be a 75%.  On that note, turning in completed assignments on time is a necessary part of their overall grade because late assignments receive half credit, which is a 50% for that assignment, or an F if you want to look at it from another angle.  Another example is if a student receives a 100% for all assignments, labs and class participation, but fails all the tests, the highest grade that can be earned would be a 65%. 

 

Students are expected to take responsibility and ownership for their work.  Each day, the agenda is written on the board and it is essential that students write down assignments.  It is it also essential that students keep track of their class materials to prepare for tests.  I let the students know well in advanced (usually at least a week) so they can begin preparing and don't have to cram.  The test questions correlate very closely to the class materials i.e.; study guides, notes, corrected homework and most importantly the text book.  However, students need to know how to apply, not memorize, what they have learned.  As long students keep track of their materials and spend quality time reading and comprehending the concepts, they should have no problem passing the tests and ultimately the class.

 

I am available for your questions and concerns, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Here’s to a fresh start and a new year, let’s make it fabulous!  Go Mustangs!