Welcome to the class rules and policies page for Mrs. Graham's Math and Exploratory classes. In addition to our school handbook rules, it is always good to understand what a teacher expects. Let me know your ideas. Good ideas are always welcome!
Major Class Rules:
- Show verbal respect to all teachers, classmates and yourself.
- Show respect to school property.
- Always write in pencil unless given permission to do otherwise.
- Ask questions when you are unsure of your understanding of a concept.
- Clean up your area around your learning space before you leave the room.
- One student at a time may take the bathroom pass. If you have an emergency, do not ask to leave. Just take care of your needs. Please do not leave the room during class notes or presentations.
- Please stay seated during presentations.
- I prefer that you use mechanical pencils in math class. Keep a tube of extra lead in your backpack. Pencil sharpening and wandering distract others during exams.
- Leave your personal calculator safely at home. There are enough class units for everyone. If you do bring your own calculator, have it permanently marked with your name on both the cover and the unit itself.
- Late homework will either not be accepted, or will receive a minimum percentage loss of 5% per day.
- Class labs cannot be made up. It is impossible to duplicate the team activity. Labs will usually take place on Fridays. Do not miss school unless you are really ill.
- Hard candy is allowed during class except the computer lab. No lollipops please.
- Gum Is Not Allowed In Our School.
Where Should You Sit?
There is no mandatory seating assignment in any of my classes. You will need to let me know if you have special needs regarding 'seeing the board' or sitting next to a certain student. Sometimes I will have certain students work together because I believe that you will make a
strong team. I will always talk to you about it first.If your seating assignment seems to be resulting in frequent disruptions, I will reassign you and possibly your working partners to other locations. Our goal is to be able to learn. I do not enjoy 'getting after' the class.
If we have a guest teacher, I will tell the guest teacher the most current seating assignments. Please do not move on those days.
Always Bring Your Textbook And Your Math Notebook!
I purchase the bound class notebooks at the University Bookstore. I prefer this kind. Please do not tear pages out; the binding will come apart. If you follow the instructions from the first two days of notes in class, your notebook will last the entire school year. The notebook cost is approximately $3.00 (usually less.)
Note To Parents: Check the math notebook often. There should be daily entries of notes, lesson descriptions and homework assignments. Your encouragement in the use of the math notebooks will benefit your child as they learn to study. Be advised that I give homework almost daily except on weekends.Remember... Your notebook grade is 25% of your grade. Do not lose it, but if you do... let me know right away so that we can help you find it or start a new one. You can use your notebooks during all exams except during standardized testing. Therefore, your notebook is very important to you.
I will issue one warning regarding uncovered books. If your book is not covered by the following day I will give you a write up for disrespect to school property. If your book is still not covered by the next day I will change the write up to a consequence and call your parents. Our textbooks are not our property. They cost almost $40 each. If you damage your book you will have to replace it. Keep in mind that in most schools students have to share one set of books and do not have the opportunity to take the books home to study.
On the first day of class I will give you a bookmark with your textbook. Do not store your assignments in your textbook. Turn them in. Graded assignments belong in your portfolio. Your book should never have anything in it except for your bookmark and the homework that you are getting ready to turn in. Extra bulk in a book breaks the binding.
Talking In Class...
Please learn the difference between disrupting the class and class discussion. I value your viewpoints and your ideas. I especially value the short amount of time that we have to learn together each day. Do not waste that time with unnecessary socializing and disrespect to either myself or your classmates.
Asking questions in class is smart! The best students are the students who make sure that they really do understand the material before they leave the room. If there are no questions, I assume that everyone understands perfectly. If you need more example problems... ask for them.
Will I Use A Calculator In Class?
You will be using a TI-34 (Texas Instruments) model scientific calculator on almost a daily basis. Part of our curriculum is learning the functions and use of a scientific calculator. The proper use of math tools will be very important to you in the next few years. A calculator, when used properly, can help you accomplish more detailed problem solving in less time.
It is also very important that you continue to work on your computational skills (arithmetic.) During the school year we will often have drills and quick quizzes to help you keep your skills strong. Please note that I am assuming that you already know how to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of both whole, and fractional numbers. We will continue to sharpen your skills with the set of all rational numbers that includes both the positive and negative integers.
If you do not practice these skills at home, you will not feel confident. Class time is for learning new skills and assessing whether you are ready for the next topic. We will assess your current level of arithmetic skills in the first week of school. We will re-test around midyear to determine your growth level. (Note: 8th graders will take standardized tests after the midyear.)
What Are The Policies For Grading And Homework?
I use an electronic gradebook software by Russell Stevens called School Maestro. This method allows me to easily create a complicated structure of combined percentages. The category grades are averaged first. Then, the software takes those percentages and averages them with category percentage weights. The categories include the following:
- Notebook= 25% (All grades will be counted.)
- Quizzes and Exams= 25% (One lowest grade will be dropped per 9 week grading term.)
- Homework= 25% (Three lowest grades will be dropped per 9 week grading term.)
- Class Participation= 10%
- In Class Labs and Projects= 10% (One lab or project grade will be dropped per 9 week grading term.)
- Computational Assignments & Drill= 5% (One lowest grade will be dropped per 9 week grading term.)
You will have many opportunities to earn extra credit. Your extra credit points can affect your overall grade by up to five percentage points. In other words the highest grade that you can earn on a project, assignment or exam will not exceed 105%.
How Can I Get Extra Help?
There are many ways that you can get extra help. I encourage you to use your 'at home resources;' your parents and older brothers and sisters. You are also encouraged to stay in contact with your math class partners. Call each other and make arrangements to do your homework together. If you get stuck, you may call me at home between 1730 hours and 2100 hours (5:30-9:00 PM.) If you get my answering machine, speak slowly leaving your name and home phone number. I will try and get back with you. I will never call your home after 9:00 PM unless there is an emergency.
You may come to school as early as 0745 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for extra help in my classroom. I will be there as well as other students to help you either individually, or as a small group. Keep in mind that you are coming early to work. This is not a time to wander the halls or to socialize. You may also come early to work on studies for other classes. I may or may not be able to assist you with that work. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are dedicated to team and staff meetings. You will not be allowed to arrive prior to 0800 to the school grounds. If my duty day is on a Tuesday or Thursday I will let you know the day before so that you do not come in early.
Note: The hot water pot will usually be on for hot chocolate. You are encouraged to bring a breakfast juice or snack. Do not go without breakfast. If you would like to contribute to our Styrofoam cups or the instant chocolate, please feel welcome to do so. You must clean up your learning area before you leave to your advisory class.
