Classroom Policies and Procedures 2006-7

Conduct -- The 4 R’s are central to class conduct. Keeping them in mind makes the classroom a place where everyone feels accepted and where we can all learn effectively.

Respect people. In the classroom, this means paying attention to the speaker, be it the teacher or a peer. Please do not interrupt. Be ready to begin when class starts, and wait until class is over before packing up your notes. If you need to sharpen your pencil, choose an appropriate time.
Respect property. Ask before using the teacher’s property (stapler, etc.). Keep the desks clean. Pick up trash, and please do not eat or drink in the classroom. If you do not clean up, somebody else has to.

· Take responsibility for your own education! Make sure that you get your questions asked and answered, either in class or at another time. Come see me or even e-mail me questions – I check my FBA e-mail daily during the school week. Know when assignments are due, what your grade is, and what you can do to improve that grade. What you get out of this class depends on what you put into it.

· Take responsibility as a class. The types of activities we do depend on what you show me you can handle productively. If the class as a group stays on task, you are telling me that you can be trusted with small group discussions, review games, etc.

· Reconciliation We are all called to reach out to each other in hospitality. The words we use, the attitude we take, the way we choose to include or exclude, to build up or to tear down, have their effects. Please make this class and your school a place where peace starts.

· Reverence for the presence of God in the world’s history and in our classroom today is the very horizon against which we live our lives. We will start each class with prayer, and I ask you please to stand for that prayer.

Other points of note: You are expected to adhere to school policies as outlined in the Student Handbook. This includes the uniform policy.

Grading

Final grade is based on the four quarter grades, a midyear exam, and a final exam. Each quarter is worth 20% of the final grade. The midyear exam and final exam are each worth 10% of the final grade.
Grading for each quarter is based on a point system. Each assignment, test, and quiz will be worth a specific number of points. (For instance, a test is typically worth 100 points, a quiz might be worth 50 points, a paper might be worth 60 points, or a set of review questions might be worth 10 points.)
Students’ grades on each assignment are based on the value of that assignment. (For instance, the test grade might be 85/100, the quiz 40/50, the paper 50/60, the review questions 10/10.)
Worksheets, review questions from the textbook, outlines, and class notes (which I do collect) are important parts of your grade. Putting effort into these assignments is a great way to gain points and to learn the material more thoroughly!

I do give unannounced quizzes in this class. These quizzes may be on assigned reading, homework questions, or class notes.
Class preparedness and participation are worth 20% of the quarter grade. This is another area where students can help themselves reach into a higher grade bracket! This score entails:

Ø Having and referring to all relevant materials in class (notebook, texts, Bible, assigned articles).

Ø Demonstrating knowledge of assigned readings and class notes by providing a brief summary to the class when asked.

Ø Asking questions and offering evaluations of class material regarding issues of US History and their contemporary importance.

Ø Asking follow-up questions when appropriate.

Ø Responding to peers’ comments and questions.

Quarter grades are a percentage. The total number of points the student earns in the quarter is divided by the total number of possible points.
There are no extra-credit assignments.
Students may check their grades online or ask me. Online grades are updated about once a week.

Late Assignments

Another great way to maximize your points is to turn all assignments in on time!
Assignments are due to me at the start of your class’s meeting time on the day of the due date. Assignments left in my mailbox in the office or slipped under my door are counted for the day I pick them up, NOT necessarily the day you tell me you dropped them off. Papers that are e-mailed to me are treated the same way.
For short-term homework assignments (review questions, worksheets, class notes, etc.), I will accept assignments one day late for half-credit. Anything more than one day late will not receive credit.
Essays that are one day late are penalized one full letter grade (10% of the total point value); two days late – two full letter grades (20%). Papers are not accepted more than two days late.

Make-up Work

Follow the policies in the Student Handbook.

· Note that it is the responsibility of the student who has missed class to schedule all make-up assignments! I will not chase you. When you return from an absence, you must see me the day you return in order to schedule make-up assignments.

· If a test or quiz was scheduled for the first day of your absence, you are expected to be ready to take it the day of your return, subject to schedule consultation with the teacher. Similarly, any assignment due the first day of your absence is expected on the day of your return.

· Remember that more than six absences from class during a quarter results in a failing grade for that quarter.