October 3, 2008:  I have updated the grades for this week on the website.  There is less than one month to go until the end of the semester.  Two of my classes will be taking tests this week and getting their notebooks graded. 

Progress Reports will be mailed out in the next couple of days, but the only item in there for my class is a comment that parents should check my website.  Since all of the parents can access my website and see their teenager’s grades on a regular basis, and since the site is updated weekly for grades, any printed progress report will be outdated by the time it reaches your hands.

Call me or email me if you have any questions.  Thanks for checking out the website.

Coach Darak

P.S.

Parents, before you call me up to talk to me about your teenager's grades, please talk to them.  If they are not doing well, they know why.  If they won't tell you, ask to see their math notebook.  All of their papers are suppose to be in the notebook.  All of their notes are suppose to be in their notebook.  All of their homework is suppose to be in their notebook.  The assignments for each chapter are handed out at the beginning of each chapter, written on the whiteboard daily, as well as posted on this website.  THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE if they are not doing the work.  And the students that have the worst grades.... are not doing the work.

One last comment:  Math is not a spectator sport.  The students in my class are spending much more time on their outside school activities then they are spending time learning and studying math.  I ask them to spend 30 minutes each night on math and about 60 minutes studying for each test.  Math is on the CAPT. Math is on the SAT.  Math will be in their real lives, every day.