Policy
Statement
Approaches
and Expectations in History Class
Mrs.
Maddock
The
West and the World
Foundational Principles
1.
Instil enthusiasm for and
appreciation of subject. Introducing the
latest in the field (i.e. what is being produced today) signifies the
ground-breaking nature of History.
2.
Discussion works best when
students listen to each other and think before speaking.
3.
Pupils can learn a great deal
from asking questions at appropriate times.
4.
Students earn their own grades
with full knowledge of the grading criteria that make expectations clear.
5.
6.
Consistent, swift discipline
is most effective, and ‘giving them a break’ rarely results in actual
improvement. Cheating and lying needs to
be justly punished. Fairness is
crucial. Plagiarism will earn a zero.
7.
Extensions rarely improve the
quality of the assignment, nor do they contribute to the development of good work
habits.
Ø Arrive promptly and be seated on time for
class. (Tardiness will earn detention.)
Ø Bring appropriate materials to class including binder,
note paper, pen.
Ø Submit work on time. Late homework will not be accepted. Homework not here is homework not done. Forgetting is blameworthy.
Ø Print any written assignments at home before
arriving to school. No pupil will be
permitted to use the teacher work station in the classroom. Arriving to class with your assignment on a
flash drive is as good as not having your work at all.
Ø Copying another’s homework is cheating. If you are found to be in possession of a
colleague’s work, both of you will earn zero.
Ø Make up work that you miss, in accordance with the
School’s handbook. Make a time to come
and see me if you have had a period of absence.
Ø Organize your notes and hand-outs from class
neatly. Have your notebooks open and
ready at the start of the lesson.
Ø Never submit anything to me by leaving it in my
mailbox in the main office. You must
give me whatever it is (i.e., work, permission slip, required disciplinary
tasks, etc.) in person. It will not be
accepted if you leave it in my mailbox.
Ø Study and revise regularly. Homework includes thinking about what was
discussed or produced in class and studying your notes as well as completing other
assigned tasks.
Ø Read directions and follow them precisely. Attention to detail matters.
Ø Take initiative and be pro-active in finding out
what was missed or asking questions about what you do not understand. Come to see me after school for help when
necessary.
Ø Never use profanity. Always exhibit self-control. Always respect each other.
Ø Respect the speakers around you, whether the
teacher or your peers. Wait and avoid
interrupting one another. Think before
speaking. Sometimes ‘hot’ topics come up
in discussion. If you feel confused,
offended, or upset by any remarks made by a teacher or a pupil, you – the
student – must
make that known to me at an appropriate time.
Ø Anyone who speaks to another or touches their phone
during an assessment earns a zero on the assessment. Such behaviours are prohibited and have
serious consequences.
Ø Respect the room. Never write on desks,
walls, or posters. Never write on the
board unless instructed to do so as part of a class task.
Ø Find an appropriate
time to request leave from the room if you need to use the restroom, ask
politely, and I can sign your pass. You
then need to sign out on the clipboard.
Ø Acknowledge mistakes politely and accept
responsibility for any misdemeanours.
Realize your situation will almost always improve when you do so;
conversely, it will almost always deteriorate when you persist in denial of
obvious realities.
Ø Never pass notes, wander the room, eat, or use toys
like phones or mp3 players. Expect that
such items will be confiscated for the day if they are used in class. Keep your
phone turned off every day between
Ø Return the correct textbook you were issued, lest
your report card contain an “incomplete”.
Students earn their term grade through a variety of
assessments. The grade for the term is
calculated as a simple fraction of points earned out of possible points. Each given task will have a designated number
of points. Usually a homework task earns
you 10-20 points. In-class assessments
earn you between 50 and 150 points.
Extra credit tasks may be available
to those who have completed all their work on time, have put in considerable
effort, and still want to improve their grade.
Any such task must be submitted at least 4 school days before the
published date marking the end of term.
Please realize that homework really matters! Though late homework will not earn you points,
you really need to make it up immediately and catch up with your
classmates. As you’d imagine, you are
certainly still accountable for the material contained in that homework.
Dear
Parents / Guardians,
Please
review the above policy statement and expectations. After reviewing, please sign the copy your
son/daughter has signed and return the signed paper no later than Friday 5th
September. If you have questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by email:
Regards,
Mrs.
P J Maddock
I
________________________________ (student / block) have read and understand the
attached requirements and expectations in History class.
______________________________________ _______________
student signature date
Parent/Guardian
signature indicates that you are aware of the attached requirements and
expectations in this course.
______________________________________ ________________
parent/guardian signature date