Pre Algebra Procedures/Policies

September 10, 2007

Dear Students,

Welcome to Churchill Junior High School.  Hopefully you have all had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to a great school year.  In order to guarantee you the excellent learning climate you deserve in our pre-algebra class and to help improve your math ability, you will need to understand the classroom rules and expectations and the homework and grading policies.

Classroom Rules:

• Each student is expected to be in his/her seat when the bell rings and ready to work. 
• Each student is expected to come to class prepared.  That means you must have a pencil, your algebra notebook binder, and your pre-algebra textbook (covered) each day.
• Each student is expected to follow directions the first time they are given.
• Anything that distracts from any student’s ability to learn will not be tolerated.
• Disrespect will not be tolerated.  Each student is expected to respect everyone in the class.  Please remember to give your classmates the courtesy you would like to receive.
• Profanity and abuse will not be tolerated.

Classroom Expectations:

• You are expected to maintain a neat and organized pre-algebra notebook.  The notebook will be a 3-ring binder type and contain two sections.  The first section will contain daily do-now problems, notes, example problems, guided practice, and closure summaries.  The second section will contain homework assignments.  Each page should be dated and the homework sections should also contain the page number and listed problems that are assigned.  This notebook will be used exclusively for algebra.
• There will be a do-now on the board, which must be started on immediately upon entering the classroom.  Sharpen your pencils at the beginning of class.  Homework answers/solutions will be placed on the overhead and students should check/correct their answers as I check for homework completeness in my grade book.
• Students are expected to participate in the new lesson and are expected to copy notes and examples into their notebooks.  Students are expected to raise their hands when wishing to speak or ask a question.  Students are expected to work the entire period productively and the teacher, not the bell, will dismiss the class.
• Each day, a log of the day’s work (objective, do-now, class work, and homework) will be posted on the left side of the white board for students to copy into their pre-algebra notebooks/agenda books.
• If you are absent, a record of the week’s homework assignments will be posted on my teacher website.  Students must make up all missed homework due to absences.

Homework Expectations:

• Pre-Algebra is not a spectator sport.  You cannot master pre-algebra by watching others.  You must participate and practice pre-algebra homework assignments since homework reinforces concepts learned in class and homework helps you develop positive study habits.  As you practice homework you will become proficient in pre-algebra and will be your key to success in math.
• Homework will normally be assigned each day and must be completed by the next school day.
• All homework should be completed in pencil in your notebook and must contain the date assigned, the page number, and the list of assigned problems.
• When doing a math homework problem always show all the work.  Show the intermediate steps of the problem, not just the answer.  Although getting the correct answer is important, much of your grade is based on showing the intermediate steps to a pre-algebra problem.  The work you show is your way to prove that you know how to get the answer.  Please remember to show all your work neatly and orderly.

• Since homework is practice, it will be checked daily for completeness and the showing of work, not for correctness.  Homework completion points will be recorded as follows-
• 2 points – completed assignment with all work shown.
• 1 point – incomplete assignment or late assignment.
• 0 points – assignment not completed.

Also at times, after homework is checked and corrected, it will be assessed by notebook quizzes.

Grading Policy:

• Major/Minor Assessments –  75% of the quarter grade.  Includes tests and quizzes.  These assessments will be of more formal type.

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