Homework Policy
Study guides will count as homework and must be completed prior to the test to be eligible for a retake on a DOK. (Demonstration of Knowledge.) This ensures us that students review the material before a test and will help them develop good study habits. Study guides will be given 2 class periods before the DOK. In the class period before the DOK, we will go over the correct answers to the study guide during class so that students may study the correct material.
If a student is absent on a review day, they are expected to still bring their study guide to class when they return, make study guide corrections as their classmates take the test, and will make up the test one class period later or during their resource time.
Grading Policy
I use a point system for grading all work. Work is given different point values depending on the assignment. Over the Quarter students will complete roughly 1000 points worth of work. Students will be able to gain points for both understanding of the material (academic) and participation (non academic). Non-academic and Academic grades are recorded because it is important to improve student self efficacy. (Bowers, 2000)
While this is will not show up on a report card, I am happy to show you your child's grades for both academic and non academic work in my class. Note that the two grades will be combined for the final report card grade. I use the point system and incorporate participation points because I want to praise hard work in my classroom.
Absences
If students are absent I will print out a "While you were out" sheet that will be stapled to any work that they missed and placed in their class period's "While you were out folder". Upon returning to class, students will be responsible for collecting their work and completing it by the following class. (Ex, absent Monday, pick up work Wednesday, due Friday, or absent Tuesday, pick up work Thursday, due Monday.) If students are absent multiple classes in a row they will have one class and one weekend to complete. (Ex. Student absent Wed and Fri, pick up work on Monday, it will be due the following Monday.) Anything not turned in will count for 0 points.
Extra Credit
If students complete work on time and participate in my class there should be no need for extra credit work. I am however willing to accommodate on a need to need basis for students who may be struggling with material, or students who are wishing to participate in extra projects for resumes or entrances into specialty high school programs.
Late Work
Students will be pulled from resource to make up any Tests or Quizzes. Performance Assessments will lose 10% of its point value every day it is late. (For example, if it is a 50 point assignment it will lose 5 points a day, whereas a 150 point assignment would lose 15 points a day.) Classwork and Homework may be turned in late, but can only receive maximum credit of 7 points for Classwork and 3 points for homework. 1 week and 1 day prior to the end of the grading period, I will let students know about any missing work. The week before the end of a marking period I will make myself available during resource as well as 45 minutes every day that week before and after school. It will be the student's responsibility to come to my classroom and complete their work. Work that is late due to excused absence will follow the procedures for absences.
Missing Work
All final work must be turned in 1 full day prior to the end of the marking period so that I have adequate time to grade anything that was missing. Anything not turned in at that point will receive 0 points. While students will be required to make up any tests or quizzes, it is their responsibility to make up and turn in any Performance Assessment, Classwork or Homework. Daily Socrative Points may not be made up.