Student Expectations
I try to be as easy going as possible, but it's very important to me that ALL of my students have an opportunity to learn in a safe and non-threatening environment. To accomplish this there has to be a significant amount of structure in the classroom, and every student must understand that they do not have the right to interfere in another student's education.
I expect all students to:
Enter the room quietly and on time. If you are late you have a lunch detention that will last for ten minutes. If you are more than five minutes late you have an after school detention during my extra help time. No excuses are excepted other than a pass with a time, date, reason and faculty member signature.
When the first bell rings look to the board for directions and follow them. You are allowed to quietly discuss the warm-up with a classmate near you unless otherwise instructed.
Take good notes. Notes are one of the keys to success in a mathematics class. I will provide examples of good notes as well as teach you how to take notes.
Complete your homework when it is assigned and keep it in a separate graph paper notebook. Homework serves two very important purposes in mathematics. It provides a means to remember what was taught that day through rehearsal, and it prepares the mind for what is to come in class. Your homework will be checked randomly while you are working on your warm-up, or you will be asked to copy one of the problems and it's solution on the board. More importantly, there will be homework quizzes in which the questions are almost identical to those assigned for homework. When you enter the classroom, you should open your homework notebook to last night's homework and place it on the corner of your desk so I can check it while you work. Read the homework page for correct heading and formatting of homework and further homework policies.
Go to the bathroom at sensible times. Don't bother asking to go to the bathroom. Just wait until we are not learning new material or doing something that you shouldn't miss, then sign the book, take the pass, and go . . . one at a time.
Turn in your work on time. All work should be completed on time because you will most likely need the practice to understand the new material. I do not grade the homework, and I do not assign busy work - only what I think you need to be successful. That being said, not doing the homework is very follish.
Work until I dismiss you. Packing up while the teacher is finishing a thought or making an announcement is rude. The bell doesn't dismiss the class, the teacher does.