This is a copy of the welcome letter sent home on August 9th.
Dear Parents/Guardians & Students:
Hello! My name is Mrs. Katie Panks and I am very excited to be teaching 7th grade math, again this year. I look forward to helping all my students reach their fullest potential. As we begin a new year, there are many important things that need to be addressed. Read over the following information regarding class procedures and expectations. Please refer to the papers that went home August 8th for more information, including the 7th grade letter discussing classroom rules/consequences. Return the last page signed and completed with contact information.
Grading Policy:
20% Class work & Bell work
20% Homework
20% Exam
40% Tests, Quizzes, Projects
Classroom Procedures:
-
Enter classroom quietly and go directly to assigned seats.
-
Copy daily assignments into planner. This will count as a participation grade each nine weeks.
-
Begin to work quietly on Bell Work and daily writing. These will be checked for completeness as part of your participation grade.
-
Become an active participant in the lesson for the day. During group work, you will be required to work together to solve the problem. Each student will have an assigned job that he/she is responsible for.
-
Be prepared to share your answers and comments in the appropriate manner. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. That is how we all learn.
-
Be respectful of other student’s work and comments. This class is a community of learners and we can learn so much from each other.
-
Work until dismissed by the teacher. It is not acceptable to pack up before the lesson is completed. If finished early, you may begin homework. Do not disturb others still working.
-
Returning to locker or going to the restroom during class will result in a tardy. (please refer to junior high discipline policy)
Classroom Rules Consequences
- Follow directions 1. Verbal warning
- Be on time and prepared 2. Behavior Reflection
- Respect others 3. Parent contact/detention
- Raise hand to gain permission to speak 4. Office Referral
Class work: This consists of individual/group work and participation grades.
Bellwork: At the beginning of each class, students will copy and complete problems. The problems will be turned in randomly or a short quiz will be given. There are no make-ups for this. An excused absence will not count against you.
Homework: This should be completed in FULL and brought back to class to check and discuss. Homework is not checked for accuracy, but each problem must be attempted. Points will be given for completion. No late homework will be accepted because homework is checked daily. Homework will be posted online using teacherweb. Any assignments not completed in class will automatically become homework. If a student had trouble with the assignment at home, evidence of an effort must be shown. No credit will be given for a blank page and an “I didn’t understand.” Students are encouraged to come in before school or at lunch for additional help. Long term assignments will be checked for correctness, as well as completeness. Studying is also considered homework.
Tests and Quizzes: Prior notice will be given for ALL tests and MOST quizzes. A review will be given for ALL tests. Graded papers can be turned in with corrected answers and parent signature for extra credit. Failing papers must be signed by parent and returned.
Exam: At the end of each nine weeks, there will be a cumulative exam. A review will be given for this.
Absences: Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to obtain any make up work missed while absent. Failure to do so will result in a zero. Students should see the class binder and class folder to get their work. The handbook covers absences in more detail.
Parent Involvement:
I feel it is important for parents to be involved in their child’s education. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Also, if you can offer assistance or would like to speak to the students about how you use math in your everyday life, we would love to have you. Please let me know if there is a concern, because everything we do in math will build on previous material. Email is the quickest means of communication, I can usually respond by the end of the day. Feel free to contact the school office if you would like to schedule a conference. I hope to see all of you at Open House on Tuesday, August 30th.
Contacts:
Email- katie.panks@stpsb.org
Homework site: http://teacherweb.com/LA/Clearwood/Panks
Clearwood’s Website: http://clearwoodjunior.stpsb.org/
Call the school secretary @ 641-8200 to schedule a conference