Class Information
Class Rules
The rules in my class are pretty simple. Basically, I expect respect. Students should respect each other, property, me, and most of all, themselves. I follow the school-wide pyramid discipline system. Though I don’t expect to have problems, my general rule is that we try to work it out between us first. Typically, we can come up with something that makes sense and creates a more positive work environment.
I like to keep the class busy and enjoy giving the students the opportunity for hands on learning, whether that be a lab or a project of some sort. This means that we have to work hard on cooperative learning and teamwork. It requires the ability to follow rules and directions in order to complete tasks. My goal is to help students learn how to be more productive and successful adults by helping them learn these skills now. We’ll practice and may have some bumps in the road, but I believe that with coaching and positive feedback, every student can succeed at these tasks.
Students know I keep a supply of pencils, erasers, and paper just in case something happens and they need them. However, if it gets to be an issue where they are without those things continuously, I’m likely to call or email to see if we can rectify the situation. The rule is to let me know before class starts if you need supplies, not as we’re getting ready to take notes, which will be on a regular basis.
Classwork and Grades
Class will begin with an “Eye Opener” every day. This may be a question relating to previously covered material, a brain teaser, puzzle, writing prompt, etc. There will be 5 minutes from the time the tardy bell rings to finish this task. These are for a grade, so it’s important to make sure you’re ready with your materials (pencil, notebook, folder, etc) as soon as the bell rings.
We have discussion group almost every day and use a very open “lecture” model with guided notetaking that we do in our science notebook. There are also videos, online science activities, science games, and labs that help us learn material. We have participation grades, quizzes, tests, task rotations, vocabulary activities, drawings, on-demand writings, and some worksheets that make up the grades.
We also work on test taking strategies, answering open response questions, and critical thinking strategies. We start out doing many things as a group and then begin gaining more independence as the year progresses. Typically, this means it gets harder, but in gradual steps.
Homework Policy
Most of the work we do will be in class and I don’t normally give much homework. However, when I do give homework, I expect it to be completed. It usually is either important practice or an activity that only takes a few minutes to finish. Sometimes, these will be for extra credit . Other times, it is used to enhance instruction the following day. Either way, the homework is normally very independent work and can be done without much help at all.
This year, I’m trying to implement the practice of only having homework on a certain day. That day will vary according to which class you’re in. Keep this in mind – if you’re in one section of 7th grade science and your best friend is in another section, and they have homework on Tuesday and you have homework on Wednesday, that doesn’t mean you’ll both have the same homework. In fact, I can guarantee you won’t. Even though the goal is to have homework on the same day, it doesn’t mean it will always be that way. There may be times when your homework is on a day other than the one scheduled.
