Absence Policy:
When a student is absent he/she has 1 school day for every school day absent to complete and turn in missed work. After this time period missed work becomes late work. This includes tests and quizzes that are missed during an absence. To find out what assignments were missed a student simply has to look in the absent bin or in my school planner.A note to students and parents: Please do not ask me to make an exception to this absence policy. The reason this policy exists is to be fair and equal in the treatment of all students. Breaking or bending this policy ultimately helps no one.
Academic Grades:
100% - 93% A
92 - 85 B
84 - 76 C
75 - 70 D
Remember that you ALWAYS have access to my gradebook on Progress Book. Please contact the office if you are unsure how to log in. Also, please remember that I only add grades a few days a week. Don't forget, grades are the responsibility of the student. Grades are earned by the student, not given by the teacher!
Class Rules:
Our class will operate on five rules:
1- Give your best effort.
2- Be polite and kind.
3- Do not talk out of turn.
4- Stay in your seat.
5- Come to class prepared.
These rules are simple. A student's decision to follow or break them will probably determine how well the student likes or dislikes this class. Remember, attitude has a lot to do with success, and only we can control our attitudes.
Food and Drink Policy:
I have 2 classroom policies designed to take advantage of recent research regarding the function of the human brain. Listed below is the food and drink policy itself, followed by a brief discussion of this brain research.
1- Students may bring a water bottle to class, and drink from it.
2- Students may eat any fruit, vegetable, and nut (as it appears in nature) during class.
Please show common courtesy by not bothering other students with your food, or leaving behind a messy desk after class. Behavior such as squirting your neighbor with your water bottle, or chucking your banana at the girl in the front row, will result in your eating and drinking privileges being revoked.
6 reasons why research indicates I should let students eat and drink in my class:
1. Your brain must be provided with water throughout the day to maintain the correct chemical balance needed for optimal thinking.
2. Soft drinks, juice, milk, and Gatoraide-type drinks do not provide this water - in fact, these drinks often take water away from the brain.
3. You can't wait until you feel thirsty to drink water - by then the brain has lost it's optimal chemical balance.
4. Peanuts, beans, and nuts assist in creating the chemical balance your brain needs for optimal thinking.
5. Eating increased protein early in the day results in increased production of dopamine in the brain during school hours. This generates greater alertness, motivation, and mental energy in class.
6. Students 12 and 13 years old are growing rapidly, and their bodies need healthy snacks between meals.
These are just a few of the many significant findings from this brain research. So take advantage of the food and drink policy by bringing your water bottle, fruits, and vegetables to class. As your teacher, I am in favor of virtually anything that helps you think and learn more effectively.
