Class Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Pre-Algebra 7^th Grade                                                          Mr. Daniel Catlin

2012-13 school year                                                               daniel.catlin@graves.kyschools.us

Graves County Middle                                                                        mrcatlin.blogspot.com

Objective:

      Prepare you for the future by arming you with the math skills necessary to succeed at the next level.

      Understand the importance of grades, and that you earn them based on your performance on assignments.

      Develop problem solving skills that are applicable in the real world. 

Behavior Expectations:

      Respect everything and everyone in this classroom.

      Come to class prepared and on time.

      No food or drinks allowed unless it’s water in a closed container. 

      Raise your hand to speak.

      There is no idle time in this class.  If you happen to be finished with a project or assignment with class time to spare, immediately begin working on something else.  Reading an AR book, missing work, or assignment from another class would be excellent options to choose. 

      Not following any of these expectations is infraction worthy.

Tardy Policy:

      When you are tardy, (with or without a pass) do NOT disturb the class.

      I will sign your agenda if there’s no pass and you will receive an infraction.
NO EXCUSES 

      If you must speak to me about being late, raise your hand or find an appropriate time to explain.

      If you are not in your seat working on your bell assignment when the bell rings you are tardy.

Hall Passes:

      Only go to the restroom in emergencies.

      Do not ask to use the restroom or to go to your locker, just go before class and don’t be tardy. You will figure it out.

      You are only allowed so many hall passes in your agenda per nine weeks.  Be aware, 9 weeks is a long time.  Space them out and use them wisely.

      A non-emergency nurse visit counts as a hall pass in your agenda.

BYOD Policy:

      Green power light above door means:
Have device out, face down on left corner of your desk space.  Do not access device until told to do so.  Failure to comply will result in device being confiscated and given to Mr. Anderson.

      Red power light above door means:
I should not see your device unless it’s too large to conceal and you don’t have a lock on your locker (laptop, ipad, etc.)  If device is heard or you are caught using, it will be confiscated as well. 

      Notes will not be taken on a device unless it is vocabulary.  Paper and pencil is how we will take notes in Math.  Symbols and numbers take too long to type out.

      Devices should be kept on silent unless you are told to listen to an audio clip or video clip for the purpose of a lesson. 

Grading:

      Bell Assignments/Homework/Effort Grades….………………………………………40%    

      Quizzes/Exit Slips/VOCAB…………………………………………………………..20%

      Written/OR……………………………………………………………………………15%

      Tests/Exams ………..…………………………………………………………………25%

Bell Assignments:

      Everyday upon entering the classroom there will be an opening assignment posted on the projection screen. 

      These assignments typically consist of questions that deal with learned information from previous days in class. 

      Bell Assignments will be completed in your math journal, gone over on the board, and checked by me personally every Friday.

Homework:

      Homework is strictly digital for my class this year.

      Assignments will be posted on your digits dashboard on Monday morning 8AM and are due exactly one week from that time every week. 

      It is logical to complete the assignments the night following the corresponding lesson.

      There are no deductions for turning in assignments late, but zeros will be entered if the assignment is not completed by the grade deadline. I will do my best to remind you of missing work.

      Completing given homework assignments prepare you for quizzes and other assessments that are given throughout the week. 

      It is not wise to procrastinate and wait until the last minute to complete your online assignments.

      Students without internet access will have a CD-ROM option for homework.

      Students without computers will be given paper copies.

Vocabulary Quizzes:

      5 vocabulary words will be presented each week.

      Words will be posted on Mondays with a quiz that follows on Friday.

      The words will be related to lessons we cover that week and possibly most missed words from previous weeks.

Exams and Tests:

      Our curriculum has been broken up into 5 units.  Each unit has a cumulative exam at its end that includes multiple choice, short answer, and open-ended questions. 

      Within each unit are separate topics which will be assessed as tests.  These assessments will be more focused and not as broad in their content as the unit exams. 

Materials Needed:

      Math Journal ( inch 3 ring binder, loose leaf paper, dividers)

      Pencil (No pens please)

      A good attitude and an honest effort to learn. 

I have read and understand the behavior of me/my student in Mr. Catlin’s class this year.

                                                                                                                                                           

Student Signature                              Date                  Parent Signature                                  Date