Classroom Rules
The “Four B’s”
Be Better: The school
has a list of rules that you must follow (read the Student Handbook), but in
this class you must do better than that. When in doubt about how to act, use
the Golden Rule. Demonstrating good behavior is always better than
avoiding bad behavior.
Be Prepared: Write all
assignments down, including the due date. Bring assigned materials to
class daily. Materials always include your textbook, a three-ring
binder with plenty of notebook paper, and a dark blue or black pen.
Occasionally other materials are listed as part of your homework assignment.
Assignments and tests must be completed with a blue or black pen. Unless Scantrons are used, pencils are NOT accepted.
Be Prompt: Be in your
seat when the bell rings. Have your notebook open to the bell work assignment.
You are tardy if there is space between your seat and the desk when the bell
rings. Complete and turn in all assigned work on time. Late assignments are not
accepted.
Be Polite: Be quiet and
attentive when the bell rings, when the teacher is talking, and while waiting
for permission to speak. Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged
before asking or answering questions. Remain seated unless given
permission to do otherwise. Use voices that cannot be heard outside your
group during group work. Go out of your way to be respectful and polite
to everyone in the classroom. The following are examples of impolite behaviors
and are not tolerated in the classroom: eating, drinking, chewing gum,
sleeping, talking without permission, and loudly dropping books on the floor.
Classroom Procedures
(1)
Follow the
four B’s.
Read them often. Live them daily.
(2)
Classwork includes taking notes,
working independently on exercises, and participating in group activities. Some
classwork will be taken up for a grade and may count
between 10 and 50 points. Classwork assignments
cannot be made up. If a student has an excused absence on the date classwork is assigned, no grade will be recorded for that
student. Of course, unexcused absences result in a grade of zero.
(3)
Homework includes reading assignments
everyday and written assignments on occasion. Textbook homework is due on test
dates. Students will turn in all the textbook homework assigned for the
chapters being tested that day. (Refer to the Course Outline to determine
which textbook questions are assigned for each section.) The homework will
be graded for both completion and accuracy. I will select one section to
grade for accuracy while the other sections will be checked for completion
only. Ten points will be earned for completion and another ten points for
accuracy. All homework must be completed in dark blue or black ink.
(4)
Assignments that
are incomplete or missing will result in Academic Support being assigned. The
completed assignment is due 48 hours later. Additional Academic Support
sessions will be assigned until the student receives a passing grade on the
assignment. Homework should be completed at home. No time
will be given at the beginning of class to complete or assemble homework
assignments. Projects are due on the date announced in advance. It is
recommended that students not in school on a project due date send the project
to school with a friend or parent. Late or incomplete projects will result in
Academic Support being assigned until the project is turned in. The highest
grade that can be earned on a late assignment or project is 70%.
(5) Chapter tests have a variety of formats
but usually include multiple choice and at least one
short essay or graphing exercise. Chapter tests are worth 100 points per
chapter included. (Refer to the Course Outline to determine which tests will
include more than one chapter and thus will be worth more points.)
(6)
A Midterm
test is
given at the end of the first grading period. An Endterm
test is given at the end of the semester. These tests are multiple choice and cover the chapters indicated in the Course
Outline. These tests are worth 300 points. They are administered with Scantrons. A Comprehensive Final exam is also
multiple choice and administered with Scantrons. The final exam counts one-fifth of the total
semester grade.
(7)
Make-up tests must be taken during the
scheduled department make up times. They are administered on Tuesdays before
school (6:15am) and Thursdays after school (2:00pm). Only students with
excused absences on test days are able to take make-up tests. No reminder
will be given to students who have to make up a test. It is YOUR responsibility
to arrange to make up a test. A single Tuesday and Thursday is allotted for
students to arrange to make up tests. Parents should contact the school if the
test make up time is not workable for a particular student. A written note
signed by a parent explaining the conflict is acceptable. This note must be
given to me BEFORE the second make up test date. If a student fails to make up
a test on the dates allotted, the grade becomes a zero and Academic Support is
assigned each day until the test is made up. The highest grade that can be
earned on a make up test taken after Academic Support
is assigned is 70%.
(8)
Group work is a large part of the
instruction in this class. Groups are assigned and change
occasionally. Roles are assigned and change often. Each member of a group
is important, and the quality of the work done in a group contributes to your
success on both written assignments and tests. Group activities that require
class presentations count between 20 and 50 points.
(9) One project
is assigned during the semester. Some class time will be allowed for
project completion, but the bulk of the work must be done at home. During the
first nine weeks, students will select an economic topic that is current in a
foreign country. Some research will be conducted on this topic during the first
nine weeks. During the second nine weeks, students will continue directed
research on the chosen topic. The focus of the project is learning how to
conduct research on the internet and how to summarize and cite sources in the
electronic age. For more information on projects, see the web page section
titled Projects.
(10) Grades are calculated on a total point basis.
Students and parents are encouraged to check grades often to monitor progress
and verify accuracy.
(11) When tardy, sign the tardy
log and quietly take your seat. Assignments are posted by week in the
assignment notebook. They are also posted on the web site. If
absent, refer to the web site, assignment notebook or call a classmate.
Missed assignments are due one day after your return to class. A zero will be
recorded in the grade book until the student has made up and turned in the
missed assignment.
(12) ) Ask
for help. I am
available for tutoring after school on Wednesdays. An appointment is
necessary. Do not hesitate to ask for help on any of the material,
including written assignments. Many students make use of email to get
answers to questions after school hours. I welcome student emails and try to
check my email each evening before 9:00pm.
(13) Classroom procedures include
the consequences for breaking school rules. The first offense receives a
reminder of the appropriate behavior. The second offense receives a verbal
warning and a phone call to parents. The third offense receives a
disciplinary referral. All students are expected to complete homework, classwork, and tests independently. Both providing answers
to other students and accepting answers from other students are considered cheating. Misrepresenting one’s work
through plagiarism is treated as cheating as well. Incidences of cheating will
result in a zero on the assignment/test and a disciplinary referral.