TIPS
- Homework is given every night (possibly not after the day of a test, and not on R&R weekends). Homework is posted in the classroom every day and students are to record homework in their planners before class begins.
- Students are encouraged to ask questions. Each day we go over homework questions together in class.
- I give a completion grade of zero or a five for homework. In order to receive full credit, I require a minimum of three lines of neat work, all problems genuinely attempted, work completed in pencil on lined notebook paper with a clear heading at the top as directed in class, and odds checked in the back prior to class.
- When absent, students are directed to put completed homework in my basket with AB circled at the top along with a clear heading and SECTION number. Students may check their work against my text. Students may come in during lyceum or make an appointment to make up quizzes or tests when absent.
- Students are directed to use lots of paper in my class, meaning we spread our work out and work vertically. Work should always be completed in pencil on three ringed lined notebook paper.
- It is a student's responsibility to make daily homework corrections, and note which were missed in red pen. Studying missed homework problems can be useful when preparing for tests. We have time in class to go over missed homework problems.
- Neatness and organization are requirements in this class. Students are expected to set up and maintain their math three ring notebooks as directed in class. All warm-ups, homework assignments, quizzes, returned tests are to be clearly labeled and kept neatly in student math notebooks. Notebook tests will be given quarterly which accounts for a quiz grade. It is a student's responsibility to get the notes from a friend if he/she misses class. (We also have a file in class with a copy of daily notes and Class Absent Helpers who can help missed students access missed paperwork). Taking complete notes and maintaining an organized math notebook is excellent practice and a simple way to improve a student's understanding. Students can then use their math notebooks as a text to reference.
- Lyceum: I am available to assist students with questions they may have during lyceum daily.
- Additional Help: Students may also see my colleague, Mr. Rafal, in room 207 before or after school for math tutoring. If your student needs additional help, parents may consider professional tutoring (early in the year suggested).
- Homework should take about twenty minutes to complete. If a student is consistently spending more than 20 minutes on math homework at home, please make sure that student is coming in during lyceum and is also using home work time at home in a focused manner (no phone, no screens, quiet area, consistent homework routine). If a student is seeing me during lyceum and focused at home during homework time and still struggling with an excessive work load, parents may wish to consider hiring a tutor.
- If a student is absent, he/she may check the homework posted online. The classroom is routinely the best and first place to look for homework, as it is posted daily. Posted website assignments are subject to change.