Class Policies
Course Expectation
Parent- To assist the student in successfully completing this course parents’ responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
assist the student in organizing his/her daily work
check assignments for completion and accuracy on a daily basis
complete Weekly packet evaluation form & submit all work in order for student to receive credit
monitor student progress and maintain communication with course instructor
Student- The student is responsible for the following:
completing all weekly packets & enrichment class/lab activity
bring textbook, calculator, appropriate writing instruments to class each week
turn in all work assigned by the due date (there will be a penalty for late work)
ask for assistance when needed from parent and/or instructor
work in this subject for a 1-2 hrs. per day
Instructor- The instructor will:
provide curriculum and oversee instruction and laboratory investigations
have answer keys and other materials available for parents
administer assessments/exams
be available to students and parents on a continuing basis
Portfolio Binder
Portfolio: All homework should be neatly organized in either a 3-ring binder or folder AT LEAST 1.5 inches thick. These will be collected at the end of each unit or end of the semester for portfolio check. DO NOT throw ANY of your papers away before semester ends! Please divide and put your work in the following order portfolio in the following order (you can make your own tab/divider instead of buying one).
Current Packet
Syllabus Handouts
Quizzes/Tests
Returned Packets
Chapter Challenge/Projects
Coming Prepared: All students are expected to come to class on time prepared with textbook, calculator, paper, pen, pencil, and the work for the current week ready to turn in at beginning of class (or submit in Google classroom). You may not use your cell phone as a calculator! I do not have extra materials available so students will need to ask another student who has come prepared.
Grading
Grades will be awarded as follows, based on joint assessment done by both parent and instructor
Weekly Packets
Quizzes / Tests
Labs & Activities
Projects/Chapter Challenge
A 93-100%
A- 90-92.9%
B+ 87-89.9 %
B 83-86.9%
B- 80-82.9%
C+ 77-79.9%
C 73-76.9%
C- 70-72.9%
D+ 67-69.9%
D 63-66.9%
D- 60-62.9%
F 0-59.9%
Quiz / Test / Project
In order for the student, parent, and teacher to be aware that the student has learned the material, there will be a variety of assessments given and projects and presentations assigned to ensure the student has an understanding of the concepts. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of every class on the reading, vocabulary, and questions that were assigned in the weekly packet. Tests will be given every 2-4 weeks. Students may correct a quiz within 1 week. For tests, students have 1 month for corrections. Projects will be given at the end of each chapter, or unit, or semester.
Missed Class
If you miss class, complete both weekly packet and class labs posted in Google classroom (you can also find it in your google drive folder). A hard copy can be picked up in my mailbox at school during school hours. Make sure you contact me either through email or by phone if there is any materials you do not have for the lab activities. You are expected to make up any quiz/test upon your return to class unless otherwise arranged with Mrs. Thornburg. It is your responsibility to keep up to speed on what is going on in class.
Late Policy:
VOCS teachers expect you to have your work turned in on time. Late work acceptance without consequences is unfair to diligent students who meet deadlines. The following policy is being enacted as VOCS teachers strive for fairness among all students. Any assignment not turned in at the beginning of class on a due date will be considered late.
Late work turned in after class, but during the same week it is due, will be deducted 10%.
Late work turned in the following week from the due date will be deducted 20%.
Late work will lose 20% per week each additional week the work is late.
Late work after 2 weeks will earn a maximum of 60%
(As always, VOCS teachers may use discretion due to catastrophic events, such as your hospitalization, death in the family, a mudslide took your home to San Diego County, a tornado swallowed you up and blew you to Kansas, etc.) If you have a planned absence from school- such as the Fair, annual hunting trip, etc. - please make arrangements to complete homework prior to the due date!
A Note on Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of cheating or fraud; it occurs when a student misrepresents the work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgment, but it also includes employing or allowing another person to copy, or substantially alter work that a student then submits as his or her own. For formal research papers, we will use Turnitin.com, an electronic resource that compares your essay to internet sources and a comprehensive database of other papers. Any assignment found to be plagiarized will be given a zero first offense, and an F in the course thereafter per our school policy. If you do not know how to cite a source or you are unclear about what plagiarism is, come see me and I’ll be happy to explain. I take this issue very seriously, so do not try to copy other people’s work and pretend it is your own or have someone else write your essays for you and claim that you did the work. Usually students are tempted to get illegal “help” when they feel they are failing and there is nothing they can do about it. But there is always one thing you can do if you are having trouble: you can get me to help you. . If you are stuck, or feel that you don’t understand something, please come talk to me and I’ll be more than happy to help you.
Tutoring
- Monday Drop-in Tutoring 10:30-12 pm
- Thu Period 3
- Wednesday & Friday by Appointment