Cross Timbers Middle School

The following was included in a handout given to each student on the first day of instruction.

Be prompt in arriving...Class will begin on time. being tardy as this disturbs instruction and eliminates crucial time for lab work. are to be in your seat at the beginning of the period. your planner and check the overhead daily for the "warm-up" and begin work quietly.

Following all class guidelines is imperative for success. A good attitude is as important as scholarship for success. misbehaviors can be handled with a verbal warning. "Code System"is enforced in my classroom at all times. are given to students for a number of misbehaviors (ie. missing supplies, chewing gum, excessive talking, etc...) of the class guidelines will be dealt with in the following manner:

Every day, you will need to bring your notebook (spiral, journal), homework, pens/pencils. is no need for you to bring your textbook to class. teacher has a class set of textbooks available for use in the classroom. , however, are not allowed in the classroom or laboratory. If brought to class, you will be instructed to take it to your locker and will be counted tardy if not back before the bell rings.

Tardies are handled according to the policy established in the student handbook. a student comes to class late without a pass, they are counted tardy.

It is the student's responsibility to obtain "make-up" work for an excused absence. every day absent, you have that number of days to turn in the work. Failure to turn in the work will result in no credit given for the assignment. up work is found in a filing system in the classroom to be accessed by the students.

Labs are designed to be exciting learning opportunities. labs give you a chance to work in groups and cooperate with others, but remember....they are not play periods. inappropriate behavior affecting laboratory safety will be cause for immediate removal and/or office referral. student will participate in laboratory activities unless a signed safety agreement is on file in the classroom.

Participation & Accountability (P&A) consists of homework and/or classwork and makes up 30% of the 6 weeks grade in science. P&A is designed to benefit each student, however, failure to participate will negatively affect the grade. stands for exactly what it says: "P"=Participation "A"=Accountability.

Each student is expected to participate in class and will be held accountable for completing their homework and turning it in on time. homework is intended to enrich subject matter and/or practice concepts covered in class. leads to better retention of knowledge and overall preparation at test time.

5 points is deducted from the P&A grade each time a homework assignment is not turned in on time or when the homework assignment is not completed satisfactorily (less than 70% correct).

There is no such thing as late work! student is given one homework pass per subject area each grading period. homework pass is valid only for the 6 weeks in which it was distrubuted. you forget your homework, just staple the homework pass to the assignment and you will be given credit if:

There are approximately 2-3 homework assignments per week. results in up to 18 homework assignments per 6 weeks. Failure to complete one homework assignment will results in a 95 rather than a 100. Failure to do even 5 homework assignments throughout the 6 weeks will significantly affect your grade, resulting in a 75 rather than a 100. Homework must be taken seriously to succeed in this class.

Any lab reports turned in and quizzes taken are averaged together to account for another 35% of the 6 weeks grade. remaining 35% cosists of the major project assigned (1 per 6 weeks) averaged together with the 6 weeks exam.