Students need the following materials for my class and are expected to bring them every day:
Students are required to use their planners in my class for keeping track of assignments and reflecting on their learning. They should also use their binder or accordion file to keep papers, notebooks and assignments for each class organized.
Assignments and due dates will be posted on my website. This is intended to be a back-up and a clarification for students if they are confused about what is written in their planners.
Students can access my website through the cssmidlevel.net website.
I don’t assign homework for its own sake, but students will be expected to do school work at home regularly. Students will often be expected to finish work at home that was started during class or to work on projects over a long period of time outside of the classroom.
Students should anticipate at least one hour of homework each night during middle school, with the expectation that there will be more than this at times, especially when there are major projects due.
Your homework includes reading at home regularly. You should read 20-30 minutes a day at home (unless you have a large amount of other homework that takes up all of your time).
Generally students will have two days to complete homework assignments and they are expected to have assignments done on the day that they are due.
Students are expected to complete all assignments by the established due date.
Formative assignments will often be used in class on the day when they are due. I won’t enter formatie grades in Synergy, but I will keep track of whether students are completing assignments. I can share this information with parents if they are curious, and I will reach out to parents of students who routinely do not complete formative assignments.
Summative assignments should be done by the due date. Late assignments will be accepted within three school days of the due date. Students who turn in assignments within this window will receive feedback on most assignments and have the opportunity to revise and resubmit their work. Work that is more than three days late will only be accepted if students make prior arrangements with me.
I’ll generally make exceptions to these policies when people are ill or have other major events going on outside of school. It is important, however, that you communicate with me about your plans and your timeline for completing work.
For more information about my grading policy, see the “Grading Policy and Expectations” under “Course Information” on my website. At the bottom of the page is a document called “Some Important Ideas about Mr. McClain’s Grading Policies.”