Math Class Policies and Procedures 

1.Homework is assigned daily.  If a student misses a homework assignment they will receive a zero.  Late homework is not accepted.  

2. Students will receive full credit for completed assignments that show work.  A zero is issued for incomplete assignments.  Missing one problem or not showing work is considered incomplete.  Showing work is necessary to use as a learning tool in finding mistakes.  This way in the future those same errors are not made.  I encourage the students to practice what was taught in class, especially if the problems are challenging.  They must at least try them even if they are unclear.  Using their notes as a guide is a must.  This is an effort grade.  Complete they receive a 100%.  Not complete they receive a zero.  This is a non-negotiable policy.

3. Every student should record the assignment given at the end of class in their assignment notebook each day before leaving the classroom (assignments will be explained during the last few minutes of class each day.)  Assignments are posted daily on my website  However, do not solely rely on this, as sometimes there are technical difficulties.  You can find my webpage at the following link:  http://sites.google.com/site/nicolehandzel

4. If a student is absent, he/she has the equivalent of days marked as an excused absence to make up the homework and classwork/class notes.  If your child is absent he/she is responsible for getting his/her homework assignment and classwork/class notes from another student. Any worksheets that were distributed during the time of the absence will be placed in the designated homeroom folder.  The student is responsible for retrieving it from the folder upon his/her return.  If they do not retrieve the work from the folder upon their return in a timely fashion the assignment will be marked as a zero. We encourage you and your child to keep a few telephone numbers of other students at home so that if he/she needs the assignment, or has questions, there will be someone to assist.  Creating a buddy system can be very helpful and may prevent your child from falling behind. Also, please be aware it is school policy to not give work in advance when students miss school due to vacations or sports activities.  The work will need to be completed and turned in upon their return to school.  Work missed due to an unexcused absence will not be graded.  If the work is not made up in the allotted time allowed the work will be counted as a zero.  Please note Homework is posted online as a courtesy. Teacher websites should not be relied on as the only source of this information as daily updates, while attempted, are not always possible. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to know and find out what the homework is daily and write it in their assignment notebook. After missing (3) homework assignments and/or (3) classwork assignments  in a 10 week marking period, a check (√) will be placed on the report card.  This checkmark will prevent your child from being on the Honor Roll for that quarter.

5. Simple Solution (SS) Common Core Math will be a part of our daily routine.  The daily SS assignments will count in the classwork category, and the weekly quizzes will be considered a formative assessment.  Since they are given ample time in class to complete those daily assignments and are given the opportunity to ask questions regarding the assignments the grade will fit best in the classwork category.  The daily lessons will count as completed (1) or not completed (0).  They must show work for each problem and have all of them completed for each daily lesson.  If you see your child has a zero in the classwork category for a particular lesson that means they did not complete or show work.  You will be able to look in their book for the note I wrote if they did not receive credit.  

6. Upon entering the classroom students are to place their notebook in the designated bin and immediately begin completing the daily bellringer in the “Bellringer” section of their binder.  After all notebooks have been checked in for completion of the homework assignment we will go over the bellringer, Simple Solutions and homework, then we will begin our lesson for the day.

7. At the end of a new lesson (this may not be daily) students will be asked to place a stick with their name on it in the “Self Assessment Bucket” that they feel correlates to their mastery of the topic with 4 being mastered and 1 being “needs more help.”  This will help me determine who is ready to move on and who will need more assistance.  Students are responsible for their learning if they have questions they need to ask them. I want them to feel that all of their questions are important.  If a student did not have the opportunity to ask their question in class, they may write it down on a piece of paper and place that in the designated folder.  I will then address that question during the ninth period enrichment portion of the day.  This will help the students learn how to be more accountable for their learning. 

8. All students are responsible for his/her assigned textbook.  If they are lost, stolen, or damaged the student/parent is responsible for reimbursing the school for the cost of the book.  

9. Students must have their own calculators.  We will not provide them for the students.  Please check the supply list issued over the summer for the calculator needed for your child’s class.  Be sure to clearly mark your child’s name on the calculator so that it can be returned to them in case it is left behind.