Mr. Shea's General Guidelines and Expectations

Course Materials You are required to cover your textbook.  Please avoid the adhesive textbook covers. A graphing-calculator.  Texas Instruments TI-83® is strongly recommended. You should keep a 3-ring binder.  Your binder should have a section for each of the following: Notes Handouts Homework

General Expectations and Requirements

• I expect all students to participate actively and to be engaged with the material we are working with in class.
• I expect all students to think critically and creatively about concepts and materials we are working with in class.
• I expect our work together to be characterized by civility and cooperation. 
• I expect punctuality and responsibility in completion of assigned work.
• I expect all students to come to class on time and to come to class with pens, notebooks and other pertinent materials.
• Neatness is expected and appreciated on all work done for this course.  If I cannot read your handwriting then I will not grade your work.
• Tests are to be completed during class, in other words you will not be allowed to come back and finish a test or a quiz.  Tests and quizzes will be designed so that you have enough time to complete them in class. If you are tardy to class on the day of a test and there is not enough time for you to complete the test you will be asked to take the test at a time when you can complete the test in one sitting on that same day.  You will not be allowed to start a test and come back to complete it.  Extra time will not automatically be allowed on tests and quizzes unless you have an individualized education plan, which allows for extra time.   All tests must be completed the day they are given.  Students that are allowed extended time are expected to complete the test or quiz on the same day that it is given.  Please plan your schedule accordingly.

Homework

• Will be assigned everyday and checked regularly.
• You are expected to complete all of the assignments for this course.  If you do not it will be very difficult for you to keep up as the pace of this course can be rapid at times.
• Homework is due at the beginning of class.  Homework will be collected periodically after students have had the opportunity to ask questions.  Late homework will not be accepted unless you are absent the day it is due.
• Credit for homework will be determined in the following manner...

• Unless explicitly stated otherwise, homework assignments are duethe beginning of the next class. Homework may be collected or inspected on any day.  I may also call on you to present your work in class at any time.  Since homework is primarily for student practice, you will be given full credit for a good faith effort to complete all of the assigned problems.  A good faith effort means you must do one of two things for every assigned problem:

1.      Copy the problem into your notebook, and give a worked-out solution (not just the answer).  If the problem is odd-numbered, check your answer in the back of the text.

2.      If you cannot solve the problem, you must still copy the problem into your notebook.  You must also identify (by page and number) the example problem in the text that is most like the problem you can’t solve, and write a statement or question that explains where you got stuck.  Simply stating, “I don’t get it,” does not earn credit for homework effort.

• I cannot give credit for late homework unless you are absent the day before or the day it is due.  Read about making up work in the section below.
• Homework quizzes will be given periodically throughout each quarter.  These quizzes will be both open and closed note formats and will cover homework that has been reviewed prior to the quiz.

Making up work

I recognize that it may not be possible for you to be in class every day this year.  However, class will go on without you and you will miss important material.  Please make every effort to come to class.  In the event that you are absent the following items are meant to help you get back on track...

• All work for this course will be posted on the class web page.  The address is http://lhs.lexingtonma.org/Teachers/Shea/
• You are responsible for making up any missed work due to absence.  All work must be made up in a timely manner.  A rule of thumb: You may have the number of days you are absent from class to make up missed homework, a missed test or quiz, however I encourage you to negotiate a timeframe for making up missed work if your absence is lengthy.  If you are absent on the due date of an extended assignment, then you are required to hand it in upon your return to class.  Extended assignments will lose one full grade for each school day they are late.  I will not chase you down to make up missed assignments.  It is up to you to show me the missed work you have completed and to make the necessary arrangements with me to take a missed test or quiz.  If you do not do so within the time allowed you will receive a zero.
• If you are absent from class because of a field trip, you are still responsible for completing the assignment due for the next class.
• Unexcused absences will be handled according to school policy, resulting in a zero for the missed work.

Extra Help

• If you find you need extra help, then I encourage you to see me for extra help.  I am available during my non-teaching periods (A, B, and E) and before or after school by appointment. Please do not wait until the day before or the day of a test or quiz to seek my help. I cannot promise that I will be available to help you at the last minute.

Miscellaneous Stuff

• Extra credit work will not be offered.  In lieu of extra credit, you may be given the opportunity to earn extra points on all tests, provided your homework effort is excellent and you are taking the test during the scheduled time. 
• All Advanced Math and Calculus students will be allowed to take a quarter test during the last week of each quarter.  These will be given during the day or after school on the Monday (during the day only), Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the last week of the quarter and will replace the lowest test or quiz grade received for that quarter.  Quarter tests can only help your grade; therefore if the quarter test is your poorest grade for the quarter, then it will not count.
• Calculators are the only electronic devices allowed in class.
• Playing games on your calculator is not allowed during class. 
• Cell phones, pagers, walkman, discman, iPods and mp3 players must be put away and turned off when you come to class.  Cell phones and pagers will be confiscated if they go off during class. In other words, please do not bring anything to class that will disrupt the class.
• Please do not give me any reason to doubt or question your integrity or to correct or become upset with your behavior.  I value and respect our student/teacher relationship and want to help you learn math.

 One more thing…(okay maybe two)

Most importantly, this course requires a great deal of work on your part and mine.  Mathematics demands a lot from those studying it and can be frustrating and humbling at times. Whatever you do, don't give up!!! When you solve a problem or understand a new concept you have accomplished something that most people never experience. It is my hope that all of you perform to the maximum of your abilities. I reserve the right to modify these expectations in order to provide a positive learning experience for all students.  All students will be notified of any changes.