What do I expect of you?
WILLINGNESS TO LEARN - Only you can ultimately determine what you will learn. I will provide opportunity, encouragement, coaching, alternative sources, and extra help as I can, but nothing will happen if you don't provide the motivation, energy, work habits, and good will that are integral to learning.
Learning means changing, and change requires taking some risks. Accept the fact that this course will sometimes stretch you beyond what you can do. Accepting challenges and overcoming them will change you. You will appreciate the change after it has happened!
A POSITIVE SOCIAL ATTITUDE - I expect mature and socially acceptable behaviour in my classroom. I will not tolerate racism, sexism, personal abuse, disrespect for life, or disrespect for the classroom environment, whether casual or deliberate. Any student who engages in such activities will be removed from the class immediately, and will not be readmitted until I have received and accepted a detailed written account of the incident and the appropriate apologies. The account stays on file and repeated offenses will lead to further disciplinary action.
RESPONSIBILITY - There is work to be done. Do it.
In particular:
� Come to every class. In the unlikely event that a class is canceled, work will be left for you. Generally this will be available on the Internet, on your e-mail, or both. This material is as much a part of the course as any other class. Do it.
� Come to every class with the appropriate materials (text, binder with lined and blank paper, pens, pencils, some colours for doing diagrams).
� Arrive on time. Classes start at the designated time, 6pm. I should be able to take attendance and begin the day's lesson within two minutes of that time. No one, including me, should have to tolerate frequent interruptions due to inconsiderate latecomers. If you are late for an excusable reason, wait quietly in the hall for a logical break (a pause, a change in activity), then enter and sit down without interrupting anyone else. At the end of class, or at a logical break in the activity, approach me with your apology and excuse.
� Do any preparatory reading or homework that has been assigned. If I assign readings, I will teach on the assumption that you already have a basic sense of the material. Those who assume that everything will be revealed by the teacher will not get much out of class.
� Maintain a good set of notes for the purpose of increasing your own understanding. Your notes are your primary resource. Use them to assemble ideas. Do not rely solely on copying from the board, from text material, or from classmates. Your job is to create a personal understanding of the material, not to render an exact copy like a medieval monk!
� Use the available resources to upgrade your understanding and to self-correct. Often I will post model answers, hints, and outlines on the blog (http://www.missjeffreysbi3c.blogspot.com/). When you get back a lab, quiz or other assignment, you will receive some specific feedback on your paper, but there may be much more general feedback during a one-on-one conference. Only if you compare what you do to models of what could be done will you make the maximum possible progress.
� Take all tests and complete all assignments on time and according to the instructions given. Tests and assignments are your opportunity to prove to me that learning has occurred. Without the evidence, I must assume that it has not. If you miss a scheduled test, you MUST see me on the day of your return to school, or preferably e-mail me at misskjeffrey@gmail.com to explain your absence. You must be prepared to write the test at MY convenience, possibly including the day of your return. Tests taken after the rest of the class cannot improve your mark for that term. Except in exceptional circumstances, no test can be taken after the marked tests have been returned to the class. Assignments will be deducted 10% for each class day late.
� If you earn my trust by being reliable and responsible, I will sometimes negotiate due dates with the class and/or tolerate some bending of dates to meet individual needs. Everyone gets overloaded at times, and this course can be confusing because there are often several different things going on. Late work will be documented, however, and repeated failure to meet deadlines will affect your mark for day-to-day performance. Please always talk to me about any of your concerns within this course.
-Miss Jeffrey
