You are in control of your effort and performance in this class; therefore, you are in control of the grade you receive. Grades are cumulative through the end of the quarter and are updated regularly so you may inquire about and monitor your progress throughout the school year. You have access to schooltool and you should be monitoring your grade regularly. Five-week and ten- week reports will be provided. My gradebook will close every five weeks; no late work will be allowed to be turned in after that time. I expect this syllabus to be signed by your parent/guardian and returned within one week for a homework grade (think of this as a way to raise your grade). Grades are broken down as follows:
Tests (40%): Unit exams will account for 40% of your grade. There will usually be one exam at the conclusion of each unit. If a unit is really long, it may be broken down into two tests at the teacher’s discretion. These are used as an assessment to ensure that you have learned the material necessary to have success on the NYS 8th Grade Math Test.
Quizzes (30%): Quizzes will account for 30% of your grade. There will usually be 1-2 quizzes per unit. These are used for you to assess your understanding and learning as we progress through a unit. They are designed to give you a chance to clarify that which you do not understand.
Homework (30%): Homework will account for 30% of your grade. Homework will be assigned on most nights. Homework is used to practice and deepen the understanding of the material that we do in class. Usually this will be spot-checked for completeness and accuracy using the 4 point grading system that follows. Occasionally this homework may be graded. You will be allowed to make up these graded homework assignments if you are not happy with the results.