The purpose of this letter is to inform parents of some of my classroom policies.  I know it seems rather long, but I trust that you will appreciate, as I do, the trouble it may prevent as the year progresses.  Please read and sign this letter, and return it to me within three days.  I will return it to the student after I have marked it in my records that it has been returned to me.

For most students, chemistry is a very difficult course which requires daily study in order to do well.  Students must never forget that chemistry is a building course, meaning that much of what is presented in the early chapters will be used later in the course, and it will be expected that the student will be able to build upon, rather than learn anew, the skills taught earlier in the year.  Early mastery is essential to later success.
 
Required materials: Students must have the following materials each day, unless told otherwise:
• black or blue pen, and mechanical pencil
• red pen for grading
• scientific calculator (Texas Instruments is good; I would not recommend Casio for our purposes).  These can be found easily at discount stores for $10.00 - $20.00.
• A “notebook” to be used for chemistry only, which consists of looseleaf paper in a pocketed, 1" or 1 ½ '' three-ring hard back binder.  I have a couple of  three-hole punches students can use for any handouts which are not pre-punched.  Students may opt to take notes in a spiral notebook, but the pages must be perforated, so that the edges are neat if the work is turned in.  The binder is required, whether students choose to use looseleaf or notebook paper.

Grading policy: Tests and major assignments (including major labs) count 2/3.  Minor, or daily, grades (notebook checks, homework, short-term assignments, regular labs) count 1/3.  I do not regularly schedule tests on Mondays.  Not all assignments will be graded, and some will be graded for completion, or perceivable effort, only.  Students will usually not be told ahead of time whether or not their homework will be graded.  This is done so that the work will be completed not simply for a grade, but because it has been assigned.

Notebook checks: During notebook checks, done once or twice each six weeks, I will look primarily for the following: 1. Section Reviews, 2. Vocabulary, 3. Sample Problems and Practice, and 4. Worksheets and Other Handouts (which are to be three-hole punched and in order).  Lecture, board, and text notes will also help with the notebook grade.  I usually take up notebooks on some test days, and the grade value reflects how long we have been working since the last notebook check.
 
Test re-takes: I will allow a student to re-take a test once every six weeks.  It must be a test that the student has failed, and the score recorded in the grade book will be the average of the two scores.  If for some reason the student does not make a better score on the re-take, the original grade will remain in the grade book.  The student must take the test no later than one day after we go over the test in class.  No bonus points will be allowed on a re-take.

Homework: Homework will be given from one to three times a week, and is expected to take from ten minutes to an hour to complete.  I do not normally give homework to be done over the weekend.   Students are expected to always read at least one section ahead of what we have covered in class each day.

Late work: I expect all students to turn in assignments when they are due; however, I know that sometimes certain situations make it difficult for this to always occur.  Therefore I will allow students to turn in late work under the following grading system: For an assignment in which answers have not been given as we go over it in class, the student can turn in the work the next day for a 70.  If it is not turned in the next day, the student will receive a O for that assignment.  In addition, work turned in the day it is due, yet after I call for it, will have fifteen points deducted from it.  If we go over the work in class, the student can turn in the completed work that day for a 70.  I view this policy not as encouraging irresponsibility, but as a way in which a student will still have a chance to both learn the material better, and also salvage his or her grade.
Extra credit: I give students the opportunity to better their grade by doing extra credit work.  The ideal project would be one involving a skill with which the student needs more practice, especially as indicated by poor test performance in a specific area.  Examples of possible extra credit activities include (but are not limited to) making 3-D models, durable flash cards or learning games, writing research papers (not just copying from an encyclopedia), or helping me with a laboratory demonstration.  My wall is presently filled with posters; therefore, I am not taking any more posters for extra credit (unless a student can convince me that I absolutely cannot get along without their contribution!) There are also enrichment exercises at the end of each chapter (Handbook Search, Research and Writing, Technology and Learning, and Alternative Assessment) that the student can do.  Students must check with me before they begin an extra credit project.  Students must try to come up with their own ideas first, not just ask me, “What can I do?” I will not be able to tell a student beforehand exactly how much credit he or she will receive.  I will look at each project on an individual basis, and the amount of credit will depend on the needs of the student, the difficulty of the activity, and how much work was put into it.  All extra credit work is due no later than one week before the last class day of each six weeks, and a student may do no more than one extra credit project per six weeks – no exceptions!

I am looking forward to a wonderful year and I am truly enjoying being a part of the ACCS community!  Please let me know whenever I can be of help.  For some excellent links to general education and reference sites, including homework help sites, and chemistry sites, please visit my webpage at www.telapex.com/~tommyboy/index.html.  Feel free to email me at any time at tmorgan100@hotmail.com .

Student’s Name: ___________________________________________

Parent’s Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _______________