Classroom Procedures
Weekly Plans
Paper copies of the weekly plan sheets will not be given out this year due to our directive to limit the amount of papers sent home. They will, however, always be found here on my website using the "Weekly Plans" link. The link will also be provided in Schoology.
Weekly plans are given to the students every 1-3 weeks. They give information about the weeks to come in science class. Every day has listed what we plan to discuss or do in class, what assignments are due that day, and what the
assignment is for that night.
If used as intended, the weekly plan sheets will let you see when a test or quiz will be held weeks in advance.
Please remember that this information is our PLAN and plans can sometimes change. Sometimes (in the winter and especially during this year of Covid-19) plans will shift because of unexpected circumstances. Mr. Racchini will make you aware of any slight changes to the plan or present you with a new adjusted weekly plans if there are a lot of changes that need to be made. This Weekly Plans will be one of your reminders for assignments given and assignments due.
Students and Parents will always have access to these plans, through one of the following ways:
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Weekly Plans will always be available in digital form to view or print on my Weekly Plans Page (Click this link to view)
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Additionally, a new Weekly plans reminder will be sent to each student's parents or legal guardians through Schoology, email, and to the students on the BAND app reminders, so they can download or view the plans and stay in touch with what is happening in our class.
Grading
The student's final quarterly grades will be calculated using a weighted graded system that incorporates several classroom factors in to the calculation.
Franklin Regional Grading Scale
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% - 0%
Science Weighted Grading Scale
45% = End of Unit Test (Summative Assessments)
30% = Lab reports/ papers/ assignments
20% = Quizzes (Formative Assessments)
5% = Homework Assignments / Class Participation
100% = Final Quarterly Grade
Students will be charged with maintaining a Grade Record sheet. The students will record all graded items on this sheet and will periodically be asked to do a grade check to calculate their current science grade.
Test, Quizzes, Re-Learning, and Re-Tests
Formative Assessments:
Formative assessments are part of the instructional process. When incorporated into classroom practice, they provide the information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening. In this sense, formative assessment informs both teachers and students about student understanding at a point when timely adjustments can be made.
While many formative assessments will be non-graded, quizzes will be. Students that earn less than a desired score on a formative assessment quiz will be given the opportunity to re-learn, and then be re-evaluated on the material ONE TIME ONLY. The student will be given this retest opportunity ONLY IF the student completes the Re-Assessment Study Plan document AND provides evidence of his/her attempt to relearn the material. (Evidence can include fixing mistakes on past assignments, retaking notes on a misunderstood section, requesting help from the teacher, etc.)
If a student attempts a re-do on a quiz, the score of the second attempt will replace the score from the first attempt regardless of which score was higher. Since the purpose of the formative assessment is to help with learning, all attempted retest for formative assessments MUST BE COMPLETED prior to the summative assessment.
Summative Assessments:
Summative Assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know. In other words, these are the unit test. If the student has done his/her job correctly (Made and followed adjustments from the formative assessments), then there should be no need to re-test the summative assessments. Remember the formative assessments (“Practice assessments”) help tell the student where his/her weaknesses are. By identifying those weaknesses, and then TRYING TO CORRECT those weaknesses, the student should be better prepared for the unit test. Therefore the summative assessments (or Unit test) are one and done. Meaning students will be given one chance to prove they have made corrections to their misunderstandings, sought help on topics of weaknesses identified by the formative assessments, and have studied and prepared appropriately for the unit test.
Homework
Homework is assigned, checked and graded daily. Homework points can range anywhere between 2 points and 15 points depending on the amount of effort needed to complete the assignment. Homework is graded based on two factors, completeness and comprehension of the material.
I know it is very tempting to just ask a friend for the homework answers so it is complete. However, if you complete the homework on your own, you have already begun to prepare for the unit test. It's all about which do you value more, short term rewards or long term rewards.
If you fail to turn in your homework on time, you may still obtain some points for the assignment.
To receive partial credit for a late assignment, It must be turned in NO later than one day after it was due.
If the assignment is completed and turned in:
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before the END OF THE DAY it was due = -10% off the points earned
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Anytime ONE day after it was due = -50% off the points earned
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Anytime beyond the one day extension = 0 points will be awarded
If the student suffers from chronic late assignments, an email will be sent to his/her parents that may required them to first discuss the late assignment problems and also return a completed Chronic Late Assignment Reflection Document with a parent's signature. Extra copies of the C.L.A.R.D. can be found at the turn in box in the classroom and online on the Student Resource page
Cheating Policy
According to school policy cheating is defined as: Copying from other students during a test, using unauthorized information on a test, and copying another student’s homework.
According to the same policy both the student that copied as well as the student who permitted the student to cheat will receive a failing grade on the materials, and cannot make up the work.
Bottom line is very simple: Always do your own work. Remember we are learning. If you have the answers of someone else on your homework, test, or quiz; there will be no way for you or I to truly identify your areas of weakness.
Absence From Class
There is lots of evidence that poor attendance and lack of effort has serious implications for later outcomes in a student's life. High school dropouts have been found to exhibit a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates.3
These differences in absentee rates were observed as early as kindergarten, and students who eventually dropped out of high school missed significantly more days of school in first grade than their peers who graduated from high school. In eighth grade, this pattern was even more apparent and, by ninth grade, attendance was shown to be a key indicator significantly correlated with high school graduation.4
The effects of lost school days build up one absence at a time on individual students. Missing multiple days in a row also worsens the situation by making the student feel overwhelmed with all of the make-up work that has compiled from all of his/her courses.
Any absence, whether excused or not, denies students the opportunity to learn in accordance with the school's instructional program.
3 Hickman, G.P., Bartholomew, M., and Mathwig, J. (2007). The Differential Development Trajectories of Rural High School Dropouts and Graduates: Executive Summary. Phoenix, AZ: The College of Teacher Education and Leadership at the Arizona State University at the West Campus.
4 Allensworth, E., and Easton, J.Q. (2005). The On-Track Indicator as a Predictor of High School Graduation. Chicago: Consortium on Chicago School Research.
If you are absent from class for any reason at all (SAL Activity, Late to school, Home Sick, Early Dismissal, Sports, Vacation, etc.), it is the students responsible to obtain any missed work or notes from the teacher.
When you are absent, you should:
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Always check your weekly plans and Schoology to see if you can complete the work at home.
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Check the Absent Binder which is located on the front shelf by TV. These binders will have any papers that you might have missed due to an absence. (We will not be using the binder this year due to Covid-19, so go see Mr. Racchini directly).
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Ask someone near your seat to explain what you missed.
(a) If class notes were given while you were out, go to my Class notes web page (under Student
Resources) to watch the notes slideshow.
(b) After watching the slideshow, you may then schedule a time to meet with me, to go over
anything from the notes you still don't understand.
According to the school district policies, students have two days for every day they were absent to make-up, and turn in the work without a penalty. Very few exceptions will be made to this policy (IEP's, Medical excuses, etc.) Any work not turned in by the newly adjusted due date will be recorded as incomplete.
If you are in SAL, on a field trip, out for Performing Arts practice or know that you will be missing science class on a certain day, you are still expected to report to my class during homeroom to turn in any paper assignment due that day and to pick up any work that you will be missing that day. DO NOT INTERRUPT MY CLASS just to pick up work that could have been picked up in the morning during or before homeroom.
Late to Class
Just as being in school is important, getting to class ON-TIME is just as important. Our science class will utilize every minute of class time. Some of our labs will take-up the entire period, and if you are late to class, your group will not have enough time to finish the data collection which means they will not be able to complete their assignment.
Time has been given to you for travel between classes. If you leave your class on time, there really is no excuse why you should be late. The 8th grade team utilizes a bell system through our computers. These bells signal to the TEACHER the beginning and ending of each class. Remember the bell does not dismiss you, the teacher does. Your teacher will try to wrap things up just before the bell rings, but on a few occasions he/she might need to finish a thought or sentence. (If you feel that because of these few extra seconds you will be late to your next class, then ask for a pass before you leave.)
If a pass is not present, then:
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You will be issued a warning on your first tardy to class.
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The second unexcused tardy will result in a morning detention issued by the teacher and parents will be contacted through email.
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Chronic lateness (3 or more) will result in an office referral which could lead to a two hour after school detention or other disciplinary action. Plus parents will be notified and could be required to attend with their child a Tardy/Attendance improvement plan meeting. These meetings can only occur before school at 7:15- 7:50.
Hall Pass Usage
Each student will be allowed to use the hall pass, unless it is being abused. (Examples of abuse include but are not limited to: The same student is leaving class everyday around the same time, student is gone for an extended period of time, student was found wondering the halls and not where he/she was suppose to be, using a Cell phone when they are out in the Halls with the pass, or caught in the bathrooms using an e-cigarette / JUUL.)
This school year, our school will be using
To use the hall pass following these simple steps:
No one is permitted to walk out of my classroom without asking to leave first. Nine times out of ten, I will let you go. Occasionally I might ask you to wait until a more appropriate time during the period.
If you are unfamiliar with how to use and request permission with the e-hallpass system, we will review this at the beginning of the year and/or you can click here to learn the basics.
1) Ask First
2) How to Sign out the pass
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Go to the e-Hallpass website and log in with your school Google account.
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Follow the directions and create your pass request.
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Raise your hand and wait for me to call on you.
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Inform me of your request.
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If it is an appropriate time, I will approve your request and you may leave.
3) returning to class
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Return to your seat.
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Raise your hand to get my attention to make sure I saw that you have returned, so I can stop your pass.
Food & Gum
This is a Science Lab Classroom. It is very dangerous to have anything in your mouth, when chemicals are present. There is the potential to swallow some chemicals that could cause you to become seriously ill. Therefore, Food, Gum, Drink, and Candy, will not be allowed in the classroom labs. (Additional food restrictions from the districts health and safety plan are also in place this year due to Covid-19)
Because of the seriousness of this, if you are caught with food, gum drink, or candy in my labs you will automatically lose lab points for the days activities. If you violate this rule repeatedly, you will serve a one-hour detention with me. In general food and candy should not be brought into my classroom as it can become a major distraction for some students.
Very few exceptions will be made to this rule this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One exception to this rule could include Medical needs if that need is documented with the nurse. In general, since you are required to wear a face mask at all times in the classroom, it will be virtually impossible to eat or drink anyways.
Backpacks
No one should bring backpacks to the classroom, unless the student has special permission from the office. THIS INCLUDES PERIOD NINE. Only one warning will be given, and then students that continue to violate this SCHOOL RULE, will be given a detention.
Cell Phones
BE AWARE THAT TEACHERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO TAKE CELL PHONES IN USE IN THE HALLS, BATHROOM, and CAFETERIA. YOU ARE ONLY TO BE USING YOUR PHONE IF A TEACHER HAS GIVEN YOU PERMISSION TO USE IT IN HIS/HER CLASSROOM.
With one to one Chromebooks and computers now in our school, there really is NO REASON for you to have a cell phone out during the school day!
Parents and students both need to remember that between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, the primary reason why students are in school is to LEARN. Any distractions will make learning more difficult for any student. In years past, all 8th grade teachers have instituted the Cell Phone Corral, in which students would deposit their phones as they enter the class and will get them returned as they leave. Any student caught with a cell phone out of the corral (even just face down on the table or hanging out of their pocket) has chosen to ignore the classroom cell phone policy and would have received the following Cell Phone Action:
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The First Time - The Teacher will give the students a warning and their cell phone will be placed into the Corral for the remainder of the class period.
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The Second time - The teacher will hold the student cell phone and the student must wait until the end of the DAY to reclaim it from the teacher.. The office will also be notified (A file will be started or continued that documents the total number of violations.) PLUS Parents will be notified of the student's repeated disrespectful behavior.
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The Third time - The teacher will hold the student cell phone until it can be delivered to the office and the student must wait until the end of the day to reclaim it from the office. The office will be notified (Your file of violations will be updated.) PLUS Parents will be notified by the office of the student's repeated disrespectful behavior.
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The Forth (+) time - The teacher hold the student cell phone until it can be delivered to the office and the student must wait until the his/her parents come to school to reclaim it from the principal. PLUS a detention may be issued to the student.
SPECIAL CELL PHONE RULE CHANGE FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.
Due to the additional covid-19 district health and safety plans, We will NOT be using the Cell Phone Corral in my class this year (or until those directives are lifted). My not using the corral, we can better maintain social distancing and sharing of that space.
If you choose to bring your cell phone to class, it is still my expectation that it not be used at all UNLESS directed to use it by myself or another adult.
INSTEAD OF THE CORRAL, I will asking all students to do one of the following with cell phone:
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Place it at the top of your desk FACE DOWN with the ringer off. This is not an invitation to freely use your phone, but rather a a safe way to avoid the temptation to use it, answer text, calls, etc.
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Leave it in your pocket with the ringer off. If you choose this method, leave it in your pocket unless directed otherwise.
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Just don't bring your cell phone to class. Leave it in your locker or backpack and avoid the temptation all together.
*** Please NOTE that these rules also apply to Smart watches. Even though students will be permitted to wear their smart watches, it is my expectation that they are not used to send a text, reply to a text, answer a call, search the Internet, or anything else besides checking the time (or using a stopwatch during labs)
My message to my Students about their cell phones:
There is absolutely no need for you to use your cell phone during the day, unless your teacher has given you special permission to use it in an academic way. Facebook, Twitter, snapchat streaks, Instagram, text messages to boyfriends, and whatever game you are playing can wait until after school. If you need to reach home for whatever reason, you still need to go to the office to make that communication (Not at your locker or in your hoodie pocket or under your desk or in the bathroom.) If you don't know the number or need to TEXT someone about something school related that can't wait, the office will try to accommodate you. Remember, EVERY teacher has been instructed to TAKE any cell phone that we can see (being used inappropriately). This includes cell phones ringing in class, texting in a locker or the hallway, or taking pictures in the bathroom.
My message to the Parents of my Students:
We know it is not always the students initiating the communication. Parents tend to be one of the biggest offenders. Again the least amount of distractions during the day will increase the amount of learning that takes place. If you have a true emergency or need to communicate with your child, please call the front office (724-327-5456 x 2003). Your message will be relayed to your child quickly. Please try to remember that between the hours of 8:00am and 3:00pm your child is busy, trying to learn the skills and information to help them be successful, independently thinking adults later in in life.