OLD Classroom Procedures

Classroom Procedures

The best way to be successful is to establish a good routine. Just look at any professional athlete and what they do before any game. They establish a routine and stick to it and it helps them focus better and prepare for the upcoming task. Just Ask Sidney Crosby to explain his pregame routines and it might take the whole day for him to explain them all. If you establish a good daily routine in your classes, it can help you be better prepared for academic success.

Everyday Procedures

EVERYDAY Procedures

Students will be expected to follow a routine EACH DAY:

Arrive at school, place your backpack and coat into your locker.
Use your Chromebook to check your Schoology Science class folder and Read Today's Plan in the morning before the end of homeroom.
Check eHallpass in the morning to see if any teacher has made an appointment pass for you later today.
Arrive to science class (and all the other classes) on time!
Put away cell phones and other distractions.
Look at the board. Is there a warm up question, directions, or inspirational quote for you?
During 9th period or later at night, check the Weekly plans to see what is planned for tomorrow.
During 9th period or later at night, make a list of questions you have about what you might not yet understand and want to ask me tomorrow in class (or Send through the BAND APP)

Weekly Plans

Paper copies of the weekly plan sheets 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 several weeks in advance.

Weekly Plans

Everyday has check boxes for you to mark that you have:
turned in what is due
and that you have
completed the night's assignment.

Please remember that this information is our PLAN and plans can sometimes change. Sometimes (especially in the winter) 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 paper if there are a lot of changes that need to be made. This Weekly Plans paper will be your reminder for assignments given and assignments due.

Students and Parents will always have access to these plans, through one of the following ways:

Weekly Plans will be given to each student in hard copy, paper form in class (This paper should always be the first page in your science binder.)
Weekly Plans will be always be available in digital form to view or print on my Weekly Plans Page (Click this link to view)
Additionally, a new Weekly plans reminder will be sent through the BAND app and/or email so each student's parents or legal guardians 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 modified total points grading system that incorporates several classroom factors in to the calculation. A modified total points scale will use a standard TOTAL POINTS system in which more points will come from summative assessments and lab work and less from homework.

Grading

Franklin Regional Grading Scale

A = 100% - 90%

B = 89% - 80%

C = 79% - 70%

D = 69% - 60%

F = 59% - 0%

Modified Total Point
Grading Scale
(approximately)

45% of total points = End of Unit Test (Summative Assessments)

30% of total points = Lab reports/ papers/ assignments

15% of total points = Quizzes (Formative Assessments)

10% of total points = Homework Assignments / Class Participation

100% = Final Quarterly Grade

*These percentages are only estimates and might vary slightly based on the total number of points offered during any nine weeks.

REMINDER: Our school's official grading system is eSchoolPlus. Please refer to this grading system for the most arcuate grades. If you don't know your eSchoolPlus login information, then visit the FR website to request that information.

Students will also have the opportunity to maintain their own 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.

Types of Grades

End of Unit Test: Summative Assessments:

45%

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. (Almost no exceptions will be made for this.)

QUIZ:

Formative Assessments:

15%

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 (70%), 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 (found on the Student Resource webpage) 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.

Lab Work:

Lab papers, reports, activities

30%

Lab work is typically done in several parts. Part one, the students work within lab groups to design and/or run a scientific investigation to collect data and make observations. Part two, the students evaluate and analyze the collected data, draw conclusions and answer related lab questions. Part three, the students reflect on and report their findings. Typically part one is done as a team in class and parts two and three will need to be finished individually for homework. Depending on the amount of work required and hours dedicated to it, Lab grades will range anywhere between 5-25 points. Any lab work missed due to any absence from class MUST BE MADE UP PRIOR TO the Summative Assessment.

Even though homework is assigned, checked and reviewed daily, typically homework is assigned little to no point value. Homework is a learning tool. It is designed and developed to help the student better understand a topic or reinforce a new skill being learned. If homework is assigned, it is my expectation that it is completed and attempted to the best of your ability. Don't come to class with a blank worksheet and tell me that you "didn't get

it." A messy paper may not have the right

answers, but it shows that you put forth much effort to TRY to understand. (A messy paper is one with a lot of erase marks, items scratched out, notes to ask me for specific help in the margin)

Homework:

Assignments and Follow-ups

10%

Homework FOLLOW-UPS

While some homework will be collected (often randomly), most will simply be checked and reviewed, then FOLLOWED UP. After completing assignments, students will be given a HOMEWORK FOLLOW UP. These will be given at least once a week and will often be only a few questions related to the assignments, to help gauge the student's understanding of the material. If a student does well, then he/she is thought to have understood the topic and is ready to move on. If a student did poorly, a help session will be schedule in which the student and teacher (or peer tutor) will review both the homework assignment and Homework Follow Up together. Homework Follow Ups are non-graded formative assessments and are worth zero points. They are designed to help a student reach mastery understanding of the topics covered and prepare them for the end of the unit summative test.

* PLEASE NOTE: A Follow-up HELP session will only be scheduled if the student has attempted the original assignment! If the student did poorly on the Homework Follow-Up, but never attempted the original assignment, then the student will be asked to first attempt the homework before a help session will be given.

LATE Homework

If the assignment is one that is to be collected and graded and it is turned in:

before the END OF THE DAY it was due = -10% off the points earned
Anytime ONE day after it was due = -50% off the points earned
At least a day before the end of the Unit Summative Assessment = -80% off the points earned
Anytime beyond the Unit Test = 0 points will be awarded

If the assignment is one that is checked and reviewed during class (Not turned in):

before the END OF THE DAY it was due = -50% off the points earned
At least a day before the end of the Unit Summative Assessment = -80% off the points earned
Anytime beyond the Unit Test = 0 points will be awarded

If the student suffers from chronic late assignments (3 or more), 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 on this website on the Student Resource page

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.

Cheating Policy

I know it is very tempting to just ask a friend for the homework answers so your work is "complete." However, if you complete the homework on your own, you have not only started to develop a personal understanding of the material, but you have also already begun to prepare for the unit test. It's all about which do you value more, short term rewards or long term rewards.

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.

Absence From Class

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.

What should you do if you are absent from class:

As soon as you can, check your Schoology Science folder and READ the "Today's Plans" for the days you have missed. (usually there will be additional instructions there for those students that are not in class).
Do what you can. Depending on the day that is missed, there might be things that you just simply can not do from home or you need help to understand before you begin.
- For example, 99% of all labs must be conducted in the safety of our Lab Area. If you miss a lab day you can not "do" the lab, but you can read through it and maybe answer the Pre-Lab questions.
- Or maybe you missed the Class discussion on how to Balance Chemical Equations. You might not be ready to try to attempt a practice problem on your own, but you can go to my website and watch the Notes presentation that you missed, so you can come to school the next day with questions ready to ask me.
Print out any worksheets you can from the day. (If you do not have access to a printer, extra copies will be available in my room.)

What should you do when you return to class:

Check the Absent Binder (Located on the front shelf by the TV). These binders will have any papers that you might have missed due to an absence.
Ask someone at your table to explain what you missed.
- If class notes were given while you were out, go to my Class notes web page (under Student Resources) to watch the notes slideshow.
- 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.

3. Try to complete the missing work as quickly as possible to get back on track with the rest of the class.

*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 set date will be recorded as incomplete.

If you are in SAL, on a field trip, out for Preforming Arts practice or know that you will be missing science class on a certain day, you are still expected to report to my class IN THE MORNING BEFORE PERIOD ONE to turn in any 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.

Late to Class

Just as being in school is important, getting to class ON-TIME is just as important. Late minutes can quickly add up to lots of missed instructional time and learning. For example, if a student is just one minute late to my class everyday for the entire year, they will have missed the equivalent of almost 4 1/2 classes of Science. 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 is no excuse why you should be late. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER, The clock does not dismiss you, the teacher does. I will always try to wrap things up just before the end of the class period, but on a few occasions I 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.)

DO NOT WALK TOWARD THE CLASSROOM DOOR

LEAVE THE CLASSROOM

UNTIL I HAVE DISMISSED YOU!

Late to Class

If you come to class late and DO NOT have a pass, then:

You will be issued a warning on your first tardy to class.
The second unexcused tardy will result in a morning detention issued by the teacher and parents will be contacted through email.
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...

Any class time missed should be for true emergencies only. There are appropriate times to ask to go to the bathroom and other inappropriate times. Use your best judgement to ask during a time when you will miss the least amount of instruction.

ONLY ONE STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED OUT AT A TIME.

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.

Open your Chromebook
Go to the e-Hallpass website and log in with your school Google account.
Follow the directions and create your pass request.
Raise your hand and wait for me to call on you.
Inform me of your request.
If it is an appropriate time, and no one else is out already with a pass, then I will approve your request and you may leave.

Return to your seat.
Raise your hand to get my attention to make sure I saw that you have returned, so I can stop your pass.

1) Ask First

2) How to sign out the pass

3) return the pass & sign in

Food & Gum

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.

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.

Exceptions to this rule include: Bought breakfast before period one, Medical needs, and approved snacks during standardized testing and other special occasions.

Backpacks

No one should bring backpacks to the classroom, unless the student has special permission from the office or nurse. 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.

Backpacks

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.

As a parent of three kids, I recognize the important function that a phone plays in family communication, afterschool activities, and brain breaks. However, with one to one Chromebooks and computers throughout 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.

This year all I have instituted the Science Cell Phone Corral, in which students will 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 will receive the following Cell Phone Action:

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.
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.
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.
The Forth (+) 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. PLUS a detention may be issued to the student.

*** 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)

This year I have once again instituted the Science Cell Phone Corral, in which any student that brings his/her cellphone to class will 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 will receive the following Cell Phone corrective action:

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.
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.
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.
The Forth (+) 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. PLUS a detention may be issued to the student.

** Any student that REFUSES to hand over his/her phone after the first offense warning, will immediately be sent to the office for non-compliance and defiance, which will result in office disciplinary action.

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 or ask and gain permission 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 and most teachers 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.