Academic+Policies

=Difficulties and Getting Help=
 * If you encounter problems that endanger your success, please see me!
 * I’d much prefer to help you solve a problem before it becomes critical, or before an assignment is late, than to issue a poor grade.
 * I am available to help you individually with any difficulty you encounter. I am interested in your learning, development, and success in this course. A one-on-one tutoring session or two is often extremely helpful in getting you on track with any assignment. Please ask for help.

=**Makeup Work**=
 * It is the student’s responsibility to check the Class Log and see the teacher __immediately__ after an absence for makeup work and to schedule makeup tests and quizzes.
 * All assignments that were due while you were absent are due when you return.
 * Assignments, quizzes, or tests should be made up within __one week__ of your absence to count for credit, except in the event of an exceptionally long, excused absence for illness.
 * __Makeup tests will not have any of the perks the original test__…no bonus questions or points, or extra credit…no use of notes, etc. Essays may be different for makeup tests.
 * Makeup work must be __handed directly to the teacher__, not placed on the teacher's desk, mailbox, homework bin, etc.

= Late Work =
 * Late work will be worth half credit if submitted one day late, and will receive no credit thereafter.
 * Deadlines can occasionally be extended for students in extenuating circumstances. The time to discuss an extension with Miss Brady is BEFORE the assignment deadline.
 * Late work that is left on my desk, table, or collection bin will be discarded. __Late work must be handed directly to the teacher__.

= House Rules =
 * Houses are to be made up of 4 students (self-determined unless Miss Brady changes the house makeup for learning or disciplinary reasons) and to take the name of the American history figure they all admire most
 * Students number themselves within house: 1 and 2 are shoulder partners; 3 and 4 are shoulder partners
 * Students are expected to
 * do nightly homework well
 * come to class prepared to learn and contribute productively to house reviews and competition
 * Houses are expected to
 * encourage the best in their members—best efforts and contributions possible
 * help members to learn and achieve
 * exercise some patience with shortcomings of members—all people have shortcomings
 * Houses may appeal to Miss Brady to eject members, if those members are habitual slackers in homework or class work assignments, or who consistently withhold contributions of knowledge, talent, assistance to house members

=** House Review **=

Each day when a reading assignment is due, will begin with this way

 * 7:45-7:55—Review notes/Brady takes roll and grades notes
 * PLEASE—NO COPYING OF HOMEWORK NOTES!!
 * 7:55-8:00—Develop challenge question
 * 8:00-8:05—Answer challenge question
 * 8:05-8:10—Answers reviewed and evaluated
 * 8:10-8:20—Brady challenge (one person per house) or quiz (whole class, taken individually)

=** House Competition **=
 * Points are awarded or deducted for various reasons
 * Points are totaled each marking period to determine the winner
 * Points are totaled for the year to determine grand champions

+3—Second high score unit exam (house avg & indiv) +5—All students—perfect score on quiz +3—All students—A on quiz +5—High score (house avg and/or indiv) on assgn/ proj +3—Second high score (house avg and/or indiv) on assgn/ proj +3—Superior challenge question/response (rarely awarded; to be judged by Miss B) +5—Best paper (Collins 3-5) +3—Second best paper (Collins 3-5) +5—Most improved student from MP to MP +3—Second most improved student from MP to MP  +1—Most improved student from exam to exam +1—Most improved student from paper to paper (Collins 3-5) +1—Correct challenge question/response +3—Perfect homework day=all present and on time + all earn 1 on homework +1—Good homework day=all present and on time + all earn at least 0 on homework **points for instances of outstanding leadership, generosity, achievement, persistence, integrity, and problem-solving can be awarded by Miss B at any time…PS if you ask for these they will NOT be awarded.** || -5—two or more students don’t have homework or assgn done -3—one student doesn’t have homework or assgn done -3—unfair challenge question -1—wrong answer on own challenge question -3—off task -10—copying homework or other assgn or cheating on quiz or test (individual consequences also apply) -10—allowing someone to copy from you
 * == ** House Points Awarded ** == || == ** House Points Deducted ** == ||
 * +5—High score unit exam (house avg & indiv)
 * points for laziness, dishonesty, wasting time, irresponsibility, and sabotage can be deducted by Miss Brady at any time…PS if you suggest that someone ELSE should earn a deduction…YOU will share in that deduction ** ||

= Extra Credit =
 * AP Courses: no extra credit is available, except in rare instances. College courses and professors rarely, if ever, offer extra credit.
 * Honors and CP Courses: extra credit opportunities available: the Book Talk or the CharacterBook Page. See Miss Brady.

= Laptops and Library =
 * Students are expected to use technology and time provided during class to complete class assignments.
 * Students found playing games on the computers, calculators, cell phones, etc., will lose computer privileges for the rest of that block (handhelds will be confiscated) and have 10% deducted from the assignment they are supposed to be working on. House points will also be deducted.
 * Students, who finish class assignments early and to the satisfaction of the teacher, will be permitted to work on other assignments or to read.

= Films in the classroom =
 * Films are shown in class as an alternative to lectures or other forms of instruction. Students are expected to attend to them, take notes, and learn from them in the same way they do from other kinds of lessons.
 * Using the lav (unless you are seriously ill), putting one’s head down, and talking during a film is unacceptable.
 * The teacher will assign detentions for inattention in order that the student can make up the instruction time they missed.

= Plagiarism =
 * If students are asked to turn in __individual__ assignments, each student is expected to do __original__ work. If students are asked to collaborate, they will be asked to turn in one assignment for 2 or more people. If two or more people turn in individual assignments that are the same, they will all receive zeroes on the assignment.
 * Students are expected to master the skills of research, note-taking, crediting sources, indicating quotations and paraphrasing taught in this class. When students are unsure of the proper way to exercise any of these skills, they are expected to ask the teacher so that they can understand how to avoid plagiarism.
 * Students who commit plagiarism on a research or writing assignment will receive a zero on that assignment, house points will be deducted, and PMHS school policy will be followed. See the handbook.