The First Day of Mathematics Class
Dear Parent,
May I take the opportunity of this letter to greet you and to acquaint you with what, in part, I expect of your child and with what, in part, is to be expected of me.
First, your child will have a homework assignment to prepare for each class meeting. For the convenience of everyone, homework assignments are posted daily on the Internet at www.schoolworksite.com/school/view_webpage.asp?id=22186. Go there, then click "Homework & Events." Please be sure your child is fully prepared each day for mathematics class. Proper preparation includes appropriate, conscientious effort at home and extra help from me when it is needed. It also includes having collected the materials required for class and having arrived in class on time in alert condition--physically, mentally, and emotionally. If an assignment for grade credit is turned in late without excuse, it will receive an appropriately reduced grade. If class meetings are missed, for whatever reason, appropriate make-up work assignments and/or tests must be completed within a period of exactly as many days as were missed and in compliance with Monroe City School Board policy. It is the student's responsibility to secure my help for any make-up work. See the "Printable Homework Assignment Procedure" accessible from the website's main menu. Please be advised that elective, unexcused absence from mathematics class invariably handicaps the student.
It is irresponsible parenting capriciously to check students out of school on days when students are struggling to recover from classes cancelled by administrators due to state-mandated testing or inclement weather. Furthermore, always respect the value of the continuity of lessons that benefit not only your child, but also the other students. Please never interupt that continuity by attempting to check your child out of mathematics class, even on days when you have been misled to believe that "we are not doing anything important in math class today."
It is never necessary, nor appropriate, to second-guess over half-a-century of teaching success. Please do not make that mistake. Over the years, it has become my general routine to use “Thank you for your comments” as a polite dismissal of those extremely rare parental expressions to me of ignorance, arrogance, impudence, or ingratitude.
For the purpose of providing special attention to mathematics students' problems, I am available most mornings before school and, by appointment, after school. (Of course, on days when a student is to stay after school for help, he is to notify his parent in advance.) Please insist that your child avail himself of this service whenever it is needed.
It is important for you to check your child's progress frequently online at http://jgrade.mcschools.net/jpweb/. Additionally, from time to time, ask your child how he is doing in all his school subjects. Small learning problems detected early may be prevented from becoming big grade problems at grade report time.
Also, please be aware of our examination and grade-reporting schedules. Special provisions should be made at home to ensure proper preparation for examinations.
Please be acquainted with the specific course expectations accessible from the website's main menu.
I must be apprised immediately in writing of any recognized and documented exceptionality your child has that might prove a factor in his performance in this class.
Whenever possible errors are discovered in computerized grade reports, they must be reported to me at once so that investigations and corrections, if necessary, can be made in a timely manner.
Should you need to be in touch with me about your child's progress in mathematics class, please email [email protected].
Your child's competence in mathematics and his/her preparation for success in college and beyond are the goals of this class. They will be achieved only through the responsible and concerted efforts of parent, teacher, and student.
Sincerely,
James R. Rogers
Mathematics Teacher