Remember these expectations as you proceed in Mr. De Vries Mathematics class.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What's your policy with regards to cell phones?
2. What's your policy regrading attendance?
3. What happens if I am late?
4. What is my mark?
5. My mark is not good enough for me. What can I do to change it?
6. "I don't get anything! What do I do?"
7. I need a graphing calculator.
- Be On Time - we have much to learn and accomplish. Your tardiness interrupts other students learning as well as your own.
- Be Prepared - show up to class with your materials, with a clear head, ready to work.
- Actively Participate - One cannot learn without engaging in the material at hand. Attempt problems, provide responses, be willing to challenge yourself to think!
- Respect - for your teacher -whether it be Mr. D or a TOC, for fellow students - we will allow others to learn and encourage each other through our struggles, for the building around us - do not write on desks, place garbage where it belongs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What's your policy with regards to cell phones?
- Cell phones are NOT permitted in class. If you use it, you WILL lose it for 24 hours. Repeat offenders will be expected to place their cell phones on my desk at the beginning of every class.
a. If I see the cell phone (even if you are not using it) I will confiscate the phone until the end of class.
b. Care to argue? Read the research as reported at Forbes.com:
Why is multitasking ineffectual?
It has been scientifically demonstrated that the brain cannot effectively or efficiently switch between tasks, so you lose time. It takes four times longer to recognize new things so you’re not saving time; multitasking actually costs time. You also lose time because you often make mistakes. If you’re multitasking and you send an email and accidentally “reply all” and the person you were talking about is on the email, it’s a big mistake. In addition, studies have shown that we have a much lower retention rate of what we learn when multitasking, which means you could have to redo the work or you may not do the next task well because you forgot the information you learned. Everyone’s complaining of memory issues these days – they’re symptoms of this multitasking epidemic. Then, of course, there’s the rudeness factor, which doesn’t help develop strong relationships with others.
2. What's your policy regrading attendance?
- New topics are covered every day. You will fall behind when you are absent. You are responsible to find out what you missed and catch up all missed work due to your absence. Repeated, unreasonable absences (as few as three times (total)) will result in an Attendance Notice will be filed with the office and sent home.
3. What happens if I am late?
- Class will begin when the bell rings. You need to be in the room ready to work. If you are late, quietly enter and get to work. If you are late three times, you will be expected to remain in at lunch for 15 minutes. (3 more lates = 30 min; 3 more = full lunch). If you have served 3 DTs and are still late, a Discipline Notice will be filed with the office and sent home. When you are late you will lose other privileges on that day (ie. You will not be permitted to use the washroom, get a drink…)
4. What is my mark?
- Marks are updated on checkmymark.com after each unit (approx. 2-3 weeks). Once completed marks will be emailed out to inform parents.
5. My mark is not good enough for me. What can I do to change it?
- First - complete corrections to your old test.
- Second - Complete an extra practice assignment.
- Third - Mark and correct the extra practice assignment to 100% with Mr. De Vries
- Fourth - Write a retest during a scheduled X block - There is only one retest permitted per unit and students should NOT be rewriting every unit test. Only when all of these items are complete will your mark change.
6. "I don't get anything! What do I do?"
- First of all this is not acceptable. Identify exactly what you don't know, or what you are struggling with. It is almost impossible to help you if you cannot identify where you begin to struggle.
- Once you know where the problem is:
- Ask questions during class of your teacher or a fellow capable classmate.
- Come in on Tuesday or Wednesday at lunch and ask for help.
- Utilize online free tutors such as learnnowbc.ca
- Hire a tutor - check with the Abbotsford District Teachers Association (ph. 604 854 1946) to get a list of teacher tutors.
7. I need a graphing calculator.
- Buy one - a Texas Instruments (TI-84 or better is recommended)
- Pay a deposit for one at school - limited quantities, $50 on deposit at the school office, bring the receipt to Mr. De Vries and he will issue you a calculator. At the end of the semester, return the calculator to Mr. De Vries and you will get the refund of $50.