Credit Recovery Syllabus Bartram Trail High School2014-15
Mrs. DeLaughter Bear Nation Are You Ready?
Room: N135
Office Hrs.: 8:30 – 9:10 a.m. except on Wednesdays; after school by appointment.
Phone: 547-8340Voicemail extension: 22509
Email: This is the best and most reliable way to reach me.
Planning Period: 1st period 9:15 - 10:00
PLATO Learning Environment, now under the parent company, Edmentum,is St. Johns County’s online credit recovery program. It is a server-based program. The website is:
Students are in a computer lab, but they may also work at home if they have high-speed Internet access. However, some students experience difficulty with the computer program from home. Some of the courses include offline work which can be printed and which students may work on for homework.
Required Materials
A completed Acceptable Use Procedures (AUP) form, signed and turned in.
A set of headphones or ear buds for using the audio portions of some of the courses.
The type of notebook that you like the most for taking notes while reading from a computer screen, doing math problems,or writing (English courses) is what you should get. From a student last year:
“I suggest taking notes throughout your course. It could help you remember the material because it’s running through your head multiple times. And it could also keep you from falling asleep.”
You may use your own notes on all tests including the Semester Exam.
Pens are fine, but if you’re taking a math course, pencils and erasers work best for doing problems.
You’ll need a basic calculator if you’re taking a math course, or you can use the one on the computer. There are two back-up calculators for student use in the classroom.
If you are the type of person who gets cold easily, I recommend that you bring an extra shirt or sweater. The lab temperature is preset in the low 70s, and I cannot alter it.
Not required, but if you are able: I would appreciate one box of tissues.
District Grading ScalePg. 2
A 90 – 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 – 79
D* 60 - 69
F* 0 – 59
*If a student is retaking a course for grade forgiveness, earning another D will not raise the gpa. If a student fails a PLATO course, he or she will not earn credit.
Students will be graded on their performance on each component of the course except for the unit pretests. However, it is important that you do your best on these because they may exempt you from some of the content. (You will still be tested on that content; however, and it is recommended that you go through the Tutorial portion of exempted modules in order to be well prepared for tests.) Offline activities may also be required or assigned as needed, to provide practice or help boost a Mastery Test score. Each PLATO course is a semester course so you are expected to complete it by the end of the semester.
From twoformer students:
“If you move too slowly or don’t work on it consistently, you’ll forget stuff you need to know for the Semester Exam!”
“I’ve learned that ______(in her case, it was Algebra 2) isn’t as hard as I made it out to be, that I can accomplish things if I don’t fear them.”
The Grade categories and weights vary by course, but here is an example:
Discussions: 5%
Mastery Tests: 40%
Post Tests: 35%
Semester Exam: 20% (county requirement for all courses)
PLATO grades are not reported in eSchoolPLUS like other classes. Teacher-generated Interim and 9 weeks’ grade reports will give parents information on students’ progress. These will include the Final Grade a student earned once the course is completed, and then our computer operator will enter the new grade on the student’s transcript. Students can view, in bar graph form, how much of their course they’ve successfully completed at any time, and both students and parents may request a grade estimatefrom me at any time.
ClassroomExpectations and procedures:Pg. 3
Let’s review the BEAR Standards. They may be simple, but they WORK!
- Be on time.
- Be prepared.
- Be respectful.
- Be willing to give your best effort.
I’ve added these last two because I want everyone to be successful!
- HWED Hard Work Every Day
- Ask for help (before the Mastery Test) becausethat’s what I’m here for
ALL school and county rules, including those pertaining to dress code and cell phones, will be followed and enforced in the computer lab. Please review your Student Code of Conduct.
Computer Lab Policies
Media Center voices and manners are needed in order to respect classmates’ rights to concentrate without distractions and the teacher’s ability to work one-on-one with students.
Water in a container with a top is allowed but must be kept off computer desks. Any other beverage must be stored in your backpack.
Everyone has signed an AUP, Acceptable Use Procedures, form. School computers are to be used according to teacher instructions. You should only be working on PLATO unless you receive permission to do something else. Teachers have the ability to check what site you are on or have been on from their computer. Deletion of your browser history is a violation of your AUP.
This computer lab is less than three years old. Treat all parts of the machines and classroom with the utmost care so that future Bears have the same opportunity that you have. If at any time you notice any damage or tampering, let me know immediately.
IPODs are not allowed.
The printer is for PLATO use only. Always raise your hand before printing because youoften have the option as to whether you want to complete an “offline” on the computer, or print it and complete a hard copy. Also, I will shorten many of the offline assignments so you don’t need to print the entire document. You must ask for permission to print something for another class. These requests should be infrequent.
Pg. 4
You may leave your PLATO folder in the classroom on my tall bookshelf (at your own risk) and I even have extra folders and paper for you to use for PLATO. Pencils, when available, are provided for your use IN THE LAB ONLY.
General Class Rules and Procedures
Attendance: Excessive absences will seriously interfere with your success. Please make daily attendance to school a top priority.
Tardies: When a student is tardy to class for the third time, the deans will be contacted and they will attempt to contact parent/guardian. On the fourth and any subsequent tardies during the semester, students will be referred to the dean’s office and the consequences will gradually become more severe.
Passes: Only one student at a time will be given the restroom pass. Restrooms are close by so your visit shouldn’t last more than five minutes. If you wish to go to the water fountain at the other end of the hallway, you are still expected to return in 5 minutes.
If you are permitted to go somewhere else, you will complete one of the school hallway passes with destination and time, and I will sign it. Please get a signature from the teacher or staff member you saw and the time you left also.
Misconduct: Defiance, disruption, and disrespect are not tolerated and will result in parent contacts and dean referrals.
Trustworthiness:
Some people are under the impression that because a class is online, or is being taken for Credit Recovery, the standard of being honest and doing one’s own work doesn’t apply or at least it doesn’t as much as in a regular class. This is not the case! The Deans’ Office has issued an Academic Integrity Policy this year which all students must sign, and you will see it posted on the bulletin board.
Students may take Mastery Tests (unit quizzes) at home as well as in class. (You are granted four tries on Mastery Tests.) However, you may not receive help from anyone or any source unless,in rare cases, when the directions say it is allowed. Post Tests (unit tests) and Semester Exams must be unlocked by the teacher and taken in class, and students are only permitted to use their own notes or returned offline assignments. Semester Exams, which also have to be unlocked, may only be taken in class in the teacher’s view. In all of the tests and quizzes above,students may not go to any other website or back into the lessons for help.
Work from Bell to Bell: This is a schoolwide expectation. You may use the last two minutes to logout and pack up, but students are to remain in their seats.
Students and parents: Please read this syllabus. Then read and complete this page with the appropriate signatures, and return it as soon as possible.
I have read the syllabus and understand the expectations of Mrs. DeLaughter’s
Credit Recoveryclass. I understand that each student is responsible to be on time and prepared, stay on task, ask for help when needed, and abide by classroom and school rules. If I do not follow the rules and procedures set forth for the class, I understand that action will be taken.
Student Name (Print): ______
Parent Name (Print): ______
Best parent contact number:
______
If you (parent) would prefer to be contacted by email, please write it below:
______
Parent Signature: ______Date:______