Survival Guide
This guide is intended to help students survive (and thrive) in Mr. Malec’s math classes. Note that many of these can be applied to other classes, and life in general.
1. Be prepared to learn and try every day. We don’t have “free days” or “off days”.
2. When you walk in to class, check the appropriate class box to see if there is a hand-out.
3. You are in complete control of your ATTITUDE and your EFFORT. If you always give the best effort that you can and have a positive attitude, you’ll be surprised how many people will line up to help you.
4. If you are absent, WATCH ANY LESSON(S) YOU MISSED AND TAKE NOTES! They are all posted to my google site, accessible through my teacher page on Windsor’s website. When you come back to class, check the absent bin on the front table near the US flag and copy down the assignment you missed. If it is a worksheet, a copy will be in the appropriate day’s folder. Next, talk to Mr. Malec!!! Communication will ensure that you don’t miss something important.
5. While watching each lesson and taking notes, devote that time ONLY to the lesson! It’s very hard to learn something while also watching TV, playing games, texting, Snap-Chatting, Face-Timing, Tweeting, Instagraming, Vine-ing, Skype-ing, G-Chatting, Facebooking, or MySpaceing (Does anyone even know what this last one is anymore?).
6. Do your own work. We will almost always work on assignments/projects/classwork with partners. The best way to learn math is to practice it (and make your own mistakes), and the best way to fail a math class is to copy down others’ work just to “get it done”. Your partner is there to work WITH you, not FOR you.
7. If you need help, ask for it. Teachers are here to help you.
8. Pay more attention to the people around you, and less attention to your phone.
9. Keep your parent(s)/grandparent(s) informed of how class is going. Believe it or not, they can help you succeed. When a teacher contacts them to tell them how well (or not so well) you are doing, you want them to have heard the information from you first.
10. “Life is more important than school, yet school is a very big part of your life.” Never forget either of these things. Those who remember both parts of the above quote often have incredible, fulfilling lives.