I've taught hundreds of student-athletes. The best athletes have been awesome on their teams and in class. They NEVER ask for time extensions or for any other unfair advantage over their classmates. My first year at CHS I had a football player who developed meningitis. He was hospitalized for six weeks. He came back two weeks before Winter Break. I told him that he had until the end of the semester to complete his work --the time alloted by the school's absence policy. He completed all of the work that he missed by the end of Winter Break (four weeks early). In all five of his other classes as well as in mine.
I've had students who are actors and actresses. Some expected to be treated as stars, but the most successful did their work, stayed on top of what they would be missing (in advance is always best) and came in for extra help if they were lost. I've had students with life-threating illnesses. The odd thing is they missed class very rarely and got the work that they missed before they came to class. How bad should I feel for you; a completely able-bodied, supposedly intelligent person who just didn't "feel like" coming to class? You may think differently, but I have no obligation to compensate for your lack of effort.
Do I understand if you miss class? If it is a rare occurrence, I generally have no problem with you missing class (unless you are ditching). Do you understand that you missing class is YOUR problem and that YOU need to do something to take care of it? I was here. I taught the lesson. If I was not here, I left a lesson for you to do with a substitute. I don't take time off because I feel like it. You may, but, again, please understand that I have no compunction to use my time outside of class to get you caught up because you felt like missing class.
Be responsible. Get the notes from another responsible student as soon as you can. Read the calender in the window or online to find out the pages we covered and the homework that was given. Take the initiative to get caught up BEFORE you return to class. I will work with you but I will not do the work for you. If you have the need to ask questions, I am usually available by request. If you want me just to give you the answers, I will not do so. I will, however, direct you to where or how you can find the answer for yourself.
GENERAL TIPS:
1. Show up to class well-rested, well-fed and well-prepared in every way. Have your own pen/pencil, paper, textbook and non-graphing calculator EVERY DAY. If you have questions on the previous day's work, make a note to yourself about it so you won't forget to ask me about it.
2. When graphing use good graphing techniques
- label all axes with names and units.
-use consistent spacing between the lines on the graph paper
-have the graph fill the entire page.
-use straight lines or curves and not dot-to-dot lines, use "best-fit" lines.
-if you have different lines on a graph, use different colors or sumbols to clearly show separate information.
-be sure you have the correct information on the correct axis.
3. If you are struggling with a particular problem on the homework,
-write down all the variables that you know from the problem--this should help you choose the correct equation or technique. (match the equation to the variables that you have)
-look carefully at the notes and examples done in class.
-see if there is an example in the book like the one you're doing
-skip that problem, do the others then see if you can do it when you come back to it
-phone a friend for assistance (DO NOT COPY THEIR WORK)
4. If you are struggling with a particular problem on a test
-write down all the variables that you know from the problem--this should help you choose the correct equation or technique
-skip that problem, do the others then see if you can do it when you come back to it
-ask me for clarification of the question--your best bet; "I think I'm trying to find ____, is that right?"
**PLEASE NOTE: I may tell you that I cannot answer the particular question that you have. asked because it would be too close to giving you an answer. If that happens, you might be able to re-phrase the question to be more appropriate, but you might just be out of luck.
-try to do something with the problem at least; write the chemical equation or give all the variables and the most likely mathematical equation you would use
-do as much of the problem as you can, make up some information to allow you to continue (let me know in your work that you invented something, and why), then complete the problem; you will lose points for the made up information, but you will get credit for all the parts that you did correctly--even if you used the bogus information
5. If you are struggling with a particular problem on a laboratory report
-check your notes and examples; the labs we do are always related to the previous work we have covered
-be sure that you have read the laboratory information completely; usually directions on how to do a problem are written clearly
-call a lab partner from your group for additional help (remember: DON'T COPY)
6. If you are struggling with the course, in general
-GET HELP IMMEDIATELY!!
-see all the hints and tips I have given on the previous pages
-form a study group (yes, I know all about the Barnes & Noble crowd ;-)
-speak to me one-on-one if you think a seat change would help
7. Do your homework. Yourself. With little or no outside assistance. Homework is one of the most valuable tools that you have; it helps you to know where you need more assistance, it has you practice what you are learning and it counts for points (like the Nike commercial says "Just Do It")