SYLLABUSTED

I didn't hear the word syllabus until I went to college, but these days the dreaded syllabus is slapped on every high school desk from Buffalo to Brentwood the first day of school.  As a teacher, going over the syllabus is about as exciting as cleaning up specks of marker from the dry erase board at the end of the day.  For students, whose eyes glaze over after having read 7 of these suckers before mine, each syllabus is like another brick weighing them down along with their 50 pound backpacks.  But this post is not about whining - no, this post is about how to bust through the syllabus and use it as a secret blue print to getting a good grade.


Let's take a look at a typical syllabus - pull one out at random - go ahead.  It doesn't really matter which subject.  Don't worry, I'll wait.

Got it?  OK.  On most typical syllabi, the top of the page (or gasp! pages) should be the course name and the name of your teacher along with their objectives for the course.  Why is this important?  Well, for one to make sure you are signed up for the right class and two, to get a feel for what you are in for and if your teacher is a total windbag that likes to hear themselves talk (ha ha.)

 The next part can be the MOST USEFUL to you later on in the year: The Grade Breakdown.  This is your secret code to an A people so pay attention!  Is this a teacher that counts class participation for 40% of your grade? If so, make sure to pay close attention to the c.p. section further down and make sure to adhere to all of the requirements.  Is homework a big deal?  Better make sure that you turn yours in on time and thoughtfully completed, (there will be PLENTY of posts on here about homework I promise.) Are tests and projects 50% of the grade? If so, then guess what? Studying on the daily is going to help you raise those big ticket grades (sorry for the reality check.) On the same note, waiting till the last minute to study for tests or start projects ("What, me? Wait till 1am the night before the project is due?") is NOT an option.  Since your teacher put so much time into making these percentages (and believe me, they are not random quick picks from the local 7-11,) they mean something (Parents - insert Close Encounters reference here.) When you are wondering how you ended up with that 71 come progress report time, refer back to this section and figure it out.  Believe me, your teacher will be impressed that you paid attention and care enough to advocate (notice I didn't say "fight for") the grade you deserve (also more on this later.)

Office Hours and Extra Help: Keep track of when your teachers will be around to help YOU.  Sure, teachers actually have lives and would like to get to the gym or go grocery shopping at some point, but we wouldn't be teachers if we actually put ourselves before other people's needs so take advantage of our pathetically kind souls; at the same time be RESPECTFUL about their time.  Remember that they would like to go to the gym or grocery shopping and may have their own kids at home that are waiting for them to pick them up from soccer practice or choir rehearsal.  If you have to cancel, just let them know ahead of time.  Blowing off a teacher who has sacrificed their free time to help you is not the best way to get in their good graces.  This section usually includes an office phone number and an email address.  I will have separate posts on how to properly write your teacher an email inquiry, but for now just make sure you keep these close at hand.

Book List and Materials: This should take the guess work out of what you are going to need for this class.  Many times you get the book list at some point over the summer.  Even if you are staying at your beach house in St. Tropez or sailing on Lake Tahoe, there is this thing called the Internet where you can find cheap versions of the books you need with plenty of time to get them shipped by the first week of school.  Be proactive.  Also - be green.  I am sure you know someone else that has taken this class before, perhaps they would be willing to sell you (or even better, give you) their copies.  Also recycle.  How often do you use every page of spiral notebooks during a whole school year?  Try ripping out the used pages and saving the rest for a new course.  If the cover is trashed with Belieber scribbles, you can cover it up with a piece of cardboard - leaving you plenty of room for Taylor Lautner doodles.

Last but not least is ...Student Expectations:  Yes, you have some control over the grade you get in this class.  If you actually read and abide by these expectations, you should be fine. A few of my more motivated students taped these into the inside cover of their notebooks.  They ended the year with an A.  Will you?