Do I really think I can do this…can I really start an education blog? My ninth year teaching high school mathematics, my first year in the University of Pennsylvania School of Education masters program. Working part time for the first time so that I can complete my degree. Will I have time? Will anyone care? I suppose this is where I start to answer those questions.

You can read my bio to get a comprehensive sense of who I am, my qualifications, etc. The main points are these: This is year nine teaching high school at the same school in Los Angeles, a private school. I have taught Algebra 2, Calculus, AP Calculus AB, and Multivariable Calculus. I coached cross-country for three years, track & field for five years. I am in my third year as STEAM coordinator for the school, a new position in which I am developing our first STEAM program. I am starting a masters program in education at University of Pennsylvania in August, so hopefully I’ll continue to have more to say as I go.

So the first day of school happens to coincide with the first full day of my masters program, so I am going to have to miss Day 1 for the first time, well, since ever. Maybe ye out in the blogosphere can help me: I’m trying to think of a written activity that I can have my students complete so that when I read the responses, I know a little more about them psychologically. For example, I might ask them to list a life goal for the year, predict their grade in my class, something like that? This will be after they go over the full syllabus with the sub of course.

Any first day writing prompts you can think of?

Okay, the syllabus. I think this is one of the most important documents you can possibly draft. It’s like your constitution. Dry and boring to read, but chock full of important stuff (that was the only word that came to mind: stuff).

These are the components I think a syllabus in a math class should include:

Course Overview Primary Texts Calculator Policy Cell Phone Policy Email Policy Tutoring/Office Hours Information Website Information (if you have one) Homework Policy Projects Policy Quizzes Policy Tests Policy Participation and Discussion Policy Absence Policy (this one is really important) Grading Rubric

Oh, why so technical? So boring? Well, this may be the one and only boring thing about your class, but if it isn’t rock solid, you can get on shaky ground later with students, administrators, and—wait for it—PARENTS.

Really quickly, let’s go over the bullet points above:

(1), (2), and (3) I think you can figure out for yourself.

(4) Cellphone Policy—I have my students put their cell phones in a little sock organizer cubby at the entrance of the classroom when they arrive. Since I teach older kids, they inevitably all have cell phones AND they’re sure to remember them on the way out of class. So I find I am rarely left with somebody’s phone. I hate it when my cell phone goes off in my pocket and I can’t check it. It distracts me. So even if kids are told to keep they’re phones “put away,” the phones will still serve as a distraction. That’s why I have them dump them at the door.

(5) Email Policy—this one protects you from having to respond to twenty emails at midnight. Just tell them same-day responses are not expected, and you don’t read emails after 5pm. Of course you WILL read emails after 5pm and you may even respond to a student at midnight (although I can write an entire post about why that would be a bad idea). This policy just draws important boundaries for YOU and manages the students’ expectations.

(6) and (7) are self-explanatory.

(8) Homework—you should make up whatever homework policy makes the most sense to you, but here is where you need to write your expectations if the homework is not turned in on time. Having a rock solid, no exceptions, late homework policy will clear up any confusion you, the student, or parents might have when homework is turned in late.

(9), (10), (11) and (12) are all up to you.

(13) Make-up Policy—VERY important. Try to remind students what you expect from them when they are not at school for any reason. Should they email you to set up a make-up schedule? Should they turn in their homework in advance if they are at school that day but will miss YOUR class for sports? Etc. Etc.

(14) Grading Rubric—well this one is all you, too.

Wow, that felt like a lot of information on a relatively simple topic. But if you make a fool-proof syllabus, then you are on the right track.

Tah-tah for now!