Hello! My name is Mrs. Susan Witkus and I will be your teacher for the rest of this school year! I earned my bachelor's degree in mathematics and my Masters degree in education at the University of New Hampshire. I was recently hired at MOCA and I am excited to be your math teacher! I have been teaching math for 25 years, live in Michigan and have 2 cats:) I enjoy my garden, walking, singing, writing, cooking and kayaking. Please let me know how I can help - I'm here!
STUDENT HANDBOOK: copy and paste in a new tab:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-sMXLxAJUms2m6W2xBdV5gBp6ozxZvna/view
STUDENT HONOR CODE:
Connections Academy Honor Code I agree that I will ... • Read (or have read to me) the contents of both the Student Handbook: General Portion and my school’s Handbook Supplement • Value learning above my grades or scores • Always value and exhibit honesty • Be well-informed about plagiarism and cheating, and not use "lack of knowledge" about either as a reason for engaging in plagiarism or cheating • Never give my work or answers to assessments (tests, quizzes, etc.) to other students to submit as their own • Never share educational material found within Pearson Online Classroom or provided by my school with other students. This includes posting assignments and/or answers online. • Never plagiarize written, oral, or creative work, and never copy (plagiarize) others’ work or submit work of any kind that is not my own • Never post or otherwise share assessment(s) and/or answers on the Internet or in other public places or otherwise share assessment answers • Never search for and use assessment answers on the Internet or in other public places, including using translation services for language courses • Never use an Artificial Intelligence (AI) generator to complete an assignment - unless there is explicit instruction to do so; use of any form of AI is considered plagiarism • Never give or receive unauthorized assistance on assessments, including from my friends/peers, Learning Coach, or any others • Understand that all assessments are "closed-book" meaning I need to take assessments based on the knowledge in my head, and not use any other sources • Adhere to all Connections Academy Student Conduct guidelines for proper use of the Internet and Connections' equipment and materials provided to me • Accept the consequences, including disciplinary action, of breaking this Honor Code, (More information on Discipline and Due Process can be found in the School Specific Handbook) • Never provide a forged document or signature to the School or Connections
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-sMXLxAJUms2m6W2xBdV5gBp6ozxZvna/view
STUDENT HONOR CODE:
Connections Academy Honor Code I agree that I will ... • Read (or have read to me) the contents of both the Student Handbook: General Portion and my school’s Handbook Supplement • Value learning above my grades or scores • Always value and exhibit honesty • Be well-informed about plagiarism and cheating, and not use "lack of knowledge" about either as a reason for engaging in plagiarism or cheating • Never give my work or answers to assessments (tests, quizzes, etc.) to other students to submit as their own • Never share educational material found within Pearson Online Classroom or provided by my school with other students. This includes posting assignments and/or answers online. • Never plagiarize written, oral, or creative work, and never copy (plagiarize) others’ work or submit work of any kind that is not my own • Never post or otherwise share assessment(s) and/or answers on the Internet or in other public places or otherwise share assessment answers • Never search for and use assessment answers on the Internet or in other public places, including using translation services for language courses • Never use an Artificial Intelligence (AI) generator to complete an assignment - unless there is explicit instruction to do so; use of any form of AI is considered plagiarism • Never give or receive unauthorized assistance on assessments, including from my friends/peers, Learning Coach, or any others • Understand that all assessments are "closed-book" meaning I need to take assessments based on the knowledge in my head, and not use any other sources • Adhere to all Connections Academy Student Conduct guidelines for proper use of the Internet and Connections' equipment and materials provided to me • Accept the consequences, including disciplinary action, of breaking this Honor Code, (More information on Discipline and Due Process can be found in the School Specific Handbook) • Never provide a forged document or signature to the School or Connections
LIVE LESSON SCHEDULE:
RESOURCES FOR OTHER MATH TOPICS:
go to : https://www.khanacademy.org/math
Send me notes of one of the videos you watched or problems you did - you get 10 points added to your lowest score:)
Books and Supplies:
MOCA does not have physical mathematics textbooks. All curriculum will be given through the online platform. Organization is very important for success in Mathematics.
Even though this is an online class, you will still need a notebook or binder with loose-leaf paper and a pencil or pen. You will also need a device and Internet access to access lessons and Google Meets, a laptop is preferred.
MOCA does not have physical mathematics textbooks. All curriculum will be given through the online platform. Organization is very important for success in Mathematics.
Even though this is an online class, you will still need a notebook or binder with loose-leaf paper and a pencil or pen. You will also need a device and Internet access to access lessons and Google Meets, a laptop is preferred.
Required Teacher Contacts – Connect 2 Policy
The goal of this policy is to make sure you stay connected and engaged with me. When you are engaged you will be more successful and have a better overall experience with MOCA. It is during these contacts that we will meet the Curriculum-Based Assessment requirement as a successful CBA is required to earn course credit. You should, at minimum, have about 2 teacher contacts per month. Livelesson participation can also count.
Content Based Assessments (CBAs):
At least once each semester, you are required to answer questions related to the content that you are learning. To accomplish this goal, multiple times each semester you will be required to answer some questions based on content you have learned at one of our required Live Lessons. I will send a WebMail to make arrangements to meet this requirement. You can use any notes that you have taken during lessons, but you should not work with other students or look the information up online. These CBAs are for a participation grade, you will not be penalized for answering questions incorrectly. At my discretion, I can reach out regarding your performance if you failed to show sufficient mastery of the content tested in the CBA. A CBA can also be used if cheating or plagiarism is suspected but not clearly proven.
Grades
Students are assessed according to the following grading scale:
A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79, D: 60-69, F: 0-59
Coursework Resets and Relearning
There are no resets. Relearning opportunities are through outside platforms, such as DeltaMath.
To earn higher grades on tests, students can complete relearning through www.deltamath.com, click on this link for sign in directions: RELEARNING LINK.
Students have a variety of options to complete Sample Work and/or portfolio assignments, learning is a process. DO NOT procrastinate! Submit your best attempt, read feedback, then resubmit for a higher grade. Ask further questions if needed. Show all your work to communicate your thinking to me:)
Temporary Zeros
Semester grades are calculated by a running total from each grade category tests, quizzes, sample work, quick checks, and participation. Notes, textbook and calculator are always allowed on all assessments.
When a teacher assigns a temporary zero, it is noted as 0* in the Grade Book. A temporary zero essentially lowers a student’s overall course grade, showing them through the Grade Book what their actual grade will be if they never complete the assignments. If a temporary zero has been added to an assignment, students will still be able to complete the assessment for full credit. Please note that a temporary zero does not allow students to move forward in the curriculum until they complete the assessment for which they have been assigned the temporary zero.
Again, temporary zeros will provide an accurate grade compared to where students are in their course completion. This will allow students, caretakers, and teachers to see what a student’s grade in a course would be if they chose not to complete and submit the assignments. We hope students will use this as a way to monitor progress and to start the process of catching up on late assignments.
Plagiarism and Cheating
First offense: Teacher documents the offense in the student’s Discipline Data View. A WebMail message to both the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense will be sent with a read receipt on. If the webmail are not read within 48 hours, then this will elevate to a phone call
The student will be permitted to re-do the assignment or assessment for full points. The teacher can decide whether to allow the student to only re-do the plagiarized portion or the entire assessment or assignment
At the teacher’s discretion, the student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment or be required to answer questions verbally to verify mastery of course concepts instead of or in addition to re-doing the assignment or assessment
If the student elects not to re-do the assignment then the student will receive no credit for the entire assignment or assessment or the section of the assignment or assessment that was plagiarized based on the teacher’s policies
The student will be required to watch a recording on plagiarism/cheating and will be required to submit a brief summary of their understanding and confirm that the recording was reviewed to their teacher
The student will be added to the plagiarism sheet with any offense as an added way to keep track.
Other teachers may be consulted, as deemed necessary by the teacher
Second offense:The teacher documents in the Discipline Data View. A WebMail message to the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense will be sent.
The counseling department will work with the family in a required live meeting to train the family and confirm understanding.
The student is permitted to re-do the assignment or assessment. They will be required to re-do the entire assignment or assessment, not just the plagiarized portion and will receive no more than 60% back.
At the teacher’s discretion, the student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment or be required to answer questions verbally to verify mastery of course concepts instead of or in addition to re-doing the assignment or assessment
If the student elects not to re-do the assignment then the student will receive no credit for the entire assignment or assessment or the section of the assignment or assessment that was plagiarized based on the teacher’s policies
Third offense and beyond:The teacher documents in the Discipline Data View. A WebMail message will be sent to the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense.
The student will receive a zero on the assignment and will not be able to re-do the assignment or assessment.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Plagiarism is taking anyone’s ideas or work and presenting them as your own. You should NEVER be copying and pasting from an Internet website, our textbook, our lessons, another student, or any other source. I want to see what you know; not what Pearson or Jimmy Bob on the Internet knows.
FERPA:
Due to government regulations on your child’s educational security, we will only be able to speak about your student to those adults who are listed as caretakers and/or Learning Coaches in Connexus. Please know your PIN the first time that we speak to verify your family.
The goal of this policy is to make sure you stay connected and engaged with me. When you are engaged you will be more successful and have a better overall experience with MOCA. It is during these contacts that we will meet the Curriculum-Based Assessment requirement as a successful CBA is required to earn course credit. You should, at minimum, have about 2 teacher contacts per month. Livelesson participation can also count.
Content Based Assessments (CBAs):
At least once each semester, you are required to answer questions related to the content that you are learning. To accomplish this goal, multiple times each semester you will be required to answer some questions based on content you have learned at one of our required Live Lessons. I will send a WebMail to make arrangements to meet this requirement. You can use any notes that you have taken during lessons, but you should not work with other students or look the information up online. These CBAs are for a participation grade, you will not be penalized for answering questions incorrectly. At my discretion, I can reach out regarding your performance if you failed to show sufficient mastery of the content tested in the CBA. A CBA can also be used if cheating or plagiarism is suspected but not clearly proven.
Grades
Students are assessed according to the following grading scale:
A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79, D: 60-69, F: 0-59
Coursework Resets and Relearning
There are no resets. Relearning opportunities are through outside platforms, such as DeltaMath.
To earn higher grades on tests, students can complete relearning through www.deltamath.com, click on this link for sign in directions: RELEARNING LINK.
Students have a variety of options to complete Sample Work and/or portfolio assignments, learning is a process. DO NOT procrastinate! Submit your best attempt, read feedback, then resubmit for a higher grade. Ask further questions if needed. Show all your work to communicate your thinking to me:)
Temporary Zeros
Semester grades are calculated by a running total from each grade category tests, quizzes, sample work, quick checks, and participation. Notes, textbook and calculator are always allowed on all assessments.
When a teacher assigns a temporary zero, it is noted as 0* in the Grade Book. A temporary zero essentially lowers a student’s overall course grade, showing them through the Grade Book what their actual grade will be if they never complete the assignments. If a temporary zero has been added to an assignment, students will still be able to complete the assessment for full credit. Please note that a temporary zero does not allow students to move forward in the curriculum until they complete the assessment for which they have been assigned the temporary zero.
Again, temporary zeros will provide an accurate grade compared to where students are in their course completion. This will allow students, caretakers, and teachers to see what a student’s grade in a course would be if they chose not to complete and submit the assignments. We hope students will use this as a way to monitor progress and to start the process of catching up on late assignments.
Plagiarism and Cheating
First offense: Teacher documents the offense in the student’s Discipline Data View. A WebMail message to both the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense will be sent with a read receipt on. If the webmail are not read within 48 hours, then this will elevate to a phone call
The student will be permitted to re-do the assignment or assessment for full points. The teacher can decide whether to allow the student to only re-do the plagiarized portion or the entire assessment or assignment
At the teacher’s discretion, the student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment or be required to answer questions verbally to verify mastery of course concepts instead of or in addition to re-doing the assignment or assessment
If the student elects not to re-do the assignment then the student will receive no credit for the entire assignment or assessment or the section of the assignment or assessment that was plagiarized based on the teacher’s policies
The student will be required to watch a recording on plagiarism/cheating and will be required to submit a brief summary of their understanding and confirm that the recording was reviewed to their teacher
The student will be added to the plagiarism sheet with any offense as an added way to keep track.
Other teachers may be consulted, as deemed necessary by the teacher
Second offense:The teacher documents in the Discipline Data View. A WebMail message to the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense will be sent.
The counseling department will work with the family in a required live meeting to train the family and confirm understanding.
The student is permitted to re-do the assignment or assessment. They will be required to re-do the entire assignment or assessment, not just the plagiarized portion and will receive no more than 60% back.
At the teacher’s discretion, the student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment or be required to answer questions verbally to verify mastery of course concepts instead of or in addition to re-doing the assignment or assessment
If the student elects not to re-do the assignment then the student will receive no credit for the entire assignment or assessment or the section of the assignment or assessment that was plagiarized based on the teacher’s policies
Third offense and beyond:The teacher documents in the Discipline Data View. A WebMail message will be sent to the student and the learning coach/caretaker informing them of the offense.
The student will receive a zero on the assignment and will not be able to re-do the assignment or assessment.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Plagiarism is taking anyone’s ideas or work and presenting them as your own. You should NEVER be copying and pasting from an Internet website, our textbook, our lessons, another student, or any other source. I want to see what you know; not what Pearson or Jimmy Bob on the Internet knows.
FERPA:
Due to government regulations on your child’s educational security, we will only be able to speak about your student to those adults who are listed as caretakers and/or Learning Coaches in Connexus. Please know your PIN the first time that we speak to verify your family.