I.W. Taylor Virtual Academy

Class Structure

Dr. Oliver's classes are structured around the model of direct instruction. What students are expected to learn, skills and content, will be first presented by the instructor. Students then interact with the skill or content through a variety of appropriate activities with teacher support. Mistakes are expected, honored, and corrected at this stage of instruction. This stage will continue according to student need and mastery. Finally, the student will demonstrate his/her level of mastery through an independently completed assignment.

Class Expectations

Students are expected to be on time and stay for the entire class session. Participation and behavior grades will be impacted by unexcused absences and tardiness. At the Virtual Academy, "A student will be considered absent when he or she does not attend the scheduled class time on an instructional day." (Student Handbook, pg. 16) Attendance is taken at the end of each class session. Tardiness is defined by school policy as logging on 5 minutes after the scheduled time without justifiable reason. Excuses for absences must be received within 3 days of the absence or the absence will remain as unexcused. Please notify the school before 10:00 am of an absence if at all possible. (Handbook, pg. 16) Multiple tardies will be counted as a absence. Please refer to the Student Handbook pages 15-18 for more detailed information on attendance.

Students are expected to take care of personal needs, such as going to the bathroom, before or between classes. Emergencies do happen and situations will be taken into account.

Students are expected to keep their cameras turned on with their faces on the screen. If the student was in a "brick and mortar" setting, the rest of the class would see them. This is a school policy and violation of it could result in a referral to the office. Microphones should be muted unless the student is responding to the instructor, or has been recognized by the instructor to ask a question.

Students are expected to respect all others in the class. Everyone makes mistakes. Therefore, no one should be mocked when they make a mistake. Treat others the way you want to be treated.  

Students should follow directions on assignments and take his/her time to complete the work accurately the first time. It is less work to do the assignment correctly when it is given, than to repeat the assignment multiple times. Re-opening assignments will be minimized this year.

NO NOT PLAGERIZE! Plagiarism is when one copies the work of another and does not give credit to the author for their work. Do not copy and paste from the Internet or other sources unless allowed by the assignment instructions. If you are allowed to copy, give credit to the source used. Grades will be severely impacted when plagiarism is committed.

Grades

Grades are an important part of the school process. Danville Public School has adopted a new grading system. Assignments are divided into Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories and each is given a different values. The assignment values for each of Dr. Oliver's classes are in the individual course description. A new grading scale has also been adopted. 

Supplies

Paper notebook and pencils to make individual notes

Suggested only

mouse to use with Chromebook (might be easier to use than the touchpad)

headphones/earbuds (may help filter out distracting noises)

Math: basic calculator--"Keep It Simple Sweetie" (to be used as instructed)