Class syllabus. Did your eyes just glaze over? That’s what happened when I went over my class syllabus with my students the first year I taught. I’m pretty sure it was 3 pages in size 12 Times New Roman font. I also remember a disproportionate amount of my first day of class discussing it. Not my finest teaching moment! Your class syllabus does not have to be boring! Here are some ways to keep your students informed and interested, and we will provide you with an editable freebie and/or digital syllabus to get you started.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SYLLABUS
1. Keep YOUR SYLLABUS Simple
Do not over inform. Ask yourself, “What does a student (or parent) HAVE to know about your class to be successful?” Keep to the basics – your contact information, grading and late work policy, homework expectations, supply list, tutoring schedule, and class website. As a math teacher, I even printed a large copy of my tutoring schedule and how to ask for help on the back. It was perfect for a parent to put on the fridge.
Additionally, keep it pleasing to the eye. Do you enjoy reading paragraphs of informational text? Use headers, text boxes, and images so that specific information is easy to find.
2. Check with Administration and Grade Level Team MEMBERs
Remember that your policies need to be in line with your school’s policies. If your school has a specific late work policy, stick to that. Not sure? Find out. If you are part of a grade level team, agreeing to the same policies can make it easier for students and parents (and teachers -ha!) to remember.
3. Keep Students Accountable for Knowing the Information
In high school, my Algebra 2 teacher had us take a quiz on her syllabus that counted for a grade on the second day of school. While that may work for some students, playing Jeopardy or any simple point game would be a fun way to start the school year. I divide the room in half for teams, pass out small whiteboards, and ask questions. Students have to use their syllabus to find the answers to the questions. Then their homework on the first day is to get their syllabus signed by a parent.
4. Post It Online
A syllabus can act as a FAQ of your classroom. Keep it in a place where students and parents can access it with ease. Update it if policies or schedules change. As much as I like to think that my students kept my paper version, I know that a syllabus is one of the first things to be recycled when binders fill up. I am also a proponent of being as paper-free as possible. You can find our online version (for Google Slides) by grabbing the freebie. We made a variety of versions as you can see below.
Do you write a syllabus for your class? Whether you do and need it to be revamped or would like to have one for this year, you can snag a free, editable syllabus. It’s easy to type in the content, and you just need Google Slides (or Microsoft Powerpoint if you are using paper.)
In the picture above, what font is used? I really think I like that font.
Hi Lillian! There are several fonts used and they are all linked in the download. Hope that helps!
I really love your syllabus! In fact, I have tried to download it numerous times, but it has not become available in my email. Please send me a copy of this fantastic syllabus!
Thanks
Hi! Did you use your school email? School emails have a really heavy filter, so could you try again using your personal email? Thank you!
I am using my persona le-mail and also have not received anything. Would really like this great syllabus!
Hi Catherine! I have no clue why the syllabus isn’t getting to your inbox…sometimes I am baffled by technology. I am going to try resending it you and see if we can get it to work that way. Thanks for your patience!
I thought that I hadn’t received the email either, however it ends up in the “Promotions” folder if you have a gmail account. hope this helps!
Hi there! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Hi
I am trying to download the syllabus as well with no luck and I’m using my personal email.
Please help!
Thanks
Hi Aaronne! I have no clue why the syllabus isn’t getting to your inbox…sometimes I am baffled by technology. I am going to try resending it you and see if we can get it to work that way. Thanks for your patience!
I love this idea! I tried to download the free template, but it just put me in a loop. I think I signed up for your newsletter three times (sorry about that). Is there a trick to get the download to work?
Hi! Did you use your school email? School emails have a really heavy filter, so could you try again using your personal email? Thank you!
The same thing happened to me, I did not use my school account. I used regular gmail. Not coming to inbox or spam folder but love the way the syllabus looks! I made one and now think that it might have too much information, this looks much more concise for students and parents.
Hi Anna! I have no clue why the syllabus isn’t getting to your inbox…sometimes I am baffled by technology. I am going to try resending it you and see if we can get it to work that way. Thanks for your patience!
Hi, can you please send me the syllabus ? It won’t download to my personal email.
Hi, Samantha – Will do – Watch your email! -Tyne
Hi,
I think the link is broken. I could not download it as well.
I am looking forward to using the template this Fall!
Hi Rori! I have no clue why the syllabus isn’t getting to your inbox…sometimes I am baffled by technology. I am going to try resending it you and see if we can get it to work that way. Thanks for your patience!
Hello! I tried subscribing so I could get the syllabus but I have not received it!
Hi there! Several people have mentioned that it ended up in their promotions folder. Hope that helps! I am also sending an email. Thanks for your patience!
Hi!
I am having the same problem receiving the syllabus as the other people. I would really like to use this template, it looks great.
Hi there! Several people have mentioned that it ended up in their promotions folder. Hope that helps! I am also sending an email. Thanks for your patience!
Hi,
I downloaded it with my gmail account and it was put under my “Promotions” folder. Maybe that will help others!
Hi there! Thanks for letting me know!! 🙂
No luck downloading the syllabus template. I used my personal email, but it is a no go.
Hi there! Several people have mentioned that it ended up in their promotions folder. Hope that helps! I am also sending an email. Thanks for your patience!
So, you take up your syllabus? Do you make an extra copy for parents to keep at home? I LOVE the way this document is formatted, but I am trying to understand what you do with it. Do you keep up with them in a notebook?
Hi, Joanna! Thank you! Once I checked for signatures, students would keep it in their notebooks.
I was able to download the template without difficulty. I immediately received the link in my personal email. Thank you for the idea. I wanted to change the size and number of the boxes, so I created my own version in Publisher. It was quite easy! I really appreciate the idea of a fun syllabus that is easier to read instead of the boring paragraph style, which I was using. Thank you!
Love this! Thank you so much for the template!
Hello,
I tried to input my email address to get the template, but I got an error 404 page when I hit submit…
help?
Hi, Christine – Thank you for notifying us about this problem. It should be fixed now! However, I am finding that if you are using Safari, it doesn’t work each time. If you can use Google Chrome, it works. I can go ahead and email you directly just to be safe! –Tyne
Hello!
I love your syllabus! I have tried to download it from the email, but it will not let me. Is there a possibility you could send it to me?
Thank you!
Hi, Emily — Please try again if you can. We had some technical problems, but hopefully, they are fixed. Thanks! –Tyne
I linked my personal email to get the free syllabus and it just keeps circling back to this page and no freebie.
Hi, Judi – So sorry for the error. I will email you the syllabus directly. –Tyne
Hi there!
I really love the syllabus and have been trying to get it to connect but I still haven’t been able to get it. It just keeps sending me back to here. I’ve tried my school and personal email. Please help.
Thanks.
Just sent it to your personal email! Be on the look out. –Tyne
I’m unable to download the syllabus
Hi, Linh- Check your inbox. Just sent! –Tyne