If you teach middle school there is a better chance of you winning the lottery than actually getting those students to read it :)….sorry. As a student i have responded better to a teacher verbally going over her expectations and the grading scale, as well as talking a little about major projects and field trips. If you are requiring the students to get parent signatures on the syllabus (my teachers did) then i would suggest including what you went over verbally in writing because their parents will read them. But my biggest piece of advice is, keep it short and sweet! Don’t waste space talking about the little things because you don’t want them to feel like you’re insulting their intelligence…. Happy teaching!

The syllabus is the bible for all students taking your class. You should have the coarse number, prerequisites if any, name and the course and the date and times that the course meets. You should list a comprehensive narrative of exactly what the course entails and what is expected from each student. List where to get help when needed and location of resource materials.

List which tools and supplies are needed and list all days when scheduled classes will not meet (holidays etc.) List emergency numbers in case of bad weather days. List the dates and times of major exams (mid terms and final) and dates that semester projects are due. Use a separate page detailing semester projects. List the weighted value of the projects and exams and leave a percentage of the final grade as “discretionary” for things like classroom participation, punctuality, respect and desire to learn. List penalties for late exams and assignments. Try to schedule project completion for the penultimate class rather than on the final day of class. List attendance expectations. Be quite clear here as this may become an issue for discussion with the Dean and student at some point. Finally, clearly outline what is expected of each student and milestones if you can. Building a syllabus from scratch is an art, and most book suppliers will offer a sample syllabus designed specifically for your course. Good luck!

Class Name & Section(if applicable)

Teacher

Teacher’s email and or office phone number/extension

Course outline and synopsis

Expectations from students

Dates of exams, quizzes, projects, and point assignment for each.

Personal late work policy, absence policy, etc. anything that may differ from the university or schools policy, or a reiteration of the school’s policy.

You could always add a signature line and ask that the student review the syllabus and return the signed copy so that eliminates the “I didn’t know that!!!” conversations.

A schedule of when the tests and work assignments are due, details about any major projects, any required supplies, the prof name, email address, phone number, website and office hours, suggested study guides, helpful websites…

What you allow students to do in class and what you don’t allow.

class content…..and assignments……..