• What are your duties at Madison?

    Posted by: Mr. Silkowski
    I am the high school special education teacher at the Madison Central School District. I work primarily with students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) and 504 Plans. It is my job to ensure that students with special needs are receiving an appropriate educational program that is in accordance with their IEP. To do this, I work directly with students in the resource room, provide test accommodations, formulate strategies directly and indirectly with general education teachers, and develop the special education programs themselves. I am also responsible for providing standardized academic testing to special education students every three years to determine their present levels of performance and needs. I primarily teach resource classes, but I also teach the 12:1:1 Social Studies 7/8 class. This year I will be pushing in to Mr. Saulsgiver's Living Environment class and Ms. Planck's Algebra class. Furthermore, I am in charge of the Colgate Tutoring After-School Program, operate the scoreboard at basketball games, and chaperone various events throughout the year. Besides special education, I have a history background as well and have tutored students in the past for various social studies classes. 
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  • How do you grade in your classroom?

    Posted by:
    There are no grades attached to resource classes; rather, they are meant to be supplementary classes in which students develop skills in areas which they are deemed deficient in. To measure progress, annual goals are charted and reported on every ten weeks.
     
    For the Social Studies 7/8 class, grades breakdown as the following:
     
    20%- Notes
    20%- Tests
    20%- Projects
    10%- Quizzes
    10%- Essential Questions
    10%- Participation
    5%- Vocabulary
    5%- Homework and Classwork
     
    ~THE PASSING GRADE AT THE MADISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 70%~ 
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  • How do you handle discipline?

    Posted by:
    I believe that all problems can be solved if students, teachers, and parents work together and form trusting relationships from the start of the year. It is my expectation that all students be respectful to each other and their teachers. I consider myself a flexible person and encourage all students and parents to voice any concerns to me privately. 
     
    Resource students have a set of expectations and guidelines that they are expected to follow from day one. If a student accumulates three tardies without a valid excuse, they are to serve a lunch detention.
     
    Students in the Social Studies 7/8 class go by a system that I like to call the "Strike Zone". If a student receives 3 "strikes" during a class period, they will be sent to the office and written up. Consequences may include after-school detention,  which is enforced on Thursdays after school from 3-5. Students can accumulate strikes by making inappropriate comments, refusing to follow directions, or talking excessively. If a student poses a safety threat, they will be promptly escorted out of the classroom regardless of the number of "strikes" to meet with administration. 
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  • Can students turn in late work?

    Posted by:
    I will always accept late work from students until the marking period closes. For each day that the work is late, 10 points will be deducted. Work turned in 3 or more class days after the assigned due date can only receive a maximum of 70 points. 
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  • What is the best way to contact you?

    Posted by:
    My preferred method of contact is via e-mail. You can send me a message any of the day at jsilkowski@madisoncentralny.org . I check my e-mail on a regular basis during and after school hours.
     
    If you need to speak to me directly, I can be reached at (315) 893-1878 ext. 217. The best times to call me are between 7:40-8:00 am and 3:00-3:30 pm.  
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