Starting in sixth grade, the students get only two report cards a year. The grading periods are semesters long instead of quarters. This is typically very helpful to the students who struggle a little at the beginning of the year with getting adjusted to all things middle school. They have several more months and chapters to bring their grade to where they want it to be instead of a report card coming at the end of the nine-weeks. 

FACTS has a phone app for Android and iOS that makes a quick check of grades very handy. It will enable you to see a quick list of your child’s grades, assignments, and some other basic information. The primary downside to the FACTS app that we have found is that you cannot see the comments that teachers are putting on your child's assignments. This would include notes like late assignments or where they did not do their reading ahead of time. At least once a week, it is helpful to check your child’s grades on a computer so you can get a more complete picture of the situation. If you see any assignments with an “M” instead of a grade, the teacher is missing this assignment from your child. Any late work gets a lower priority to grade than work that is turned in on time. FACTS averages this “M” in as a zero until the assignment is completed, graded, and entered. This will cause the grade to appear much lower than it actually is until it is entered. Hopefully that will help explain what you are seeing when you look at your child’s grades.

Binders in Middle School become more like an extension of the arm than a school supply. The students keep a multitude of papers and information safely tucked away in its inner recesses. Sometimes success or failure in a chapter or class can be affected by the student’s organization system (or lack thereof) of the binder. In an effort to keep the bookbags light, the teachers have tried to reduce the need to carry textbooks and workbooks and consolidate to the binder. 

Here is how each teacher handles this tool:  

• Math—Uwarow – Math books are stored in the classroom and worksheets are handed out that help guide the students in their learning. The students are assembling an interactive book in the composition notebook you purchased for that class. Homework pages should be cleaned out at the end of every chapter, but notes, tests, and quizzes should stay for reference all year.  

• Math – Knisely – A book has been sent home for your child to use for homework. There is also a classroom set that the students use while in class. A notebook check is done before each chapter test.  

• Reading and English – For the most part, pages stay in their books which remain in their lockers. Mrs. Ontoy will let them know which days they should bring their books to class so they don’t have to carry them unless necessary. She will tell the students when any graded pages may be taken home and left there.  

• Science – Mrs. Gillenwater – A science book was sent home to be kept at home for homework (Quick Checks) and studying. In the science section of your binder should be your notes handout, Activity Manual pages (torn out during class), and Quick Check forms for homework.  

• History -- Dr. White tears out a chapter at a time in History, and all pages should stay in the binder until the end of the chapter where they will be turned in on test day. Frequently, the students are given points for a “notebook check,” and the papers are handed back to the students all stapled together in a pile. These pages may stay at home at that point.  

It would be helpful for each student to have a folder or section in the binder where pages to be sent home are placed. 

If a teacher helps a student clean up things in school, they will have one place for you to look to find graded assignments to take out at home. If your child is struggling with his/her binder, have them start each evening’s homework session by putting all papers from the day in the rings (not a folder they must search through) of the subject section where it belongs. They will feel much more in control if they have a handle on where their stuff is when they look for it. 

The students have been working in computer class to learn some of the skills they need to succeed in middle and high school. Because we use Google products, they are working on mastering Google Classroom, Docs, Slides, and more! They will also be learning how to check their grades in FACTS. Until that time, could you please check over the grades with your child? We want them to take personal responsibility for their grades and seeing how each week affects their grades goes a long way in that process. It will also help them stay on top of any missing work they may accumulate. Thank you for your help!