Questions and their answers are ordered alphabetically by category: DETAILS (for long-term assignments or bonus opportunities), GRADES, HOMEWORK, PROTOCOL. Once a DETAILS FAQ becomes obsolete after its due date, it will be moved to Obsolete.
PROTOCOL 1: What is the format for sending Ms. Niksch e-mails?
In the subject line, title your e-mail to me as follows:
for questions - "per" #, last name, first name, "Q" followed by keyword(s)
(e.g. per 3, Shen, Chester, Q book approval or period 4, Williams, Maya, Q lost textbook)
for attached assignments - "period" #, last name, first name, "HW" followed by specific assignment
(e.g. per 5, Martin, Dominique, HW LL p. 300 or period 6, Saito, Yuki, HW second draft narrative)
for gradebook issues - "period" #, last name, first name, "grade"
(e.g. per 2, Fernandez, Charlie, grade)
PROTOCOL 2: What is the document naming protocol when saving work?
period number_assignment title_last name_ first name.doc.
Notes:
for a Language of Literature response assignment to numbers #1,2,and 7 on page 300, you need only identify the page number, not the individual numbers for each assigned question:
e.g. per3_LL300_Chen_Harold.doc
for any assignment titles with multiple words, such as a business letter, you need not include a space:
e.g. per3_businessletter_Vasquez_Ric.doc
for versions / revisions, include status info:
e.g. per3_personalnarrative_draft1_Smith_Maribel.doc
per3_personalnarrative_finaldraft_Smith_Maribel.doc
PROTOCOL 3: Do I have to take notes?
Yes, you are expected to take lecture notes as well as chapter notes for novels. Taking notes helps you to learn more efficiently and effectively. I personally recommend the Cornell Method for lecture notes, and either the mapping or charting method for reading notes. But you should use whatever system works best for you to organize and process information. And don't just limit your notes to words. Pictures, lines, symbols, color-coding, etc. are all options for effective note-taking. Look into Sketchnotes for ideas.
PROTOCOL 4: What is the requirement for doing work on Google Classroom?
ALWAYS do the work directly through Google Classroom so that progress can be monitored. This means that if a doc is not already provided by Ms. Niksch, you should immediately attach the Doc, Slides, etc. that you will be working on to the Classroom assignment. DO NOT complete the work "elsewhere" before attaching, and DO NOT do writing assigments on a non-school Google account.
ALWAYS make a copy of your work before submitting. Essays are done in multiple drafts, and each of your drafts should be its own saved document.
PROTOCOL 5: What if I need to unsubmit my draft in Google Classroom for later drafts and the status gets changed to "late"?
DON'T. Each assignment submission should be its own draft so that progress can be tracked -- you should NOT be unsubmitting, making revisions/edits, and then resubmitting the same doc for the next draft. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO MAKE A MASTER COPY EACH TIME BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM.
If you do end up forgetting and have to unsubmit to make a copy, resubmit the SAME version immediately and just leave a comment "had to make a copy."
HOMEWORK 1: What do I do if I can't print my homework?
The day before the printed assignment is due in class (or earlier, if you're ready), e-mail your work to Ms. Niksch as an attachment and request that it be printed by Ms. Niksch.
If you forgot to address printing but Ms. Niksch is able to see electronically that your work was on time (on document history or on Google Classroom, for instance), it usually will not be counted late. However, if the work is necessary for use during class (e.g. physical peer review work, gallery walk, highlighting work, etc.), then it will be counted late, so make sure you address printing needs in a timely manner. Note that you may NOT print your assignment during class.
Should you forget to print something needed for class and try to use the library printer, it may get reported to me if a large number of my students tie up the library printer. Ms. Niksch does not like to receive complaints from the library, so again, address your printing needs in a timely manner so that you do not need to inconvenience anyone in the library.
HOMEWORK 2: Work submission?
Physical homework is usually due at the beginning of the period, while electronic submissions must be submitted before school on the due date. Just because the Google Classroom due date notes date X, that does NOT mean that you have until midnight of that day.
Late work will receive a penalty (or only one point credit depending on the assignment) at teacher discretion.
Any work handed in without a name will go in the “Anonymous” basket. If you did not get credit for an assignment, first check the basket.
A "turned in" status on the Google Classroom assignment will not matter if the work is missing or the attached work is blank, so make sure you check before submitting. Document histories mayb be checked, so claiming "I forgot to attach it," or "I just attached the wrong doc," will NOT help if your work shows that it was not completed by the due date.
HOMEWORK 3: I left my physical homework at home! What do I do to avoid a late penalty?
If it was done on paper (e.g. a worksheet or a project), you should e-mail an image of the complete work as soon as you get home. I should receive it by 3:30 at the latest. Depending on the assignment, it might not be counted late (e.g. work that you would not have been able to complete hurriedly after class or during brunch / lunch), but late penalty is still better than not submitting at all.
If you forgot to bring a print copy of an essay that was typed on Google Docs, Google Classroom submission before class and document history showing on-time work will usually be enough to keep you from getting a penalty (see HOMEWORK 1 above for exceptions). You should still submit the physical work the next day with a "submitted on time electronically" slip attached.
HOMEWORK 4: How do I do textbook responses?
Language of Literature textbook responses should be labeled with "LL" (for Language of Literature), the page number, and the assigned question number(s) as the assignment title (e.g. "LL p. 123, #s 4, 6, 7").
1. You do not need to write out the full question, but your response should make clear what question you are answering.
2. Use complete sentences.
3. You must include support, usually, but not limited to, text evidence. Evidence from the text should support, not repeat (e.g. "The main character is a cautious person, because in the story it says, 'He is a cautious person.'")
4. If needed, organize each response into paragraphs.
5. Think deeply. The obvious response is usually not going to be enough.
6. Use binder paper, not a page ripped out of a notebook. You may also type your work.
HOMEWORK 5: What about absences?
Absent on a due date? Hand in the work on the day you return unless the work is long-term (see HOMEWORK 6 below).
Absent on the day an overnight assignment is given? Hand it in on the day following your return. However, in the case that assignment completion is necessary for the lesson / class participation the following day, please make your best effort to come prepared.
HOMEWORK 6: What if I'm absent on a long-term assignment due date?
Due dates will not change for long-term assignments, unless you are out for an excessive number of days (will vary depending on length of assignment). For any such excused extended absences, you will need to make arrangements with me concerning a reasonable due date and fill out a contract for the new date. Contracts must be requested in a timely manner (minimum one week before due date) and will require status check-ins and show of progress. Long-term assignments handed in after the due date without a contract will be considered late and will be penalized accordingly.
If you know that you will be absent on a due date for a long-term assignment for whatever reason, you must either submit your work physically (hand directly to Ms. Niksch with “early submission - absent on due date” slip) or electronically (take photo or scan if the work is physical) before the school day of the due date, or it will be considered late. If you were prevented from finishing a long-term assignment the day before due to sudden illness or emergency, you must be able to show proof of sufficient progress (Google Document history, scan / photo of physical work done by due date, etc.). If you are unable to show that you had been making reasonable progress up until your absence, the work will be counted late.
GRADES 1: How do I know if I've been given credit for my work?
You should check your grades online regularly. If Ms. Niksch has collected the assignment but not yet finished grading, you will see no grade. As long as it does not say "Missing," then you do not need to worry and will eventually see your grade. (Note that while Ms. Niksch attempts to record missing work in her paper gradebook on the day it's due, "Missing" might not always be recorded in Synergy immediately.)
This also goes for quizzes and tests; a blank means you've taken the quiz/test, but Ms. Niksch has not finished grading. If you are absent on the day of the quiz/test, you may first see "Absent," indicating that you have not yet taken it. However, if you do not make up the quiz/test when you return, the "Absent" will then become "Missing" and will remain so until it has been made up.
"Missing" impacts your grade with a 0 for the assignment/quiz/test.
GRADES 2: What if I don't think the "Missing" is correct?
If you see "Missing" but are certain you handed in the assignment, you should first check the "Anonymous" basket to see if you forgot to write your name. If it is there, write your name on it and put it in the Lavender basket.
If you see "Missing" for a quiz/test and are certain you took it, find the quiz/test and show it to Ms. Niksch if it has been returned to you already, and if not, e-mail Ms. Niksch about it (see FAQs for proper e-mail title protocol).
Also, note that on-time work gets grading priority, so if you submitted / did something later than the rest of the class, do not expect immediate grading and posting.