Class Calendar

Homework Information

Reading Log ~

Students should read for 20 minutes a night. They can read anything they like; a book, magazine, web article, a box of cereal, whatever. After reading students record the time on their reading log and get a parent or guardian's signature. Anyone who watched or vouched for the students' reading can sign off on their reading log whether it's a guardian, parent, grandparent, older sibling, babysitter, or daycare specialist. I don't count the student's time without a signature! Reading Logs are collected at the end of the week for a homework grade which is 10% of the final grade.

If a student forgets to turn in their reading log or leaves it at home (I know it happens) I will allow them to turn it in up to a week late. Their "homework grade" will be bumped down a letter grade for each day the log is late. For example, if a student turns in their log 1 day late the highest grade a student could receive is 90%, two days 80%, three days 70%, four days 60%, and if the log is turned in a week or more past the original due date the grade is recorded as a 50%. Any missed reading logs that are over a week late will become an incomplete grade which is recorded as 50%.

Out of all our learning goals, reading and making connections is the hardest for students. The more they practice the better prepared they will be for state testing. I use the Reading Logs as an opportunity to also teach self-responsibility. The students are responsible to keep up with their own paper, remembering to fill it out, get a guardian's signature, and turning it in at the end of the week.

Spelling ~

Students will have 10 words to study per week with 2 extra credit words that are optional. I don't check or grade spelling homework, but there is a Spelling Quiz at the end of the week that will count toward a "quiz grade". The students choose the way they want to study at home, if they need structured activities Clever has a link that they can use.

I like to use the honorary system with spelling homework to create a sense of integrity and grit for students. Encouraging students to learn how to manage their time and effort to do what needs to be done in order to reach their goals.