Homework
I try my best to give class time for independent practice. Most assignments should not take more than 15 minutes, otherwise it is done at home. Not all homework is graded, and not all homework is graded for accuracy (grammar). Late work will not be accepted after 3 days, and a 10% deduction will be taken for each day an assignment is late. Late assignment grades will be entered when I get to them.
Feedback is very helpful with learning, so it is important that a student has work completed so s/he can learn from mistakes.
If a student is ill or if there is an extenuating circumstance, s/he will not be penalized for a late assignment.
I follow the handbook policy for making up work due to absence.
Vacations: MOST of the time, I do not prepare materials and assignments in advance for students who go on vacations while school is in session. I am available to discuss the matter with you, but I am happy to get the student caught up upon his/her return.
Codes in FACTS :
M= Missing (an unresolved missing assignment)
P= Pending (I have the assignment, but I have not graded it yet. (This is important to note with writing assignments as they take a longer time to grade.)
If a zero is entered, I will write a comment to explain the situation. Some reasons could be absence or that the student may need to try again.
IXL
Most of the time, I assign an IXL skill after I have exhausted a topic in class. After IXL, most likely, a quiz will be coming up soon. I prefer to use class time. If your child works on a skill at home, and if the score goes down 3 consecutive times, they should stop, and let me know the next day. The session should not last for more than 15 minutes. I will work with the student until there is an improvement and the skill can be completed independently. Frustration is an obstacle to learning.
Writing Assignments
We will do our writing in class, with pen and paper. Rough drafts will be transcribed, then edited into a final draft. 6th grade parents will be asked to offer feedback (not corrections). 7th grade parents, if you would like to read your child's work, look for assignments on the website, and ask your child to share their work with you.
For both grades, I will look at the first body paragraph and offer feedback. Then, they work on the remaining required paragraphs. I walk them through revising and proofreading. They also participate in a peer review. We compose introductions and conclusions together as a class for anyone who wants to participate.
Writing assignments take a longer time to evaluate. Because we take a considerable amount of classroom time, I typically do not have students rewrite something. I will use the "Pending" code so you know your child completed the assignment. If your child did not turn it in on time, I will alert you via email on the due date.