Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My child tells me s/he has no homework tonight for English class. How can I be sure?

A: I do not assign an abundance of homework in my classes. However, if there is homework I will post it on the homework board in the classroom and on this site. If you want to know if your child has homework simply click on your child's class on the left column and you can see the homework assigned.

Q: My child is getting a bad grade in your class. What should we do?

A: I am on campus before and after school and during nutrition and lunch. Typically a bad grade means there is missing work. If you check Q, you will see if your child has missing assignments. Ask your child about these assignments. If your child is confused or has questions about the missing assignments have him/her come to class before or after school or at lunch/nutrition and I will happily clarify and answer any questions. If you notice your child is getting zeros on in-class assignments perhaps they didn't do the work, or forgot to put their name on their work.

Q: My child tells me s/he dislikes reading. What can I do to encourage them to read?

A: Often times students see reading as a bore or a chore because the material they are reading is not relevant to their lives. Try to find reading materials that match up with your child's interests. If they like skateboarding find a skaters magazine. If they like sea life, find books at the library about marine science. Let your child see you read for pleasure, too!

Q: What can I do at home to support my child in school?

A: The fact that you're asking this question means you are already a supportive parent! Here are some suggestions to help support your student. Of course, every parent has their own style but these are tips I've used with my own teenagers:

• Establish a set time and comfortable place to do homework each night.
• Take away cell phones before bed. You would be surprised how many students are exhausted in class because they were on their phones late into the night. I know this to be true because my students have actually told me they were tired because they were on Snapchat or YouTube all night.
• Limit screen time and video games to an hour or two a day. Let kids be bored sometimes! Boredom can lead to great ideas and creative thinking!
• Make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep each night. Adolescence is a time of great growth and many changes. They need their sleep to rejuvenate and feel good the next day.
• Middle school students need to know that they are the ones responsible for their grades. There will be hiccups along the way but this is how they learn responsibility. Usually a bad grade motivates a student to study more before a test, put their name on their work and remember to turn things in on time. These are all perfectly normal mistakes for 12-14 year olds so don't get too stressed out! They will figure it all out at some point!