Hello! The best way to contact me is usually via email! My email is michala.mcphink@smail.astate.edu, but if you need more information, it can be found on my Personal Information page!
I use the traditional grading scale (A = 90-100, B = 80-89, etc...), and I grade using a point-based system. This means that you or your child should be able to calculate your child's grade in my class at any time by looking at how many points they earned out of the total number of points so far. For most assignments, I will give half-credit for missed questions that have been corrected and resubmitted to me.
Almost every assignment for my class will be listed on my site Mrs. Matthews' Homework. I have it organized by content area and by what month it was due.
The best way for you to help your child succeed is to make sure they are adequately prepared when they come to class: fed, well-rested, and ready to learn.
If you need to meet with me, please send me an email. My email is michala.mcphink@smail.astate.edu, and I will do my best to get back to you quickly and schedule a meeting.
The main rules in my classroom are (1) Be respectful of others and their belongings, (2) No cheating, (3) Be respectful of classroom property. While there are other classroom rules--they are listed in the Class AUP--, I feel that these three are the most important for my classroom.
Right now, I will allow food and drinks in my classroom. However, this is a privilege, not a right, and if this privilege is abused, I will then say that no food or drinks are allowed in my classroom. Please clean up after yourself and listen when I am teaching to keep this privilege.
I am available for after school tutoring sessions on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00-5:30. I will be in my classroom at these times to answer questions and assist with work. If for some reason these times do not work for you, you can speak to me about scheduling another time to assist with classwork.
I have flexible deadlines on most of my assignments, meaning that if it is a day or two late, that is okay. After a week, though, I will begin docking points from the final grade. After two weeks, you will receive a zero on the assignment. If this begins causing issues with assignments being consistently late, I will revise my late work policy and inform the class and the parents.
The best ways to help our school and classroom are to advocate for us. Education is a demanding, and sometimes controversial, field. Trusting that the school is doing the best they can for it's students will be of great assistance.
If you are interested in helping the school to obtain supplies, there is a list of needed supplies for my class and for the school, and you can find it here.