Q: When is the best time to contact you?
A: Any time between 8 am and 7 pm. Keep in mind, I will be teaching the majority of school hours, but I will try my best to get back to you during my prep period.
Q: What can I do to meaningfully support literacy in my home?
A: You can read with your child for at least 15 minutes a night, ask them to review what we learned during literacy time, and/or have them read a book of their own outside of school.
Q: What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my children on a daily basis about your class?
A: I would suggest asking what they learned in each subject that day and what they are doing the next day. Their answers do not have to be specific facts, for they could just tell you what they went over that day. This will get them to think more about it and have it fresh on their minds.
Q: How do you measure academic progress?
A: In my classroom, I use the RTI method of learning. The students are screened at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to see what kind of progress they are making.
Q: How is learning personalized in your classroom?
A: Based on each students' results to the RTI screening, they will placed in one of three tiers. Each tier has instruction that is personalized to their progress and where they stand in the curriculum.
Q: What is the best way for me to contact you?
A: Email. My email is hanna.owens@smail.astate.edu. It is also listed at the bottom of the homepage.
Q: What's your perspective on homework?
A: I believe homework is beneficial because it keeps their minds turning on things we did in class; however, they are still kids. Too much homework can burn them out very quickly, and it gives them less time to be a kid and spend time with friends and family. With this being said, they may have a worksheet or two per week.
Q: What behavior modifications can we make at home to reinforce expectations at school?
A: Students are in class, groups, on the playground, in the lunchroom, etc. with other students every single day, so they need to be familiar with good manners. The smartest person in the world could be the most disliked if they are unkind. Showing your child how to treat other students and teachers respectfully is the number one thing on my list.
Q: Does this school have a Gifted and Talented program? If so, do you implement it in your classroom?
A: Yes, Southside School District offers a Gifted and Talented program for all grade levels. They are dismissed from the regular classroom once a week to attend the program for one hour. In my classroom, some of my assignments will be modified for those students, but most of time, I let the GT teacher handle the curriculum.
Q: What is your philosophy regarding classroom discipline?
A: I have a card system with a green, yellow, orange, and a red card in pouches next to each students' name. At the beginning of the week, each student starts on the green. If they are to misbehave/break classroom rules, their card will be turned to yellow. This acts as a verbal warning, but if they continue this behavior then they will turn their card to orange. An orange card results in decreased recess time. If the student still continues this behavior, then their card will be turned to red, resulting in a trip to the office.