frequently asked questions

How do I get my task log signed?

1. • To prevent the spread of COVID, there will be no in-person signing of task logs for the Fall 2021 semester. In fact, task logs will not be used at all! Continue reading these FAQs for more information.

Am I submitting anything to my master teacher in lieu of a task log?

• No, students only have to attend the professional development workshop, actively participate, and submit a Reflection Form at the end of each workshop to obtain credit. For community service events, a similar process will take place. We will handle the rest from there!

If there are no task logs, who is keeping track of my PD and CS credits?

• Officers will review each response submitted through the Reflection Form and assign credit on a master task log spreadsheet. You are also encouraged to keep track of your PD and CS credits.

Who has access to the master task log spreadsheet?

• Only current officers of the teachHOUSTON Student Society have access to edit this document.

• Student workers and master teachers will be able to view this document.

I lost track of how many PD and CS credits I have. Who can I contact for help?

• To find out how many credits you currently have according to our master task log spreadsheet, email the Society Historian, Zaid Al-Qadi, at tHssHist@gmail.com. Please provide your full name (no nicknames) and the current teachHOUSTON class(es) you are enrolled in. 

Are PDs still taking place this spring?

1. • Of course! Our PDs will be hosted both online (presented through Microsoft Teams) starting the third week of school. We plan to utilize Teams' interactive features to ensure PDs are engaging and promote reflective and productive conversations between participants.

How do I join the Microsoft Team?

• Students must join the Team on their own. A link to join will be featured every week in the student society weekly slides (starting the second week of school) and sent on GroupMe, Remind, and our weekly newsletter. For security purposes we will not have the link posted on this website, but it will still be highly accessible to students through various means.

Do I need to register to attend online PDs?

1. • No, we will not require participants submit a registration form like we have in the past. Students are free to show up without prior registration.

Will I need a password to enter the online PDs?

1. • No, there will not be a password to access the PD on Teams. You can simply enter the Professional Development channel and join the live meeting.

Do I need to have my camera on during the online PDs?

1. • No, although they are highly recommended. Students who do not have their cameras on will be cold-called frequently and their responses to the PD Reflection Form will be reviewed more thoroughly to ensure they paid attention during the presentation.

   • Additionally, each participant must engage with the presenter and with other participants in order to obtain full credit. Failure to contribute productively to discussions may result in loss of credit.

Can I access the PD on a mobile device?

1. • Yes. Microsoft Teams has an excellent mobile app that can be downloaded to your smart phone or tablet. 

What are the rules and expectations for participants during online PDs?

• Please check out the Professional Development page of this website for more information. Rules and expectations will also be discussed at the beginning of each PD presentation.

Who can I contact if I have questions about online PDs?

• Contact our Director of Professional Development, Moosa Syed, at tHssProDev@gmail.com for any questions about PDs.

How will community service events take place if we can't meet in person?

• We are hoping to organize online practice teach workshops and online lesson plan workshops, among other ideas. Stay tuned!

Do I need to register to attend online community service events?

• Yes. The sign up forms for CS events will become available to students as we approach their dates.

Can my community service requirement be waived/optional this semester?

• Any waiving of or exceptions to course requirements are out of the Governing Board's hands. This is a concern that should be brought up directly to your teachHOUSTON Master Teacher.

Are all socials canceled for the spring semester since we can't meet in person?

1. • No. Now more than ever it is important for us to socialize, and this is why we are coordinating online socials. We will have interactive online games/activities and many eGift card giveaways!

Where will online socials take place?

• Online socials will take place on Microsoft Teams. Each channel within the Team will have a different game/activity, so participants can switch between channels at any point. 

How do I join the Teams channel to access the socials?

1. • A link and QR code will be featured in the weekly slides, newsletter, GroupMe, and sent on Remind. You can also email our Social Chair, Madhat Al-Abdullah, at thssSocial@gmail.com and he will send you the link.

Who can attend a teachHOUSTON Student Society social?

• Any student at UH with a UH email can attend student society socials. Students do not need to be paid members of the teachHOUSTON Student Society to join the fun!

What types of games/activities will we participate in during online socials?

• Check out the Socials page of this website for more information.

Is there a schedule for this semester's online socials?

1. • Check out the Google Calendar on our home page to view our scheduled socials. Please note that these dates may change.

Does my camera need to be on during socials?

1. • No. It would be nice to see everyone's faces, but this is not a requirement to attend.

How long will socials last?

• Socials will last two hours from 7 - 9 PM, but participants are welcome to stay past 9 PM if they want to continue the fun.

Will there be prizes?

• Absolutely! At the end of each social, we will give away several eGift Cards ranging from $5 - $20. 

• Only paid members of the teachHOUSTON Student Society can win an eGift Card.

Will the society still have bake sales?

1. • No. Instead, we are planning new fundraisers that can be done online. Stay tuned!

Can I still participate in fundraisers even though I live outside of Houston?

• Of course! All the fundraisers will be available online.