FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am so excited for a wonderful year ahead. To ensure you and your child always know what to expect, I have prepared this document containing frequently asked questions about my teaching practices and expectations. Please read the list carefully and contact me on parentsquare if you have any questions or concerns.
Why does my child not receive a traditional study guide for your class?
Each day, your child will be given 3-4 review questions at the beginning of class. These questions are test/quiz review. It is proven that students do better if they prepare a little over time versus cramming a lot of information in a short amount of time. Please review these questions with your child each night as you would a study guide and your child will be prepared for all formal assessments. There will also be a review day before the test in which your child can write down any areas with which they are still struggling and you may spend more time reviewing warm-up questions that focus on that area before the assessment.
How much notice will you give my child before giving them a test?
Students will always know at least one week in advance before a test.
How much notice will you give my child before giving them a quiz?
Quizzes may be announced and unannounced; therefore, there is no set amount of time. Sometimes, I will give students a week to study, sometimes, I will count classwork as a quiz grade.
Where can I find extra resources to help my child study/prepare for your class?
My website will be a very good starting place as it contains almost all of what we cover in a unit (other than Greece) and crash course history on youtube on the topic we are studying at the time will also be helpful for audio/visual learners.
Do you offer extra credit?
Yes, but only in specific forms.
Because the unit song is proven to improve student understanding of the material, students may always sing the unit song for a 100 quiz grade averaged in (this is done privately, not in front of the class). They must do this the day before the test and must schedule the time with me.
I do not allow students to retake an assessment, as the purpose of the assessment is to measure what they know at that time; however, I understand that everyone has bad days and may not do well once in a while. In order to help students truly learn the material, I allow them to answer optional extra credit questions on the next assessment that review previous material. This helps me know if they went back over what they did not learn during the previous unit and keeps their mind sharp for the final exam.
What should my child do if they are absent?
The student will need to check the calendar on canvas to see what they missed. The work may be in paper form and unavailable to them at home, but it will tell them the assignments they need to get from me upon their return. Per the handbook, students have three days to complete work if they are absent.
What if my child misses a test/quiz?
According to the BCS handbook, all assessments must be made up before or after school hours within three days of the student’s return.
How do I contact you if I have a concern?
The easiest and most effective form of communication will be through parentsquare, however, you may also email me at swatterson@bcswolves.org or schedule a phone conversation. Please note that I may not see communication sent after 5:00pm; however, I will respond to all communication within 24 hours Monday-Friday.
Does my child really need the materials you listed? Will they actually be used?
YES! I do not ask for materials we don’t use. We will use each of the materials I asked for frequently if not daily
How do I view my child’s grades?
Canvas will contain your child’s grades and a calendar with upcoming assessment dates.