Homework Policies and Expectations
Homework:
Homework plays an important role in education, providing practice with skills or extending learning initially taught within the classroom. It encourages self-discipline & development of responsibility while providing a channel of communication between parents & teachers. Completing homework at the beginning of the school year oftentimes takes students longer, as they are figuring out routines and procedures while acclimating to middle school. Homework grades are based on effort and for the purpose of practice, so if your child is struggling with a particular problem, please make sure s/he attempts it with evidence in writing, but doesn't become overly frustrated. Homework is expected to be completed on time. However, we do understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is an occasional night when completion of homework is impossible, please write a note & additional time will be allowed the day the assignment is due. If your child appears to have a habit for incomplete homework, this will impact their learning, & overall grade. Incomplete or missing assignments in & outside of class will result in a zero the day they are due unless prior arrangements have been made as indicated. The most current & reliable posting of homework is in our classroom, on our whiteboard. While we do record homework on this website at the beginning of the week, it is monitored and adjusted in our classroom daily, based upon the needs of students. Please encourage your child to write current homework from our whiteboard for the most up-to-date homework assignment, as technology may not always be available from home.
Late Work & Absences:
If a student is absent, a make up day is given for each day to complete & return the work. Our goals this year are challenging, & will require consistent & timely attendance to class. Please avoid scheduling doctor's appointments & trips during instructional time as much as possible. Your child's learning is compromised when they aren't present.
MATH & Science
Math & Science Grading: In a nutshell: Homework is weighted 25% of overall grade.
Quizzes, Tests, Projects & Classroom Engagement is 75% of overall grade (25 % classroom engagement, 50% quizzes & tests).
Math Homework Grading:
Your homework accounts for 25% of your grade in math and is based upon your commitment to practice and communicate the skills we are learning. Though you will be required to correct your homework in class each day, and your grade is figured on your daily work, you can receive an “A” every week for homework by completing all of it each night, making sure it meets the requirements below:
100%: Every problem with directions for context is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted, work is shown, assignment has a complete header, it is written in pencil, is orderly and legible.
60%: Not every problem with directions is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted with work shown, or one or two of the above items have not been met.
20%: Less than 75% of problems are attempted as indicated above, and more than two of the other items have not been met.
0%: Less than 50% of problems attempted
Homework not at school the day it’s due is the same as homework not attempted, since there is no evidence for me to base your grade if it’s not here when we go over it in class. Remember, no late assignments are accepted for a grade, and will result in a “0”. Certainly, I understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is a special circumstance that prevents the completion of an assignment on time, please make sure a note accompanies your student prior to, or on the day the assignment is due. A not after the fact will not be accepted. For the first quarter of this school year, I recommend limiting extra-curricular activities until your child and you agree they have a handle on school, and are feeling successful.
The remaining 75% of your grades are based upon the following:
Tests & Quizzes: 50% of your math grade is based upon your ability to masterfully demonstrate an understanding of the standards we are learning on weekly quizzes and tests throughout each quarter. Your ideas need to be well supported from the concepts we’re learning, regardless of the assessment format.
Class Engagement/Participation: 25% of your grade is based upon your ability to demonstrate civic-mindedness (appropriate participation and collaboration) as a member within our learning community, as it pertains to the standards we are learning. This will be assessed using teacher observation, & self-reflection.
ELA(English Language Arts) & Social Studies
Reading Expectations
ELA
Honors ELA
Reading Folders
Students will be required to write an entry into their reading folders twice a week. They must also keep a log of all the books they read for the year as well as set eight reading goals per quarter. Students are responsible for keeping this folder updated and accurate.
Redo Assignments:
There are NO redo's on Social Studies quizzes or Projects! A student may correct a vocabulary test by writing each word missed 10 times, but they will only receive half a point for each word they missed. Students may redo Language Arts/Social Studies assignments but they must make arrangements to see me and turn in the assignments within the given time period.
Social Studies & ELA Spirals:
Each student is expected to bring and maintain their spirals on a daily basis. The students S.S. spiral will be graded at the end of each unit. If a student is absent, it is their personal responsibility to make-up the missed notes and in class assignments. Also students will be asked to retrieve a parent signature between units in their SS spiral. This allows parents to view their child's notes and see what they are learning in class.
Grading Policy
-Bell Ringer: Bell ringers are worth 5% of total grade.
-Participation/Responsibility: Spiral Checks and Parent Signatures are worth 20% of total grade.
-Homework: Language Arts Worksheets and Spelling packets are 10%
-Quizzes & Tests: Vocabulary Tests and Social Studies quizzes are 25% of total grade.
-Projects: Book Reports, Lit Circles and Social Studies Projects are 40% of total grade.
-If you miss a quiz, test or homework due to legal absence, you are to make an appointment with me for a make-up. The make-up must occur within one week of your return to school or you will lose the opportunity to redeem that grade.
Homework plays an important role in education, providing practice with skills or extending learning initially taught within the classroom. It encourages self-discipline & development of responsibility while providing a channel of communication between parents & teachers. Completing homework at the beginning of the school year oftentimes takes students longer, as they are figuring out routines and procedures while acclimating to middle school. Homework grades are based on effort and for the purpose of practice, so if your child is struggling with a particular problem, please make sure s/he attempts it with evidence in writing, but doesn't become overly frustrated. Homework is expected to be completed on time. However, we do understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is an occasional night when completion of homework is impossible, please write a note & additional time will be allowed the day the assignment is due. If your child appears to have a habit for incomplete homework, this will impact their learning, & overall grade. Incomplete or missing assignments in & outside of class will result in a zero the day they are due unless prior arrangements have been made as indicated. The most current & reliable posting of homework is in our classroom, on our whiteboard. While we do record homework on this website at the beginning of the week, it is monitored and adjusted in our classroom daily, based upon the needs of students. Please encourage your child to write current homework from our whiteboard for the most up-to-date homework assignment, as technology may not always be available from home.
Late Work & Absences:
If a student is absent, a make up day is given for each day to complete & return the work. Our goals this year are challenging, & will require consistent & timely attendance to class. Please avoid scheduling doctor's appointments & trips during instructional time as much as possible. Your child's learning is compromised when they aren't present.
MATH & Science
Math & Science Grading: In a nutshell: Homework is weighted 25% of overall grade.
Quizzes, Tests, Projects & Classroom Engagement is 75% of overall grade (25 % classroom engagement, 50% quizzes & tests).
Math Homework Grading:
Your homework accounts for 25% of your grade in math and is based upon your commitment to practice and communicate the skills we are learning. Though you will be required to correct your homework in class each day, and your grade is figured on your daily work, you can receive an “A” every week for homework by completing all of it each night, making sure it meets the requirements below:
100%: Every problem with directions for context is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted, work is shown, assignment has a complete header, it is written in pencil, is orderly and legible.
60%: Not every problem with directions is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted with work shown, or one or two of the above items have not been met.
20%: Less than 75% of problems are attempted as indicated above, and more than two of the other items have not been met.
0%: Less than 50% of problems attempted
Homework not at school the day it’s due is the same as homework not attempted, since there is no evidence for me to base your grade if it’s not here when we go over it in class. Remember, no late assignments are accepted for a grade, and will result in a “0”. Certainly, I understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is a special circumstance that prevents the completion of an assignment on time, please make sure a note accompanies your student prior to, or on the day the assignment is due. A not after the fact will not be accepted. For the first quarter of this school year, I recommend limiting extra-curricular activities until your child and you agree they have a handle on school, and are feeling successful.
The remaining 75% of your grades are based upon the following:
Tests & Quizzes: 50% of your math grade is based upon your ability to masterfully demonstrate an understanding of the standards we are learning on weekly quizzes and tests throughout each quarter. Your ideas need to be well supported from the concepts we’re learning, regardless of the assessment format.
Class Engagement/Participation: 25% of your grade is based upon your ability to demonstrate civic-mindedness (appropriate participation and collaboration) as a member within our learning community, as it pertains to the standards we are learning. This will be assessed using teacher observation, & self-reflection.
ELA(English Language Arts) & Social Studies
Reading Expectations
ELA
- 10 Books
- At least 100 Pages
- At and/or above reading level
- Fiction/Non-fiction
- 140 minutes every week(20 min. per night)
- At the beginning of 2nd Semester weekly minutes will increase by 100(240 minutes weekly)
Honors ELA
- 10 Books
- At least 100 Pages
- At and/or above reading level
- Fiction/Non-fiction
- 210 minutes every week(30 Min. per night)
- At the beginning of 2nd Semester weekly minutes will increase by 100(310 minutes weekly)
Reading Folders
Students will be required to write an entry into their reading folders twice a week. They must also keep a log of all the books they read for the year as well as set eight reading goals per quarter. Students are responsible for keeping this folder updated and accurate.
Redo Assignments:
There are NO redo's on Social Studies quizzes or Projects! A student may correct a vocabulary test by writing each word missed 10 times, but they will only receive half a point for each word they missed. Students may redo Language Arts/Social Studies assignments but they must make arrangements to see me and turn in the assignments within the given time period.
Social Studies & ELA Spirals:
Each student is expected to bring and maintain their spirals on a daily basis. The students S.S. spiral will be graded at the end of each unit. If a student is absent, it is their personal responsibility to make-up the missed notes and in class assignments. Also students will be asked to retrieve a parent signature between units in their SS spiral. This allows parents to view their child's notes and see what they are learning in class.
Grading Policy
-Bell Ringer: Bell ringers are worth 5% of total grade.
-Participation/Responsibility: Spiral Checks and Parent Signatures are worth 20% of total grade.
-Homework: Language Arts Worksheets and Spelling packets are 10%
-Quizzes & Tests: Vocabulary Tests and Social Studies quizzes are 25% of total grade.
-Projects: Book Reports, Lit Circles and Social Studies Projects are 40% of total grade.
-If you miss a quiz, test or homework due to legal absence, you are to make an appointment with me for a make-up. The make-up must occur within one week of your return to school or you will lose the opportunity to redeem that grade.