• Here are some FAQs that I thought might help as you navigate junior high math:

     

    • How is homework graded?  Homework is graded based on completion.  I ask that students try every problem I assign.  Homework is marked incomplete if they do not attempt one or more problems and their percent is based on that.  For example, if 10 problem were assigned and the student completes 8, they earn an 80% on that homework.  
    • How is homework "turned in"?  We actually do not turn in our nightly homework.  Students are expected to have it out on their desk at the beginning of each period for me to come around and check for completion.  If it isn't completed at that point, points are taken off.  Students only turn in the assignment I give following a quiz that they have a week to do and their quizzes/quiz corrections. Any late work from being absent can also be turned in to the bin.  
    • My student said they turned something in, but it's not in the gradebook.  What should I do?  First, let your student ask!  They are in Junior High now, so it is great to let them start spreading their wings by asking their teacher simple questions like this.  Common reasons for this include not putting their name on the assignement (check the no name bin), they turned it in late (it will be graded later then), or I just haven't had time yet (please allow at least 1-2 school days for updates).  
    • Should my student be working on homework every night?   Homework is assigned every day Monday-Thursday.  Fridays, I give students an activity to work on, but it isn't due until the following Friday.  They should not need to work on this over the weekend.  Nightly homework should only take 20-30 minutes at the maximum.  Please sign up for my Remind texts if you would like to know what the nightly homework is.
    • Can incomplete homework be made up?  No.  The reason is because we go over the homework together in class each day.  I ask them to write in the correct answers as we go over them so they can use them to study.  Homework is only worth 30% of their overall quarter grade, and I take homework grades at least 4 times a week, so in the long run, missing some points here and there will not change their grade dramatically.  
    • What should my student do if they are absent?  Please check Google Classroom!  I post the notes, homework, and a helpful video of the lesson every day!  If they are absent on a quiz day, the quiz will need to be made up in Storm Hour or before school tutoring.  
    • Why don't they bring their textbook home?   I allow students to tear out pages and keep their textbooks in the classroom if they would like.  I know that especially now with the Chromebooks their backpacks tend to get heavy.  Their McGraw Hill textbook can be accessed online through their clever.com account.  
    • When can my student ask questions?   Please encourage them to ask questions any time!!  If they are shy to ask in front of the class, they can ask during warm-up time when I'm walking around checking homework, at the end of the class when they are working on homework, review days when they are independently working, during Storm Hour, or during office hours.  I hold office hours/tutoring on Wednesdays from 8:15-9:00.  They can pop in to ask questions or get help with quiz corrections.  The doors across from my classroom next to the CARE room/boys bathrom are unlocked by 8:15.
    • Are calculators allowed?   In Math 7, we start using calculators in the 2nd quarter.  So, they shouldn't be practicing their homework at home with a calculator right now!  In Honors Pre-Algebra, they can use a calculator any time.  It is helpful for students to have their own calculator.  
    • When do you use the Chromebooks?   We use them every review day (typically Thursdays) for their MathSpace assignments.  We will use them from time to time for exit tickets and games as well!  Please be sure they are charging them every night and bringing them every day.
    • What does a typical week look like?   Since COVID, we've found that sticking to a predictable schedule has helped our math students.  We try to stick to it as much as possible by building in extra time as needed, but understand we could be off due to student needs.  Typically, Monday-Wednesday we learn new content, practice, and take notes.  Thursdays, we review.  Students receive a review guide and complete a MathSpace task.  While this is generally more work than a typical day, they do have the entire period to work on these assignments.  Fridays we take a quiz.
    • How should my student be studying for a quiz?   On review days, I give them a review that looks very similar to their quiz.  It generally has around the same amount of questions and the same types of questions and directions.  Students are allowed to use this as well as any notes they have on the quiz.  I believe that since we have a wealth of resources at our fingertips, students should learn how to use their own resources in school as well.  Their online MathSpace task that they work on also has questions similar to their quiz.  Additionally, the online textbook has a self-check quiz for every lesson that is helpful to try out!
    • What should they do if they don't do well on a quiz?   Mastery assignments are worth 70% of their overall grade.  If they earn less than a 75% on a quiz, they should be completing quiz corrections.  Corrections are done on a form I have in my classroom.  For every problem they correct, they will earn back half credit up to a 75%.  Students have one week from the time they get their graded quiz back to turn in quiz corrections.  They must reflect on their errors to earn the credit back.  They can get help on quiz corrections during the times I mentioned above.  Corrections take some time to grade, so please allow up to a week or so for their grade to change.