Frequently Asked Questions (for Parents)

How are the activities graded in your class? Science Notebook: The majority of the student's grades and points will be based on the Notebook scores. The Interactive Notebook's Table of Contents will be updated every Friday and graded the following Monday. Unless an assignment in graded in class, most pages in the Notebook are worth 5 points. To get full points for each page, please see below: Left hand Pages: Title, Colored Picture (that is related to the assignment/topic), Completion of assignment Right hand Pages: Title, Date, Completion of the Assignment Cornell style notes: Title, Date, Completion of all note-taking, and a minimum of 4 questions about the notes, written after the notes are taken. As the year progresses and students become more proficient at writing questions, a point value will be added to the quality of the questions written. Level 2 and 3 type questions will earn more than Level 1 questions. Questions of the Days: On the both left & right sides, each QOTD earns 3 points. On the right side, points will be given for having a QOTD number and date, copying down the questions and answering those questions completely. For the left side, points will be given for copying down the QOTD number and date and having a colored illustration related to topic. Assessments: In addition to Tests and quizzes, index cards will be turned in randomly to check that students have accurately completed specific parts of the activities.  They will be graded on a 4 point scale with a 4 being students that go above and beyond.  Students that earn a 3 have completed the work to the fullest but did not go above and beyond.  2s are missing something and 1s were not complete. My student is not doing well. What can I do to help? The first thing I would suggest is to check your student’s grade and get a grade print out.  Through the Aeries parent portal you will be able to view exactly what assignments your student is missing and how many points they are worth. Go through the grade print out with your student.  Check the homework/agenda link on my website to see when the assignments were assigned and ask your student reasons why the assignment is not complete.  Encourage your student to rewrite and redo any assignments where that is an option to receive more points. Encourage your student to see the teacher or a study buddy if they need help with a concept.  If your student is continuously getting low scores on activities, you may want to read over their activities each night before they turn them in to make sure that they are putting forth the effort that you would like to see.  My student is not completing homework in science.  What can I do to help? Middle school students frequently have a hard time transitioning because of the amount of work, switching classes and different teachers.  An agenda book has been provide by the school to help students with this transition.  Students should be writing their homework from each class in their agenda everyday.  I would suggest that parents check this book daily to ensure their student is using the book and completing the work listed in that book. Listed on the homework/agenda section of my website, students and parents can check what the homework is for that day and for the upcoming week. What are Questions of the Days?         During the first 10 minutes of class, while assignments are being stamped, students are working on the questions that are listed on the board. These questions help students review key concepts from the previous days activity or introduce the upcoming activities. All Questions of the Days need to be copied down and answered silently by the student at the start of class. We will review the answers as a class. Students are expected to correct wrong answers during this time. How do I check my student's grade?         The Aeries grade program will be your best way of knowing and understanding your student's grade in all classes. What do I do if my student is going to be Absent?         My website contains a homework/agenda link for work that will be completed in class and what is assigned for homework.  The website will show lessons at least one week in advance giving students the option of planning ahead for absences, sports commitments or family vacations.  Students are responsible for communicating with me via email, after class, or Monday's at lunch if they do not understand work that should be completed due to their absence.  Students will have one week to have the work complete.  Absent work (that is turned in within a week from the student's return to class) does not need to be turned in with a late pass and should be turned in to only the instructor, not a substitute. What can my student do if they need extra help?         I am available most days at lunch (except Tuesday) and by appointment.  I am usually in my room at least 15 minutes after school. Students are welcome to drop by if they need assistance.