Frequently Asked Questions

What school supplies do we need for your class?

a blank journal and reading book of choice (change as needed)
one pack of loose college-ruled paper
5 different color highlighters
pencils, black pens, scissors, glue sticks
colored pencils, post-it notes, 5x7 inch index cards, and book flags
chromebook and reliable internet access

*bolded items can be bought for individual use or additionally as class donations

*additional class donation items include: clorox wipes, tissues, and hand sanitizer

If you would like to buy additional classroom items, my wishlist can be found here.

Why does my student have a zero for this assignment?

In my class, assignments either receive a grade or they receive a zero. There are no "blank" or "missing" assignment placeholders like some other teachers may have. The reasoning for this is that our online grade book platform, PowerSchool, does not alert parents when an assignment does not have a grade. It only alerts parents and students when the overall grade average of the class changes. Due to this, I insert zeros as a placeholder.

How does my student get rid of the zero? Simply do the assignment! If you complete the assignment, it will no longer receive a zero. The new score will be determined based on quality and lateness, with the lowest score typically being a 50%. As long as the assignment is turned in completely and on-time, it should not receive a zero.

My student told me they turned it in, but PowerSchool says it is a zero still. Why is this?
It is likely one of the following scenarios:

Your student may have completed the assignment, but forgot to press the "turn-in" button. If this is the case, it still reads as "missing" for me in Google Classroom and may not have received a grade. Have them OPEN the assignment, ensure that it is completed, and have them turn it in.
Your student may not have completed the assignment. Please double-check the assignment, have them OPEN the assignment, and ensure that it is fully and accurately completed. It is very common for students to press the "turn-in" button, but the assignment itself is actually blank. Please have them complete the assignment late.
Your student may have cheated or plagiarized. It's okay - students are still learning the importance of academic honesty. They will receive a zero as a penalty for plagiarism, but they will get the opportunity to redo the assignment with their own thoughts and ideas for a better grade.
Your student may have submitted or retried the assignment after I did my first pass of grading. This means that the zero will stand until I get through all of my current grading workload. Once I have caught up on current grades, I return to previous assignments and enter any late or improved submissions (see the question and answer below for more information).

My student submitted an assignment late/redid an assignment, but the grade book says it is a zero. When are you going to grade it?

Every teacher has a different means of organizing their workload - I am a bulk-grader.

What does that look like? Let's say that I have 20 assignments to grade: I will grade all 115 of assignment #1, then all 115 of assignment #2, then #3 and so forth until I finish grading the first "batch" of all 20 assignments. Afterwards, I will go back to assignment #1 and grade all of the late or redo submissions, then assignment #2 and so on.

What does this mean for my student's grade? If your student submits an assignment late or decides to redo something to improve their grade, but I am grading my first "batch" of grades - you will likely not see the change until later.

How do I know if my student submitted the assignment then? Please ask to see their Google Classroom. If you have them login, OPEN the assignment, and show you that they have completed it in full AND submitted it - your student did everything right; they are just waiting on me to grade it! However, if you are unsure, please still feel free to reach out and clarify whether the assignment is actually missing or if it is just awaiting grading.

How should parents communicate with you?

Parents and guardians are welcome to reach out to me via the following platforms: ParentSquare, email, or phone.

If you are communicating via email or ParentSquare - feel free to contact me at any time that is convenient to you! I will be sure to respond within normal working hours, but I understand that people may forget questions or pressing matters if they do not ask right at the moment they think of it. I answer messages between 8 AM and 4 PM.

If you are requesting a phone call - please understand that a majority of my time is spent in-class with students. Additionally, much of my planning block is consumed with grading, lesson planning, or meetings. If you would like to speak over the phone, please email me first to discuss the best time to have a conversation and the purpose of the call. This way, I can ensure focused and attentive time while we are having our conversation. If you call the class phone at random, there is no guarantee that the call will be answered.

What does homework look like in your class?

Students do not often receive homework in my class. The only consistent homework is to finish what they have not completed in class. There have been a few problems that I have encountered when attempting to assign homework to students, and they are: only half of the students will turn in the assignment, many students will either cheat or look up answers online, students will continuously ask to turn in the assignment late because they've forgotten to bring it on the due date. I would much rather use class time meaningfully and to its highest capacity than assign homework. Students receive enough from other classes, I don't personally feel compelled to add-on to their to do list if they are performing well in my class. However, students who choose not to participate in class will be expected to complete through assignments on their own time.

Do students write in your class?

Students will be writing every day in my class. Whether it is a short journal entry, taking notes during a presentation, or working on an essay - students will be writing every day. Writing is a skill that is going further and further into extinction with each new year. Students have gotten used to texting, typing, or having things written for them. Just the thought of writing is a daunting task for some students. By having students write and get comfortable with the idea of putting pencil to paper, that anxiety should go away. Students are required, per HCS curriculum, to compose at least one new essay each quarter. They will compose a rough draft by hand, receive feedback, then type their final. The final draft will focus on formatting skills, revisions for clarity, and overall presentation and expression of their own ideas.