Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How long should I spend on homework?
- When is homework due?
- What if I am absent from class?
- How do I contact Ms. Higgs?
- How often should I clean out my child's folder?
- What's the purpose of the planner and what's my responsibility?
How long should I spend on homework?
Typically students should spend a total of sixty minutes on both
mathematics and language arts homework. Though there will be
nights when the required assignments will take slightly more
time, you should stop working once you have spent more than one
hour ten minutes completing the day's tasks. Should this occur,
please write a note in your child's planner indicating
the amount of time spent on homework. This will allow me to
adjust my assignments if necessary. Please know that there will
be days when your child's homework will be extremely minimal and
should not take him/her long at all.
When is homework due?
Homework is to be completed nightly. It will be checked the
following day and turned in periodically. Homework is posted
weekly and students are expected to record it in their planner.
What if I am absent from class?
Absences are hard on everyone therefore please try to limit
them. however, if your child is absent from class, please check
his/her planner to see the assignment for the day. If a child is
unable to complete the assignment, he/she will have an extra day
for each day absent in which to complete it. Absences are not
a "get out of homework/classwork" pass. All assignments are
expected to be completed and turned in.
If your child has a friend who lives nearby, please have them
stop in and collect anything he/she might need. Upon your
return, if your child did not have assignments picked up, he/she
needs to look in the appropriate basket. All extra worksheets
for the day are placed there. It is your child's responsibility
to gather the needed work.
If you know your child is going to be out for an extended period
of time, please inform not only me, but the nurse's office as
well at x7620,
How do I contact Ms. Higgs?
Email is the best and most efficient way to contact me. I will
do my best to send a reply that very same day if at all
possible. khiggs@msd38.org In the case where you need to speak
with me personally, feel free to give me a call, however, if i am
in class or a meeting, I will need to return your call. 664-7659
How often should I clean out my child's folder?
This year is a bit different for us here in the 5th grade. We
are trying to keep everything needed in their math folder. Your
child needs to have a folder with pockets. The left side is for
current homework and assignments. Each Friday evening, please
help your child remember to remove the homework in preparation
for the upcoming week. Items students need to keep will be
housed on the right side. Please do not remove any of those
papers. When they are ready to be taken home, they will move to
the left side.
What's the purpose of the planner and what's my responsibility?
Communication is key and the planner serves as a multi-use tool.
It houses a great of information about Meadows and our procedures
in the front. If there are any questions about our start time,
the calendar of events, the planner or website is a great place
to visit. Planners are also for communication between home and
school.
All teachers ask that you look at and sign nightly your child's
planner. This will ensure you know what is going on or if your
child has homework and/or a missing assignment. If there is
something I need to let you know in just a quick note, I will do
so in the planner. Homework assignments are to be written down
for the entire week on Monday as part of your child's classwork.
Please look nightly to see what homework is required. It is your
child's responsibility to get you to sign it nightly. Signatures
will be checked periodically.