Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- Do we have homework every night? What about the weekends?
- How much homework will we have during the week?
- Why should I use an assignment notebook?
- What is a parent letter and why is it important?
- What is a Late Assignment Warning?
- Will we receive a grade for all assignments?
- What is a Home Reading Record?
- What is Reading Counts?
- What is an SRI test?
- Will I get a L.A.W. notice if I am absent? Can I get homework if I am absent?
- Can I get homework if I know I am going on vacation when school is in session?
- What is BOOK IT! and Rush to Read
Do we have homework every night? What about the weekends?
YES! EACH night you should study your Spelling and Vocabulary words,
practice math facts, and read for your Home Reading Records. This is
homework you complete every day even if you do not have homework in any
other subjects. Students will usually have 1-2 additional homework
assignments each night in Math, Science, or Social Studies.
Homework will not be assigned on Friday unless you have late work to
complete. Long range projects may be given on a Friday that may be worked
on over the weekend. However, it will not be due on Monday.
How much homework will we have during the week?
You will have approximetely 45-60 minutes of homework each night.
Why should I use an assignment notebook?
Your assignment notebook is a reminding tool for you AND your parents to use
for what your homework is, upcoming test/quizzes, field trips, picture day,
L.A.W. notices, and other important information. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
to write in your assignment notebook every day. It is also important to be
sure that you have your notebook EVERY DAY to use. Occasionally, I like to
write notes to parents during the week. It becomes difficult when students
do not have their notebooks.
What is a parent letter and why is it important?
Parent letters will go home on Fridays weekly or bi-weekly. They will
include lots of information about your child's academic and behavior
performance, learned concepts for the week, and upcoming events. Parent
letters are a good source of communication between myself and parents. They
should be returned on Monday morning with a parent signature.
What is a Late Assignment Warning?
A Late Assignment Warning or (L.A.W.) is given to any student that turns in
any classwork, homework, or group work in late. A LAW stamp will be placed
next to the assignment that was late in their assignment notebook. This
will allow parents to keep up with assignments if they wish. ANY and ALL
late work should be turned in the next school day. Students may also be
required to have a LAW detention during recess to complete their work and/or
complete it at home. Late assignments will be ONE GRADE LOWER even if they
complete it in LAW detention. In emergengiecies, students will not receive
a LAW, but I will need a note or call from the parents.
Will we receive a grade for all assignments?
For the most part, all homework will receive a letter grade. However,
students may receive a participation grade on certain assignments. This
will be indicated with a check mark, a check plus, or a check minus.
What is a Home Reading Record?
I feel that home reading is an essential element in improving student
comprehension growth, vocabulary, and fluency. Students are required to
read 120 minutes at home during the week. Home reading records (H.R.R.)go
home EVERY Friday and are due on the following Friday. It does not matter
how many minutes a day students read as long as the 120 minutes are
completed by the end of the week. I suggest 10-15 minutues per night.
H.R.R. MUST be signed by the parent when turned in. Students DO receive a
grade for H.R.R. and it IS included in the Language Arts grade. If the
forms are lost during the week, use plain paper to keep track so that you
still turn it in on time. Home reading IS homework and studnets will
receive a L.A.W. notice. However, H.R.R. will NOT be accepted after that
Monday they were due. I will keep track of records on a chart in the
classroom that students may see their progress for each quarter.
What is Reading Counts?
A computer test that students may take voluntarily after reading a book.
They may receive points at the end of the year for prizes from me and also
from the school. Students will have a reading goal each quarter to meet.
What is an SRI test?
This is a computer adaptive test that give lots of information of your
child's reading ability, approriate reading material for their specific
level, and much more. I will send reports home every quarter with report
cards.
Will I get a L.A.W. notice if I am absent? Can I get homework if I am absent?
NO. When you return your homework will be due on that day. You do not get
a late grade because of that.
You MAY receive homework if you are absent/sick. However, students will
receive work if it is 3 or more days that students will be out from school.
Can I get homework if I know I am going on vacation when school is in session?
It is DISTRICT POLICY not to send homework home with a student if a student
will be absent for a vacations, out of town, etc. Students are required to
make up any and all work when they return. If students know that tests are
coming up that they have written in their assignment notebooks, they should
be taking those materials with them to be prepared on their return.
What is BOOK IT! and Rush to Read
BOOK IT! is a voluntary program that students read each month and receive a
FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut for their accomplishment. Students
already do this through their home reading record so this is an added
bonus! BOOK IT! must be turned in on the last day of the month to receive
credit or the Friday before if it is a weekend.
Rush to Read is another reading incentive program that students may earn two
ticket vouchers to the Chicago Rush for reading one book per month and
completing a short book report! Students can participate for 4 total months
and at the end of that time they receive the tickets!