Study Skills/Extra Help

 

We recognize that because of our high expectations, there may be times or subjects in which students require study skills, organizational skills, or extra help.  It is important to us that all students succeed, so we are happy to help in any way possible.  Students who need extra help may wish to do one or more of the following:

 

• Participate in the Study Skills class. (Available Wednesday until 4:15 in Mrs. Rusch's room; begins 9/12)
• Participate in Homework Hall.  (Available Monday until 4:15 in Mrs. Mode's room; begins 9/17)
• Get help from an individual teacher whose subject may be more difficult.
• Ask about our Schools Attuned program.
• Ask for recommendations for one-on-one tutoring.
• Schedule a parent-teacher-student conference for assistance.

 

Homework Planners and Website

• All middle school students are provided with a planner.
• Students are expected to fill out their planner in each subject everyday.
• Students may check to be sure they have everything in their planner at the end of the day in their homerooms.  Each teacher keeps homework assignment boards in their classrooms, and students are reminded to update their planners.
• Daily homework assignments are also posted on our website. Tests and projects will also be listed here. Click here to go to links to our homework pages.

 

Homework Guidelines 

 

·         DON'T LEAVE SCHOOL WITHOUT IT: Before you leave school, always check to be sure you have all the materials you need to complete your homework at home. If you have a test or project coming up, bring those materials home every night until it is completed. You never know when you'll have extra time to work on it!  (Students who forget materials may return to school to retrieve them.  Teachers will always be available until 3:30 p.m.)

 

·         SET A ROUTINE: When you sit down to do your homework, be sure you are in a comfortable and quiet location. You should not be near a TV. When you find that perfect spot to do homework, you should make it a routine to do it there each and every night. If possible, set a schedule for homework, and stick to it.  Use the 15-5 minute rule when studying; study for 15 minutes with no break, then take a 5 minute break.  You should not normally have more than 90 minutes of homework.  There will occasionally be exceptions to this.

 

·         CHECK IT OFF: Keep your planner nearby as you do your homework. Check off each assignment as it is done. Continue working until all assignments are checked off. If you know you are not the best at copying down all the assignments, flip through your accordion file to see what "works in progress" need to be done. Also, check the homework website to be sure that you are working on everything that is due.

 

·         PUT IT IN THE ACCORDION FILE: After you have completed all of your homework, PUT IT IN YOUR ACCORDION FILE IN THE CORRECT SECTION. That way, it will be easy to find the next day when it is collected.

 

Late Homework Policy

• All middle school teachers will adhere to the same policy.
• Late homework must be turned in prior to the completion of a unit of study.  This may be a chapter, unit, or topic.  The end of a unit of study is usually determined by the day a test is given or the day a project is due on that topic.
• All late homework turned in will result in a penalty to the student's grade.

Make Up Work

All class work, homework, and tests will need to be made up when a student is absen

Call friends and check the homework website to find out what you have missed on days absent.  See individual teachers for specific details or if you have questions.

Portfolio/Accordion File

Consider the Portfolio/Accordion File your "WORKS IN PROGRESS FOLDER" because it should only contain papers that are to be completed or to be collected.  (Special subjects may have exceptions to this.)  All other papers should be placed in your subject binder or folder. Don't forget to LABEL each section!

 

Recommended Sections:

Homeroom

Blank Paper

Math

Lit/LA

Social Studies

Science

Religion

Spanish

Computer

Guidance

Library

Other Specials (Art, Music, PE)

Suggestions for Portfolio/Accordion File:

• If your accordion file can accommodate your planner, keep this in the "Homeroom" section, along with any handouts you might receive from your homeroom teacher, such as permission slips. 
• If your accordion file contains only "works in progress," i.e. work to be completed or collected, then it should be easy to flip through each night to remind yourself of what needs to be done at home. At school the next day, you can also look in each subject's section when you arrive in that class so that you always have on hand what you need to turn in.
• If you tend to use your accordion file for more than "works in progress," i.e. work to be completed or collected, then you should pick a day once a week that you will remove all papers that don't belong there. Don't be afraid to get help from someone who tends to be better organized than you are (mom, dad, grandparent, sister, brother, friend?). We all have strengths and weaknesses!