- Does my child have to have a calculator for your class?
- If my child has such good homework grades, why is their average so low?
- What is the best way to reach the teacher for a discussion about my child?
- Do you offer any extra credit?
- Is there a fee for any class taught by Coach Prince?
- How much homework should we expect to see?
- Is there something a parent can provide (supplies) to help Coach Prince?
- What is the school dress code?
- How do I log on to see my student's grades?
- Should I be worried about my child's privacy with their grades online?
- What is the Gateway Algebra Test
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Does my child have to have a calculator for your class?
No, a calculator is not required, but is highly recommended. I have a
classroom set of graphing calculators (Texas Instruments TI 84 Plus) that
are available for use while the students are in the room. It would be great
if each student also had one of these at home. They will definitely want to
purchase one if they plan on taking Algebra II, Geometry, and especially Pre-
Calculus and Calculus. I would consider it a must for college.
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If my child has such good homework grades, why is their average so low?
In the Trenton Special School District, we have a system wide policy that
states Daily grades (homework) will count 30% of a student's total grade and
Assessments (quizzes, tests, special projects) will count 70% of a student's
grade. It is quite possible for a student to get all of his/her homework and
still fail the class, for the assessments count more of their total grade.
There are several reasons for this. The two I see as being most important
are 1) any student can copy homework and get credit for it - and no one
should be able to pass a class based solely on their ability to copy, and 2)
Assessments are truer pictures of student understanding and should be
weighed heavier when computing an average.
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What is the best way to reach the teacher for a discussion about my child?
You can call the school office at 855-2601 and ask one of our nice ladies in
the office (Debbie Grant, Terri Joyner, or Frances Haste) to take a message
for Coach Prince, and he will return your call as soon as possible. Or, you
can ask to speak with Mrs. Judy Nunley, our guidance counselor, to set up a
conference with all of your child's teachers. Finally, and this is probably
the best way to reach Coach Prince - use the email icon on the home page of
this website to email him. In fact, setting up regular communication through
e-mail, initiated by the parent, is the best way to keep tabs on a student.
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Do you offer any extra credit?
Typically - No. I do, however, offer tutoring in the afternoons 2-3 days per
week - unless I am in an athletic season and unable to do so. The schedule
for tutoring is posted on the door of my room and I will make an effort to
update the announcement page and news flash page of the website to notify
students and parents of tutoring opportunities.
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Is there a fee for any class taught by Coach Prince?
No, there is no fee for any of Coach Prince's classes.
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How much homework should we expect to see?
I will give homework 2-3 times a week at most. Also, students' will often
have 10-15 minutes of classtime in which to complete their homework. In
addition to that, most of the Algebra I students are freshmen, and many of
them have a freshmen study skills class in which they have another 42
minutes to work on their homework. So, you might not see your child working
on homework a lot at home. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be bringing
their book home and studying a little each night on what we are discussing
in class. The answers to the odd problems are in the back of the book, and
the students can always work some extra problems and check their answers to
see if they are getting them correct.
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Is there something a parent can provide (supplies) to help Coach Prince?
There are needs, from time to time, for things that would greatly help. If
any parent would like to help with the purchase of supplies, computer
software, etc...I would more than appreciate it. Just email me (use the icon
on the home page of the website) and ask. Beware, I might want you to build
something or paint something - you never know!
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What is the school dress code?
Your child received a copy of the school dress code at the beginning of the
year. If you need another copy, please stop by the school office and ask for
one.
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How do I log on to see my student's grades?
Simply go to the "Grades" page from the home page. There will be a space in
which you can enter the student id# given to every student and sent home to
you in a letter about the grades page. Then, hit the enter button or click
on the submit icon on the page. That should take you to the page where you
can see your student's grades on all of their assignments and the current
nine weeks average they have in the class.
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Should I be worried about my child's privacy with their grades online?
No. Not at all. It is all numerical code based, so there are no names
involved. Even when you pull up the grade report, there is no name on it.
Rest assured, your child's name will appear nowhere on the website. Now, if
any parents give me trouble, I might post a picture of them on the site and
merge it with a picture of a frog or something, but never your kid.
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What is the Gateway Algebra Test
The Gateway Algebra Exam is a state administered exam at the end of the
Algebra I course that tests a students understanding of fundamental algebra.
There are 62 questions and students have to get (as of 2007-2008) 30 of them
correct to pass. If they do not pass the exam the first time they take it
(in May of the year they are in Algebra I), they can retake it every July,
December, and May after that. Through the class of 2012, passing the Gateway
exams in Algebra, Biology, and English II is a requirement for receiving a
diploma in the State of Tennessee.
