Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- When will graded papers be sent home?
- Why does my child have an 'S' for conduct?
- How do I know what homework my child has each day?
- How much do tests count towards the final grade?
- How do I pay for book orders?
- How can I help my child be a better math student?
- How can I help my child prepare for Social Studies tests?
- How can I help my child prepare for Science tests?
- Why should I check my child's grades on-line?
- Do you know of any fun websites for my child?
- What is the grading policy for your subjects:?
- Are there any apps for iPad that would be useful to my child?
When will graded papers be sent home?
Papers will be sent home every Friday. A conduct sheet will be
included with the papers to inform you of your child's work
habits, behavior, and any supplies your child may need. Sign the
conduct sheet, do not remove the tickets stapled to the conduct
sheet and send it back in the folder. The papers do not need to
be returned to the teacher. If you have any questions, you may
write a note on the conduct sheet. If there are any papers in
question, attach a note to the work and return it with the
Friday folder. It is the student's responsibility to bring the
paper in question and notes from parents written on the conduct
sheet to the teacher's attention.
Why does my child have an 'S' for conduct?
Conduct grades are based on the number of conduct marks a student
accumulates. Students are given 1 blue ticket each day that can
be used later to purchase rewards. Blue tickets will be taken
away for not following the class conduct rules which are posted
in the classroom.
Students will write their name and the conduct rule that was
broken on the back of the ticket. At the end of each week, the
tickets will be stapled to that week on the conduct sheet so that
parents will know their child's conduct which needs improvement.
The tickets will remain stapled to the conduct sheet for the
entire 9 week period and will be used to determine a cumulative
conduct grade for the report card. The conduct sheet states the
weekly and cumulative rating systems at the top of the sheet.
Students commonly receive conduct marks for talking at
inappropriate times, for not having their homework or for not
having the required materials for class. An office referral will be
marked as 2 conduct marks on the conduct sheet. Please ask
your child throughout the year if he needs to replace any
supplies. We will periodically check to make sure each child has
the needed supplies at school. We realize that we all make
mistakes at times; therefore, students can have 3 tickets taken
up during the 9 weeks for conduct and still receive an "E" in
conduct.
How do I know what homework my child has each day?
The homework assigned each day is written on the board. It is
your child's responsibility to record this homework in his
student organizer each day. I usually give the students a couple
of minutes during class and at the end of each day to write the
homework down in the organizer. We do not require parents to sign
the organizer. Although it is not required, I try to list daily
homework on my website. If you think your child isn't writing in
their organizer, you can compare it with my website and discuss
this with your child.
How much do tests count towards the final grade?
In math, tests are 60% of the grade; daily grades count 40%. In
science and social studies, test grades are entered into the
gradebook twice and the grades are not weighted.
How do I pay for book orders?
Please write a check to the book club rather than sending cash.
Please give your check and book order to the Language Arts
teacher.
How can I help my child be a better math student?
Helping your child memorize their addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division facts through the use of flash cards
will increase your child's confidence and ability to apply the
math skills learned in class. In addition, you can use the papers
sent home in the Friday folder to review concepts that have been
learned. Ask your child what they did wrong on problems that were
missed. This will give your child an opportunity to
demonstrate that they have learned from their mistake or to
receive extra help from you on concepts that need more review.
Look at your child's organizer for tests that may be coming up (I
give at least a weeks advance notice of tests). Help your child
study for the test by doing pages in the book that
apply to the chapter or practice problems from papers that have
been sent home. Also, if you have a computer, you can help your
child learn multiplication facts by downloading a FREE copy of a
really neat multiplication game by going to bigbrainz.com.In
addition, use my links page for the website wolframalpha.
:-)
How can I help my child prepare for Social Studies tests?
Encourage your child to study their vocabulary words and the
review sheet for the chapter. In addition, go to my page of links
and click on the link for Social Studies tests. The link is an
excellent way to quiz yourself to see if you are prepared for the
test.
How can I help my child prepare for Science tests?
Enclourage your child to study their notes and vocabulary daily
in science. I use the test to make sure that all needed
information is included in their notes. :-) If your child lost
their notes, encourage them to call a friend or look at the papers
and notes section on my web where many of the notes are posted.
Why should I check my child's grades on-line?
By checking your child's grades on-line a few times each week,
you will be able to learn how well your child is doing so that
you can praise them, what topics your child may be struggling
with so that you can discuss it with him/her, or if assignments
are missing or late (late assignments are 10 pts off each day and
by the 4th day, it is a 0%). You may want to teach your
child how to look their grades up on-line themself so that they
will know how they are doing and to help develop independence. :-)
Do you know of any fun websites for my child?
I used to post www.yahooligans.com on my links, but over the years, I've noticed the website has
become less educational. The website has games, music videos and your child can create some email
cards to send to a friend. I've taken this website off of my links so that the students will play the
more educational games while in the computer lab.
What is the grading policy for your subjects:?
Windsong Grading Policy for Fifth Grade
Social Studies Test grades count twice. Grades are not weighted.
Each nine weeks will include a minimum of:
* 4 test grades.
* 8 daily/ content grades
* Projects (if given) may count as two grades .
Science- Test grades count twice. Grades are not weighted.
Each nine weeks will include a minimum of:
* 4 test grades.
* 2 lab grades.
* 6 daily/ content grades
Math Test grades count for 60% and daily work 40%
Each nine weeks will include a minimum of:
*18 daily grades
*3 test grades
Technology Each nine weeks will include a minimum of:
*1 keyboarding grade
*4 skills grades
Late work Ten points will be deducted for each day the assignment is late up to 3 days.
Students will receive a zero on the 4th day. Students may be asked to finish the assignment
during recess or extension. Parents will be notified via a late notice and/or Friday Folder.
Make-Up Work Students have as many days to complete work as they are absent. The maximum
make-up time allowed is five days.
Corrections Students who fail a test will be provided an opportunity to receive additional
practice/instruction before making corrections or retaking the test (format is at the discretion of
the teacher). A grade of 70 is the maximum that can be earned on the re-assessment. Failing
daily work will be left to the discretion of the teacher.
Cheating 1ST time: 30 points deducted from test grade; notification to parent
2nd time: zero recorded; notification to parents
Talking during a test, which does not involve cheating, should be treated according to
procedures for other classroom misbehaviors.
Are there any apps for iPad that would be useful to my child?
Almost 1,000 recommended iPad apps from TCEA divided by subject area and interest: [Link]http://bit.ly/xwTMjq
