Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How much homework should I have?
- Will we go on any field trips this year?
- May I call you at home?
- Will we celebrate my birthday at school?
- What is your late work policy?
- How do I catch up on work if I'm absent?
- I understand that you expect certain things on every paper. What are they?
- What are your expectations during class?
- What kinds of things will we be studying this year?
- What are passes, and how to they work?
- Wait a minute! Do I have to use a pass to use the restroom?
- Why do you give five minute breaks?
- How many recesses do we have?
How much homework should I have?
Most "homework" is simply completing daily assignments. Math
work (after the first month or so) typically is not totally
completed during class time. You should expect to have 20-45
minutes of homework each night. If you regularly have to work on
homework longer than 45 minutes, I REALLY NEED TO KNOW! It may
be that we need to make some adjustments. I also expect students
to read at least 15 minutes each night.
Will we go on any field trips this year?
Yes, of course! Most students (and teachers) enjoy taking field
trips. One of the BIG field trips for sixth graders is OUTDOOR
SCHOOL. It's lots of fun and VERY educational. I'm also working
on plans for an excursion to Mt. St. Helens early in the year.
Since you're in sixth grade, now, I'm thinking you're pretty
esponsible, and that will make it easy to go on a bunch of
cool field trips.
May I call you at home?
I really don't mind you calling me at home--especially if you
have a question or problem about an assignment. Please call
before 9:00, though. I'm an early riser and I go to bed early
often, too. (You may find my phone number in the phone book or
on my weekly newsletters.)
Will we celebrate my birthday at school?
Yes! We all enjoy celebrating birthdays. It's fine to bring
some sort of treat on your special day. Please be sure to let me
know what's coming, though, so I can be sure to schedule it into
our day.
What is your late work policy?
For your benefit and my benefit, you need to get work in on
time. You are able to learn best when the work is completed as
given. Sometimes we will be having a test and I'm expecting that
you will have already had the practice questions completed in
order to prepare for the test. So the late work hurts you
because you're not as ready for the test as you might have been.
Late work is also a burden for teachers, because it takes much
longer to grade it. PLEASE, JUST GET YOUR WORK IN ON TIME.
If you don't have an assignment ready when I collect it, your
score will be reduced by 10%. If the assignment comes in a day
late, it is reduced by 20%; two days late - 30%; three days late -
40%; four days or more late - 50%. (It really hurts to have
late work. Please, just do it!)
Due to the extra burden of grading late assignments, I do not
accept late or make-up work the last week of a grading period.
How do I catch up on work if I'm absent?
When you are absent, check my website for assignments given. If
you have the necessary books at home and feel well enough, go
ahead and do the assignments. If you don't have the books at
home, or if you aren't feeling well enough to do schoolwork, just
get the assignments when you come back to school. For every day
you're absent, I give that many days for you to make up work.
I understand that you expect certain things on every paper. What are they?
I want your first name, last name (or initial) and the date on
each assignment. It should look like this:
Name I.
8/26/09
This is so helpful to me. I record scores in the gradebook by
your last name. My data entry is much faster when I see your
last name or initial. The date is helpful, too, because then we
all know when the assignment was given.
I also REALLY appreciate neat work. I do not accept assignments
done on paper with the ragged edges from a spiral notebook. You
need to trim off those edges before handing the work in.
What are your expectations during class?
Be RESPECTFUL to all!
Demonstrate RESPONSIBILITY!
REBOUND when you "mess up".
Basically, you may do anything you want as long as it does not
create a problem for anyone else. (That includes all your
classmates, your teacher, your parents, etc.)
What kinds of things will we be studying this year?
We will be doing and learning a lot! In science we will have
hands-on learning (FOSS) with landforms, foods and nutrition, and
levers and pulleys. In addition, we'll be learning about a
couple other major topics in science. Our social studies will
primarily look at world geography and ancient world history. Of
course, we'll look at current events throughout the year, as
well. Bible studies highlight the general epistles, ways we can
know the Bible is true, and a look at Revelation. I hope this
gives you an idea of at least part of what we'll be learning this
year.
What are passes, and how to they work?
Each full month of school, you will receive eight "passes" that
may be used as a "ticket of grace". If you have late work, you
can attach a pass to the assignment, and it will take off 10% of
the penalty (up to 20% only). If you need to get into your
locker during worktime, you may use a pass. If you need to use
the restroom during worktime, you may use a pass. I recommend
that you put your name on your passes when you receive them, and
use them wisely.
Wait a minute! Do I have to use a pass to use the restroom?
Yes, and no. You will have a five-minute break between major
subjects. This is a break time to get prepared for the next
subject and to use the restroom. It's also time for visiting if
you have everything ready to go. You only need to use a pass for
the restroom, if we are working in class.
Why do you give five minute breaks?
I want you to be really ready for 7th grade next year. When
you're in 7th grade, you will have five minutes between classes
to use the restroom, go to your locker and get to the next
class. By training you now, it'll be a breeze for you in 7th
grade.
How many recesses do we have?
You will have at least one recess every day--right after lunch.
On the days that you don't have PE, you will also have a morning
recess.
