Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How to Contact Me
- Instructional Units
- Interactive Notebook
- Homework
- Absences
How to Contact Me
If you have any questions or concerns I encourage you to contact me. I can be
reached through my e-mail: stephanie_lightner@hcpss.org or you can leave a
message by calling the school at (410) 313- 2839. I will do my best to respond
as quickly as possible!
Instructional Units
For Reading: This year, we will be covering the following units: Reading
Informational Texts: Social Studies, Careers Exploration, Information
Literacy- The I-Search Paper, and Developing Critical Response to Literature.
For English: This year, we will be covering the following units: The Strategic
Writer, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Tragedy, and Epics. Throughout the year
we will continue to work with language (grammar and mechanics) and vocabulary
on a daily basis.
Interactive Notebook
The students will be using an interactive notebook in my Reading and English
classes this year. The notebook is a spiral bound notebook that we will divide
into units. It is a way for the students to organize and engage with the
material presented in class in a meaningful way. Each day will start with a
warm-up/ preview, followed by the lesson and activity, and will end with a
closing activity or exit ticket that allows me to see if the students have
understood the material. Everything will be stored in the notebooks. The
notebooks will be kept in class, but if you wish to see your child's notebook,
don't hesitate to ask and I will allow the student to take it home as long as
it is returned the next day.
Homework
The students should expect homework on a regular basis. For Reading, most of
the time, the only homework that I will be giving is for the students to be
reading at least 30 minutes a night and completing a reading log. The reading
log will need to be signed every Thursday night. For English, the homework may
be writing, language, or reading related, or may consist of simply studying
for an upcoming assessment. The students should expect to have homework from
me every night. I expect the students to turn in homework ON TIME! LATE WORK
will affect the student's homework grade.
Homework that is turned in more than a day later will result in the student
only being able to earn a 70% on that assignment.
The homework will be posted in the classroom daily. The students will be
required to write it in their agendas. I also sign their agendas to make sure
they have written down the homework. The homework will also be posted on my
teacher's web page at the the beginning of every week. I will do my best to
update the homework during the week if there are any changes, but usually the
homework at the beginning of the week is accurate.
Absences
It is the student's responsibility to check the absent folder for the work
that they missed while they were absent. The work will be labeled with the
student's name. The student will have one week from their absence to complete
an assignment.
