Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How do you grade my child?
- What is the weekly Reading Log?
- What are the Active Reading Strategies?
- What is a Reader's Response Journal?
- What is a Writer's Notebook?
- What is the Words Their Way Program?
- What help can my child get with the Everyday Math Program?
How do you grade my child?
I include many aspects into my grading to provide a well-rounded
picture of my students: Quizzes are 30%, Homework is 25%, Class
work is 25%, participation in class 10% and attitude/behavior
10%. Borderline students (ex: 89%) will generally be pushed up
to the next grade if they show overall effort.
What is the weekly Reading Log?
It is the yellow sheet due on some Fridays where students log one
weekend day (Friday, Sat. or Sun.) and Mon., Tues., Wed., and
Thurs. 20-minute readings. All columns must be filled in as well
as utilizing Active Reading Strategies (Predict, Question,
Connect, etc.) to prove understanding. Don't forget your
signature!
What are the Active Reading Strategies?
These are the comprehension activities that can be used while you
are reading to your child or when your child is reading alone:
*Question - Ask questions to yourself about the story you
are reading.
*Summarize - Tell the most important ideas of the story.
*Predict - Make a smart guess based on what you already know.
*Clarify - Clear up confusions, such as, what does a word mean?
Put in a word that makes sense. Look at the surrounding words.
Break words into chunks. Look for parts that you know. Say the
first sound of the word, skip it, read on, and come back.
*Connect - Make connections to what you already know or to
another book. (Text-to-Text, Text-to-Self or Text-to-World)
*Visualize - Make a picture in your head of what is going on in
the story.
*React - Tell how you feel about a certain part of a story, or a
particular character.
What is a Reader's Response Journal?
The Reader's Response Journal is one of the marble notebooks that
we use during reading time where students write their thoughts on
what I have read and/or what they have read independently. Any
reading work is placed in this book.
What is a Writer's Notebook?
A Writer's Notebook is where students will complete writing
entries and work on the various steps of the writing process.
It's also a place to write down thoughts and ideas for future
writing projects.
What is the Words Their Way Program?
Words Their Way is a program where students are assessed and then
learn at their own pace on their own word level. Students are
placed in groups and work individually as well as independently
on different reinforcing activities during the week. On some
Fridays, students are assessed and graded.
What help can my child get with the Everyday Math Program?
As a parent, you can review the Parent Letters sent home at the
beginning of every Unit. Also, you and your child can read the
Student Reference Manual (hard copy textbook) provided for
students to help them review and learn concepts. Students can
even view and play games at the math websites located on my Links
page.