Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common 
questions of students and parents.

1. When is after school help available?
2. How can my child continue to do well in your class?
3. How can I keep track of my child's progress?
4. Do you accept late work?
5. How can I reach the teacher?
6. How can I monitor my child's science notebook?
7. How can my child be prepared for science class?
8. What should I do if my child is absent for an extended amount of time?
9. What if my child's handwriting is difficult to read?

When is after school help available?

After school help is available to any student in my class on 
Tuesdays and Thursdays unless other arrangements are made between 
teacher and student.

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How can my child continue to do well in your class?

Students should come to class prepared each day with a pencil, 
science binder/notebook and an agenda.  A vital component of 
preparation is keeping the science binder up-to-date.  All 
science documents should be completed and kept in NUMBERED order 
following the sample notebook check chart on the wall of the 
classroom. Students are required to bring their agenda to class 
and record homework assignments on a daily basis.

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How can I keep track of my child's progress?

Please encourage your child to check this teacherweb page for our 
class on a weekly basis.  The Table of Contents section describes 
exactly what papers should be in your child's science binder at 
any given time.  These papers should be numbered and kept in 
order.  We do not rely on a textbook (except for occassional 
textbook homeworks) and therefore your child's binder is 
his/her key to success.  Please check grades using the Genesis 
program online on a weekly basis to see your child's current 
grades for classwork, homework, and tests. As per department 
policy, the grading system is as follows:  
Tests are worth 50% of the grade;  
Classwork is worth 40%; homeworks are worth 10%. 

In addition, please check the homework section of this teacherweb 
site, along with your child's agenda for nightly homework and 
studying assignments.

Tests are always announced atleast one week in advanced.

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Do you accept late work?

Homework can be turned in up to two days after the due date.  
However, late work is subject to a 10% penalty as specified by 
the science department. If answers to a homework assignment are 
reviewed in class the day the assignment was due/checked, then 
the student cannot receive credit for that assignment.

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How can I reach the teacher?

You can call the school at 613-6800 and leave me a voicemail 
message. I will do my best to get back to you within one school 
day.

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How can I monitor my child's science notebook?

The science notebook/binder is the most crucial component of your 
child's success in this course, as we do not rely soley on a 
textbook because there is no textbook that covers the extensive 
and intensive curriculum taught in 8th grade.  PLEASE, check your 
child's notebook and look for document numbers written in the top 
right corner of each document.  Documents consist of homeworks, 
class notes, labs, etc.  Your child is responsible for keeping 
his/her documents in numerical order on a consistent continuous 
basis as this binder is essentially his/her textbook and should 
be relied upon for studying purposes.  In class an enlarged 
Notebook Check Chart is displayed for students to check and 
update their notebooks on a daily basis.  This chart is 
considered a table of contents-it is also found on this website.  

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How can my child be prepared for science class?

Your child should come to class with his/her science binder, 
agenda, and pencils each day.  Homework should be turned in at 
the beginning of class on the specified due date, as prompted by 
the "Do Now".

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What should I do if my child is absent for an extended amount of time?

Please contact your child's guidance counselor to request work 
that is missed and schedule a time with guidance to pick up the 
work.  If your child knows that he/she will be absent for more 
than one day its a good idea to alert the teacher ahead of time 
in order to schedule any lab make-ups or to get work in advanced 
when possible.

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What if my child's handwriting is difficult to read?

Student work needs to be legible for credit.  Typed work from the 
computer is always accepted and encouraged especially if 
handwriting is an issue for your child.

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