Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- How do I know what my child is doing in class?
- What are my child's spelling words?
- What about homework?
- How do I get in touch with Mrs. Wagner?
- When does our graded work come home?
- What are the consequences or punishments used in your classroom?
- My child says that you don't give much work.
- We want to take a week out of school - Can I have Jr's assignments?
- I'm not sure who is picking up Jr-rita. Can I just call?
How do I know what my child is doing in class?
The students write down any unfinished assignments in their assignment books.
Their spelling words and vocabulary are written on the back page. The
website lists upcomping information under the Agenda page. Graded papers,
homework, and informational notes are sent home in the assignment book as it
comes home every day. Don't forget to sign it so that your child can get it
stamped.
What are my child's spelling words?
We will be using words from our novel studies, content subjects (science,
social studies) and words from each student's own writing and level. The
students' spelling words will come home on Mondays in their assignment
book.
What about homework?
Please check your child's assignment book page for homework assignments. I
write these on the board and the students copy them down in their book.
Each week we will have our Read for Success assignment going home on Monday
along with spelling and vocabulary words that students copy down into their
assignment book.
There will be homework assigned in other subjects - some students may finish
these in class, others won't. Pleae check their assignment books.
Also, I ask that each child read at night and keep a home reading log.
How do I get in touch with Mrs. Wagner?
The best way is through email at wagners@blountk12.org.
My planning time is in the mornings.
Phone calls at other times may be automatically sent to voice mail.
My extension is 50-2128. The school phone number is 983-4071.
When does our graded work come home?
I am sending work home as soon as I have it graded and recorded. Hopefully
this will be more than once a week. Your child's work will come home in his
or her assignment book -- in the back pocket. The front pocket will
contain any homework to do, and information, letters, etc., that parents need
to see.
What are the consequences or punishments used in your classroom?
I go over behavior consequences the first week of school.
Generally, I will give a warning first.
Then, for not following directions or behavior that disrupts the learning
environment of the class I take time off of recess. This is recorded on a
classroom Tally Sheet.
One tally = 10 minutes time out
Two tallies = 20 minutes time out
Three tallies = 30 minutes time out
More = note home and/or visit to the principal
Sometimes this time is spent standing on the wall; sitting at the playground
bench; or performing a logical consequence (such as cleaning classroom
desktops if a student was observed writing on them). Sometimes students will
may perform other tasks.
I don't like to have students write sentences or do schoolwork for
punishment because I want learning to be enjoyable for them.
NOTE: ANY type of harmful and angry physical contact such as pushing;
shoving; pinching; kicking or fighting WILL result in students being sent to
the office immediately.
AND; name calling that is harrasment will result in a student being sent
directly to the office after an initial warming to the class. These include
words referring to race, religion, sexual topics, body shape and size.
My child says that you don't give much work.
I don't have students sitting silently filling in worksheets all day.
I give a variety of assignments to match different learning styles. And I
offer students choices. For many students, some of the learning activities
that I use don't seem like school "work." Students may build, act out,
discuss, draw, and write in the classroom. Learning is taking place -
although not always on a worksheet.
We want to take a week out of school - Can I have Jr's assignments?
Because I use the students' performance and mastery of concepts to plan
lessons; I really cannot provide our classwork weeks in advance. I plan the
entire year from our state standards. However, the actual pages and
activities are planned and copied the week before. I do not follow a
textbook preplanned guide - I use how well the students grasp the concept
before I move on. Conversely, I may need to review some topics before
proceeding. So, if you know that your child will be out of school and want
their work ahead of time; I will instead assign them a project to present to
the class about their trip or location that includes activities from all our
content areas (math, science, history, geography, reading, writing).
It would be best to schedule vacations during our fall, winter, and spring
breaks. I have found that students who are frequently absent do not perform
as well as other students.
I'm not sure who is picking up Jr-rita. Can I just call?
Please make all pick-up arrangements the night before and send a note with
your child if they are going home differently that day.
Please try to avoid phone calls during class time.