Frequently Asked Questions...
(continually updated)
What is the BEST way to contact Mrs. Thomas?
-I prefer my SMA email first. I always have my iPad with me at home (usually) and will typically hear the alert when an email pops through. Please allow me considerable time to get back with you- and while your concern is of utmost importance to me, I may be tucking my kiddos into bed as well :)
-Also, I typically do NOT check Sycamore at night and prefer to NOT see Pass-A-Notes, so if you have a question, comment, or concern, email is the way to go! (abby.thomas@saintmaryacademy.com)
-Another thing, I am a big girl. If you have an issue with something with me or are angry with me in any way, I can take it. Please do not hesitate to contact me so we can talk, chat, vent, figure out a workable solution so you are left feeling heard and your message was received. I have a good listening ear. If you have concerns with me or take issue with something I have done or said, I will never know unless you let me know and give me that opportunity to fix it.
My child has a question- can he/ she email chat with you about it?
-ABSOLUTELY! In fact, I am a HUGE fan of our 5th graders learning to become advocates for themselves throughout the course of this year. Thus, if your student has a question about a grade on an assignment, something about homework, etc. please encourage him/ her to ask me! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having a student advocate for his/ her own learning!
What is your expectation with tests?
-Reading tests are almost impossible to study for, thus, my expectation is that you reread the questions with your student and discuss possible answers, eventually determining the correct one. With this new Benchmark Reading series, many of these questions can prove quite rigorous and can sometimes be put up for debate. I am ALL for this. If a student is able to argue and prove to me the validity of why he/ she came to the conclusion he/ she did, I am swayable if he/ she is convincing enough (hint, hint!). I want to know that students will go back and revisit the tests they just took and be invested in their learning, making notes of their mistakes and learning from them. These are clear and present learning opportunities!
-Same with Math. While Math questions are not up for debate, I do expect that the students rework EACH and EVERY problem that they missed, identify their mistake and explain what they did wrong. Then, they rework it and show the CORRECT answer and how they know it is correct. This is called the Wrong Answer Analysis. I LOVE it. It is a sensational opportunity for learning as students learn from their mistakes.
Who should be checking the blog and when?
-THE STUDENTS should be checking the blog. DAILY. I will be emailing the blog link to parents each afternoon by 3:30 at the absolute latest, but I expect that each student whether in my homeroom or not to check THIS BLOG each and every single day. I put valuable information about our day as well as links to important sites and highlight homework so there should be NO questions as to what and when something is due. Mrs. Schleg and I basically spoon feed you all information around these parts :) It is especially important for our Language Arts lessons that peeps are up on here checking out things about our content and Math seeing notes from class!
When is the best time to schedule a conference with Mrs. Thomas?
-I am fairly certain that 5th grade Resource Day is Tuesday again this year so those are always open throughout the day with mornings 8:30-10:30 and afternoons 1:00-2:00 being ideal. Other days that work well will be Mondays or Tuesdays after school at 2:45PM. I know your time is extremely valuable and your student's success is of utmost importance to me, so as soon as you feel a conference is necessary, contact me via email and we will set up a time that best suits schedule.
What is the independent reading expectation each night?
-I expect that the students read a minimum of 120 minutes each week. Keep in mind, this is the minimum. If they read M-T-W-Th, this is 30 min per night. The reading teacher in me would like more of a summary than the logging of the minutes on Sycamore requires. Thus, I would like the students to add a brief summary in their reading journals of what they read and a general synopsis of what happened. I will NOT accept one word or one sentence responses. I have to give grades on reading logs and it's hard for me to trust the reading minutes logged on Sycamore and hard for me to give a grade if numbered minutes is all I see. Now, if a student is truly reading double the expected reading expectation, I do give ten bonus points on his/ her grade as an extra incentive (example Johnny Lovestoread read 240 minutes for the week of 7.27.15 so his score in the gradebook would be 110%).
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS EXPECTATIONS?
-I assign 5 at the beginning of each week. I DO NOT expect that they are done as homework, but they can be if the student prefers. The student may work on them in the mornings when they arrive, during free time, during downtime, or at nighttime. I have no expectations as to when these get done just as long as they get done. We check the first 3 of these on Wednesdays and the last 2 on Fridays in class.
How do you deal with Math Workbooks?
-On a typical day in math class, we will learn a new concept. The students will take notes in their math notebooks. I will then have them work independently in their workbooks and may even send them home for some independent practice without Mrs. Thomas nearby as a crutch or to intervene when necessary. This is the point: like a mother bird pushing the baby out of the nest, I want to see my little math birdies fly and the truth of the matter is, some just may not be quite ready yet. And you know what?!? That. is. A-OKAY! If everyone got something the first time, then I'd be out of a job. What I'm asking of you parents is: 1) not to freak out 2) not make your kiddo spend a few hours (and maybe a few tears) at the table) 3) not teach them a new method and send me an angry email, berating me for my lame attempts at teaching 4) not freak out; 5) have the students work through the problems that they think they've got (we're learning here, it is just fine to make mistakes) 6) put a big ol' star next to the ones that they just have zero clue about; 7) make sure they come see me first thing in the morning so we can chat and have a quick review session! Okay?!? And if they don't get around to it in the morning, then I will pull them during math for some more review and we may approach it a totally different way.
-Worksheets are the GRADED homework assignments, This means that I feel that the students have mastered much of the workbook assignments and other practice I've thrown at them in class.
Can my student bring a SNACK?!?
-ABSOLUTELY!!! With our everchanging lunch times and our growing 5th grade bodies/ metabolisms, I am cognizant that those bellies are rumbling and tumbling for some sustenance. Thus, students may absolutely bring in a HEALTHY snack to enjoy between the time of 9-10AM (typically 9:30 is the perfect time!)- we do NOT want to the students just munching around and having random snacks throughout the day as it is quite distracting to all.
Water Bottles
-Students MAY bring in a refillable water bottle, but it must be one with a squeeze lid (you know, like a sports players' type bottle?) so if it were to be knocked over (and it will be) the mess can be minimal! Also, we want our students hydrated for sure, but we also do not want 234923743897.9292 restroom visits in a day as that also disrupts the learning of the student using the restroom but the rest of the students in the class as well.
My student was sick or missed class for an appointment or other reason. How do we get his/ her work?
-First, check the blog for homework as it will be listed here. Check and see if there are any links or anything that you have that can get done at home. Check Edmodo and see if any assignments have been posted there as well. Also know, that if a student is absent, both Mrs. Schleg and myself keep absent student folders and another student is responsible for collecting extra assignment sheets throughout the school day. That student will then take the folder home with him/ her to take to the absent student that evening, or the folder will be in the office for pick-up between 1-2PM that afternoon. I WILL ALWAYS post my math notes from that day in class here on the blog.
Electronic Devices?
-Yes, all middle schoolers get their own iPads and sadly, 5th graders do NOT. So close...yet so far! We do like to get our 5th graders as prepared as possible and are cognizant that we are in a technologically savvy society with technologically advanced students. Thus, as long as students have submitted their electronic device forms to the office and have cleared it with me prior to the lesson, I am absolutely FINE with them completing an assignment in class or taking notes on their device in class if that is what works best for them. HOWEVER, I will NOT be helping them submit it to me. They MUST be able to get to me via Google Drive, email, etc. and on their own.
When are grades posted?
-Grades will be posted every Friday. As long as we have had some formative or summative assignment to post, grades WILL BE POSTED. Again, I DO take my iPad home on weekends to communicate with you, but may be slower with my response. So, if you have questions about your student's grade, I will most likely get back with you Sundays.
My student forgot or didn't do his/ her homework...what now?
-welllll....not much. Since we are preparing your child for middle school, Mrs. Schleg and I both are notoriously not too lenient or understanding with this. If we assign something for homework, we EXPECT IT DONE. We were students and athletes once ourselves so we understand how busy schedules go, but we are also firm believers that school comes first. I remember many a times of doing my math homework or completing my reading in the back of the car on the way to gymnastics, cheerleading, piano, church, or ballet. The only times I am really understanding with this is a sickness, family issues, or significant troubles in understanding of the math processes and that is where you should see my answer to the math workbook question above ^
-As far as grades for this, since it is a homework grade, it will be a 0 (zero) in the gradebook. It is imperative that these students learn the consequences of mistakes such as missing homework assignments, especially in this crucial, formative year prior to middle school.
Can my student bring a SNACK?!?
-ABSOLUTELY!!! With our everchanging lunch times and our growing 5th grade bodies/ metabolisms, I am cognizant that those bellies are rumbling and tumbling for some sustenance. Thus, students may absolutely bring in a HEALTHY snack to enjoy between the time of 9-10AM (typically 9:30 is the perfect time!)- we do NOT want to the students just munching around and having random snacks throughout the day as it is quite distracting to all.
Water Bottles
-Students MAY bring in a refillable water bottle, but it must be one with a squeeze lid (you know, like a sports players' type bottle?) so if it were to be knocked over (and it will be) the mess can be minimal! Also, we want our students hydrated for sure, but we also do not want 234923743897.9292 restroom visits in a day as that also disrupts the learning of the student using the restroom but the rest of the students in the class as well.
My student was sick or missed class for an appointment or other reason. How do we get his/ her work?
-First, check the blog for homework as it will be listed here. Check and see if there are any links or anything that you have that can get done at home. Check Edmodo and see if any assignments have been posted there as well. Also know, that if a student is absent, both Mrs. Schleg and myself keep absent student folders and another student is responsible for collecting extra assignment sheets throughout the school day. That student will then take the folder home with him/ her to take to the absent student that evening, or the folder will be in the office for pick-up between 1-2PM that afternoon. I WILL ALWAYS post my math notes from that day in class here on the blog.
Electronic Devices?
-Yes, all middle schoolers get their own iPads and sadly, 5th graders do NOT. So close...yet so far! We do like to get our 5th graders as prepared as possible and are cognizant that we are in a technologically savvy society with technologically advanced students. Thus, as long as students have submitted their electronic device forms to the office and have cleared it with me prior to the lesson, I am absolutely FINE with them completing an assignment in class or taking notes on their device in class if that is what works best for them. HOWEVER, I will NOT be helping them submit it to me. They MUST be able to get to me via Google Drive, email, etc. and on their own.
When are grades posted?
-Grades will be posted every Friday. As long as we have had some formative or summative assignment to post, grades WILL BE POSTED. Again, I DO take my iPad home on weekends to communicate with you, but may be slower with my response. So, if you have questions about your student's grade, I will most likely get back with you Sundays.
My student forgot or didn't do his/ her homework...what now?
-welllll....not much. Since we are preparing your child for middle school, Mrs. Schleg and I both are notoriously not too lenient or understanding with this. If we assign something for homework, we EXPECT IT DONE. We were students and athletes once ourselves so we understand how busy schedules go, but we are also firm believers that school comes first. I remember many a times of doing my math homework or completing my reading in the back of the car on the way to gymnastics, cheerleading, piano, church, or ballet. The only times I am really understanding with this is a sickness, family issues, or significant troubles in understanding of the math processes and that is where you should see my answer to the math workbook question above ^
-As far as grades for this, since it is a homework grade, it will be a 0 (zero) in the gradebook. It is imperative that these students learn the consequences of mistakes such as missing homework assignments, especially in this crucial, formative year prior to middle school.
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