6th Grade Computers Homework Policy

Okay, before you get nervous, there is NO homework over spring break.

Exhale.

Now, here are some general guidelines (some slightly revised) about blog homework for this class.

• Grading/Credit: To receive full credit (check plus/5 points) for homework posted to the blog, it must:
  • Be turned in on time
  • Answer all questions in the assignment
  • Be written using complete sentences
  • Explain the reasons behind your opinions
• Absences: If you are absent unexpectedly (due to illness, for example), you are expected to read and complete the online homework within the week of your return. If you are planning an absence (to travel, for example) you are expected to complete the online homework before you leave, or within two days of your return to school. If you have concerns about these deadlines, please speak with me individually.
• Late Homework: One half of a point (out of five) is subtracted for each day your homework is late, up to six days. After that, some homework might no longer receive credit at all. Homework that you can turn in for partial credit, any day before the end of the trimester includes:
  • Homework you use in your projects
  • Homework that we don’t discuss the answers for in class
  • Homework that asks only for your opinion and not for factual answers

  Homework for which we do discuss the answers in class may not be turned in after that class.

• Extra Credit: Occasionally I will offer up ways to earn extra credit on your homework. One way you can always get extra credit is by responding to a classmate’s post. Each thoughtful (i.e., backed up with evidence) and considerate response to a classmate can earn you up to two homework points.

If you have any questions or concerns, please see me during break, Monday Lunch Lab, or after school. I’m always happy to help.

–Lauren

6th Grade Organization/Homework Support Guidelines

These guidelines apply to the entire 6th grade curriculum. You should have received them from Morgan already, but I thought it would be helpful to have them up here, too:

• Teacher signs assignment book every afternoon to ensure that all assignments are written down; student is responsible for approaching teachers (including substitute teachers)*
• Family/Student will have a specific hour that homework get started every night (example: 6pm after extracurricular activity)
• Homework gets done at a specific desk/table every night
• When homework is completed, it is shown to family and they sign the assignment book ensuring that all homework was completed.
• Family helps to clean out homework folder and transfer any graded work to binder so only homework that needs to be turned in is in the folder
• Homework folder and binders are put in backpack by the door ready to go in the morning. Family verifies that Homework folder is in backpack.
• Calendar with long term projects posted near homework desk
• Family and students break down long-term projects into smaller tasks and mini-deadlines.
• Family helps to monitor progression of project and check off tasks on calendar as they are completed.

*If teacher signature is not obtained, family/student will check homework website or call classmates

If you have any questions about organization/home support, please feel free to contact Morgan @ mlcostanzo@windrush.org

Be careful where/how you comment

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be careful about which post you are writing a comment for. A lot of homework responses are ending up at the bottoms of other, unrelated posts. I will start moving them to their correct locations but if you want to make sure you get credit for your comments being posted on time, it’s best if I don’t have to hunt for them all over the blog.

Also, though your new nickname may be well-recognized by your classmates, I may not know to whom to give credit when a post is made by “pee wee” or “tink.” Therefore, please also include your first name (remember, no last names!) in addition to any nicknames/handles/usernames you are using.

Lunch Lab will become mandatory for students missing work

Hello, 6th grade. After looking over your trimester grades and discussing them with you, I have noticed a couple of things:

1. The one area in which we could improve the most is homework. I know it’s difficult to keep track when we have so many interruptions but it’s important to do the work, and to do it on time, precisely because we can’t meet as often as we should.
2. Folks are signing up for the lunch lab but not showing up. Again, I know it’s difficult to remember things over the weekend but I don’t want anyone to fall behind, so…

Beginning this week, if you are behind in two or more assignments (including homework and in-class projects), you will be signed up for the Monday lunch lab. You will have 15 minutes to eat and then at 12:45 you will need to come down. The lunch crew will have the list of who needs to go and they will help to remind you. Please see me with any questions.

–Lauren

Lunch Lab Open on Mondays

This is a reminder that the lab is open on Mondays during lunch for anyone who wants to do schoolwork on the computers. I will be there to answer questions and help out with any confusing technical stuff. There is a sign-up sheet for next Monday’s Lunch Lab on the outside of my door. Students who have signed up ahead of time will get priority if there are not enough computers.

Help design our class blog!

Now that you all know what a slogan (or “tagline”) is, it’s time to use your advertising skills to come up with one for the class! It should capture some of the essence of your experience in 6th grade computers and could read something like, “Crowded, but fun!” Put your slogan ideas in a comment and then we’ll vote as a class on the one we’ll use. Be creative and and have fun!

Welcome, 6th Grade Windrush Computer Students!

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You can see our class blog. Please read the blog rules page and then leave a “Lauren was here” kind of comment (with your own name, of course) at the bottom so that I know you found (and read) the right page.