Google Classroom  
    Daily classwork and homework assignments are posted on Google Classroom.  Absent students are responsible for completing these assignments.  Google Classroom is also a resource to use for forgotten homework.   

Textbooks
    All of your child’s textbooks should be covered.  Paper shopping bags can be cut and folded to make your own covers. Soft covered books should also be covered with clear contact paper to prevent them from falling apart.   

Homework Policy 
    Homework is an opportunity to review skills learned in class.  Homework also promotes a student's responsibility for his or her own learning.  
    Students are given time during each class to record homework assignments, due dates, and upcoming assessment dates in their Homework Agenda.  Homework assignments reminders are also posted on the Google Classroom. 
    Homework must be turned in during the class period on the day it is due.  I check homework for completion, and then go over it with the class for accuracy.  Your child will only be graded for completion of the work.  If the assignment was completed, they will receive a 100. Late or incomplete assignments receive a maximum of a 70% in Genesis.
    All assessments (quizzes, tests) given on paper will be stamped with a "Please Sign & Return" mark.  Students are expected to have their parents sign on the line the night the assessment is returned to them and bring it back to class with them within two days (assessments are yours to keep after that).  Getting this signature counts as a homework assignment.  Any questions that you have about the grade should be marked on the paper, or emailed to me, so that I can respond.      
    If homework cannot be completed because of a family or medical emergency, please email me or attach a note to the assignment.  Your child will be given an opportunity to finish the work.
      
Make Up Assignments due to Sickness
    Students are given a reasonable amount of time to make up missed work.  Assignments are posted on Google Classroom.  It is the student's responsibility to turn in missed work upon return to school.   
    Upon request, work can be prepared to be sent home.  Please let the school office know your request before 11:30 so that materials can be gathered in time for dismissal. 
     
Work Missed Due to Family Trips  
    See the SPS handbook for absences due to family trips / vacations. 
    Assignments are posted on Google Classroom.

Grading for ILA:
    Tests/Projects         35%
    Quizzes                  25%
    Classwork/Journal 20%
    Homework              20%

   Vocabulary is a part of ILA.  Students in grades 6-8 will be given a list of words from the Vocabulary Workbook to study for two weeks.  By the end of the first week, students will be expected to be prepared for a spelling quiz; by the end of the second, they should be prepared for a vocabulary quiz.  They can also be expected to take tests on stories we are covering in class and the grammar rules we reviewed that week.
   For ILA, there will be long-term writing projects.  These projects could come in a variety of forms: essays for contests, book reports, etc.  For the most part, I use a rubric when grading such assignments.  I’ve found that these help students better understand what is expected of them, and also help them see how to achieve the grades they hope for.  When the rubric is returned to them, they can clearly see why they earned a particular grade.  A rubric will be supplied at the beginning of each project to help guide them as they work on the assignment.  Points will be taken off when an assignment is turned in late.  Please note that there will occasionally be cross-curricular projects where written assignments from other classes will earn them an ILA grade as well.   


Genesis
    All assignments are posted in the on-line gradebook Genesis.  I update my grades at least once a week.  Please check there to see if your student any missing assignments.  

   I typically answer emails during school hours, 7:30 am - 3:30 pm.