FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

** 1. What should I do if I am unsure of the homework of if I left a handout in my locker? ** Every assignment will be posted on Google Classroom. If I forgot to post something, posted the wrong due date, or posted something that is unclear, please email me.

Whenever possible, I also provide links to the readings- books or other documents.


 * 2. When can I see Mrs. Chausse for extra help or to answer any questions I have? **

I arrive at school each day before 7:00 am. I leave school at 3:00 pm or after. I do not have classes during C period or D period. You may see me at any of these times. If possible, see me or email me ahead of time to let me know you are coming. I do occasionally have meetings with other students, parents or teachers scheduled. You may email me at any time to set up an appointment or to ask me a question.


 * 3.What should I do if I did not do my homework? **

Forgetting to complete the vocabulary or the reading assignment is not a huge catastrophe. We all forget sometimes. It is understandable if this happens a few times a year.

If we are taking a reading quiz, please don’t sit there or makeup answers. Instead, read while the rest of the class completes the quiz.

You will earn a 0 for the vocabulary homework or the reading check if the assignment is not done at the beginning of class. It will prevent you from participating fully in the day’s activities, but it will not cause a huge drop in your grade because, during the quarter, you will have many grades.


 * 4. What should I do if I don’t have the draft of my paper? **

We always work with drafts in class. If you do not have a draft, your paper will not receive valuable feedback from the writing group, silent conference or the turnitin.com peer review. Also, your classmates do not get to see your draft and learn from what you did.

Do not forget your drafts!


 * 5.What should I do if I cannot print my paper for peer review? **

You will only need to print your work if I assign you to do so. You will submit most assignments electronically.

Fortunately, you are able to print from your Chromebook at home or once you arrive to school. Make certain to print your paper and to retrieve it from the printer before you arrive to class.

If you email the assignment to me before 7:15, I will print it out and place it in the tray at the front of the room. You may retrieve the paper at the start of class.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">However, **YOU SHOULD NOT PRINT YOUR PAPER DURING CLASS.** If you do, your paper is considered late.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">6. Why do we have to put assignments on our turnitin.com and/or Google Classroom? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Turnitin.com allows you to check your work to make certain you cited all of your sources accurately. Often I correct work on turnitin.com. We also will use turnitin.com’s peer feedback feature. Turnitin.com provides an online portfolio for all papers, but it does not allow you to include projects and other assignments.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Google Classroom provides me easy access to students' work. I can provide feedback and monitor your progress to help you to be successful.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">7.Why can’t I make up a vocabulary quiz? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">I do not give makeup vocabulary quizzes. The vocabulary quizzes are offered to help you to learn vocabulary words that will improve your reading and writing skills. I expect you to learn the words in preparation for the next quiz, the midterm vocabulary assessment, and the final vocabulary assessment.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">When you are absent, you have work to make up for multiple classes. Instead of focusing on a vocabulary quiz, focus on the reading assignments and long-term projects. Instead of worrying about the past quiz, students should focus on the present.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">8.Why do you give so many reading checks? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">I give frequent reading checks. The purpose of the reading checks is to encourage students to read closely. Reading closely is most important. Close careful reading leads to improved understanding, analysis, and writing. Since our class activities and discussions are based on the reading assignments, close reading of the text enhances every aspect of the class. I want all of you to participate actively. Without reading, this is not possible.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Reading is the key to success in college. If there were only one skill I could help you to improve this year, it would be reading. I do, however, hope to help you to improve many other skills as well.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">9.Why can’t I make up my reading check? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Since reading checks are given on almost a daily basis, I do not give make ups of daily reading checks. If you are absent, you must catch up on the reading assignments and be prepared for the current reading check without worrying about the check you missed. Of course, you will need to make certain that you read the assignment for which you were absent as well as the current assignment.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If you are absent for an extended period of time or for multiple reading assessments, I will have you complete a final reading test on the text. If I am assessing with major quizzes covering substantial sections of the book and/or a long-term reading assignment, you will need to make up the reading check.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Always check with me after you are absent to make certain you complete all necessary work.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">10.When I looked on Google Classroom the assignment was different from what you explained in class? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Although I make every effort to always keep Google Classroom up to date with the current assignments, I sometimes make mistakes. There are also times when I must make changes to current assignments. If you feel the information on Classroom is incorrect or unclear, please email me. I can clarify the assignment and make any corrections to Classroom.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">11.What should I do if I have questions about a grade or an entry in PowerSchool? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">If you have a question about a grade on an assignment or if you see a grade in PowerSchool that does not make sense, please see me or email me. I want to make certain that every grade is correct and entered correctly in PowerSchool. I also want to make certain that you understand every grade you earn.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">12. What should I do if I am absent? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If a major project or paper is due, make certain to submit it on Turnitin, the shared Google Docs project page or Google Classroom. Email me. Your assignment should be submitted on the due date even if you are unable to attend school. If you are late to school or dismissed early, make certain I have the assignment before class begins.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Check Google Classroom. Speak to a classmate. Email me. Make certain that you understand what you need to complete for the next class. You are expected to complete assignments when you are absent, but I do understand that there are situations where this is not possible. Communicate your circumstances with me, and we will work together to make a reasonable plan for make up work.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If you are absent for an extended period of time, see me. We can work out the details about the work that you must make up when you are able to continue your studies.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If you are going on a field trip, submit your assignment before leaving for the trip. Make certain you are prepared for class when you return.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">13. What should I do if I am unable to get an assignment completed because I am very ill or had a family emergency? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Contact me as soon as possible to let me know about the situation. I will work with you to create a reasonable plan and timeline for completing the work. It is always best to see or to contact me before the due date. I understand that there may be days when you are too ill or upset to complete assignments. Please know that I want to help. Please communicate with me so that we can work together.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">14. Why do you expect us to keep up with the reading and other assignments if we are not in class? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">I want you to stay up to date with the reading and other assignments because the assignments are directly tied to our class activities. You need to be prepared to participate in the class activities. Also if you fall behind, it is very difficult to catch up because you have double the work to do. It is especially difficult if you missed all of your classes.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Of course, I realize that there are rare occasions when you are unable to do the work. Please make certain to see me if you are having difficulties keeping up with the assignments.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">15. Why do you look annoyed when I ask to use the lav, get a snack, get water or go to my locker? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Of course, I understand that there are times when you may need to use the lav during class. Use the lav on the third floor and return to class quickly.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">I look annoyed because I am annoyed when a student wants to (or has to) miss class. Not only do these errands cause you to miss valuable class time, but it also means that your classmates miss out on your contributions. Whenever anyone leaves and returns it also disrupts the flow of the class activity.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">When this happens repeatedly, I cannot help but feel that you do not value the classroom experience that I work hard to create.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Please get your water, your food and your assignments from other classes between classes, during study or lunch.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If you ask to go to your locker, to get a snack or get a drink, usually I will ask you to wait until the end of class especially if you frequently ask, arrive late or are often absent.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">16. Why did you enter an unexcused tardy on PowerSchool? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">If you arrive late without a pass or with a pass that reads “unexcused”, I will mark you as tardy unexcused in PowerSchool because you were tardy.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">17. What is your policy for late assignments? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">You cannot make up daily assignments because we will work with them during class. If you do not have them to work with, you cannot participate in the class activities. It is simply too late to use the assignment for the class activity.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">If you do not have a draft for writing workshop or assignments for reading workshop, you will not receive any credit for the assignment, draft or the writing workshop or reading workshop activity.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">If you see me, I will accept major projects late with a penalty. This includes long term projects and papers.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">18. Are you joking or are you serious? **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Sometimes students tell me that it is difficult to tell when I am joking and when I am serious. I do have a dry sense of humor. If you are not certain as to my intent, please ask. I want to make everything as clear as possible. I do not want to cause confusion.