What is my grade?

Grades are updated on Schoology as soon as items are graded (normally within a week). If you don't think a grade is posted that should be there, please email your teacher.

Schoology says I have a missing assignment but I turned it in, did you grade it?

Schoology doesn't handle missing assignments well but it has gotten better. If the assignment is one that is turned in on paper then I have to go in and manually enter a missing notification. This might not happen for a couple days as it takes time for me to get to the grading of all your assignments. If the grade book says "MISSING" then I have marked the assignment as missing. If you think I have made this mark in error please email me. 

What can I do to improve my grade?

The only things that affect your grade are summative assessments. You can retake summative assessments if you have earned a B or better on your formative work. As you can use your notebook on summative assessments it is important that you keep your notebook up to date and organized. Most of the time when someone doesn't do well on a summative assessment it is because they haven't done the in class work and thus their notes are a missing or a mess. 

I have a question about the grade I received. What should I do?

First check the rubric and the comments on the assignment. If nothing is there then you should email me. Most of the time I make comments or grade using a rubric so you can see exactly where you missed points. 

I didn't get the grade that I want. Can I redo the assignment?

If it is a formative assessment that I have to manually grade, then no. These assignments are not affecting your grade. Most assignments are auto graded and designed for you to take multiple times to make sure you understand the concepts. Please feel free to retake these assignments. 

Do you round grades?

Yes. I will round grades to the nearest whole number. This means that I will round up if you are within 0.55% of the grade band. I use the grade boundaries that are suggested by the school district. The bottom of the range for an A=93%, A-=90%, B+=87%, B=83, B-=80%...D=60%. Below 60% is an F. This means that if you get a 92.45% I will round it up to a 93%, which is an A. Grades also get rounded down. If you earn a 90.2% it will be rounded to the nearest whole number - 90%. Grades rounded down always stay in the same grade boundary. 

My grade is so close to an A, A-, etc. Isn't there anything I can do to raise it before the grading deadline. 

Have you done retakes on the summative assessments that are hurting your grade? Retakes are available until the end of the semester. However, retakes will override the original grade. This means a retake could help your grade but it could hurt your grade. It is important to make sure you have learned the concepts before trying a retake. 

I don't think I will be able to get the assignment done on time. What should I do?

Email me. If you ask for an extension in advance you will probably get it. Major labs and projects are assigned well in advance of the due date. This should give you plenty of time to prepare. However, I always want you to do your best. If this means you need a little more time to prepare then just let me know in advance. Extensions will not be granted on the day of the summative assessment.

Formative work does not affect your grade and points are not taken off if it is turned in late. It is expected that you do these assignments on time so that you are prepared for class but if you cannot complete them on time there will not be a grade penalty. If you regularly turn in these assignments late then we will need to discuss why you are struggling and perhaps require office hours so you can get your work done on time. 

I missed class because of sports, the play, a field trip, etc., can I get an extension?

Short answer is no. It is your responsibility to stay on top of your work even if you have school events to participate in. This means getting the assignments done on time even if you were not in school. If you aren't sure what the assignments are you can email me, ask a friend, or check the daily folder on Schoology. See the answer about late work for more information about turning in assignments late and extensions.

I missed a lab, can I make it up?

Short answer, no. Many of the labs that take time to set up and clean up. We have a limited amount of classroom space for me to leave labs set up. If you miss the class you miss the lab. However, you are still expected to understand the concepts in the lab which might mean you need to perform a virtual lab, or get data from a lab mate, or complete the activities listed on Schoology for absent/virtual students.

Is there extra credit?

Short answer is no. Rarely, as in once a semester, there may be a small amount of extra credit available. This happens when I have a good idea about something extra I would like you to do but when I have already given out the assignment. Don't count on there being extra credit and don't ask for extra credit. Focus on completing all the work to the best of your ability. Extra credit cannot make up for not completing the normally assigned work.

Is there a final?

Yes, at the end of each semester there is a final that covers all of the material from the current semester. That means that the 2nd semester final covers content from 2nd semester. The final will be multiple choice. You will not get a study guide but I will provide other ways to study that are normally more useful to students.

Are Schoology Assessments real assessments?

Sometimes. There will Schoology Assessments that are summative assessments. When an online assessment is a summative assessment it will be titled with "MAJOR" as the first word in the name. Sometimes you will have a Schoology Assessment where you are allowed to retake the quiz for either full credit, the highest earned score, or the average score. These will be formative assessments that do not count toward your grade.

Can I use a notecard on tests?

In biology you will be allowed to use your notebook on tests. Please keep your notebook up to date and organized.

Will there be pop quizzes

Sometimes, but they will be formative. They will not affect your overall grade in the class. 

I don't understand something. Can I get help?

Yes. Come to office hours! Check this website first though as there are a lot of resources here to help you learn. If that doesn't work and you have tried your best to find the answer please come get help! Please don't come to ask for help during passing periods. Passing periods are not long enough to get help.