Students are most successful in my class when they apply the following strategies. In addition to these suggestions, I am available for during lunch.
FIRST, REMEMBER IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL.
Right? So...here's how:
ONGOING Strategies for Students:
Bring this with you to class each day:
Your brain (Recycled brains available from A.B. Normal, Inc.)
A 3" binder with your planner.
A blue or black ink pen and a couple of No. 2 pencils (mechanical pencils are recommended). Leave the scented, glittery pink gel pens at home.
Interactive notebook (spiral or composition, college-ruled)
Colored pencils are always useful (Crayola remains the superior brand.)
Highlighters are a smart thing to have, too.
Ruler, scissors, 3x3 sticky notes
Your textbook will be in the class. Do not write anything in it. You will also have one at home. Do not lose it or destroy it; textbooks cost bu-ku bucks.
Copy homework and important dates and deadlines in your planner at the beginning of each week, and check off assignments as you complete them.
Check the classroom website every day. It has a picture of the whole week (and what's ahead). Update your planner if needed!
Check Aeries (with your student login) at least once a week.
I want to help you! Really! Truly!!! Visit me during lunch as soon as possible to address any questions about assignments or concerns about grades.
Stop in to see me at lunch once every week if you're struggling--even for five minutes--just to check in. Here's how that should go:
You: Can you tell me what I can do to improve my grades, Mr. Cassady?
You: Can you tell me how I'm doing, and if there is anything I should do or make up, Mr. Cassady?
Me: Why, of course! You made my day!
It's just that easy.
Writing Assignments: I give tips for developing paragraphs and essays on handouts ahead of time; students should refer to these as they write. Rubrics are also available to students and should be reviewed so they are clear on expectations.
The biggest weaknesses in student writing I see are poor mechanics and weak elaboration. Students must read through their writing at least twice and check for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage mistakes. If a student is weak in these areas, there are many online resources and exercises designed to help develop these skills.
I will be posting links to some of these on this website under the Resources tab located at the top of this page. Elaboration is improved by knowing and referring to the literary texts we cover. It is essential that students draw out specific details and excerpts from the literary texts we read and incorporate them into their writing. This extra step can makes a tremendous difference in the strength of the writing.
Reading Comprehension Quizzes and Literature-Based Assessments: Students will not be successful unless they actually do the reading. Taking shortcuts will result in gaps in their understanding. Students should also use the study guides I provide to write meaningful, detailed, text-based answers. Writing general, vague answers on study guides is of no help; the guides are most effective when students refer back to the literature before they answer questions. Finally, before such a quiz or test, students should take careful notes in class so they can refer back to them when studying beforehand.
Participation: Students can track their progress on ClassDojo when we begin to use that website. To improve these grades, they may offer comments in class discussions, answer questions, and participate in online discussions.
Homework: I usually give homework for the entire week on Monday, or the first day of the week. Students can also check my website for the week’s homework. I recommend students carefully copy their homework for the week into their planners, check it each night, and keep all English materials in the same binder so assignments are not misplaced.