WHERE CAN I FIND...

There are 3 main places to find info for classes at Langston:

BACKPACK  ​(aka Student Portal)

• *Grades
• *Assignment Lists
• ​*Missing work

​Backpack will show what's already been assigned or graded. There are both parent and student logins for Backpack. Instructions can be found here.

TEAMS

​*Daily Class Posts
​*Assignments
*Documents
 Teams is how teachers digitally communicate with students. Assignments posted daily here.

Parents cannot access Teams directly, so your student will need to log in for you. Student log-in info for Teams is written in the front of the agenda.
​
ALSO NOTE: sometimes, students will complete or submit digital assignments through TEAMS. HOWEVER, the "grade" shown in TEAMS is not an accurate reflection of class grades. Use Backpack to see true grades.

MR. E'S CLASS WEBSITE
​(you're here now)

* Additional resources 
(supplement to Teams page)

Occasionally, Teams has issues handling certain needs. For instance: photos or ongoing lists of things.
I normally keep a running list of journal entries here under the "other docs" tab at the top, for instance.

At the bottom of this page, you can find additional info, like a rough outline/syllabus for the year.
​

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE  (below)

Mom and Dad FAQs:

Q: What's the best way to help my student?
     A: Check their agenda daily. There should be something written every day, for every class, even if they write "no hw". Additionally, make your student log into their Backpack (grades) once per week, ideally while you look over their shoulder. Ask them to tell you something they learned that week.

Q: How can I see my kid's daily ASSIGNMENTS?
          A: I try diligently to post assignments daily on Teams. The only issue is parents cannot access Teams (without the student login and password). We're really pushing kids to keep up with their agendas; there should be something written every day, for every class they see. This website won't have daily assignments. It's just a supplementary tool for Teams and the agenda.


Q: How can I see my kid's GRADES?

          A: Parent Portal (Backpack) is the only accurate reflection of grades, not Teams. NOTE: 
you can see your student's average 24/7 in the Parent Portal. In addition, if you click on that number for any class, it will allow you to see a breakdown of individual assignments for the quarter, and the grade your student received. In an effort to save you some time, your child should be recording the grades (and any missing work) for each class, EVERY WEEK. You'll be asked to sign that sheet, which is located inside their agenda.

NOTE: DO NOT LOOK TO THE TEAMS APP TO SEE GRADES or whether something was turned in. Teams is just a way for us to communicate and sometimes deliver assignments to students virtually as needed.

Final note on grades: remember that 2 dashes "--" for an assignment does not = zero or missing. It simply means a teacher created the assignment but has yet to grade it. However, a numerical zero or the code "mis" means that assignment is missing.

Q: "I don't understand the homework"
     A: Here's the hard part: parents are sometimes at a disadvantage because they haven't been in the class with the teacher for an hour, like their child was. SO, the hw page might show something like "biopoem prewrite" or "eight strange behaviors", for example. Parents would understandably not know what that means, but the student should if they were in class that day.

If your young adult is confused or not able to explain to you what needs to be done, the student should reach out to another student or me. I can help! If they shoot me a chat via Teams, that's usually the most immediate way, but I would love for them to actually come and see me in the morning when they arrive.

About Mr. E


More for mom and dad:

Please give students the opportunity to problem solve where they're able. This includes having students come to teachers with questions prior to the parent-teacher contact. Then, let's follow up after that. It's probably the toughest part of parenting a middle schooler (speaking from experience!), but there's nothing more valuable for their growth.

Another excellent strategy for the year is to have your student log on to Backpack while you sit next to them, instead of you logging on yourself. This will give them the ownership of their academics, while still allowing for parent discussion where needed.

In fact, your student will be texting or emailing you a weekly screenshot of their current grades in all classes. 
We hope this alleviates some of the stress on your end of having to do "one more thing" as we navigate middle school life this year.

​Looking forward to a great year!


Random mom-n-dad things
-BRAVE PARENTING
​
-What's the deal with FORTNITE ? 10 Facts you should know


NOVEL CONTENT:
​Since our school and classroom libraries have books for many different reading and maturity levels, please make sure that you discuss with your family what, if any, books your family would deem inappropriate for you personally.
Families will disagree on the definition of the word “appropriate,” and I cannot guarantee that I have read every book on the shelves as we try to update our collections frequently. For reliable book reviews by parents and students, try visiting www.commonsensemedia.org.

Class overview and syllabi:

2023_7th-parent_letter-syllabus.docx
File Size:	41 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

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