Frequently+Asked+Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are bell ringers?

Bell ringers are daily journal topics written on the board. These are to be answered when the students enter the room (while Mrs. Barkey is checking roll). On Monday- Thursday, bell ringer prompts focus on Alabama High School Graduation Exam practice and literature. On Fridays, bell ringers focus on character education. Students are asked to write at least 4 sentences each day. We go over the answers in class, so all the students have to do is write them and keep them up to date. Because it is the responsiblity of the student to bring bell ringers to class every day, I will not accept them late.

What is my current grade?

Each student at MHS has been assigned a private password for STI Home. This program allows students and parents to log into the site to view class averages. If you do not know your password, you will need to stop by the front office to get this information. (We are not allowed to give passwords via email or phone). Mrs. Barkey updates grades every Friday.

Can I turn in assignments late?

Yes, but you will only receive partial credit (unless there's a doctors excuse for an absent). I will not accept late bell ringers unless you were absent the day they were taken up. How can I improve my grade point average?

The number one reason for a low grade point average is missing grades. Often students fail to make up assignments and tests after being absent. Anytime a grade is entered as "O", your average will decrease significantly. Therefore, the first thing to do is speak with Mrs. Barkey and ask if you have any missing assignments. Secondly, make sure that you are keeping bell ringers up to date. Bell ringers count as 10% of your overall grade. If you make a "0" on bell ringers, then your average will go down at least 1 full letter. Make sure that you bring your notebook to class every day and have it ready to turn in when Mrs. Barkey asks for it. Lastly, study for tests. Tests count 50% of your overall grade (more than any other category). Therefore, low tests scores automatically lead to a low average. What do I need to study for tests?

The best way to study for grammar tests are to look over your notes and the corrected workbook pages that are returned to you. *KEEP CORRECTED GRAMMAR PRACTICE SHEETS IN YOUR NOTEBOOK TO STUDY FOR TESTS.* Notes are written on the board daily. You should have 2 sections in your notebook- one for grammar notes and one for literature notes. If you are absent, be sure to get the notes that you missed. Notes given in class are ALWAYS on the tests.
 * __Literature tests__** always consist of questions about the authors' biographies, the plots of the works read, important literary elements the authors used in their works, and discussion questions at the end of the sections in your literature book.
 * __Grammar tests__** always consist of board notes, practice pages from your workbook, and practice pages from your grammar book.