Is it difficult/time-consuming for a high school teacher to list all tests and quizzes on schoology?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It seems like you need the executive functioning of a top notch executive administrative assistant to get through school. I don't understand why every teacher cannot list all tests and quizzes on schoology? My kids are checking announcements, schoology, google, emails and class notes just to be able to input all these things onto their calendar and it's usually because 1 or 2 teachers only occasionally put the test on schoology. Yes, students have requested it. I have a lot of empathy for teachers who are asked to do too much with too many students, but is this really a monumental task? It might help ensure more students are prepared for the tests.

My 9th grader has 2 teachers who put it in schoology, 2 teachers who provide hard copy monthly calendars with dates (new ones coming soon for March), 1 who writes it on the board, 1 who sends a weekly email that will include upcoming quizzes/tests and 1 who you never know if there is a test unless you specifically ask him when the next test is. I am fine with all modes these teachers offer except the last one. I think quiz/test info should be written somewhere ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Have you taught him to make his own calendar? Either paper or google? He can source things from various inputs to consolidate in one place. Then he can add things like sports practice and dr. appointments and work shifts too. Such a great life skill for our teens to leave us with. Real life doesn't come from 1 input.

Even with his own calendar how will he know when a teacher plans to test him if they don't tell him? The issue is teachers not notifying the class in a clear way for kids to even input it in their own calendars.

Or your kid isn’t paying attention in class and writing things down. You know, like everyone did back when we were students.

If there is nothing to write down, what do you expect him to do?

If there absolutely truly is nothing written down, this is when I would step in as the parent. Have your child email the teacher and cc you on the email for accountability. "Hi Mr. X, I am attempting to plan out the next week of assignments and I am unsure where I can find upcoming assessments and due dates for your class. Where can I find this information?"

Either the teacher will reply, "It's written on the back board, copy it down at your leisure" or "They are posted as schoology announcements, you can check each week" or "they're on the calendar you receive at the beginning of every unit" or...you'll have in writing that they aren't written anywhere and then you can go to the counselor or assistant principal with a legitimate complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a HS math teacher, trying to keep up with/navigate/input into the online calendars is a nightmare, especially when the admin changes either the requirements or the platform practically every other year. It takes a LOT of time to input assignments, and then with all the interruptions and schedule changes, anything I put onto the calendar almost always has to be changed, throwing off the assignment list usually for the rest of the semester as I have to push each assignment forward (math is like that!)

I finally went back to simply writing it on the board every day, and the kids like it much better. If someone is absent, their "HW Buddy" texts a picture of the assignment on the board - done.

I have a child with HFA. Nobody in his class is going to text him to let him know a test was announced. Please make it so all kids can access the info, not just the popular ones and the ones healthy enough to be in school that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a HS math teacher, trying to keep up with/navigate/input into the online calendars is a nightmare, especially when the admin changes either the requirements or the platform practically every other year. It takes a LOT of time to input assignments, and then with all the interruptions and schedule changes, anything I put onto the calendar almost always has to be changed, throwing off the assignment list usually for the rest of the semester as I have to push each assignment forward (math is like that!)

I finally went back to simply writing it on the board every day, and the kids like it much better. If someone is absent, their "HW Buddy" texts a picture of the assignment on the board - done.

I have a child with HFA. Nobody in his class is going to text him to let him know a test was announced. Please make it so all kids can access the info, not just the popular ones and the ones healthy enough to be in school that day.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Have you taught him to make his own calendar? Either paper or google? He can source things from various inputs to consolidate in one place. Then he can add things like sports practice and dr. appointments and work shifts too. Such a great life skill for our teens to leave us with. Real life doesn't come from 1 input.

Even with his own calendar how will he know when a teacher plans to test him if they don't tell him? The issue is teachers not notifying the class in a clear way for kids to even input it in their own calendars.

Or your kid isn’t paying attention in class and writing things down. You know, like everyone did back when we were students.

If there is nothing to write down, what do you expect him to do?

If there absolutely truly is nothing written down, this is when I would step in as the parent. Have your child email the teacher and cc you on the email for accountability. "Hi Mr. X, I am attempting to plan out the next week of assignments and I am unsure where I can find upcoming assessments and due dates for your class. Where can I find this information?"

Either the teacher will reply, "It's written on the back board, copy it down at your leisure" or "They are posted as schoology announcements, you can check each week" or "they're on the calendar you receive at the beginning of every unit" or...you'll have in writing that they aren't written anywhere and then you can go to the counselor or assistant principal with a legitimate complaint.

Or have them ask weekly like some PP in here kid does. That is what I'm anout to do. My kid's teachers are terrible about writing down test dates. I'll have her to ask every Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a HS math teacher, trying to keep up with/navigate/input into the online calendars is a nightmare, especially when the admin changes either the requirements or the platform practically every other year. It takes a LOT of time to input assignments, and then with all the interruptions and schedule changes, anything I put onto the calendar almost always has to be changed, throwing off the assignment list usually for the rest of the semester as I have to push each assignment forward (math is like that!)

I finally went back to simply writing it on the board every day, and the kids like it much better. If someone is absent, their "HW Buddy" texts a picture of the assignment on the board - done.

I have a child with HFA. Nobody in his class is going to text him to let him know a test was announced. Please make it so all kids can access the info, not just the popular ones and the ones healthy enough to be in school that day.

+1

+4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a HS math teacher, trying to keep up with/navigate/input into the online calendars is a nightmare, especially when the admin changes either the requirements or the platform practically every other year. It takes a LOT of time to input assignments, and then with all the interruptions and schedule changes, anything I put onto the calendar almost always has to be changed, throwing off the assignment list usually for the rest of the semester as I have to push each assignment forward (math is like that!)

I finally went back to simply writing it on the board every day, and the kids like it much better. If someone is absent, their "HW Buddy" texts a picture of the assignment on the board - done.

I have a child with HFA. Nobody in his class is going to text him to let him know a test was announced. Please make it so all kids can access the info, not just the popular ones and the ones healthy enough to be in school that day.

I assume everyone in class is assigned 1-2 people they are responsible for notifying. I've seen teachers where everyone is paired up and a portion of the day is communicating with absent students. Regardless though, as long as test and quiz are written on the board at the beginning of the unit, that gives students multiple weeks to see the dates unless they are out sick for weeks. And if they're out for weeks, alternative arrangements are going to be made anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a HS math teacher, trying to keep up with/navigate/input into the online calendars is a nightmare, especially when the admin changes either the requirements or the platform practically every other year. It takes a LOT of time to input assignments, and then with all the interruptions and schedule changes, anything I put onto the calendar almost always has to be changed, throwing off the assignment list usually for the rest of the semester as I have to push each assignment forward (math is like that!)

I finally went back to simply writing it on the board every day, and the kids like it much better. If someone is absent, their "HW Buddy" texts a picture of the assignment on the board - done.

I have a child with HFA. Nobody in his class is going to text him to let him know a test was announced. Please make it so all kids can access the info, not just the popular ones and the ones healthy enough to be in school that day.

+1

My DD is also HFA and is college. It’s hard now, but they learn a lot of strategies in HS to be successful later on. One of those strategies is to build-in checks so that they are not relying too much on others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Have you taught him to make his own calendar? Either paper or google? He can source things from various inputs to consolidate in one place. Then he can add things like sports practice and dr. appointments and work shifts too. Such a great life skill for our teens to leave us with. Real life doesn't come from 1 input.

Even with his own calendar how will he know when a teacher plans to test him if they don't tell him? The issue is teachers not notifying the class in a clear way for kids to even input it in their own calendars.

Or your kid isn’t paying attention in class and writing things down. You know, like everyone did back when we were students.

If there is nothing to write down, what do you expect him to do?

If there absolutely truly is nothing written down, this is when I would step in as the parent. Have your child email the teacher and cc you on the email for accountability. "Hi Mr. X, I am attempting to plan out the next week of assignments and I am unsure where I can find upcoming assessments and due dates for your class. Where can I find this information?"

Either the teacher will reply, "It's written on the back board, copy it down at your leisure" or "They are posted as schoology announcements, you can check each week" or "they're on the calendar you receive at the beginning of every unit" or...you'll have in writing that they aren't written anywhere and then you can go to the counselor or assistant principal with a legitimate complaint.

Or have them ask weekly like some PP in here kid does. That is what I'm anout to do. My kid's teachers are terrible about writing down test dates. I'll have her to ask every Monday.

How do you know? Do you see the slides they project each day? Does your daughter text you photos of the board every class? Or does she just say, "They never tell me!"?

Because if it's anything like my room, my warm up slide every single day has a calendar of the next week (the same one that is handed to kids at the beginning of the unit), my back board has important dates to be aware of (quiz, test, SOL, AP exam), and I repeat it multiple times each day. "This is day 5. Your test is on day 8. You will receive a study guide on day 7, that should be your clue the test is coming. Another clue could be the calendar you received! Let's highlight the assessment date. Oooh, it's a Monday. That's tricky. What is a good strategy for when a test falls on a Monday? Good idea, you should do the study guide in class on Thursday but go over it a second time Sunday night. Make yourself a note to do so wherever you keep track of tasks."

You would seriously think I teach 3rd graders instead of 11th graders.

Test day comes. WITHOUT FAIL, 3-5 kids walk in and their face falls. "YOU DIDN'T TELL US THERE WAS A TEST!"

I'm tired of being blamed.

Maybe your child did get 7 dud teachers this year and not one communicates dates in a timely manner. My assumption would be at least 6/7 do though, and she's not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you list an assignment on the Schoology calendar that isn’t actually given on Schoology, the kids get pissed and frustrated because then they’re confused that it’s on the Schoology calendar but they can’t click it and access it. Your kids need to check SIS/Studentvue. Every assignment should have a due date and a title and possibly even info in the description about whether it was a paper assignment or done somewhere else. I understand it’s difficult to navigate 7 classes with multiple assignments but that’s always been the case. People your and my age used to manage it with paper planners the school would give us at the beginning of each year for this purpose.

You are just lazy admit it. Listing everything on Schoology is loads easier for everyone. You could even have the description list IN CLASS TEST or SEE CLEVER or HANDOUT as a subtitle. It’s very hard to see all of the assignments for all classes in so many locations.

No, I’m not lazy. We do very little work on Schoology because being on those devices all day isn’t good for them and my course is focused on literacy, which doesn’t work on a screen. Dates and assessments are listed always on the board, in the daily slides, verbally, via Remind messages, etc. There are millions of ways to tell kids what is going on in class that isn’t posting it on a Schoology calendar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Have you taught him to make his own calendar? Either paper or google? He can source things from various inputs to consolidate in one place. Then he can add things like sports practice and dr. appointments and work shifts too. Such a great life skill for our teens to leave us with. Real life doesn't come from 1 input.

Even with his own calendar how will he know when a teacher plans to test him if they don't tell him? The issue is teachers not notifying the class in a clear way for kids to even input it in their own calendars.

Or your kid isn’t paying attention in class and writing things down. You know, like everyone did back when we were students.

If there is nothing to write down, what do you expect him to do?

If there absolutely truly is nothing written down, this is when I would step in as the parent. Have your child email the teacher and cc you on the email for accountability. "Hi Mr. X, I am attempting to plan out the next week of assignments and I am unsure where I can find upcoming assessments and due dates for your class. Where can I find this information?"

Either the teacher will reply, "It's written on the back board, copy it down at your leisure" or "They are posted as schoology announcements, you can check each week" or "they're on the calendar you receive at the beginning of every unit" or...you'll have in writing that they aren't written anywhere and then you can go to the counselor or assistant principal with a legitimate complaint.

Or have them ask weekly like some PP in here kid does. That is what I'm anout to do. My kid's teachers are terrible about writing down test dates. I'll have her to ask every Monday.

How do you know? Do you see the slides they project each day? Does your daughter text you photos of the board every class? Or does she just say, "They never tell me!"?

Because if it's anything like my room, my warm up slide every single day has a calendar of the next week (the same one that is handed to kids at the beginning of the unit), my back board has important dates to be aware of (quiz, test, SOL, AP exam), and I repeat it multiple times each day. "This is day 5. Your test is on day 8. You will receive a study guide on day 7, that should be your clue the test is coming. Another clue could be the calendar you received! Let's highlight the assessment date. Oooh, it's a Monday. That's tricky. What is a good strategy for when a test falls on a Monday? Good idea, you should do the study guide in class on Thursday but go over it a second time Sunday night. Make yourself a note to do so wherever you keep track of tasks."

You would seriously think I teach 3rd graders instead of 11th graders.

Test day comes. WITHOUT FAIL, 3-5 kids walk in and their face falls. "YOU DIDN'T TELL US THERE WAS A TEST!"

I'm tired of being blamed.

Maybe your child did get 7 dud teachers this year and not one communicates dates in a timely manner. My assumption would be at least 6/7 do though, and she's not paying attention.

A thousand times this.

I post test information in two different places in my room. It’s also on my daily slides. I spent at least a week referring to the test or the review sheet (which also posts the test date). It’s online in multiple places, as well. There are no fewer than six ways you can find a test date.

I get the 3-5 kids say this, as well. I’ve had parents tell me I need to be more communicative. I suppose I can send an email home to parents also alerting them to the upcoming test, but is that really good for juniors and seniors? Who is going to give them six or seven reminders before an exam in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Have you taught him to make his own calendar? Either paper or google? He can source things from various inputs to consolidate in one place. Then he can add things like sports practice and dr. appointments and work shifts too. Such a great life skill for our teens to leave us with. Real life doesn't come from 1 input.

Even with his own calendar how will he know when a teacher plans to test him if they don't tell him? The issue is teachers not notifying the class in a clear way for kids to even input it in their own calendars.

Or your kid isn’t paying attention in class and writing things down. You know, like everyone did back when we were students.

If there is nothing to write down, what do you expect him to do?

If there absolutely truly is nothing written down, this is when I would step in as the parent. Have your child email the teacher and cc you on the email for accountability. "Hi Mr. X, I am attempting to plan out the next week of assignments and I am unsure where I can find upcoming assessments and due dates for your class. Where can I find this information?"

Either the teacher will reply, "It's written on the back board, copy it down at your leisure" or "They are posted as schoology announcements, you can check each week" or "they're on the calendar you receive at the beginning of every unit" or...you'll have in writing that they aren't written anywhere and then you can go to the counselor or assistant principal with a legitimate complaint.

Or have them ask weekly like some PP in here kid does. That is what I'm anout to do. My kid's teachers are terrible about writing down test dates. I'll have her to ask every Monday.

How do you know? Do you see the slides they project each day? Does your daughter text you photos of the board every class? Or does she just say, "They never tell me!"?

Because if it's anything like my room, my warm up slide every single day has a calendar of the next week (the same one that is handed to kids at the beginning of the unit), my back board has important dates to be aware of (quiz, test, SOL, AP exam), and I repeat it multiple times each day. "This is day 5. Your test is on day 8. You will receive a study guide on day 7, that should be your clue the test is coming. Another clue could be the calendar you received! Let's highlight the assessment date. Oooh, it's a Monday. That's tricky. What is a good strategy for when a test falls on a Monday? Good idea, you should do the study guide in class on Thursday but go over it a second time Sunday night. Make yourself a note to do so wherever you keep track of tasks."

You would seriously think I teach 3rd graders instead of 11th graders.

Test day comes. WITHOUT FAIL, 3-5 kids walk in and their face falls. "YOU DIDN'T TELL US THERE WAS A TEST!"

I'm tired of being blamed.

Maybe your child did get 7 dud teachers this year and not one communicates dates in a timely manner. My assumption would be at least 6/7 do though, and she's not paying attention.

A thousand times this.

I post test information in two different places in my room. It’s also on my daily slides. I spent at least a week referring to the test or the review sheet (which also posts the test date). It’s online in multiple places, as well. There are no fewer than six ways you can find a test date.

I get the 3-5 kids say this, as well. I’ve had parents tell me I need to be more communicative. I suppose I can send an email home to parents also alerting them to the upcoming test, but is that really good for juniors and seniors? Who is going to give them six or seven reminders before an exam in college?

They are being reminded multiple times in multiple ways. The information is out there for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Will it be any different in college?

Yes, professors are more likely to put assignments on canvas/blackboard in advance or even have the whole semester planned out in the syllabus. Also, students typically only take 5 college classes vs 7 highschool classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Will it be any different in college?

Yes, professors are more likely to put assignments on canvas/blackboard in advance or even have the whole semester planned out in the syllabus. Also, students typically only take 5 college classes vs 7 highschool classes

The “does this prepare them for college” query is irrelevant. Nothing in schools prepares kids for college anymore including the “you can retake anything and submit it as late as you want for the whole year and get a 50 for doing nothing” policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior son with ADHD and autism, who is in a combination of team taught classes as well as IB classes. The inconsistency in the use of Schoology has been a literal nightmare for him. Every single teacher uses it differently. Of his seven classes, I would say three consistently put things on the calendar, some teachers do the paper calendar schedule, while others just “tell” the kids when test or quizzes are coming. It is impossible to navigate and I bring this up every single IEP meeting. He is pretty much surviving high school by playing constant catch up on sis with a tutor. We hired the tutor simply because we were having so many negative interactions with our child about missing school work that it was having a great impact on our overall relationship.

Will it be any different in college?

Yes, professors are more likely to put assignments on canvas/blackboard in advance or even have the whole semester planned out in the syllabus. Also, students typically only take 5 college classes vs 7 highschool classes

Yep. College professors can't get away with doing as they please. You get a syllabus and know exactly what is expected and when. It's a hard job to get and keep. Nobody wants to be a teacher anymore due to pay, extra work and difficult parents, but they can also get away with more because they are in demand.

It is pure insanity to have to call procedural support and an advocate into an IEP meeting simply to get everyone to post all tests and quizzes on the schoology calendar. Those who work for the school will act like you have asked each teacher to write a dissertation by Monday. The advocate sits there asking how long it actually takes to post to the darn calendar. Do you want kids to pass your tests? Do you want to keep having IEP meetings about this? Our advocate asked them to quantify how long it it takes to input a test into schoology because the PSL acted like we had no right to ask for this. The admin finally admitted it's a quick process. This should not be an accommodation people ask for. it should not require someone from gatehouse or a parent paying an advocate or lawyer. It is common sense. Put all major assessments in one place.