Ryan White
Room B106
Phone: 512-428-7050 (the best times to reach me are before/after school and during conference periods)
email: [email protected]
Remind 101 codes:
My schedule this year:
A day
1st period:
2nd period:
3rd period:
4th period:
B day
5th period:
6th period:
7th period:
8th period:
Supplies: Most of our work will be done on computers, using google docs and schoology. Please also have something to write with, paper, and a binder or notebook.
Phone policy: As a general rule, I do not allow phones and they should be put completely away during class. (In a backpack or purse where they cannot be reached; not in your lap or on your desk.) I also do not allow earbuds or earphones. I have experimented with phone usage for years and I have found that overall they are a distraction and interfere with learning and concentration. Students, if you want to get your phone out briefly to put something on your calendar, take a picture of the screen, etc. all you need to do is ask. Occasionally, at my discretion, I may allow everyone to get their phones out and listen to music while they work. I usually begin class with a reminder to silence phones and put them away. This serves as everyone's first warning. If you are caught using your phone again, I will pick it up and probably return it to you at the end of class. For repeat offenders, I may confiscate your phone until the end of the day, contact parents, give your phone to your principal, write a referral, and so on, until you can get things under control. This rule also applies when I have a substitute, of course.
LATE WORK: STUDENTS WHO ARE are unable to submit an assignment when it is due MUST EMAIL ME THAT DAY TO LET ME KNOW. In addition, please elaborate on what is preventing you from submitting your work on time, when I can expect to receive the assignment, and how I can help. I GENERALLY DO NOT ACCEPT WORK THAT IS MORE THAN ONE WEEK LATE, unless there are special circumstances or students have communicated with me and we have agreed to an extension.
INSUFFICIENT WORK: If you submit an assignment that is incomplete or otherwise doesn't meet standards, I will notify you (as a comment on the document and/or as a message through schoology) and your grade will remain as "missing" (which calculates as a zero) until the assignment is done and resubmitted. These resubmissions should be done asap, and I will give you a deadline for resubmission. Please check schoology frequently for communication from me about your assignments.
Tutorial times:
Before school every day at 8:15. You may walk in unannounced, but I can be better prepared if you email me and let me know why you are coming in. After school tutorials are by appointment only. Occasionally I have meetings or other obligations that may affect my availability for tutorials. The best thing to do is email me and make an appointment.
REMEMBER: Students, it is YOUR responsibility to check your grades in home access FREQUENTLY so you can be aware of any missing assignments/low grades or grading mistakes on my part. The late work policy always applies, even if you are unaware of what's going on with your grade. I will have little sympathy for you if you come to me in a panic near the end of the grading period about an assignment that you "didn't know" was missing.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A LOW GRADE IN MY CLASS:
- Do you have any missing work or quizzes? Figure out if there is still time to turn in this work for partial late credit. If you don't remember when the work was assigned or due, look in schoology.
- Have you taken advantage of re-takes and correction opportunities? You can redo, retake, or correct most assignments, at my discretion and if the redo request is done in a timely manner. Students must initiate this process by first emailing me with a request to retake.
- Have you taken advantage of any extra credit opportunities or optional assignments? (I sometimes assign extra credit during the last week of the six weeks, but please don't rely on it to save your grade)
- Have you attended tutorials for extra help?
- Have you met with me or communicated with me to work out a plan to get your grade up? (in a timely fashion, not right before grades are due)
- Do you ask me to go over your work with you before it's due, or to discuss any difficult or confusing reading assignments before the quiz or exam?
- Do you show up to class prepared to learn and having done all readings/homework? Do you stay focused and work for the entire class period?
- Do you monitor your grades in home access at least once a week in order to respond to situations in a timely manner? Are you and your parents subscribed to my remind account? Do you check your messages in schoology often?
These are effective strategies to maintain a good grade in ANY class.
If you have ANY concerns or questions: First, EMAIL ME so there is a record of your attempt to contact me with your concern, AND visit me before or after school to discuss the matter with me in person. I teach hundreds of students every year, and if you merely come by and and talk with me, there is a chance that I will not remember. Unfortunately, I also get about a hundred emails every day, and so if you just email me it may get lost. Please do BOTH, and in a timely matter of course. Emailing me about an issue that is weeks old is not very effective and does not make a good impression. If I do not respond to an email after about 3 days, email me a friendly reminder. You are not bothering me. It is possible that your email got lost in the hundreds of emails I get every day, or I just forgot.
BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE! You must be comfortable approaching all of your teachers about your grades (in a respectful manner of course). As you are probably aware, teachers are very busy and we have lots of responsibilities. We often lose things, forget to enter grades, etc. This is why you must check your grades often and help us help you! High school is the time to start showing some initiative and independence, and high school teachers are reluctant to chase students around to ask them about their grades. It might be uncomfortable, it might be awkward, but we respect the effort. YOU must take responsibility and initiate this process. This social skill will serve you well in college, at work, and in life. It may not be your fault, but it still might be your responsibility.
What's the difference between a zero and an M in the gradebook? An "M" in the gradebook means that the assignment has not been turned in, and this could be for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons are legitimate, like missing work due to an excused absence. The grade automatically calculates as a zero until it is resolved. In the case of missing work due to an excused absence, as soon as the work is turned in, the "M" will be replaced with the actual grade and no penalty. (see above for more info on turning in missing work due to absence) I do understand that posting an "M" temporarily drops a student's average, even if the student has a valid excuse. Even so, I find that by doing this, all parties are more aware of the missing assignment and the low grade tends to act as an incentive to resolve the issue as soon as possible. An "M" could also mean that the work turned in did not meet assignment expectations or did not follow instructions, and has been returned to the student for revision. Late penalties may still apply. An "M" could also mean that the assignment was not turned in by the due date, but may still be within the late work window, and could still be accepted with a penalty. Finally, and M could also mean that the assignment was never turned in, and if it is past the late work window, will remain as a missing grade in the gradebook. A zero in the gradebook means that the assignment was attempted and/or turned in, and was insufficient and received no credit. In this case, students are encouraged to attend tutorials to receive extra help and hopefully attempt the assignment again.
Late work, missing work, and re-take policies:
- The maximum grade for late work is a 70, as per school policy.
- For each excused absence, students get one extra block to turn in work. Since absences due to extra-curricular events are planned in advance, students are still expected to request work in advance, submit it by the deadline, and/or be prepared to take quizzes and tests upon return.
- Retakes and corrections are for students who gave their best effort the first time around and require extra help and another chance to master the material. The policy is being abused when students show up unprepared, knowing that the retake opportunity will always be there. I will deny retakes if I suspect the policy is being taken advantage of.
Grading weight:
minor grades 60% (homework, classwork, quizzes, and other practice assignments)
major grades 40% (essays, projects, exams)
Having trouble accessing your grades on home access? Visit the counseling office for help logging in. Students and parents are encouraged to check home access often, at least once a week.
Don't forget: Stony Point sends a progress report home with students EVERY THREE WEEKS! Please check the A/B calendar on the school web page for the specific dates we send progress reports home. Again, these are not mailed, they are given to the students!
Contact information:
Ryan White
email: [email protected]
Your username is [email protected] and your password is your usual password.
Please come see me if you are having login issues.
Letters of recommendation: Students: please email me personally if you would like me to write a letter of recommendation. I will need all relevant information (see below) and I need at least two weeks advance notice. I normally do not write letters over breaks and holidays. I will need you to email me a list of all your accomplishments, both academic and extra curricular, both in and out of school. This includes SAT and ACT scores, GPA, class rank, academic awards, involvement in school clubs and organizations, leadership positions, volunteer opportunities, jobs, community involvement, and so on. The more information you can give me, the better. Please remind me what classes of mine you have taken in the past. Also, most programs are looking for an ideal student type and will describe the profile of their ideal student. Try to find out what this is and give me a list of these characteristics. Also, once I agree to write the letter, I may email you if I have follow up questions, so please check your email. Once I am contacted by the school for my recommendation, I will upload my letter directly to the school (or to common app). For confidentiality reasons, schools prefer to solicit recommendations directly from the teachers. This means that I do not normally give students access to my letter. In addition to my letter, I am also often asked to evaluate students based on other characteristics, such as academic potential, perseverance, ability to work with others, dependability, inquisitiveness, etc. I will complete the letters in the order that the requests were received by me, assuming that all procedures have been followed. Please provide a deadline if applicable. I may have to decline to write your letter due scheduling conflicts or if I have lots of letter requests at once.
About me: I earned my Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in English and Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. I have been teaching since 2000 and have been at Stony Point since 2004. I am married to my wife Kristy and we have two daughters, Hannah and Sydney. My hobbies and interests include music, cooking, and photography. Go Spurs Go!