Mr. Detering

For Parents

How to contact Mr. Detering:

via e-mail:   deteringm@nashua.edu    (probably the best means to get me!)  

Phone:  NHS-South  603-589-4311   Ext 1594

Science "Help / Make-up Day" for 2010-11 is TUESDAY - Tests, quizzes and labs must be made up no later than the make-up day following an absence. If a student has a job or internship after school, they are still expected to attend make-up sessions.  They should make arrangements with their employer to deal with such situations.  Students are encouraged to arrange work schedules so they are able to attend help / make-up sessions!!

Homework:

Students in Mr. Detering's honors and extension level classes have homework every night.  If there is not a written assignment, they should be reviewing class notes and assignments.  Learning comes through repetition- that means a commitment to put in the time and work!

Research has shown that reviewing notes after class each day, or at least before you go to bed, will help recall.  See "the Forgetting Curve," a link from the web site of Virginia Tech.  It shows that at the end of nine weeks, those who reviewed their notes within a day recalled about 75% of the information weeks later.  It is also a time for students to identify things they don't understand or on which they need clarification.

Biology, anatomy & physiology and chemistry require memorization.  Facts are not knowledge, but without facts there is no knowledge₁ and basis for critical thought.  The memory skills of our students tend to be very weak.  It is a struggle for many.  Students will need to use flash cards and/or various other memory techniques to learn and retain information.  This takes time and effort outside of class.  They should be working on this at home.  See Study Skills.

How can you the parent help?
      Get involved!  Monitor your student.  Don't just ask if they have homework.  If they say their homework is done or they did it in school, ask to see it.  Is it done neatly?  Are all the questions and problems attempted.  Is it work they can be proud of?  ... or just a quick effort to get it done?  Read an answer or two - are the answers coherent well written sentences in proper English?  If no, have them redo it.  Establish consequences.  As a parent, you can still do this even if you don't know the subject matter.
     Ask to see their notebook.  What do their notes look like?  Are assignments complete?  Are there unanswered questions?  Does it appear they used their brain to analyze things and think through the more difficult questions?   Are papers organized by date or in some logical fashion?  What grades are on the papers?  Again, you can check this without knowing the subject matter. 

For more ideas on how to help your student - click on:  Study skills  
     Note taking            Test Preparation                                                   How to read a reference text        
     Study strategies     Links to study skills sites of major universities        Memory techniques           ...and more

Successful students benefit from discipline!  The focus of discipline is not rules, regulations, and punishment.  Discipline is the training that develops self-control, good study habits and a strong work ethic.  It is essential to academic success.  Teach your student to do their best, no matter how trivial the task and choose the difficult right way over the easy wrong way.

General procedures and expectations - please read !!    Your student will be held accountable!

Some thoughts on learning and the classroom