Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- Will my son/daughter have homework every night in regular English?
- How often will you provide a grade update?
- Are grades averaged together for the semester grade?
- When are you available for parents and students?
- Should students be reading at home?
- What can you tell me about the AP program?
- My son/daughter has an English folder. What is this all about?
- What is the message board?
- Is there a means for parents to help your program(s)?
- There are many assignments that require a computer, and we don't have one.
- What is your tardy policy?
- What is your bathroom policy?
- What is your cell phone policy?
- I notice that AP exam scores are based on a 1-5 scale. What does this mean?
- What happens if an absence remains unexcused?
- I keep reading and hearing about participation points. How are they earned?
Will my son/daughter have homework every night in regular English?
Students will have opportunity to begin their English assignments
at school and many will finsih. However, they will be expected to complete
work at home. Students are also expected to read a book of their choice at
home independently each grading period.
Check your student's English calendar and folder weekly. This is turned in
for a grade to encourage organizational skills.
How often will you provide a grade update?
A weekly grade printout from me would be ideal, but not realistic. Students
must make a point to monitor their progress in the Aeries program.You can
expect a printout just before progress reports and the end of each grading
period. Printouts are typically posted every three weeks.
Are grades averaged together for the semester grade?
NO. The semester grade is a total grade from the beginning to the end of the
third grading period each semester.
When are you available for parents and students?
Please feel free to e-mail me for quick contact. You can also leave a voice-
mail message at the school for me. However, I am available before and after-
school Mondays through Thursday. Please make an appointment with me
as I often have meetings to attend.
Should students be reading at home?
Students have outside reading requirements for each
grading period.
One book per six weeks is required. The Reading Page requirement is as
follows: 270-300 = A 240-269= B 210-239=C 180-209=D and so on.
There is no such thing as no homework!
AP students have plenty of reading for each unit.
What can you tell me about the AP program?
Visit this site for helpful information about AP courses:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
My son/daughter has an English folder. What is this all about?
Students are to keep all class assignments, vocabulary lists, graded
quizzes,
graded tests, and any other activity sheets in a three-pronged folder
provided to them at the start of the year. Students are to keep assignment
sheet and weekly calendar updated, and they are expected to keep class
papers
organized (in numbered order as listed on class assignment sheet) for full
credit. There is NO reason not to be organized as Mrs. Thomas starts most
class days with the calendar and assignment sheet. Remember that it is
easier to KEEP up than CATCH up.
What is the message board?
The message board is for AP students only. This is an open forum, free of
charge, that encourages conversations about readings between the teacher and
students of both classes. Most universities and colleges are moving toward
homework and tests/quizzes online. This is just one way to prepare students
for their higher education.
Is there a means for parents to help your program(s)?
I can always use the following in my classroom (as it ends up coming out of
my personal pocket): tissues, hand sanitizer, pencils/pens, lined paper,
construction paper, markers, and glue sticks. For example, if you have some
odd pens/pencils collected from dentists and hardware stores just sitting
around, please bring them in. We'll use them. I can always use extra
paperbacks as well for those Fridays when students forget to bring their own
book.
There are many assignments that require a computer, and we don't have one.
Yes. Many of the assignments should be prepared on a computer to take
advantage of spell and grammar checks. The current MLA requirements
(standards for written assignments) can be fulfilled with neatly presented
handwritten in INK assignments, except AP students must type all formal
assignments. However, I always give plenty of notice
(usually more than a week) to allow all students the opportunity to go to
the computer lab here at school, the public library, or to a friend's house
to complete the assignment. Part of our responsility as educators is to
prepare every student for success after high school. In today's working
world, experience with technology is not optional. With this said, it is
important that students find a way to be competent with technology, even if
this means being creative in their means to locate a computer for their use.
What is your tardy policy?
After the thrid tardy, you will be expected to serve a detention for every
tardy after. Five participation points will be deducted for each detention
left unserved.
What is your bathroom policy?
At the beginning of the semester each student receives a card with FIVE
passes to be used at their own discretion. These passes may be used for
going to the library, locker, restroom, etc. After these are used, students
will choose between taking a tardy (which could result in a detention if
they reach their third), or not going. We all must make choices in our
daily lives. Plan accordingly.
What is your cell phone policy?
School rules are enforced, and cell phone use is not permitted on campus at
any time during school hours. If your phone rings and disrupts class, your
phone will be taken. If you use your phone during class, your phone will be
taken. If a teacher or administrator sees phone use out on campus, at any
time, your phone will be taken. Please use your phones before and after
school only.
I notice that AP exam scores are based on a 1-5 scale. What does this mean?
For a full response, visit the AP website listed on the class link page.
However, a passing score for the AP exam is a 3 or better. A 3 is seen
a "qualified", a 4 is "very qualified", and a 5 is "extremely qualified" in
language and composition. Some students will receive a 2 which is
termed "possibly qualified" at a college level. Most students receive 3s and
4s. It is the rare student that receives a 5 on the exam.
What happens if an absence remains unexcused?
Students with unexcused absences and cuts will be called into the office. A
detention is served after school with Thom, and the "U" will be replaced
with a "D" for detention. However, this just clears up the absence with the
office, and not for my class. You are expected to serve an additional
detention for me to what was served for the office. After all, a detention
after school is about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. A cut is a full period. If an
unexcused absence remains uncleared, and the two detentions are not served,
a total of 10 points will be deducted from participation points.
I keep reading and hearing about participation points. How are they earned?
Participation points are earned for active participation in class (10% of
your grade). Students
who are on time, prepared, and ready to work can be awarded points at any
given time. Students who volunteer to read, to answer questions, to go to
the board can be awarded points for active particiption. Students receive
participation for assignments that require discussion. Students receive
participation points for reading in class. Partipation points
are also given to students who make the decision to stay in class and not
use
their five passes. In other words, those students who are in class, on a
daily basis, that are actively involved in class lessons and activities,
will justly earn their participation points. There are all kinds of ways to
earn participation points, but those who are absent, choose
to be late or cut class, arrive without materials, will not be rewarded for
participation, obviously. The goal is for all students to knowlingly and
actively participate in their own learning.