Please read through these frequently asked questions--and their
answers--before contacting me. Thank you.
- How am I doing?
- How do I know which assignments on What's Happening are for me?
- How can I bring up my grade?
- When I redo an assignment, should I use a new piece of paper?
- When I redo a book report, do I have to do the same option?
- What do I need to do in the future to earn a higher grade on my essays?
- How do I redo a timed writing or essay?
- Doing a timed writing is far easier than redoing it. Why?
- How can I contact you?
- When are the deadline dates?
- Why don't you assign homework?
- What is your late policy?
- Do you offer extra credit?
- When are parent conferences?
- Do I have to write in cursive, or is printing acceptable?
- Does spelling count?
- If I get a zero on an assignment, can I redo it?
- Why can't I redo extra credit or participation points?
- How do I find a book at or above my grade level?
- What should I do when I'm absent?
- When do you update grades?
- What's with all the one point extra credit assignments?
- When I check my grade, I see some of my assignments are marked...
- How do you assess citizenship?
How am I doing?
Progress reports are sent home once a quarter, midway through the grading period,
but if you have questions about your progress, you can find a wealth of information
online. Students, and parents, can check grades by accessing Zangle at
www.parentconnect.tusd.org. To see how each assignment is categorized and weighted,
select Show Progress Report. If you have specific questions about an assignment, check
the What's Happening page. (Click on the assignment itself to find information and
directions. Assignments in black font are for all students. Assignments in blue font
are for sixth grade students, and assignments in green font are for seventh grade
students.) If, after carefully checking Zangle and Teacher Web, you can not find the
information you seek, please contact me.
How do I know which assignments on What's Happening are for me?
I've color coded the assignments, based on the color of the respective textbooks:
Those in black font are for everyone.
Those in blue font are for those in sixth grade.
Those in green font are for those in seventh grade.
When you are on the What's Happening page, you can filter the assignments to
help alleviate confusion.
How can I bring up my grade?
If you'd like to bring up your grade, redo any assignment on which you received a low
score. (Low, I know, is a relative term. Think logically, kids: If you want an A in this
class, you need to earn an A on most, if not all, of your assignments!)
You can redo homework, book reports, tests, quizzes, class work, and essays as many times
as you like until you receive the grade you desire (as long as the work is submitted by
the appropriate deadline). Everything you need can be found online, on either Zangle
or Teacher Web: grades, notes, handouts, directions, etc. I suggest you start with
Zangle*. Write down the name--and date--of the assignment(s) you wish to redo; then,
go to the What's Happening page to find further information and instructions. (Make sure
you actually click on the assignment!)
If you need to redo a quiz, or if you need further instruction or assistance, please make an
appointment. (Please check my calendar before contacting me for an appointment!) Otherwise,
you can redo the assignments on your own time, at your own convenience.
*Remember to click Show All Assignments or--better yet--view the Progress Report! The
Progress Report lists the assignments by category, so you won't inadvertently waste your time
redoing Participation.
When I redo an assignment, should I use a new piece of paper?
I would prefer, when possible, that you refrain from wasting paper. Please, whenever possible,
use the same sheet of paper.
When I redo a book report, do I have to do the same option?
Absolutely not! Obviously, it still needs to be about the same book, but you can choose any option
you'd like!
What do I need to do in the future to earn a higher grade on my essays?
That's easy...follow the rubric!
Remember, the rubric reflects your understanding of the content standards. It is typical for
students to score in the Basic range in the beginning of the school year. You probably won't
master the content standards until closer to the end of the year. Don't panic. Learn from the
process and simply make a concerted effort, each time you write, to get a little bit better.
How do I redo a timed writing or essay?
Timed writings, or on demand essays, are first drafts, so treat it as such. Use the
feedback from your editor, as well as the rubric, to create a revision plan. Then
revise the timed writing, addressing all items on the revision plan. Once you have
completed all the revisions on your original draft (in a new, distinct color), complete
a self-assessment. Finally, write a clean, final draft. Attach everything together with
a single staple.
For more information on the writing process, see the link above.
Doing a timed writing is far easier than redoing it. Why?
Timed--or on demand--essays are a challenge in and of themselves. It is not easy to
successfully compose an essay in such a limited period of time. However, it is a
necessary skill, one occasionally required during standardized testing, which is why
you will be required to complete several on demand essays. (Practice, in this case,
may not make perfect, but it will help considerably!)
When (or if) you redo a timed writing assignment, I will not be able to realistically impose
a time constraint. Therefore, if you're not going to be able to practice time management,
I can ensure that you are diligently striving to improve your writing.
How can I contact you?
You can contact me by phone, at 310-533-4790 x8926, or via email, at
spearlman@etusd.org. I will respond during my next available conference period.
When are the deadline dates?
The deadline dates are listed on the Syllabus and posted on What’s Happening.
Why don't you assign homework?
Everyone works at their own pace, so I do sometimes expect students to complete
work at home, particularly when the work does not get finished during the allotted
time. Additionally, you must read at home (and/or during SSR) for your six required
book reports.
However, I do not assign separate, supplemental tasks to reinforce what was
taught during class. For a detailed rationalization of my 'No Homework' policy, please
click on the Homework link above.
What is your late policy?
Assignments can be submitted late, without penalty, as long as they are submitted
by 2:57 on the deadline date, which, usually, is no later than one week prior to the
end of the quarter. Additionally, book reports, quizzes, tests, class work, and essays
can be redone, as often as you would like, until the desired grade is achieved. (Yes,
you can still receive full credit, as long as the work is submitted prior to the deadline
date. I will not accept any work past the deadline.)
Do you offer extra credit?
For those who wish to supplement their education with a little additional practice,
and earn some extra credit at the same time, Study Island is up and running. How
much extra credit will you earn? For each blue ribbon attained, you will earn one
point of extra credit. (Extra credit is capped at 3%; it will never raise your grade
higher than 3%.) This is an on-going opportunity; the topics will change each quarter
to reflect the content standards discussed during class. The extra credit will be
applied to your grade at the end of the grading period.
For those who may have forgotten, your User Name is your first initial (capitalized),
period, your last name (capitalized) @RMST (S.Pearlman@RMST). If you have
forgotten your password, click Forgot Password? at the bottom of the Member Login
box. If you are new to RMS or Study Island, your password is learn.
Additionally, in April, I may offer extra credit to those who attend the Festival of Books.
When are parent conferences?
The district is no longer setting aside certain days for conferences. If you wish to
meet with a teacher, you need to contact them directly. My conference period is
the fourth period of the day, and I am around before and after school. I recommend
you make an appointment to ensure availability.
Do I have to write in cursive, or is printing acceptable?
I do not have a preference. However, many teachers have voiced a concern
regarding standardized writing tests with time constraints: students who
print usually need more time to write than those who use cursive.
Does spelling count?
Yes, spelling always counts, as does grammar. I am fairly flexible and tolerant
when it comes to spelling mistakes, but students who fail to write in complete
sentences will receive a zero for that assignment.
If I get a zero on an assignment, can I redo it?
Probably. All assignments--aside from extra credit and participation--can be
redone as many times as desired, as long as they are submitted before the
deadline date. Usually, when (or if) you earn a zero, it is because you neglected
to write in complete sentences. However, it may also mean that you neglected
to show an understanding of the content standards. Sometimes--albeit
rarely--you will be asked to complete a simple task, one that has either a
right or wrong answer. If you get the answer wrong, you'll receive a 0, until
you redo it and demonstrate understanding.
Why can't I redo extra credit or participation points?
First, extra credit is just that--extra. One should not need to complete extra
credit, let alone redo it, to earn a satisfactory grade in my class, particularly
since most assignments can be redone as often as one would like.
Second, participation points are earned DURING discussions and group projects,
not after. These points help me determine which students deserve an E in
citizenship. (See the syllabus for more information.) If you neglect to fully
contribute to your group during the project, or to the class during a discussion,
then, frankly, you may not deserve that second chance. After all, you could
simply be regurgitating what was previously discussed.
How do I find a book at or above my grade level?
That's easy! Search the California Department of Education website at
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/ap/litsearch.asp. The link can also be
found on the Links page above. If your book's not listed, you can also
try www.amazon.com. If you use www.amazon.com, scroll down to the
editorial reviews and/or product information. If no age or level is
specified, then it's--most likely--an adult novel.
What should I do when I'm absent?
First, check What's Happening to find out what we did during class. Then,
check Handouts to see if there's a corresponding handout. When you
return to school, leave your readmit on the big brown table in the front
of the room. If you still feel uncertain of what you missed, come see me
before or after school.
When do you update grades?
I remove the hanging file folders on Friday and grade the work sometime
over the weekend. Grades are updated weekly, always by Monday morning.
What's with all the one point extra credit assignments?
To reward those who contribute to class discussions, I bestow one
point extra credit each time someone asks/says something valuable
and insightful. (Since participation points can not be redone, this
is the only way to improve your participation average!)
When I check my grade, I see some of my assignments are marked...
There is an entire page on Teacher Web dedicated to answering this
question--Understanding Parent Connect.
How do you assess citizenship?
For citizenship grades, I follow the board policy given to me when I was hired.
(I've checked to see if it's been updated, but the board policy online no longer
specifies what constitutes an E, S, N, and U.)
The following was taken directly from board policy adopted in 1996:
Good citizenship implies more than a passive compliance with regulations
and requirements.
A student who earns an E is one who:
· contributes actively and creatively to the progress of the class*.
· takes leadership but will also follow both student and teacher leaders.
· contributes unselfishly to the welfare of the class in ideas and effort.
· makes a maximum contribution in relation to both their own growth and
the total situation.
A student who earns an S is one who:
· contributes actively to the progress of the class and exhibits above average
cooperation.
· is concerned with maintaining standards of good citizenship in the classroom.
· cooperates with the requests of others.
· uses time and materials wisely and with reasonable effectiveness.
· will sometimes take leadership and will also follow both student and teacher leaders.
A student who earns an N is one who:
· sometimes fails to maintain standards of good citizenship.
· forgets occasionally to recognize the rights of others.
· needs to improve attitude and behavior.
· has sporadic attendance.
A student who earns a U is one who:
· consistently refuses to observe the reasonable standards of the classroom.
· refuses to recognize the rights of others.
· deprives others of the opportunity for effective learning by their attitude and behavior.
· has had persistently poor attendance without sufficient cause.
*These students typically average higher than 100% in Homework and Participation.
(To reward those who contribute to class discussions, I bestow one point extra credit
each time someone asks/says something valuable and insightful.)
