FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions 
of students and parents.
  1. 1. What will my child be expected to learn this year?
  2. How are the students graded?
  3. How will I know my child's grade?
  4. How do we improve his or her reading level?
  5. How are children grouped?
  6. What about Portfolios?
  7. May I see my student's portfolio?
  8. What special help is available for my student?
  9. What should my child already know for your class?
  10. What are the discipline procedures in the classroom?
  11. What tests will be taken this year?
  12. How can I assist my child at home?
  13. Should I bring my child to conferences?
  14. What else about conferences?



1. What will my child be expected to learn this year?

Your child is expected to learn ALL the grade level learning 
standards for 
the
subject matter.  If you wish to see the learning standards, copy 
and paste
this link into your browser's address bar to see all the 
learning standards
for all grades in California.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
Back to Top


How are the students graded?

The Los Angeles Unified School District requires me to record 
one grade per 
every 2.5 hours of instruction.  This means two grades per week 
per class 
period.  If a class period lasts for two hours per day, like 
Summer School, 
then I must record a total of four grades per week.
Back to Top


How will I know my child's grade?

From September through June, the school issues report cards 
approximately 
every five weeks. 
o The first three school report cards are PROGRESS REPORTS. 
o The FOURTH report card is the FINAL REPORT.
o There are two semesters each school year.  
There is one final report per semester, so there are two final 
report cards
per year.

During Summer School, I believe the school issues one progress 
report and 
one final report.  For Middle school I believe the progress 
report is after 
two weeks.  For high school, I believe the progress report is 
after three 
weeks.  (last updated 6/25/2008)
Back to Top


How do we improve his or her reading level?

Read out loud with your child.  Have your child read out loud to 
you.  Have
your child read silently for 20 minutes each day in a chapter 
book of his or 
her choice.
Back to Top


How are children grouped?

Children will be grouped using many different methods throughout 
the year. 
Their groups will change nearly every time they get into 
groups.  Some of the
methods used for grouping will be: level of achievement of the 
standards
previously taught, randomly, whomever is closest to you, and 
matching a
struggling student with a study buddy.
Back to Top


What about Portfolios?

Students will keep completed work in the class in a folder.  
Before 
conferences, students will assemble a portfolio of their work. 
You will see 
your student's portfolio during Student Led Conferences, which
are scheduled one or two times during the school year.
Back to Top


May I see my student's portfolio?

Yes.  Please schedule a conference with the main office for me 
and the other
teachers on your students' team. 
The school telephone is (818) 773-5800.
Back to Top


What special help is available for my student?

1. You may go to the Attendance Office for more information 
about the various programs available after school on campus.
3. Any student who wants more help needs to make an appointment 
with me after school and must get permission from the parent to 
stay after school for this appointment.  Evidence of permission 
is either by a written and signed note (English or Spanish is ok 
because I read both languages.) or you may call me and give me 
verbal permission on the phone; leaving a voice message is ok 
too.  I cannot accept text messages as permission for staying 
after school because I could not verify that it is you who is 
sending me the text message.

During Nutrition and Lunch, help is available with Mr. Farley in 
Room 6.

Mr. Farley is also here at 7:00 a.m. every day before school for 
extra help.
Back to Top


What should my child already know for your class?

Your child should already know all the standards for the Grades 
from Kindergarten all the way through the last grade completed 
in order to excel in these classes.
Back to Top


What are the discipline procedures in the classroom?

Every rule that we need in the classroom is written about in the 
Sutter M.S. Agenda.  Some specific consequences are listed in 
the agenda.
               1. If a student chooses to violate the school 
rules during
class, I will administer various disciplinary consequences which 
will 
increase in severity with repeated violations.
2. According to District Policy, I will notify the 
parent/guardian 24 hours 
in advance of any after school detention that is LONGER THAN TEN 
MINUTES.
3. According to District Policy, I am not required to notify the 
parent/guardian to keep a student after school for LESS THAN TEN 
MINUTES.  
However, if the student wants a written note with the time, I 
will write 
such a note so the parent/guardian knows where the child has 
been.
Back to Top


What tests will be taken this year?

Students will take the yearly State tests, the LAUSD Periodic 
Assessments, 
and quizzes and test from me on a basis of approximately every 
week.
Back to Top


How can I assist my child at home?

The most important thing you can do to help your child is to 
make sure he or
she completes his or her homework and reads twenty minutes each 
day.  Please read his or her Agenda EVERY NIGHT and sign it 
every day or at least every Thursday night.
Back to Top


Should I bring my child to conferences?

YES!!         
         1. Please bring your student to all conferences and 
tell the student
ahead of time what the conference will be about.
         2. When at a conference, please tell me about your 
child's hobbies
and skills to better help me understand your child's abilities.
Back to Top


What else about conferences?

         1. Discuss the conference with your child before and 
after the
conference.
         2. Look over your child's homework, notebooks, papers, 
and back pack
before and after the conference so that you can monitor your 
child's 
progress.
         3. Check back with the teacher a week after the 
conference to check
your child's progress.
         4. Please leave other children at home so we can focus 
on your
student, not siblings.  This also shows the student that we 
respect him or 
her
as a person for privacy.
         5. It is not necessary to feel shy about asking any 
thing that
concerns your child.
Back to Top