Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How to contact Mrs. Biasotti.
- How can I help my child if I don't speak Italian?
- When is extra help available?
- What is the grading policy?
- Is there homework tonight?
- How can I earn
How to contact Mrs. Biasotti.
Mrs. Tory Biasotti
Arlington High School
1157 Route 55
LaGrangeville, NY 12540
tbiasotti@acsdny.org
845-486-4860
How can I help my child if I don't speak Italian?
"How can I help my child even if I don't speak Italian?"
This is a very frequently asked question every year at open
house. You know your child best and not all of these suggestions
will work well with every child, but maybe a few will help a
little!!
This is a tough age and a tough transition for the kids and for
you as parents. It's a fine line between being interested
and "always in my business"! Please know that I am here to help
any way I can.
Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Communicate and ask questions. Encourage the use of his/her
daily planner to keep track of assignments. Some kids may still
need you to check it or even have it signed. (Yes, really!)
2. Please ask to see his/her 3-ring binder. This is the
required notebook for this class. PLEASE encourage (nag) him/her
to keep it neat, labeled, dated, and organized.
3. Ask to see grades. ALL graded evaluations will be sent home
for you to sign and return to me. If you haven't seen one in a
while, try to remember to ask your child.
4. Make sure your child keeps track of his/her text book and
dictionary. If you don't have a dictionary soon, please try to
get one soon. (Try the internet if the stores are out.
Walmart.com is cheap) Please make sure there is a protective
cover on the text book as they are very expensive.
5. Please keep your child supplied with paper for the binder,
writing utensils and basic craft supplies for occasional
projects. Construction paper and markers... nothing major.
6. Encourage your child to meet with me after school if he/she
is struggling. Anything below a 75 now when we're doing mostly
review could be a sign of problems to come as the level of
difficulty increases. I am here EVERY day after school until 3:00
at the earliest... usually it's more like 3:30 or so. I just need
a little advance warning so I know to be in the classroom and not
in the copy room.
7. Pay attention to how your child is studying. Is it active
or passive?
Is he/she barely looking at the words on the page? This is
probably not enough for most students. Get as many body parts
involved in the learning process as possible because this get
more parts of your brain involved!!
He/she should be writing out vocabulary and verb conjugations,
making flash cards, lists, and charts. Say whatever needs to be
memorized out loud... to a beat or rhythm is sometimes helpful.
Find patterns and similarities to words or expressions they
already know. Make as many connections as possible in those brain
cells!!!
8. Ask your child to 'teach' you or a younger sibling perhaps.
It will reinforce what they are doing in class and perhaps even
be fun.
9. Do you have internet access? Maybe you could 'surf the web'
for Italian sites to share with your child. (About.com is a great
place to start.)
10. Maybe you could have a 'foreign film' night... rent an
Italian movie and make/ order some Italian food and get the whole
family involved!
Please contact me with your concerns and even let them know that
we do speak... it might keep them on the ball!
When is extra help available?
After school sessions
1. Upon request of the student(s): for additional help at a
time mutually agreeable to both student(s) and teacher.
2. When required by the teacher: for the student to make up
an exam or work missed due to absence.
3. Detention: when assigned by teacher as punishment for
improper conduct.
I am more than willing to meet after school with any student who
is caught up on all homework, behaves well in class, but is still
in need of a little extra support or reinforcement. I stay after
school every day. Some days I might only be available for 20 to
30 minutes, other days it's longer. Please take advantage of this
BEFORE things get too far ahead of you!
What is the grading policy?
Tests, quizzes, homework, attendance, class participation, oral
presentations and projects will all be considered when
calculating a student's average.
All grades will be given in the form of a fraction; i.e. 25/30.
The top number is the number of points received, and the bottom
number is the number of points possible for the particular grade.
The more material covered by an evaluation, the more points it
will be worth. Homework assignments are worth two points each and
will be tallied and averaged in like a test. The final average
will be computed by adding each of the four marking periods'
grades and the final exam grade, then dividing by five.
Is there homework tonight?
Homework policy:
Homework is essential to the learning and memorization process.
It is one way to practice and perfect the material presented in
class. There will be an average of three written assignments per
week which will be checked regularly, and sometimes collected.
Answers to homework must be written out in complete sentences for
full credit unless otherwise directed. Each homework is worth 2
points.There are two standing homework assignments for all
returned tests and quizzes. 1)A parent must review and sign the
grade and have your child return it to class for one point. 2)
Students will be required to make corrections on all tests and
quizzes so they learn from their mistakes. This is worth 2
points. Homework points will be included in the quarter's
average.
There will be a standing assignment to review notes, grammar and
vocabulary every night.
How can I earn
Periodically and at the discretion of the teacher, students will
be offered opportunities to remediate a poor grade. This may
include staying after for extra help sessions and then taking a
new version of the grade in question.
Additional opportunities may include making the necessary
corrections as prescribed in the homework policy and choosing the
lowest one or two (as my time permits) to earn partial credit
back... up to half of the original points lost. These options
will be available to students in "good standing" only meaning
they have done all homework and taken all the notes in class
AND have already shown the original grade to a parent as
evidenced by the required signature.
