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Ms. S. Cantrell |
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FAQFrequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How often do you give homework? Every night a student should spend some time on English III perhaps answering questions over literature, doing literary analysis worksheets, usage and vocabulary worksheets, reviewing class notes for a quiz or a test, rereading a challenging assignment, writing an essay, etc. All work must be done neatly, legibly, and in complete sentences in blue or black ink or pencil only. All work must be labeled according to the teacher's instructions. All homework must be checked in class in red ink only so that answers are correct and complete. Students are expected to demonstrate their best grammar, usage, punctuation skills on all homework. Work that is to be turned in should be free of extraneous marks,doodling, drawing, etc. If a student does all of the questions and corrects them in class with a red pen when we go over them, he/she gets a 95. I do not take off for incorrect answers. I do, however, take off for answers left blank, fragments, run- ons, and persistent errors in capitalization, punctuation--when they don't follow my requests regarding basic style. If a student has a 45, then that student has only done 45% of the assignment. What are your classroom rules? 1. Follow all directions. 2. No swearing/teasing/arguing. 3. Be in your seat when the bell rings. 4. No sleeping/no heads down on seats. 5. Bring all materials to class every day. What are your rules about tardies? First: warning Second: 15-minute detention Third: 30-minute detention Fourth: referred to Mr. Thompson Detentions are served in my room A-112 before or after school. I send home a detention form on the day it is assigned. This form must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned the next day or the detention is doubled. If on the third day the detention form has not been returned signed, I turn the matter over to Mr. Thompson. What categories and percentages determine the grade? Categories depend on what we are covering. In general, they are the following: nine week test 10%, homework or quizzes 40%, tests 40%, vocabulary work book tests 10%. If there are major writing assignments (research papers, major essays, etc.), the per centages are adjusted accordingly. Oral presentations count as test grades. Guidelines for oral presentations and research projects will be given. Guidelines for writing assignments will be explained prior to assessment. How important are taking notes and being organized to success? Studies show that the skills that indicate academic success are the ability to take meaningful notes,good organizational skills, and time management. I encourage these skills every day. A final exam is scheduled county wide at the end of the term. All students take a final in each class. The final counts 20% of the term grade. What should a student do who is struggling? I am available before or after school and during my planning period. I encourage students to ask for help. I make my notes, texts, teaching materials, tapes, etc. available to students who come to my room for help. The librarian can make cassette copies of the readings in the text book for their personal use at home. The student should bring in a 90-minute blank tape to be copied in the library. What is your make-up policy for excused absences? A student has three days to make up homework, tests, quizzes, etc. It is the responsibility of the student to find out what was missed and to fill out the make-up request form. If a student fails to keep the make-up appointment, he/she must bring a note from a parent/guardian or a zero will be given. Failure to communicate with the teacher will result in a zero. What is your school-related absence policy? The student must give me the appropriate form to sign off on before the absence. It is important that I know a student will be absent so that I can get work that will be missed to the student, as well as get make-ups scheduled. The student has the responsibility to find out what was missed, what the homework will be, what quizzes/tests need to be made up, what handouts will be given out, or what quizzes or tests to expect upon returning to class. All of this must be taken care of before the student misses class. All make-up appointment responsibilities and consequences apply as stated above concerning excused make-ups. What is the schedule of assignments for the weekly vocabulary units? On Tuesdays we check the synonyms and antonymns exercise. On Wednesday we check choosing the right word and vocabulary in context. On Thursday we check completing the sentence. On Friday we have the test over the unit. I usually give 10-15 true/false questions or matching. I do not give quizzes until we have gone over all of the assignment, taken additional notes during discussion, and I have answered all student questions. If a student has done his/her homework, listened and taken notes as we go over it, asked questions to verify understanding, then the student should do well on any quiz I give. What are literature tests like? Tests vary. I usually like to give 80-100 questions so that the number of points for any one mistake is not so great. My tests are not timed,and students may finish the test at a later time. However, since I give the entire 90-minute period, seldom does a student not finish. The mutiple choice questions are from standardized tests; the true/false are my own. I usually give some matching over literary terms, vocabulary, etc.--words that we have worked with in class. In addition, I give essay or short discussion when appropriate. How does a student prepare for a nine-week or final exam? I keep all tests and quizzes. Before a comprehensive test at the mid-point or end of course, I return tests and quizzes to students to use as review during study periods during class time. Hopefully, my emphasis on quality homework and an organized notebook will round out the information that the student needs to review. Students are encouraged to come in for additional help or study periods. |
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