English II - Pre-AP - Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to contact Mr. Brown?
The best way to contact me is to e-mail me at jerry_brown@roundrockisd.org

When is the best time to call Mr. Brown?
Since students must turn off their cell phones during the school day, I do not answer the phone during the school day.  We all need to attempt to keep interruptions in the school day as limited as possible.  You may leave me a message on my school phone, and I will do my best to return your call within 48 hours.  An e-mail message is much easier for me to return during the school day.

 
When should I expect my child to bring home grades?
The district and school calendar shows that grades should be coming home every three weeks.  In addition, every parent may register for the Home Access Center for Round Rock ISD.  There you have internet access to view your student's schedule, attendance data, discipline incidents, six-weeks grades, and student progress reports.

 
When is Mr. Brown available for tutorials?
The official tutorial period is on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 until 8:45; however, I am available to aid students at any time that I do not have other school duties, conferences, meetings, or last minute obligations.

What are the most common reasons that a student might fail the English II Pre-AP class?
The most common reasons for students failing this class are: not turning in work, not doing homework, not making up work after an absence, not coming in for help, and a lack of desire to improve or work hard.

What if I do not have access to a working computer, printer, or the internet?
Since my classroom is a Connected Classroom, I have a full set of computers in my classroom which are available to students before and after school. Also, the library has computers available. While I do not require most assignments to be typed, some formal writing assignments, such as essays and various papers, must be typed. All students have access to computers and printers on this campus, provided that they have a valid student identification card.

Why does it take so long to get papers back?
Consider this: If an English teacher has 150 students, and assigns a simple three-page paper, that teacher now has to grade 450 pages. Think about how long it takes to read a 450 page novel. Additionally, we aren't just reading the papers, we are critically assessing for specific expectations, writing comments, etc. It would do the students a great disservice to breeze through their essays on which they spent so much time and effort.

Finally, for AP teachers, the College Board recommends that an AP class have no more than 20 students, due to the heavy writing component and the grading burden on the teachers. Each of my AP classes is well over the limit. This doesn't necessarily affect what or how we teach, but it may affect how we assess, how many grades we take, and the time it takes to grade and return assignments.

How do you approach grading writing assignments?
Grading essays is of course somewhat subjective, and since a good essay is the cumulative effect of many different components, it is often difficult to communicate just what an 'A' paper is. Many teachers just 'know' but this intangible feeling does not help the student.

The first thing the teacher must examine is whether or not it meets the assignment guidelines. Does the student respond to all portions of the prompt? Has the student attempted to implement strategies we have worked on in class? Is the paper documented correctly, if required?

Next, the teacher assesses the quality of the response using a rubric. The rubric used depends upon the assignment itself; it can be a general rubric for all writing assignments, or it can be specifically created for that assignment and reflect those particular expectations. The grading rubric is shared with the students. AP writing assignments are assessed using an AP-style scale, which is 1-9. Sometimes the teacher will grade for specific expectations and ignore other issues. Student may be accountable for all skills taught in previous grades.

My child usually makes A's in English but struggles in your class. Why?
The 10th grade seems to catch many students off guard, and it is the first time some of them ever encounter truly difficult material. Sometimes it is English class, and sometimes it is another subject. Often, it is the smartest and most talented students that have the most difficulty, since they have never had to actually study or put forth much effort to succeed. They often lack study skills, a good work ethic, or time management, and are learning how to react to their first academic challenge.

As far as Pre-AP is concerned, it is my duty to prepare my students for the AP classes and the AP exams. All of our AP teachers attend multiple trainings throughout the year and are highly qualified. I personally try to create my assignments around specific AP guidelines and expectations. AP is more concerned with language analysis than basic plot and comprehension, so when an AP student reads a novel, it is assumed that these basics are understood so that the class can move on to these advanced analysis assignments.

Also, a truly complete AP English program offers pre-AP classes starting in the 6th grade, while our district does not offer pre-AP until the 9th grade. This obviously puts us at a slight disadvantage, since our teachers and students have only two years instead of five to acquire the necessary skills for college level AP work. Remember, pre-AP English II is supposed to start at a high school senior level and move into introductory college-level work. It is expected to be challenging and rigorous. Your child may earn lower grades at the beginning of the year as he or she adjusts to this new level of challenge and expectation. Just like playing on the varsity team for the first time, it will be challenging, there will be a period of adjustment, and you can expect to be a little sore!

What's the point of assigning work it isn't graded?
Just because an official grade isn't taken on an assignment doesn't mean that the student doesn't benefit from the practice. Dedicated musicians, actors, and athletes spend plenty of time practicing and drilling individually, without the direct supervision of an instructor or coach. The skills that are improved upon during these times are then applied in a larger context, like group rehearsals. Likewise, in a classroom setting, students often practice a particular skill a few times before it is assessed for a grade.

What must a student do to receive an 'A' on an assignment?
It depends on the assignment. On an objective test, for example,90% correct answers will of course earn an A. For more subjective assignments, like essays, discussions, presentations, and projects, awarding an A is more complicated.

First, it depends on the rubric and the assignment guidelines. However,even if the assignment guidelines are satisfied, it still may not receive an A grade. Remember that an 'A' signifies excellence and superiority. It is outstanding, impressive, and it exceeds expectations. It takes significant time and effort. This is especially true for AP students who are held to even higher standards. This is why in some instances an assignment that meets the required guidelines may not necessarily earn an 'A' grade. Also remember that students are graded against specific standards, both in on-level classes and AP classes, and not against their peers.

What if a student misses your class due to an extracurricular activity?
Since school-related absences are planned in advance, students are held responsible for any work missed. The are also expected to turn in any work that is due on the day they miss. Likewise,they should make arrangements to take quizzes and tests prior to the absence.

Finally, they are expected to take any quizzes or tests upon their return. Please check the student handbook for more on this topic. Here are some examples of common situations: A student is going to miss the last period of the day for a game, and there is a paper due for that period. The student is still expected to drop by that class and turn in the paper. Another example: A student missed the previous class because of a game, and upon his/her return, a quiz is being given over a reading assignment. That student should be aware of what was missed and is expected to take the quiz.

My paper is due today, and my computer ran out of ink, paper, etc. What do I do?
Papers are due on the assigned date at the beginning of your class period, regardless of technical difficulty. I have several recommendations should you encounter a problem. The easiest solution is to e-mail your paper to me at jerry_brown@roundrockisd.com  (Note: the RRISD spam filter can be picky, so this is not a completely foolproof option.) Your paper in my e-mail box is proof you did the work.  You must still print me a hard copy to grade.  I can't print student papers at school.  I think you can figure out why.

You may also save your paper to a disk (or other such device) and print it in the library BEFORE CLASS. A paper is late if it is not in my hand (or email inbox) once class begins. 

How does a Pre-AP and/or AP class affect GPA?
A student's grade point average receives an extra point for being in a Pre-AP or AP class -- an A becomes a 5.0 instead of a 4.0, a B 4.0 instead of 3.0, etc.; therefore, a student's GPA is not quite as threatened as it might seem if a student is making a lower grade than they might in an on level English class.  (In addition, the GPA is calculated only on the core classes.)

Finally, colleges certainly look to see if the student takes challenging courses. Students may find that an on level English class does not meet their needs for the future.


Note: Thanks to Ryan White at Stony Point High School for sharing his ideas.