Information for Parent of AP Students

How Parents Can Support their AP Student in this class?

First and foremost, parents can help by encouraging your student to come to school every day on time. Ask your child to share what they are learning with you. Require that they show you their graded assignments. Some of major assignments require a parent notification signature (the Senior Research paper) but not all. You are welcome to call me at the number listed on this syllabus or to email me at the email address shown.

      Help your student find a quiet time to read.

The method I use to assist students with time management is to have them read at least one full page of dense reading and time it. Then multiply the time it takes to read this page by the number of pages in the book.

This is approximately how much time your child will need to set aside for the first close reading. He or she will need to re-read for meaning and will need time to reflect and annotate the reading material. The student will need to plan for and add more time.

      Please understand that because we purchase some reading materials for our English Literature and Language students, no student will be given more than one book. All books are available in our school and public library; some materials can be addressed on line. If they lose or misplace it, they must replace the full cost of the book.

      All AP English Literature and Composition students are involved in study groups. This is a formal program set up by AP teachers. Students also engage in informal study groups. We also expect students who fall below the grading expectation to actively participate in after school or Saturday tutoring for support.

      Come see your student’s photo as well as those of their classmates on our AP Wall of Fame.  Join us for our first Parent-to-Parent Celebration in early October!

      We also have an AP Celebration which includes parents scheduled for May of 2008, just prior to the AP Exams.  All of our AP Parents will receive tee shirts which say, “Proud Parent of an AP Student” Wear it proudly!

Grading Policy:

 I use a modified graduate school grading method that puts quite a lot of pressure on  you to earn an “A” or “B” in this course. Grades that satisfactorily advance you toward mastery of the coursework are: A+, A, A-, B+, B, and B-.

 If your grade in my class falls below a 3.0 at any time during any marking period, you will be referred to attend one of the many excellent outreach and tutorial programs on our campus. This means Saturday school and after school support to get you back on track. Any grade below those listed above is considered unsatisfactory in this class, even though you will hear an opposing position from people who say, “It’s just good you took the class”. As a dear friend of mine who is one of the top educational leaders in the country says, “It’s better to take the class and earn an A”.

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