Seventh Grade English Frequently Asked Questions

Mr. Coward's Seventh Grade English FAQ's
One feature (bug?) of teaching middle school is the constant stream of questions.
The only time that stream is interrupted is when you pause to ask, "Are there any questions?"
(In fact, in middle school, there's almost no such thing as an INfrequently asked question.)

Back to Mr. Coward's Seventh Grade English
Class Expectations Sheet

KBAR FAQ(Last update: 8/07)
Late/Missing Work FAQ (Last update: 8/09)

What is the policy on late work?

Late work is seriously discouraged. Per district policy, when you have an excused absence, you have as many days as you were absent to turn in work, but as we all know, the longer you take to make it up, the more it piles up. The work that is. Even if you are home sick, you should, in most cases, be able to stay close by checking the web page, and e-mailing me with any questions you might have.

What if I miss a test?

If you are absent for a Friday test, the easiest thing to do would be to take the test at home. Go to the web page, and then toWhat Did I Miss, and then to the Friday you missed. There will be a link for the test. Print it, and mark your answers honestly and carefully. Have Mom/Dad sign it to show that they know what you're doing, and bring it in. If you can't do that, or forget because you are so delirious with fever, you have until the following Thursday to turn in the missing test before it turns to a zero.

What about work that is just late, without me being absent?

Usually the policy is: 1 day late = -20%, 2 days late = -30%, 3 days late = -50%. After that, don't bother.

Are there any exemptions to that rule?

The weekly vocabulary homework (usually due Wednesdays) can be made up with no penalty if: a) you do the work by the next day and b) you also write a sentence of your own for each of the words, also by the next day. Also, sometimes I will say that an assignment CANNOT BE LATE! This will usually be a writing assignment where we will be working with your writing in class, and you would need something to contribute.

What if my printer dies the night before an essay is due?

a) E-mail it to me. b) Upload it to Moodle. c) Bring it on a flash drive or cd. d) God forbid, you write it out.

Extra Credit FAQ (Last update: 8/08)

It's getting close to report card time, and my grade isn't where I (or my parents) want it to be. What kind of extra credit can I do to bring up my grade?

Surely you jest.

Don't call me Shirley. Seriously, what can I do?

Nothing. Take care of business from now on. Extra credit for you means extra work for me. It also demeans (look it up) the original assignments you didn't do, and disrespects me and the people who did do the original work.

So, there's no bonus credit AT ALL?

All warm ups and pretests count for bonus points. That is, points out of zero possible...extra credit. So work hard on the warm ups and pretests. There is up to +10 available every Wednesday for writing sentences of your own for the vocabulary words, if you do it on time. Mental Floss on Fridays counts for extra credit. Going above and beyond on any project or assignment has the potential for receiving extra credit. Practicing the spelling words you missed on the pretest (writing each one correctly 5x) will get you a bit of extra credit, AND help your performance on the spelling portion of the test.

How does the extra credit for warm ups and pretests work?

At the end of each week I total up the scores of all the warm ups and pretests. Your percentage of correct answers determines your credit. 95%+ = +15 points, 90%+ = +10, 80%+ = +8, 70%+ = +7, 60%+ = +6, 50%+ = + 5, etc. These are points (out of zero possible) added to your grade. With most Friday tests worth anywhere from 40-50 points, you can see that it's easy to add 10 - 20 % (or more) to your Friday test scores simply by working hard in class.

Grades FAQ (Last update: 8/08)

How do I check my grade?

Go to What's My Grade on the web page. You will need to know your 6-digit student ID number. If you don't have a computer at home, you can always use one of the ones in my classroom or the library before/after school. You can always come and talk to me too.

How often are grades updated?

Usually about once a week. Check the date on the grade web page to see when the last update was.

Why is my grade on Powerschool different from the one on the What's My Grade page?

I use Powerschool only for the official reporting of grades at the end of the marking period. So the only times when that grade will be accurate is at the end of quarters and semesters, as well as the end of progress report periods. That means that the Powerschool grade will only be accurate about every six weeks.

If they're different, which one is correct?

Always, the one on the What's My Grade page will be more up-to-date and accurate.

Other FAQ's

Do you allow visitors (like parents) in the classroom?

I welcome visitors in the classroom at any time. You don't need an appointment, and as long as you check in with the office before you come to the classroom, you can come at any time. Don't expect me to talk much to you, but it can be quite enlightening to observe your seventh grader in his/her "natural habitat." I would probably avoid most Fridays just because Friday is usually a test day, and there probably won't be as much action as on another day.

What are the three favorite words of a seventh grader?

"It's not fair!" (Closely followed by "This is boring!")

Are there any videos to watch on this site?

Here and here. There are also "hidden" links to random videos.

How do I get the Grammar Rock videos?

I think most of them can be found pirated on YouTube.

How do I make the best crunchy garlic dill pickles ever?

Go here for the recipe. (It's easy; no cooking involved!)