Teacher Survey - March 9 - World Languages


  1. SECTION I - Indicate the statement that best applies to homework assignments if you teach Honors/AP classes?


    In the course of an average week, students in my Honors/AP class(es) will likely need to spend:

    I do not teach honors/AP classes
    1-2 hours working at home to complete the work assigned in my class
    2-3 hours working at home.
    3-4 hours working at home.
    More than four hours working at home.
    Students are given ample time to complete all assigned work in class and should have no homework.


  1. Indicate the statement that best applies to your Honors/AP students’ responses to homework assignments:
    I do not teach an Honors or AP class.
    Most of my Honors/AP students turn their homework in when it is due most of the time.
    Frequently, a few Honors/AP students do not turn their homework in on time, and it is often the same students.
    Frequently, a few Honors/AP students do not turn their homework in on time but it seems to be different students with each assignment.
    With nearly every homework assignment I give, many students do not turn their homework in on time.


  1. In classes that are not designated as Honors/AP classes, indicate the statement that best applies to your homework assignments. In the course of an average week, students in my class(es) will likely need to spend:
    1-2 hours working at home to complete the work assigned in my class.
    2-3 hours working at home.
    3-4 hours working at home.
    More than four hours working at home.
    Students are given ample time to complete all assigned work in class and should have no homework for my class.


  1. Indicate the statement that best applies to students’ responses to homework assignments in your classes that are not designated as Honors/AP classes:
    Students are never assigned homework in my class.
    Most of my students turn their homework in when it is due.
    Frequently, a few students do not turn their homework in on time, and it is often the same students.
    Frequently, a few students do not turn their homework in on time and but it seems to be different students with each assignment.
    With nearly every homework assignment I give, many students do not turn their homework in on time.


  1. Indicate the statement that best applies to your homework policy:
    I do not accept homework after the assigned due time under any circumstances.
    I do not accept homework after the assigned due time unless the student had an excused absence on the day the homework was due.
    Homework is accepted in my class for one or two days after the due date.
    I will accept students’ homework anytime within the quarter it is assigned.
    Other (please explain in the space provided below)


  1. Homework policy in my class: If you answered "Other" in Question 5, please explain here:


  1. Indicate the statement that best applies to your assignment of points to homework turned in late in your class:


    I do not accept homework submitted after the assigned due time.
    The number of points given for homework submitted late is reduced on a graduated basis with each day the work is late. After a given period of time, late homework reaches a point where it has no point value.
    Students receive 50% of the point value for homework submitted one day late. After that, they receive no credit for the homework.
    Students receive full point value for homework as long as it is turned in within a reasonable amount of time.
    Other (please explain in the space provided below)


  1. Assignment of points to homework turned in late in class - If you answered Other in Question 7, please explain here:


  1. Indicate the sentence(s) that best reflects your view about homework:
    Homework should never or rarely be assigned. Students should be given the time they need during class to complete most or all assignments.
    Teachers should be able to assign all the homework they deem appropriate for their class.
    Students should have a total of 0-5 hours of homework per week for all classes combined.
    Students should have more than five hours per week for all classes combined.
    None of the above. (Please explain in the space provided below)


  1. View about homework -If you answered "None of the above" in Question 9, please explain here: -


  1. SECTION II - Indicate your best guess as to why the majority of students who receive an ‘F’ in your class obtain that grade. There might be more than one reason; please indicate your best estimate as to the reason that most often applies.
    The course content is too difficult for them. Cognitively, they are not prepared for the curriculum
    They do not turn in homework and/or classroom assignments.
    They do not do well on tests and quizzes.
    They are frequently absent
    Other (Please explain in the space provided below)


  1. If you answered "Other" in Question 11, please explain here:


  1. Do you include a participation component in your grading system so students can receive partial credit even if they don't turn in the assignment at the end of the period? This might be done under the assumption that a student can pick up information just by being present.
    Yes
    No


  1. Please indicate the letter that best fits your grading scale.
    Traditional 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, etc.
    Other: Please explain in the space below.


  1. If you answered other in Question 14, please explain here:


  1. Assume the following:
    • A grading system where 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, etc.;
    • A student’s scores on completed tests, quizzes and homework average out to 84% at the end of the semester;
    • The student failed to turn in two assignments and missed one quiz early in the semester, and those missing assignments bring the 84% down to 68%.

    Which grade do you think best reflects the student’s learning in the class?

    letter grade of ‘B’
    letter grade of ‘C’
    letter grade of ‘D’


  1. Section III: STUDENT/ATHLETES

    The next question follows the bulleted items. The key eligibility rules related to academic performance and attendance established by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for student/athletes are as follows:

    Student athletes should be held accountable to:
    • The student/athlete must have passed at least four classes.
    • Failure to reach a 2.0 G.P.A. for two consecutive semesters results in the student/athlete’s ineligibility to participate in competition. They are not prohibited from practicing with the team.
    • No CIF rules address attendance for student/athletes.

    Indicate the sentence(s) that best reflects your view about student/athletes
    at Westminster High School.
    The CIF standards and no other standards should apply
    The CIF standards plus whatever standard the coach chooses to apply.
    A school wide standard for attendance in addition to the CIF academic standards.


  1. Section IV: TUTORIAL
    On average, how many students attend tutorial in your classroom each day.


    Students rarely come to my room during tutorial.
    0-5
    6-10
    10-15
    15-25
    more than 25


  1. Indicate the sentence that best describes the majority of the activities in your class during tutorial on most days.
    Students rarely come to my room during tutorial.
    I am working with most or all of the students on work related to my class.
    Students are making up tests on most days.
    Most students are working alone or with other students on assignments related to my class
    Some students are working alone or with other students on assignments related to my class while others are working on assignments related to other classes or are socializing.
    Most students are socializing, eating, resting, or are engaged in activities that appear to be unrelated to school work.


  1. The next question follows the bulleted items.

    Tutorial at WHS is equivalent to:
    • 27 minutes per day
    • 108 minutes per week (five minutes more than a block period)
    • 3,618 minutes per year
    • 35.12 block periods
    • 11.7 block days
    • Two full weeks plus 1.6 block days.
    Mark the answer that best fits your thoughts about the WHS tutorial period. As it currently sits in the WHS schedule, the tutorial period:
    Is as effective a use of potential instructional minutes as any other that might be considered.
    Clearly is not the best use of potential instructional minutes and serious consideration should be given to finding a more effective use of this time in an effort to improve student achievement.
    May or may not be optimal use of potential instructional minutes, but it should be left as is.


  1. From question 20 - Optional- Reasons for your response:


  1. If you have suggestions about how tutorial time could be used more effectively, please provide your thoughts in the space below.


  1. Section V: BELIEFS

    For the following questions, indicate whether you:

    1. Agree 2. Disagree 3. Are not sure


            1 2 3      
      The central activity of education is learning. Agree Are not sure  
      The central activity of education is teaching. Agree Are not sure  
      When students don’t learn, WHS should respond by ensuring they receive increased levels of time and support in a timely manner that is increasingly directive and systematic. Agree Are not sure  
      What individual teachers do in the classroom has a significant impact on student learning. Agree Are not sure  
      Attempting to ensure that all students learn at high levels is the fundamental purpose of our school and, therefore, we are willing to examine all practices in light of their impact on learning. Agree Are not sure  
      Classroom teachers are responsible for providing some additional time and support for their students who experience difficulty in learning as long as they are not required to do so outside of the contract duty day. Agree Are not sure  
      A student’s achievement is primarily a function of his or her background. Schools do little to lessen the gap between more and less able students. Agree Are not sure  
      The idea of the “soft bias of low expectations” exists at WHS Agree Are not sure  
      The key to our effectiveness as a school lies in the degree to which we use evidence to drive decision-making. Agree Are not sure  
      When students choose to be irresponsible they should be allowed to fail. Agree Are not sure  
      The amount of time students are required to be at athletic practice/training is having an adverse effect on student achievement at WHS. Agree Are not sure