|
|
les pages de Mme Z
Classroom
Policies
- Madame
Zerneri
These pages are passed out to the students at the beginning of the semester and discussed. They are also given to the parents at open house.
You will find in the following pages lots of general classroom policies and advice on language learning. We will go over this together at the beginning of the year. This information should be shared with your parents. These pages should be kept in your classroom folder for reference throughout the school year. In an effort to be thorough and clear, there are quite a few pages of information. Other matters will be dealt with as they arise.
| I Expectations | III Tardiness | VII Homework | IX Internet use | |
| II Equipment | IV Classtime | VI Extra Help | VIII Gum and Food | X Closing |
I Expectations
Your major job from August to June is to be a student. Although you do not receive a salary for it now, your success at this job will enable you get into the college you want and to gain a high paying job in the future, one that you will work at for more than the 12 years of your public education.
In my travels around the world I have found that it is quite true that educated people and those dealing with the tourist industry speak English, probably along with other languages. I was amazed at the fluency in multiple languages of my tour guides and hotel clerks when I was in Poland this past summer. In the US it is much more rare to find multilingual tourguides, hotel clerks and taxi drivers (including the taxi drivers who don't speak much English!). I myself have been situations where I have translated for a hotel clerk or a tour guide. Just this summer I helped out an Italian couple by translating what a hotel clerk said into French and then the husband translated that into Italian for his wife.
In the international economy of the twenty-first century you will be competing with a bigger population and candidates from other countries for spaces in college. The more interesting and better-paying jobs are now posted on the Internet and candidates apply from all over the world. An ability in a foreign language distinguishes you from the others. It also gives you more confidence, independance and the opportunity to make real contacts.
To be successful, your work doesn't have to be totally boring, but it does require commitment, personal effort and adherence to the workplace rules. Many of you have now or will eventually have paying part-time jobs outside of the school day. It is good to have money but be sure to budget your time to be able to fulfill your educational obligations which should come first. If the fact that you had to work last night becomes an excuse for not doing your homework, not coming in to make-up work, or for extra help, then you should re-examine your long-term goals.
Patience and a good attitude are your best allies. Learning a foreign language is a lot like starting to play a sport or a musical instrument. It comes in stages and requires a lot of drill and practice sessions before you show any real skill. Even with minimal skills you get out there and perform in a game or concert, but at your own level. Every game or concert helps you evaluate your skills and tells you where to concentrate. If you don't practice and if you don't play more challenging players or pieces, you stay at the same you skill level no matter how many years you play. Classroom time is very short. Nobody can force you to practice or improve. It is my responsiblity to present the material, make it as clear and interesting as possible, and to give you opportunities to practice and master it. It is your responsiblity to participate in the learning process and to bring your own personality and talents into play.
II Equipment
Having the right equipment and staying organized, i.e. being able to find your homework, the recent quizzes, and the current worksheets, your textbook, are further keys to successful language study. Each student should have:
1. a classroom FOLDER In the folder will be kept all quizzes and tests. These folders are kept in the classroom for review and record keeping. In this way you will always have a visual record of your status and progress and material to review. Grading is discussed on separate pages.
2. A POCKET FOLDER OR A SECTION OF YOUR BINDER to keep only this class's worksheets .I make up the tests based on the worksheets - often cutting and pasting the exact same material onto the test!!!! You should keep all worksheets until we have had the chapter test or as otherwise instructed. We reuse worksheets or do each side at different times in the unit. Some vocabulary and grammar worksheets we use all year.
3. WRITING UTENSILS, in working order. I do not mind colored pens as long as they are readable. No yellow or lime green for example.
4. homework and classwork=30% of quarter grade. Be sure to copy down your period's assignment. I have multiple sections of classes and the assigments often vary. An assignment notebook is highly recommended.
5. the TEXTBOOK borrowed from the school. Students are expected to keep their textbook covered. These texts are property of the school and should remain in good shape for future classes. You will be charged for a damaged or lost text (fifty dollar replacement fee). A second text will not be issued until the first is paid for. The text should NOT become stuffed with papers, use a folder or notebook. Write your and my names in ink on the inside cover. Your textbook and your notebooks are your sources for what to study. Learn to use the index, glossary, vocabulary pages, verb charts, and practice test.
You should bring your text, a writing utensil, the homework, and your notebook to class EVERY day, whether you think we will use them or not. You can count on homeworkof some sort every night.
Just as at any other job, work begins on time, right after the chimes have sounded. Class often begins with a review, an overhead drill, or questions and answer. These are part of the class, designed to help your brain start thinking in the foreign language. Students are expected to be in their seats with their texts, notebooks, and writing utensils out, and prepared to participate, not be walking through the door. Plan your visits to your lockers, the rest rooms, and your friends outside of class time. Attendance is taken at the very BEGINNING of class. Please review the official policy on tardiness in the student handbook. Tardiness intrerupts the others and effects your understanding of what has already happened in the class.
It would be nice to have private lessons, but MHS is a public school and our public school classes vary in size and are of mixed ability levels. Generally there are three or four activities per period. These are aimed at engaging the majority of the class. Sometimes you may find the topic easy and be bored at the drill; other times there may not be enough explanation and you may need to come in for extra help. The teacher will try to answer individual questions as they arise but personal trouble spots are more effectively answered with a quick ten minute session after school. I am generally here after school every day except Wednesdays, when we have meetings.
Class time is for everyone. Please do not make the teacher spend time calling you to attention. Please be patient with each other. Students can learn a lot from repetition and from listening to the answers of their fellow students. When a baby learns to speak the parents repeat the same words to them for months before the baby says even one word!! Since this will be your second language, we move much faster than that but listening skills come first and help in recognizing correct forms and vocabulary
It is important that each student cooperate and that each student be given an opportunity to speak, since classtime is basically the only time we can work together on speaking and pronunciation. It is important to understand that sometimes the teacher will want a general show of hands and sometimes she will want to call on specific student to try to include people who do not volunteer. At no time does this mean you can do other homework or chat with your classmates just because you in particular are not being called on at that instant.
Frequent absences effect your language learning in many ways. Mostly you miss the listening and speaking practice and drill that really do help clarify the grammar and help you memorize the vocabulary. It is the student's responsibility to make up work missed by absences. Homework assignments and testing should be made up immediately. Special arrangement can be made when there is an extended illness.
I give many quizzes per chapter and at least one grammar test.There are also listening quizzes, compositions, and oral work. All tests and most quizzes are announced in advance. I do not drop any grades and you may not re-take a quiz or test to get a better grade. Being absent the day before a pre-announced test or quiz does not automatically exempt you from taking it. Do not wait until the last minute to study!!! Arrangements can often be made for make up work in study halls and after school. Students should request work in advance of a planned absence such as a field trip, vacation, or an appointment. Please review the school policy on absences.
If you are struggling with a concept or need ideas on how to study or practice something, come in for extra help. I am available most days after school, except when there is a meeting (such as Wednesdays). Soemtimes you may come in during your study hall or lunch to make them up. Some quizzes/tests can be left in the library if I do not need to be present. You return them to the desk when finished, do not take them out of the library. Depending on the course there are videos and internet project that are part of the curriculum. Please be sure to make them up quickly. Vidoes usually cannot be taken out of the school.
In order to learn to successfully shoot baskets, control that judo move, execute that dance routine, or play that Bach minuet, you have to practice, practice, practice, not just with the coach/teacher standing over you, but on your own !!! Homework is an integral part of this course. Besides counting as a percentage of your grade, it enables you to learn the material in small bits instead of trying to understand it all and memorize everything right before a test. What happens when you have one whole year, or two whole years of material to recall ??!! The assignments are directly related to the classwork and are used repeatedly.
It is fun to play games such as pictionary, bingo, categories, grammar tictactoe, etc. in French/Spanish. However, we cannot play games with the vocabulary and grammar if only half the class knows the words or concepts!!! It then becomes no contest and a waste of time for everyone.
Students are expected to write down the homework assignment and to submit the assignment given to their particular section. Homework is given on a daily basis. It is important to actually learn the material -the rules, vocabulary, spelling, and concepts, not just go through the motions. Open the textbook and your notes!!
Homework assignments may not be submitted late or made up unless you were legitimately absent. If, for example, because of an appointment, you arrive at school after your class period, you should stop by and get the assignment which will usually be written on the side chalkboard. You should realize that a good portion of your grade will be based on work done outside class, open book, and basically pass/fail. If you pay attention in class and do your homework the course is much, much easier.
Please take the time to put your first and last name, the class, the period and the date IN FRENCH homework /worksheets. I have multiple sections of the same course and I can't always recognize your handwriting. Students are responsible to make the corrections as noted in class. As stated above, you should save the worksheet and use them to review for /quizzes and tests. I very often use the same sentences and/or format!!!! Please do not use your textbook as a file for papers.
VIII Bathroom
Please do not make this class period the time of day you always go to the bathroom, even at the beginning of the period. It is disruptive to the teacher and other students. The class period is actually very short and the five minutes you miss could be the explanation or drill that you really needed. If an emergency occasionally arises, you may request to sign out the pass. You should return promptly. Abuse of the pass, such as failure to sign out and in, going to the cafe, leaving class every day, staying out for an excessive amount of time, will result in loss of this privilege and detentions if required.
IX Gum and Food
Although it interferes with pronunciation and I personally am not fond of gum chewing, it is allowed, provided you do not make any noise, do not leave it around the room, and I cannot see it. In general eating of snacks and uncovered drinks are not allowed in the classroom. Please see me if there are special circumstances due to your schedule. Generally during the second sememstre we cook French desserts as part of the curriculum.
X Internet Use
The class will at various times make use of material on the internet that is related to the cultural material in our curriculum. Students are expected, at all times, to abide by the school's internet policy, a copy of which may be found in the student handbook. My Webpages are at the school website:
http://www.merrimack.k12.nh.us/msh/mshhome.htm (world language)
http://geocities.com/Paris/Boutique/9264/ptprmenu.htm (Le Petit Prince)
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Boutique/9264/Acceuil.htm (Les Misérables)
Learning a new language is unlike
any other school subject. It combines many topics such as spelling, literature,
history, government, geography, philosophy, art, music, and sociology. As
a class let us try not to get bogged down in the mechanics and the rules
that have been mentioned on these pages. Let the practice be the means to
language learning, not the goal itself.
I am sure we will have a great year together!
- MmeZ
Feedback?
Last updated 3January 2003
les pages de Mme Z
