Expectations Letter French 4 and 5 2015-16 Mme Seymour
Bonjour! My name is Marggi Seymour. I love the French language, and I love helping students learn and understand it! Each day, I try to use a variety of teaching methods aimed at reaching the variety of students in the classroom. My goal is simple: I really want students to learn French and about the cultures of French speaking nations.
Curriculum
The workbook French Three Years, as well as the text C’est à toi! Level Three, will be used, along with a wide variety of reading resources, and French films. Although the text and workbook were developed for Level 3, they contain content learned at Level 4 and 5. Students will learn the curriculum as outlined by the school district. Behavior Expectations Students will:
1. Obey school rules
2. Bring all materials to class (see below)
3. Avoid violence: swearing, unwanted physical contact, mean jokes, put-downs, cheating, and rude behavior including speaking when the teacher speaks
4. Help one another in practice speaking, group work, and whenever it is appropriate
5. PARTICIPATE, and be attentive and focused in class
Students will be rewarded for following the above rules in many ways, including participation points, and occasional small prizes. The biggest reward, however, will be a relaxed classroom where we will be able to have fun learning, and where time won’t be wasted on discipline problems!
Students with chronic behavior problems will have a behavior plan with me. Possible interventions include but are not limited to: detention, a plan worked out with parents/guardians, and/or office referrals.
Missed work
Students are responsible for making up all work, including participation, missed during absences. Assignments will be posted on my school website (http://seymourm.weebly.com), and there will also be a notebook in the classroom that will contain each day’s lesson plan and assignments. Students who have been absent should look either place to find out what they missed, and ask me for any hand-outs, or if they have questions. For excused absences, students have 2 days for each day absent to turn-in missed work on time. After that, it will be accepted late for a grade reduction of 10% for each day late.
District and school policy will be followed for make up work for unexcused absences or suspensions. Depending upon the circumstances, students have 2 days for every day absent with the grade on the completed make-up work automatically lowered one full letter grade. There is a detailed district policy about this.
Late Work
I do not accept late homework or late extra credit work. Other work will be accepted late, with a 10% reduction in the grade for turning in later in the day or the next day, and an additional 10% reduction each day it is late after that.
Homework and Projects
Learning a second language involves a great deal of practice. Homework assignments are specifically designed to support the learning taking place in class. They are not “busywork”. At Level 4 & 5, students will be doing more reading and writing for homework, along with workbook pages. Projects are occasionally assigned, as well.
Grades
Students will receive points for each assignment. Two points are earned for classroom participation every day. If absent or tardy, these points may be made up by speaking in French with me before or after school. If not made up, a tardy reduces this grade by 1 pt. per day, excused absences by 2 pts. per day, unexcused absences reduce this grade by 5 points for each absence. A very small extra credit assignment will be offered to the class one time per grading period. Quizzes may not be re-taken for a better grade. Students may re-take a larger test once per semester. The grade of the original and the re-take will be averaged.
The computer will weigh grades for categories of assignments as follows:
Tests/Quizzes: 40%
Classwork/Homework 45%
Final Exam 15%
Materials
Each student should have the following:
1) A place to keep notes and a writing implement
2) French/English dictionaries are useful at this level. Students should keep these at home for use with homework and projects. If you don’t already have one, look for a medium-sized French/English dictionary. The tiny, pocket ones are not very helpful. Dictionaries are available for classroom use, however students will not be allowed to check these out to take home. On-line French-English Dictionaries also provide good information. On-line or human translators are not allowed on graded assignments.
3) Donations to the classroom of a box of Kleenex would be greatly appreciated.
My school voice mail number is 303-982-3019. I will check my voice mail at least twice each day. My e-mail is: mseymour@jeffco.k12.co.us. I will make every effort to respond to messages as quickly as possible.
I look forward to a great year!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign and return this form.
Student name:_______________________
A. I have read and discussed the French 4/5 Expectations Letter for 2015-16 with my student or parent/guardian.
Signed: ______________________ Signed: ___________________________
student parent/guardian
Bonjour! My name is Marggi Seymour. I love the French language, and I love helping students learn and understand it! Each day, I try to use a variety of teaching methods aimed at reaching the variety of students in the classroom. My goal is simple: I really want students to learn French and about the cultures of French speaking nations.
Curriculum
The workbook French Three Years, as well as the text C’est à toi! Level Three, will be used, along with a wide variety of reading resources, and French films. Although the text and workbook were developed for Level 3, they contain content learned at Level 4 and 5. Students will learn the curriculum as outlined by the school district. Behavior Expectations Students will:
1. Obey school rules
2. Bring all materials to class (see below)
3. Avoid violence: swearing, unwanted physical contact, mean jokes, put-downs, cheating, and rude behavior including speaking when the teacher speaks
4. Help one another in practice speaking, group work, and whenever it is appropriate
5. PARTICIPATE, and be attentive and focused in class
Students will be rewarded for following the above rules in many ways, including participation points, and occasional small prizes. The biggest reward, however, will be a relaxed classroom where we will be able to have fun learning, and where time won’t be wasted on discipline problems!
Students with chronic behavior problems will have a behavior plan with me. Possible interventions include but are not limited to: detention, a plan worked out with parents/guardians, and/or office referrals.
Missed work
Students are responsible for making up all work, including participation, missed during absences. Assignments will be posted on my school website (http://seymourm.weebly.com), and there will also be a notebook in the classroom that will contain each day’s lesson plan and assignments. Students who have been absent should look either place to find out what they missed, and ask me for any hand-outs, or if they have questions. For excused absences, students have 2 days for each day absent to turn-in missed work on time. After that, it will be accepted late for a grade reduction of 10% for each day late.
District and school policy will be followed for make up work for unexcused absences or suspensions. Depending upon the circumstances, students have 2 days for every day absent with the grade on the completed make-up work automatically lowered one full letter grade. There is a detailed district policy about this.
Late Work
I do not accept late homework or late extra credit work. Other work will be accepted late, with a 10% reduction in the grade for turning in later in the day or the next day, and an additional 10% reduction each day it is late after that.
Homework and Projects
Learning a second language involves a great deal of practice. Homework assignments are specifically designed to support the learning taking place in class. They are not “busywork”. At Level 4 & 5, students will be doing more reading and writing for homework, along with workbook pages. Projects are occasionally assigned, as well.
Grades
Students will receive points for each assignment. Two points are earned for classroom participation every day. If absent or tardy, these points may be made up by speaking in French with me before or after school. If not made up, a tardy reduces this grade by 1 pt. per day, excused absences by 2 pts. per day, unexcused absences reduce this grade by 5 points for each absence. A very small extra credit assignment will be offered to the class one time per grading period. Quizzes may not be re-taken for a better grade. Students may re-take a larger test once per semester. The grade of the original and the re-take will be averaged.
The computer will weigh grades for categories of assignments as follows:
Tests/Quizzes: 40%
Classwork/Homework 45%
Final Exam 15%
Materials
Each student should have the following:
1) A place to keep notes and a writing implement
2) French/English dictionaries are useful at this level. Students should keep these at home for use with homework and projects. If you don’t already have one, look for a medium-sized French/English dictionary. The tiny, pocket ones are not very helpful. Dictionaries are available for classroom use, however students will not be allowed to check these out to take home. On-line French-English Dictionaries also provide good information. On-line or human translators are not allowed on graded assignments.
3) Donations to the classroom of a box of Kleenex would be greatly appreciated.
My school voice mail number is 303-982-3019. I will check my voice mail at least twice each day. My e-mail is: mseymour@jeffco.k12.co.us. I will make every effort to respond to messages as quickly as possible.
I look forward to a great year!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign and return this form.
Student name:_______________________
A. I have read and discussed the French 4/5 Expectations Letter for 2015-16 with my student or parent/guardian.
Signed: ______________________ Signed: ___________________________
student parent/guardian
