Grading Policy: While I realize that receiving grades and feedback are important aspects of the learning process, planning and preparing for in-class instruction are the most important priorities for me as your teacher. I will do my best to grade and return student work in a timely fashion and I will post grades when I can. Please try to be patient and understanding.

Class Participation……………..………………………………………………………………….... 15%

Homework…………………..……………………………………………………….....………………. 15%

Quizzes ……………………………………………………………………………….…….......………… 30%

Test/Projects ………………………………………………………………………….………..……… 40%

Class Participation: Communicating verbally is an important aspect of learning another language, therefore each student is expected to participate in classroom discussions. Please keep in mind that it is difficult to participate if you are absent from class and subsequently your grade will be negatively affected.

• Each student must contribute at least 25 times per marking period in order to receive full credit. This will be recorded on a regular basis. Students have the opportunity to know how many class participation checks they have received at any given time throughout the marking period.

• In addition to these 25 classroom contributions each marking period, each student will be required to present at least one informal dialogue and/or formal presentation per marking period. Some marking periods will have more than others depending on class time and size. These dialogues and presentations will help prepare students for their unit exams as well as their final and regional assessments at the end of the year.

Homework: Homework is designed to help students practice new grammatical structures or skills learned in class and to help them acquire new vocabulary. It is also a chance for students to demonstrate what they know or actively review material for an assessment. Most assignments will be submitted through google classroom. It is your responsibility to complete all homework assignments prior to class. Usually homework will be reviewed and discussed in class. All homework assignments are averaged together, so the more homework assigned, the better!

All homework assignments and due dates will be posted in google classroom each day. Therefore whether you attend class in person or virtually, your homework is due on the due date. NO LATE homework will be accepted unless there is an excused absence.

• Late homework will NOT be accepted for a couple of reasons. Homework is often an opportunity to practice new skills. Often, these skills are reviewed and these activities corrected in class the day that they are due so that students may receive immediate feedback; therefore it is not beneficial to student learning to complete these assignments after the answers have been reviewed and discussed in class. In addition, accepting late homework would not be fair to those students who budgeted their time wisely and completed their assignments by the due date. Please keep in mind that if you are in school, yet absent from class, your homework is still due on time.

Be sure to include the proper heading: name, date, class period and homework assignment with page number and exercise.

• Most homework assignments will be submitted through google classroom. If an assignment is to be collected, it should be completed on a separate sheet of clean, lined, loose-leaf paper. Please no jagged edges. It must be written legibly in blue/black ink or pencil.

Quizzes: Quizzes are designed to evaluate student progress in the acquisition of new vocabulary as well as grammatical structures as benchmarks for summative assessments; therefore quiz grades comprise a considerable percentage of your overall average.

• Quizzes are generally scheduled well in advance with ample opportunities to practice and review the new vocabulary or grammar. Remember that you are expected to review and practice outside of class in addition to completing classwork and homework in order to be successful on these assessments.

• Quizzes are always based on homework and classwork, therefore it is vitally important that students complete all of their homework assignments and classwork . Students should also label all homework and classwork clearly so that they may review their notes regularly and adequately prepare themselves for assessments.

• Students may NOT retake quizzes if they receive poor grades.

• Students are required to make up any missed quizzes due to absences in a timely fashion or students will receive zeros for any quizzes not completed.

Tests/Projects: Tests and projects are designed to evaluate and showcase a student’s progress in the language at the end of each unit. New vocabulary and grammatical structures that have been practiced, learned and evaluated throughout the unit are the main focus; however it is really important to understand that it is impossible to completely isolate specific vocabulary and select grammatical points of a language. Learning a language is about building on previously acquired material and expanding your knowledge of the language as a whole. Therefore, it is important for students to understand that material from previous chapters may be on an exam as well as completely new material. It is essential for students to learn how to decode vocabulary terms and search for meaning in context as independent language learners. These higher level thinking skills are taught throughout the course and also evaluated during assessments. These skills are what make us successful language learners!

• If you are absent for a test, you are expected to make it up in a timely fashion. This may be done after school or during a free period. Failure to do so will result in zeros.

• Once tests are graded, they are returned to students. During this time, students may review their assessments and ask questions. This also an opportunity for the reteaching of essential skills to take place. All exams are collected.

• Students may do test corrections in order to earn a percentage of their points back on their tests. In order to achieve this, you must use your resources such as a textbook, a notebook or a dictionary on your own time, outside of class. Collaboration with other students is permitted as well! On a separate sheet of paper, you must correct all of the questions that you got incorrect on your test and be able to explain why they are correct. Test corrections are meant to be another rewarding learning opportunity. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, especially if you received below an 85 on an exam.

• Projects are occasionally assigned and given a due date. They are graded based on a rubric, which is typically discussed with the students ahead of time so that you know exactly what is expected from you. Since test and project grades are averaged together, they are meant to help your grade, not hurt it. They are designed to allow students an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the language in a unique, creative and fun fashion! Neatness, accuracy, creativity and effort are all extremely important factors in determining your grades. Students are given ample time inside and outside of class to complete projects; therefore they will NOT be accepted late.

Online Resources: Living in this digital age, it essential that students understand what is acceptable and unacceptable usage of online resources. You may research a grammatical question online. You may use websites such as google translate as tools to appropriately look up a word just as you would use a dictionary. However, in NO way is using online resources to complete your homework assignments or write entire sentences or paragraphs for you acceptable or appropriate. As your teacher, I know which grammatical structures and vocabulary are appropriate for your learning level, what you have been taught in class and what I would like you to learn and practice. I encourage you to use your textbooks as resources, focusing specifically the chapter we are in or reviewing as well as class notes to help guide you when completing your homework assignments.

Students who use online resources to complete their assignments will earn zeros.

Additional Learning and Extra Credit Opportunities:

My door is always open; however my teaching schedule may not align with your academic schedule. You are welcome to email me with any questions that you may have and if you need a little extra help, please let me know! We will make arrangements!

Extra Credit: There are various opportunities available for all students to receive extra credit throughout the year. These extra credit opportunities are designed to reward students for their hard work and dedication to learning another language.

• Usually there are bonus point opportunities on individual vocabulary quizzes.

• Students who complete all of their homework assignments throughout the semester may receive extra bonus points that they may apply to an assessment of their choice throughout the semester (except on midterms or finals).

• In addition, students who receive mastery on unit exams, which is an 85 or better prior to completing test corrections, will receive extra bonus points that they may apply to an assessment of their choice throughout the year (except on midterms or finals).

• Students who have completed all of their assignments and assessments that are seeking additional extra credit opportunities have a variety of options. Some examples include, but are not limited to: researching a francophone area and sharing your knowledge with others, burning a CD of authentic francophone music, taping a segment from an authentic francophone radio or tv station, or sharing a current event of a francophone region or country that you have found from a reputable source with the class. Please contact me if you have any ideas that you wish to explore.

Bienvenue dans la classe de français!

Mlle Altmann

Les Expectations: The following expectations will help guide students to have successful and enjoyable learning experiences in French class. Please read them carefully and contact me with any questions that you may have. Failure to meet these expectations may negatively impact the learning experience, student averages and could result in disciplinary action as well.

1. Soyez à l’heure: Whether you are attending class in person or virtually, you are expected to be on time. If attending class in person, please enter the classroom properly wearing a mask, go directly to your assigned seat and get ready to begin work immediately. If attending class remotely, you are expected to log in on time, ready to begin work immediately. It's important to maximize our very limited time together!

Fais-le maintenant (FLM): There will always be something for you to begin as soon as you come to class. It may be an activity to practice new vocabulary or grammar; in which case, follow the directions provided. Some days, you may have a few minutes to look over your notes before a quiz or test and ask any last minute questions that you may have. In any case, you are expected to use this time wisely!

En retard: If you are tardy, you are expected to join the class quietly, without disrupting the instruction already in progress. Usually the activity and page number that the class is working on will be posted. If you have missed class notes, you may ask a responsible classmate after class for his/her notes. In addition, all important information and materials will be posted in google classroom.

Absent: You are expected to make up missed work within a timely fashion. Please understand, the only time that late work will be accepted is due to an excused absence.

2. Soyez préparé: Whether you are attending class in person or virtually, you are expected to be prepared to learn each day. You will need your completed homework/project, notebook, textbook and writing utensil with you each day. If there is a test or a quiz, you are expected to adequately study outside of class in preparation!

3. Soyez poli: Be polite and respectful of your teacher and classmates! If you have something to share that pertains to the current discussion, please raise your hand.

Please be considerate by avoiding conversations while I am teaching or a classmate is participating in whole class discussion.

Respect: Be respectful of your teacher, classmates and their property. Although humor is greatly appreciated and encouraged, please be considerate of other people’s feelings. It is essential for each student to feel safe and comfortable. I’m depending on each of you to help ensure that this happens. Be considerate of the property of others. Avoid touching, borrowing or using anything without permission.

M’aidez! M’aidez! If you need help and feel comfortable asking a fellow French student who feels confident with the content, please do so in a manner that does not disrupt those around you from learning. If you need help from your teacher, please raise your hand and continue to use class time wisely while you are waiting for me!

À la sonnerie: Please continue to be considerate of instruction when the bell rings. If the bell rings while I am still instructing, please allow me time to finish before packing up your materials or leaving the classroom. As your teacher, I will try to be respectful of your time as well as the teacher of your next class.

Students are expected to REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THE BELL RINGS.

Unless otherwise instructed by the teacher, it is extremely important for the health and safety that everyone abide by the following:

• Masks are to be worn at all times in the classroom.

• There will be no food or beverages consumed in the classroom.

• Students are expected to remain seated at all times in their assigned seats.

Consequences: Those who demonstrate undesirable behavior will receive a verbal warning. If the problem persists, the disruptive student will be asked to leave the classroom. If a student consistently demonstrates poor behavior, parents/guardians and administration will be notified and additional consequences will ensue.

Synchronized instruction means that students are IN CLASS at school and at home. It’s important that students follow rules in both situations in order to make this year a safe, fun and successful academic year. Here are a few things that need to be followed at home in order to stay safe and focused: .

1. Please remember that the policies included in our handbooks apply in the virtual classroom as well.

2. Be sure to wake up, get out of bed and get dressed appropriately in time for class.

3. Remember that one of the classroom expectations is being prepared. Find a place to work at home which is quiet and comfortable. Be sure to have all of your materials ready for class and be mindful of noises or distractions that can be picked up in the background.

4. Use headphones/earbuds if possible and put your microphone on mute when you are not speaking to limit unwanted sound. Even though you are at home, you are still part of the classroom. Therefore it’s important for your teacher to be able to see your face while teaching!

5. Remember that only you should be part of the classroom. Please let your family members know that you are in class participating in learning activities and should not be disturbed.

6. Remember one of the classroom expectations is being polite. Therefore, remember to be respectful and kind to your teacher and classmates while engaged in video conferences, participating on message boards, or while collaborating together.

7. Avoid distracting items around your computer such as your phone or food. You are in class, therefore you should not be texting, talking on your phone or eating during synchronous sessions. Please eat your lunch during your scheduled lunch time.

8. Remember one of the classroom expectations is being on time. Students are expected to sign in to Google Classroom when class starts for attendance. Please refer to our Bitmoji Virtual Classroom for the agenda of the day and begin working.

9. If you are struggling for any reason, please contact your teacher immediately.

10. Recording a session or posting sound video or images, such as screenshots of faculty, peers, or others is not permitted.

11. Sharing conference invites, links, or passwords with anyone outside the classroom is not permitted.

12. Any synchronous teaching will take place during regular hours of the conventional school day.