Syllabus

General information for Italian

Class rules: Participate actively in class discussions (That's how you learn a language!); Study and/or do your homework for ten or fifteen minutes every day. Take notes with pen and paper: it has been proved more effective than note taking digitally. Help your classmates: you will learn even more! When someone is speaking in class, listen to them: it will maximize your learning time. Use of your phone is now illegal in schools and if you have one, it should be off and out of sight in your backpack.

Required Materials: Please, let me know if you need any materials for this school year. I always have extra materials for my students!

• ITALO, your notebook with your grammar notes from previous levels. Should you not have one from previous years, you will be required to start one for my class.

• Black or blue pen (we'll use pencils only for finals when scantrons are required)

• Fully charged Chromebook

• Textbook, for levels 2-3

• AP Notebook, that I will give you at the beginning of level 4

Test Day

Major tests are given on Wednesday, but your improvement and understanding of the language will be assessed daily. Quizzes are part of the daily work.

Grading Scale 

100 - 90 = A 

89 - 80 = B

79 - 70 = C

Below 70 = F

Retaking and making up tests, quizzes and writing

If you are absent, contact me asap to take the test/quiz during tutorial day on Mondays/Tuesdays. Should those days not suit you, you must arrange a different date with me. For retakes, I will follow the HISD Code of Conduct

Your grade is determined as follows

Homework, journal and participation – 20%

Tests, long essays and projects - 30%

Quizzes and short essays/emails – 20%

Speaking skills - 30%

In Level 4 all your assessments will be based on AP/IB exams.

“What if I’m absent?”: You can check our Canvas Homepage to find out what was done in class. The lesson plan is in the Google slides. The Prezi we will use will allow you to always be informed about everything we are learning in class. Remember that you will also be responsible for writing your "Diario" daily entry.

Passes and leaving class early: Should you be involved in a school activity that requires you to leave my class earlier than the end of the period, or should you need to do it for family or health reasons, always make sure to have a pass from your teacher or a note from the Attendance Office.

Make up work is your responsibility: See me immediately on your return to schedule make up work, missed tests and quizzes. You will have one week to make up missed assignments. Use ItaloLab or our Canvas Homepage to keep you updated.

Tutorials: Tutorials are held on Monday and Tuesday at lunch. Please take advantage of the tutorials especially if you feel you are falling behind. The sooner you come, the sooner we can get you back on track. If you cannot come during lunch on Monday or Tuesday, make arrangements with me to schedule a different time/day.
If you feel you need help in catching up with what was done during the previous years, you might want to ask me about doing peer tutorials with an INHS member, who can meet you daily during lunch.

On Thursdays, take advantage of A pranzo con l'italiano: we will meet during lunch to have informal conversations in Italian (often with native speakers as our guests) and enhance our conversational skills.
Extra credit is given if you come twice a month!
Your learning is your school's most important goal: I will be available for you whenever that is possible for both of us!

Discipline:
I expect you to use and know the Student Handbook. Please, verify what are the standards for the conduct to be followed throughout the year.
My class is based on mutual trust, and I believe it to be in our reciprocal interest for accidents not to happen and for respect to be shown at all times for both students and teachers. Verbal warnings will be made for you to be aware of a rule having been broken. Should the verbal warnings not be successful, your parents will be contacted, so that together we can find a way to change positively.
Occasionally, an offense may call for more serious action in which case the above steps may not apply.
Tardies are handled directly by the Assistant Principals.

Use of Chromebooks is not permitted during class, unless it is required by the lesson, and this rule is strictly implemented in the Italian classroom. 

Let's make our life easier: do not use any electronic device in class unless it is required for learning!

Should an emergency arise, you can be contacted in your AP office. Find his/her number on bellaire.houstonisd.org.

What if I make a mistake in class?
Mistakes when acquiring a new language are normal, natural and…. Expected!!!
Even students with a high degree of proficiency in the language will make many errors when speaking or writing.
Relax and have fun participating in class and your Italian will improve quickly!

Homework: Homework will be assigned daily. It will consist in independent study, projects, but mainly working with videos on Prezi, Edpuzzle or AP Classroom.