Back to School Night Mrs. Patricia Cedrone pcedrone@wtps.org

Course Names These are the titles currently in use in the middle school world language program. Introduction to French French Beginning I French Beginning II

Communication I update my teacher page daily/weekly as needed. I use Remind as needed. I use the Powerschool email system as needed.

Remind I have 3 different Remind accounts. Please refer to the handout for instructions on how to join Remind. Instructions will be distributed on Back to School Night.

Books Grade 6 uses the Bien Dit French 1 book. Grade 6 covers chapter 1 and 2. Students will cover 1 chapter for each marking period. Grade 6 is a semester course. During the other semester, grade 6 students will be in the computers and financial literacy class.

Grade 7 will begin with a review of Chapters 1 and 2. This review is known as the Liason. The Liason test will be the first official test of MP 1.

Books Grade 7 uses the Bien Dit book 1A (yellow). Grade 7 covers chapters 3 to 6. Grade 7 will transition to the Bien Dit 1B book (blue) in the spring for chapter 6. Students will cover 1 chapter for each marking period. Grade 7 is a full year course.

Grade 8 will temporarily use the Bien Dit book 1A (yellow) during the Liason (review period). The Liason test will be the first official test of MP1.

Books Grade 8 uses the Bien Dit book 1B (blue). Grade 8 covers chapters 7 to 10. Students will cover 1 chapter for each marking period. Grade 8 is a full year course.

Students remain in the language they have chosen throughout middle school.

Websites GO.HRW.com (no username or password required) In the lower left hand corner of the home page, type in the Go keyword found in the textbook. For example: BD1CH_____ The blank space is for the number of the chapter you want to visit.

Websites MY.HRW.com This website requires a username and a password. These will be randomly generated after I enter the student’s name on this website.

Websites MY.HRW.com Students can access the text book. Students can access all audio activities in the text book. Students can access all video presentations used in class.

Classwork Students receive their warm up folders upon arrival to class. There is one entry for every day of the week. Students answer a question or copy information connected to the current lesson. The warm up folder is graded after ten entries have been completed. Empty entries do not receive credit. This activity is recorded in the classwork category. The warm up folder remains in the classroom. This activity signals the beginning of class.

I will use the warm up folder as a means of communication with a student who has been absent. Upon return to school, and absent student will find handouts etc. attached to the warm up folder. If no handouts were used during the student’s absence, the student will receive a brief not about what was covered on the day of the absence.

Class Participation There is class participation system in place throughout the world language department. Students start out the marking period with a 70. Students earn points by staying on task, completing written assignments, using white boards to demonstrate comprehension and coming to class prepared every day. A student that is disruptive to instruction or is unprepared for class etc. will not earn points for that day. Two participation grades are given for each marking period. One grade will be assigned at the midpoint. The second grade will be assigned at the end of the marking period. These grades will be recorded in the classwork category.

Homework Written homework is assigned to insure the practice of new vocabulary and to guide students in the preparation for tests and quizzes. Homework is due upon arrival to class in order to receive credit. Homework can either be checked in class or collected. The entire assignment must be complete upon arrival to class in order to receive credit. Students will not be permitted to return to their lockers to retrieve forgotten homework (as per school policy).

Quizzes There will be approximately 5 quizzes in a marking period. Quizzes are announced using the various methods already mentioned. Each student will have a folder (that will remain in the classroom) where all quizzes and tests will be stored.

Tests There are 2 official tests for each marking period. Tests are announced . A “study hints” handout is usually provided. The same chapter tests are used in all 3 middle schools. Tests will remain in the student folder along with the quizzes.

IPA assessment In grades 7 and 8, there are two IPA assessments given during the school year. One is given at the end on MP2. One is given at the end of MP4. The IPA assessment is valued at 1.5 test grades. The same assessment is used in all 3 middle schools. IPA = integrated performance assessment This is a “show what you know” assessment

IPA Assessment In Grade 6 there is 1 IPA assessment given at the end of the semester. The IPA assessment is valued at 1.5 test grades. The same assessment is used in all 3 middle schools.

Components of the assessment Interpretive: students will answer questions about something they have read or heard in the target language to demonstrate comprehension. Interpersonal: the student will write or speak in the target language on a given topic. Presentational: the student will produce a written response to a prompt in the target language. Students should respond in complete sentences.

Grading procedures The grading procedure in place is standard throughout the world language department. Tests 30% Quizzes 25% Homework 15% Classwork 30%

Supplies Students should come to class every day with these items: Text book Pen or pencil Handouts Dry erase marker (if possible) Students are not permitted to return to their lockers for forgotten items. Students that are unprepared for class cannot fully participate in the lesson.

High School placement procedure French 2A French 1A Introduction to HS French 87 average in official tests 77 average in official tests Averages below 77 in official tests

Over the years the use of this procedure has proven to be successful. This has been demonstrated by fewer year-end failures/drops/schedule changes etc.

High School World Language Program Introduction to High School French French 1A French 2A Honors 3 Honors 4 Advanced Placement A student entering the high school world language program at level 2A has the ability to proceed to the Advanced Placement level in senior year.

Seal of Biliteracy Please refer to the handout.

Supervisor of World Languages ESL K-12 Rosemarie Armstrong 589-8500 extension 7020 Rarmstrong@wtps.org