________________________ My Class Information: ______________________
Curriculum: All levels of French (1-6, including honors) will follow the PCSB "thematic units" curriculum guides. Each level will be based on real life themes that students can use to relate to the real world.
________________________ Course Requirements :________________________
Basic school supplies, and Internet access. There are no specific textbooks for any of these courses. Rather, we will use teacher-created activities, Internet & other resources. Students will be given handouts, and they will be referred to resources that will be posted on the class Websites.
___________________General Course Information: ______________
•Class participation is essential in this course. So, all students are encouraged to participate on a daily basis (or points may be deducted). In addition, all students will be expected to speak French /Spanish in class. It will be part of their grade.
•Written classwork, homework and /or studying will be assigned regularly. Students are expected to review daily. This will significantly increase their proficiency and comfort level in French / Spanish and prepare them to participate in class every day.
•Makeup work must be completed in accordance with the county policy. It is the students’ responsibility to get their makeup assignments, complete them, and turn them in on time. A daily agenda for each class can be found on the class pages on this website. The daily agenda lists class work, homework assignments, and quizzes and tests—everything that was assigned on a particular day. (Quizzes and tests are also listed on the Website calendar). Students are expected to consult this Website for their makeup assignments. There is an in-class computer available for those who do not have Internet access (or students can use the media center computers). Students can obtain copies of most makeup assignments (in-class activities) on this Website (on individual class pages, at bottom). Note about quizzes and tests: Tests & quizzes must be made up immediately upon returning from an absence, with a 3-day maximum to compensate for logistical issues (such as after-school teacher meetings). As a general policy, this will be done after school. Students do not have to make an appointment to make up quizzes / tests after school. They are expected to just show up at the end of the day, between 1:50 and 2:15 (within the allotted 3-day time frame). On occasion, I may allow students to make up tests during class or at lunch (depending on the day’s activities). However, lunch or in-class make-ups are not guaranteed--as my lunch time is my lunch time, and class time is class time. In the case of doing make-ups at lunch, you must make an appointment. Note about homework: Upon returning from an absence, students will be expected to immediately turn in the homework that was collected on the day of their absence. Homework assignments not related to an absence will be accepted one day late with a 50% reduction in grade.
Procedure for turning in assignments:
- All work is to be submitted in the black trays—which are labeled by class name / period.
- Makeup work for all classes is to be turned in to the makeup tray, by the front board (all classes together).
- Note: Papers that are turned in to the wrong bin will not be graded. Rather, they will be placed in the “graded papers” basket—where students will have to dig them out and resubmit them in the proper place. These papers will be subject to late penalties. This latter procedure will also be the case for papers that are turned in with no name. In either case, upon resubmission, they will only get as high as ½ credit. NO EXCEPTIONS.
-Note about submitting Power Point presentations via email(my generally required method of submission): Emailed P-Points must include you name in the name of the document (not just in the email in which you sent it). Projects submitted via email that are not submitted with your name in the document will automatically receive a letter grade reduction.
Note about graded work:
All graded hard-copy class work, homework, and quizzes will be placed in the "graded papers" basket in the front of the room. It is the students' responsibility to retrieve their graded work from this basket. I will keep all hard-copy graded tests in a file. Students may look at their graded tests at any time, but they must stay with me for security purposes.
Note about Mr. Wayman's in-class information board:
Each day, students are expected to read the (digital) information board upon entering the class. There, they will find instructions, important reminders, the daily agenda, as well as any and all daily essential questions.
Grading Categories:
Homework, class work, participation, and projects: 35%
All assessments (quizzes, tests, speaking assessments): 65%
Grading Scale:
89.5 - 100 = A
79.5 - 89.4 = B
69.5 - 79.4 = C
59.5 - 69.4 = D
Below 59.5 = F
Notes about grades:
Students and parents are expected to check Focus (Portal) regularly to monitor grades / student progress (including at the 4.5-week point of each term for progress reports) .
Mr. Wayman reserves the right to doc points for numeric-score activities that are turned in late.
During speaking practice labs, a random, one-two minute segment will be recorded (during the 30-40 minute session). The students' participation grade for that day will be based on that segment. And note: Students may receive a disciplinary referral if controversial or incorporate content is recorded.
During white boards activities, cultural videos, group, and other similar activities that are very interactive, students may lose points on a particular day for not participating (for example--just sitting there and doing nothing during white boards, or being on a phone or socializing during these activities).
Note about re-takes:
Students may re-assess, but they have to do correctives (additional practice work) first, and do well on them.
Classroom Rules and Expectations:
•Be on time to class, be in your seat when the bell rings, and have all necessary course materials ready to go (Book, paper, pencil or pen). The abseance / tardy policy will be strictly enforced.
•Always be respectful of school property, faculty, and other students.
•Inappropriate language (in any language) will not be tolerated.
•Grooming, combing hair, applying makeup, eating or drinking (except water), and gum chewing are also unacceptable in class.
•Participate! Pay attention in class and don’t be afraid to try!
•If you would like to speak or ask a question during a whole-class-type of lecture or activity, please raise your hand until called upon. Please do not shout out in class.
•Always do your own work. Cheating and plagiarizing will not be tolerated. Offending students will be penalized according to the Student Code of Conduct. During group activities, in which students will work together to complete a common task, do your share of the work.
•Keep all class notes, handouts, and graded assignments (homework, quizzes, etc) in your notebook. Grades will be calculated using a computer grade book. In the event of an error (a completed assignments doesn’t get marked) it will be easier to get things straightened out.
•Class ends when the bell rings! Please do not begin to pack up your things until about two minutes before the bell rings.
• AS A GENERAL RULE, CELLPHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT TO BE USED IN CLASS, EXCEPT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. PLEASE SILENCE THEM AND PUT THEM AWAY BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. PARENTS, IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT CALL ON THEIR CELLPHONE. CALL THE FRONT OFFICE (547-7536) AND LEAVE THEM A MESSAGE. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, THE OFFICE WILL SEND FOR THEM RIGHT AWAY. NOTE: CLASS-RELATED / EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DICTIONARY APPLICATIONS FOR SEARCHING FOR DEFINTIONS, WEB BROWSING FOR CLASS-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, OR WEB-RELATED GAMES THAT USE SMARTPHONES AS INTERACTION DEVICES. THIS WILL BE AT MY DISCRETION, AND WITH MY PERMISSION. Note: Students who use their cell phones without permission will surrender them to school personnel and may pick them up in the front office after school. After the third phone offense in a semester, an adult who is at least 21 years old and whose name is on the student’s clinic card must pick the cell phone up in the front office after school. Students who refuse to turn in their phones upon request will be referred to the office for defiance.
(UNIVERSAL SCHOOL) TARDY POLICY:
Tardy students are to sign in on the clipboard with the time they arrived. Students who are chronically tardy will be referred to administration.
Hall passes:
To use restroom:
1) Ask permission (always).
2) Sign out with name and time on clipboard by side-board.
3) Take blue hall pass from the clip on the board.
4) Go to the restroom / fountain across the hall. Upon returning, put pass back on clip and write the time you returned on the sign-out sheet.
Note: Students should see me directly for passes to go to destinations other than the bathroom or fountain. These passes will be written individually, by me, on a case-by-case basis. Note: No hall passes of any kind will be given out the first or last 10 minutes of class, except in case of emergencies.
Disciplinary actions and consequences:
**Depend on which rule is broken, but may include any combination of the following—although as a general rule, consequences are issued in this order.
• Verbal warning
• Detention
• Change of seat (permanent or temporary)
• Temporary relocation to another (neighboring teacher’s) classroom
• Call / e-mail home
• Referral to Guidance Counselor / Assistant Principal
** As stated in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, certain behavior (violence or threatening language) will skip the above-mentioned actions and consequences, and will result in an immediate referral.
Rewards:
Students will be proud of themselves and their classmates as they learn to communicate in French / Spanish. Games and cultural experiences may be used as rewards and incentives.
Procedure for Teacher / Parent Conferences:
Any parent who has questions or concerns should feel free to contact me at 547-7536. I will return your call as soon as possible. To set up a conference, please contact the Guidance Department. You may also email me at waymanp@pcsb.org. Students are also encouraged to contact me at this email address with questions or concerns, at any time.
Calendar:
* Please consult the general school calendar for holiday's, exams, etc.
Useful Information:
•I will always tell you in advance when tests / speaking assessments will be. Written quizzes, however, may be given at any time, without notice.
•Please be ready to speak French / Spanish during formative practice activities. What is the point in studying French / Spanish, if you cannot at least speak a little? You will not be criticized / graded harshly for making mistakes ( except during verbal assessments, I will be a little less forgiving). I understand that you are still learning. Making mistakes is a part of the learning process. Everyone makes them. No one is perfect.
•Reminder: You only get out of something what you put into it. Please put in your best effort. I promise that you will be much more successful in my class.
•Tip: It is better to review / practice your French / Spanish a little bit every day, instead of cramming before a quiz or test.
•Reminder: You are a young adult (you will be out in the real world soon) and will be held accountable for your actions in my class. Please act responsibly.
Note about Dictionaries / Translators:
•Dictionaries (paper or electronic) may be used for this class to look up single words / expressions—while doing homework, projects, etc. They are not permitted during tests/ quizzes or when otherwise so stated.
•Students may not use on-line translators (like Google Translate) to translate SENTENCES--at any time. Learning the grammatical rules is a big part of this class. Please do not try to avoid this by taking the “easy way out” and using a translator. I can always tell when a student has used one to do an assignment (particulary, when the work that is turned in is well beyond the student's ability). Using such a device instead of doing one's own work will be considered cheating and offenders will be punished according to the county policy.
•If you have any questions regarding this policy, please see / contact me.
Note about Language Labs:
Students will abide by the rules at all times when using the language labs. The labs cost thousands of dollars. Students will use them with caution / respect at all times. Failure to abide by these rules may result in the loss of the privilege to use them. Students and their parents will be held responsible for any damages incurred to the labs due to misuse. The following, are some basic rules / expectations:
•Gum and food are forbidden when using the labs.
• Students will wait for the trays to descend completely before getting their headsets / they will not swing or hang on the trays.
•The headset trays are for headsets only—not for garbage. Students will keep the lab neat and clean.
•Headsets will be plugged into the jack at all times. Students will not tug on cords.
• Students will wait for the trays to ascend completely before moving abou the room at the end of a lab-practice session.
Note about taking pictures / videos of students: From time to time this will be done for grading purposes. These videos / pics will not be shared with anyone.
Note about Donations:
There are certain consumable items used in class, that are not provided by the school or district--for example: facial tissues, hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes (for the language labs), air-can computer cleaners, and paper towels. I try initially to provide these items myself, but as the year goes on, supplies run short. Therefore, donations of these items from parents are always greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate any of these items, please send them with your child. You may also send checks (made out to Seminole HS Please write "donation to Mr. Wayman's classroom" on the subject line) or gift cards for approved vendors, such as Office Depot. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. Thank you in advance!
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this information. I believe that it is important that both students and parents be as informed as possible about my class information, rules, policies, and procedures. Parents, your child was given a form to take home for you to sign to acknowledge that you have read and understand my classroom information / policies. Please sign and return this form to me by the end of the second week of school. Students, you will have a quiz on this classroom information, so make sure that you read it all--thoroughly.
-Mr. Wayman
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