Sra. Merryweather

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Please look at the website for the capital campaign.
http://www.josaphatblessed.org/

Dear Parents and Students,								August 2009

Welcome back to another magnificent school year. I am excited to begin the
year with some goals, policies, and reminders so that we can have a successful
learning experience.
It is my goal to teach Spanish holistically without having to teach grammar
“rules”. Grammatical accuracy will be taught not only in the traditional way
through verb conjugations but also through hearing the grammatical structure
in the language. Language is learned by understanding messages in the target
language. That means language is picked up through comprehensible input. Input
is listening and reading that is understood by the learner. I will do my best
to ensure the class is totally comprehensible. To do this, I will teach the
class an interesting story that is invented, and asks students repetitive
questions. This will surely make the class interesting and fun!
Grading will be slightly different this year. Students will have homework,
quizzes, tests, in-class assignments, and participation grades, which will all
be assigned a point value. These points will be added up and divided by the
maximum points to determine a letter grade for the class. Below is a break
down of the points, followed by a description of the categories

Homework    ~    5-10 points
In-Class Participation   ~   50 points
Quizzes  ~  10-20 points
Tests/Papers   ~    50 points

Tests – Tests will be both announced and unannounced and will include
grammar, vocabulary, and summaries of the stories we will be sharing. These
tests will be designed as a way for students to share how much they know and
how well they can use the language. The exams can assess vocabulary,
listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Tests will make up a large portion
of the grade for the class. 
	
Daily Work – Daily work will include any non-test grades, such as workbook
activities, timed writings, essays, and summaries.
	
Participation – Participation is based on only two rules: A. No English may be
spoken without raising your hand. B. Look like you are participating.
•	All students begin with 50-point semester participation grade. They receive
a 3 point deduction [called a “págame” (pay me) infraction]. They may make up
these deductions with a 50 word essay for the first half of the year and a 100
word essay for the second half of the year. There are a few exceptions (see
number 4 below).
o	Págames:
1.Each student starts with 50 points for a quarter.

2.There are two rules:
a. Act engaged.
b. Answer Spanish questions in Spanish.

3. Rule violations cause a student to lose 5 points.

4. Students get 4 free makeups. First 2 are made up by making me a card. (The
card can be in both English and Spanish. Write something nice about my class,
or their teacher.) The second 2 makeups are by giving me a handshake. So they
get 4 free (easy to make up) págames.

5. After the four free ones, students make up págames by writing 
50-word/100-word essays. Each essay makes up one págame (3 points).

6. Maximum two págames per day. On the 3rd págame, the student goes to the
office or a call home is made.

Please be aware that this is a positive system. Students get an easy way to
earn 100% participation. Págames are not a discipline system. Any behavior
issues will be handled as stated in the Junior High Handbook.

Junior High Policies
* Extra Credit - Not available.  If retakes are offered, they must be done in
class to demonstrate mastery of a concept.  The better of the two grades,
never higher than 92,  will then be accepted.

*Missing Assignment - Follow last year's procedure of using missing homework
slip but if an assignment is more than two days late, the assignment then
becomes a zero. The assignment still needs to be completed, and students stay
in at recess every day until it is turned in.  If long term projects are not
completed the day they are due, points will be deducted from the final grade
for every day the assignment is late.
Four or more missing assignments in a subject equals a check on the report card.

*  Students will not be allowed to call home for missing assignments or materials.

I appreciate any positive/ constructive feedback and hope to have your
patience, cooperation, and understanding, as I work to make learning Spanish
fun and easy. Please feel free to contact me at anytime at
smerryweather@stjosaphat.net or at (773)-549-0909. You may also check for any
updates on my webpage at http://www.teacherweb.com/IL/StJosaphat/Merryweather/ .

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Sra. Merryweather

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