Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Department of World Languages
Signora Kudron
2009-2010
Benvenuti alla classe d’italiano! Welcome to Italian class!
Please review the following information to ensure a great experience in
Italian class this year!
CLASS EXPECTATIONS, GUIDELINES AND GRADING POLICY
* The focus of this course is for you to learn to use language as a means of
communication with others.
* Italian language and culture will be introduced through various units of
study, which center on communicating in common informal settings and aspects
of daily life.
* Activities in this course are designed to help you begin to develop
speaking and listening skills as well as reading and writing skills.
* You should be prepared to work as soon as you enter the classroom. Class
will be conducted mainly in the target language.
---Cooperative Group Assignments & Individual Responsibilities---
Students will be divided into cooperative groups consisting of 4-5 students.
Each cooperative group will be provided with a group notebook/folder which
will be used to record each day’s do-now activity, homework assignment and
notes. The group notebook/folder will be checked each day and collected at
the end of each month as a writing grade.
These are the group member responsibilities:
(if a group has 5 members, the 5th person will the captain’s assistant).
Il Capitano:
Each day il Capitano must go to his/her period’s crate and take his/her
group’s folder which will be given to the group Segretario. The group
captain is responsible for his/her group’s overall class performance and
must complete the responsibilities of any member who may be absent from
class.
Il Segretario/La Segretaria:
Each day il Segretario must record the date, do-now & homework assignment
into the group notebook. The group secretary is also responsible for taking
class notes and distributing all handouts provided during class.
Il Cronometro:
Each day il Cronometro must be sure that his/her group takes out their
homework & homework points and that the Secretary has recorded the do-now &
homework assignment within the first two minutes from the beginning of
class. The time-keeper will keep track of time for his/her group during
timed activities.
L’Allenatore:
Each day l’Allenatore must help keep his/her group on task. The coach
should offer assistance to any other member of the group, as needed.
Each student in your group will be responsible for a specific task each
week on a rotating basis. New groups will be assigned at the beginning of
each marking period.
*INDIVIDUAL students will each be given a blue book in which to complete all
do-now writing assignments. Unannounced blue books will be conducted at
least once a month. If a student does not have his or her blue book for the
blue book check, he/she will receive no credit for that graded assignment.
--- Class Group & Individual Participation ---
Since this is a language class, all students will be expected to orally
participate using the target language on a daily basis. A record will be
kept of your daily individual and group participation. Consequently,
students who participate in an inappropriate manner will loose individual
participation points on a daily basis.
If you are unable to respond in Italian during class, you may use up to
one "pass" each day. The goal is to speak only in the target language and
not to use ANY "passes". If no passes are used for an entire week, each
member of the group will receive an euro point.
--- Grading Policy ---
1) A point system will be used to grade speaking and listening exercises.
2) Rubrics will be used to assess writing assignments, oral presentations,
and projects.
3) Group class participation/preparation will be recorded on a group chart.
Your group will receive stamps, which will count as points. These points
will be collected at the end of each month.
4) Individual class participation will be recorded by me. You may earn one
point each day for your participation. Points WILL be deducted for any
inappropriate behavior during class.
4) Homework will be checked DAILY. You will receive a stamp for each
completed homework assignment. These points will be collected and graded
twice a marking period.
5) Individual students may earn “euros” for demonstrating exceptional use of
language in the classroom. These “euros” may be exchanged for homework
passes or extra points on upcoming quizzes.
6) Spot notebook checks will be conducted and count as quiz grades at least
once every marking period.
7) The World Language Department grading policy will be used and is as
follows: Speaking/Listening: 50% Reading/Writing: 50%
8) You and/or your parents may access your grades at any time from
mygradebook.com
**Speaking and Listening
1) Half of your overall grade is based on speaking and listening exercises
completed and assessed during class.
2) Speaking and listening exercises include oral interactions and class
participation, role-plays, oral interviews, oral presentations of projects
and listening activities.
**Reading and Writing
3) The other half or your grade is mainly based on reading and writing
assignments completed during class or at home.
4) These assignments include do-now assignments, reading and contextual
written grammar assignments, projects and homework assignments.
**Homework Policy
Homework is an extremely important part of your learning experience. It is
meant to emphasize what is learned in class. Unless otherwise specified,
your homework is due the following school day.
* YOU WILL RECEIVE NO CREDIT FOR LATE HOMEWORK.
If you miss class, it is your responsibility to check TeacherWeb for your
posted homework assignments.
CLASS ROUTINES AND CONSEQUENCES
In order to ensure a positive learning environment, I expect everyone to
follow these class routines:
1. Come to class on time. Have a pass if you are late to class.
2. Bring all necessary materials to class every day.
3. Respect teachers, peers and their personal space and property.
4. Speak only when appropriate.
5. No eating or drinking in the classroom.
6. No personal electronic devices in the classroom,as per School Policy.
7. Remain seated until the bell rings.
If these routines are not followed, I will enforce the following
consequences:
1. Polite request to stop
2. Lose class participation point
3. After school teacher detention
4. Written referral to vice-principal
5. Restricted/alternative classroom
**Tardiness and absenteeism
The school policy on tardiness and absenteeism will be enforced. It is your
responsibility to complete any missed work, which will be accepted as per
your student handbook.
Consult with classmates and group notebook/folder to find out what you
missed. Any missed test or assignment must be completed on the next school
day you attend.
EXTRA INSTRUCTION/HELP
Extra instruction will be provided for those students who display a genuine
effort to understand the material presented in class. If you feel you need
extra help, please see me for an after school appointment or contact me at
skudron@spfk12.org.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR COURSE
You should bring the following materials with you to class every day:
1. pens, pencils and erasers
2. a three hole puncher & a three ring loose-leaf type binder-divided into 3
labeled sections:
a) Homework (compiti)
b) Class work/notes (appunti)
c) Assessments/graded materials (voti)
3. Blank loose-leaf paper kept in the appunti section of your binder.
4. Blue book (provided by Mrs. Kudron)
*Unannounced notebook and Blue Book checks will be conducted at least once a
month.