What you will need for class and how you will be graded

Beginning French (7th grade)
Folder with loose-leaf paper, devoted entirely to French.
A pen or pencil everyday.
Textbook every day, no exceptions.


Level I (8th grade)

Folder.
Section of notebook or one subject notebook devoted entirely to French.
A pen or pencil everyday.
The will to succeed.


Grading Rules:

Beginning French
Tests - 35%
Quizzes and classwork - 40%
Homework - 15%
Participation- 10%

Level I
Tests - 30%
Quizzes- 25%
"Little" grammar quizzes- 20%
Homework - 15%
Participation- 10%

Rules and Rewards

RULES

1.Listen to others when they are speaking. That means me AND people in your class.

2.Have EVERYTHING with you and BE ON TIME. You will not be allowed to leave the room

after the bell rings. Ask me for locker and bathroom BEFORE the bell rings. (BOOKS will be

expected EVERYDAY, no matter what!)

3.Keep ‘yourself to yourself.’

4.Raise your hand to speak or leave your seat. That means for anything… Pencil sharpener,

garbage, tissue…

5.Do not swear, tease, or argue. Do not say the “S-U” word. Do not say “It’s not fair.” *

IF YOU CHOOSE TO BREAK A RULE:

I generally give at least one verbal warning if you break a rule. I give you a chance to ‘redeem’ yourself. An exception to this is if you overtly disrupt the class or disrespect anyone. Consequences may be as follows (in order of severity):

Pulled out of class for one on one with Miss B.

Classroom Detention. (always used for tardiness and ‘book forgetfulness.’)

Phone Call home (to be used in correlation with any other consequence.)

Removed from class, sent to office.

Referral.

REWARDS

Just as bad behavior has a consequence, good behavior has its rewards. Tickets are handed out for homework completed, mistakes pointed out, individual exceptional participation, winners of various activities…

Each Friday individual tickets tallied. You must have FIVE tickets to trade for a small reward. You may trade them in for items worth five tickets or ten tickets. Items may include:

French pens and pencils.

French key chains.

Eiffel Tower pencil sharpeners.

French mouse pads (NEW)

French laynards (NEW)

French wrist-bands (NEW)

French stickers.

Free Homework Passes.

5 points added to your next test or quiz.

Yummy treats.

In addition to tickets, rewards for great behavior and work always include:

Praise (all the time!)

Happy phone calls home.

My love and devotion as your teacher!

Free time or a French film.

Various food gatherings throughout the year

Various other perks to be discussed!

Jusqu'avant la rentrée (Right before the start of school)

Bonjour et Bienvenue à mon 'blog.'
This blog will be used to keep students and parents informed about the 'goings on' of French class. I am new to blogging, so this should be interesting! Blog blog blog...omg, lolz, lmao. ( Je deteste le "IM speak.")
I have had one of the most relaxing summers of my existence. I exercised, worked on some home-improvement, had a ridiculous 30th birthday party, shopped (of course), finished my Master's Degree and created my professional portfolio. Although I did not travel this summer I am in the process of planning two trips: mainly one to London over winter break to visit family.

I will post on this site when there are important projects or assignments coming up. I will try and post homework assignments whenever they arise.
Upcoming tests and quizzes will also be posted.
I have already created a list of helpful and interesting links on the right-hand side of the page. I would highly suggest that my 8th grade students check out the online component of our textbook. This is a very helpful tool.
I will also gladly add any links students present to me. I love good new French links!

For now, at the beginning of a brand new year, I am going to paste below an excerpt from a poem a college professor introduced to me to almost ten years ago. The poem entire is a young girl's vision of what she would say if she was confronted by the Nazi Gestapo and taken to a concentration camp during WWII (she was a Jew in hiding at the time.) I always think about this poem as the ideal way to try and live life. I think teaching is such a wonderful career, it makes me feel I have found the path in life I was meant to follow, but I'm always learning. So let's have a great year and find our way together.

-Miss B <3
If they came in the night
- excerpt from a poem by Marge Piercy

I said , I like my life. If I
have to give it back, if they
take it from me, let me only
not feel I wasted any, let me
not feel I forgot to love anyone
I meant to love, that I forgot
to give what I held in my hands,
that I forgot to do some little
piece of work that wanted
to come through