Learning a foreign language requires practice and participation.  Here's what you need to know about the class and its aspects:

Participation

• Participation is a daily expectation. Examples of participation include, but are not limited to, demonstrating exercises, performing, volunteering to put homework on the board, presenting information, assisting classmates instructionally, etc...
• Participation will be monitored and will constitute 10% of your quarter grade
• Participation in excess of expectations will be taken into consideration for class reward opportunities
• Participation monitoring also takes into account negative classroom interactions. Examples of negative behaviors include, but are not limited to, unexcused tardiness, distracting behavior, disrespect, violation of school or class expectations

L'Échauffement (Bellringer)
L'Échauffement will start most class days.  You will receive an échauffement evaluation sheet from M^me Delaney which will be collected every two weeks.  This evaluation sheet should be kept in your binder.  The échauffement will be written on the north whiteboard, identified by class level.  The échauffement should be begun upon class entry and will be timed. After the timer bell has rung, Mme Delaney will circulate to check your work and date-stamp the evaluation sheet.  If you do not have your evaluation sheet, you will receive no credit for that day's échauffement--even if you perform it correctly! The sheets will not be stamped after the fact

return to top

Délivrances de Devoirs (Homework Passes)
Délivrances de Devoirs can be earned in a variety of ways including, but not limited to:

• earning a perfect score on an exam (not a quiz or an assignment, but an exam!)
• Certain games/activities may have them as an award

• projects
• non-qualified daily homework assignments (as announced by M^me Delaney upon giving the assignment)
• portfolio assignments
• in-class activities/assignments/quizzes/exams/group work
• The use of a Délivrance de Devoirs will appear as an "ex" on the grade sheet (both posted in the classroom and on-line), meaning that you were excused from doing the assignment

Délivrances have your name on them.  They should be kept in your portfolio, because if you do not have them to turn in, you cannot get credit for the assignment.

Unused Délivrances de Devoirs may be entered into the class raffle at the end of the school year (usually held on the day of the Semester II final exam) for wonderful prizes.

How to use the Délivrance de Devoirs:

• Keep them in your portfolio (in the file cabinet in the classroom)
• When you are turning one in for an assignment, the Délivrance is due when the assignment is due, so have it ready to turn in either to the Devoirs basket or to M^me Delaney if she is coming around to grade homework
• Make sure to write the name of the assignment for which it is being used on the Délivrance

Le Dossier (Portfolio)
Your portfolio will count for 10% of your quarter grade.  They are to be kept in the classroom and should never be taken out of the classroom.  You will receive a checklist about a week prior to the end of the quarter that will identify what should be in your portfolio.  The following is a basic list of types of items/assignments that may form your portfolio:

• Délivrances de Devoirs
• Journal Entry selections
• Artistic endeavors
• Group project evaluations
• Comparative quizzes (those which show marked improvement)
• Projects
• Film packets
• Holiday-related projects

Les Devoirs (Homework)
Devoirs refers to regular daily homework (not projects or journal entries).  It is generally assigned Monday through Thursday.  There are two kinds of devoirs:  achèvement  (completion) and corrigé (for correction).  Achèvement are checkmarked and recorded in the gradebook.  Corrigé are turned in to the Devoirs basket,  graded by M^me Delaney and generally returned to the Boîte de Devoirs (homework box) the next day.  It will be announced when the assignment is given which type it is.

You need to collect your graded assignments on a daily basis upon class entry, before or after completing the échauffement. Assignments not picked up will be discarded after a week.

The standing daily devoirs is to go over the class notes and day's vocabulary orally for 5-10 minutes.

return to top

Les Notes (Grades)
Grades will be posted by ID number on the bulletin board   and will hopefully be available on-line and updated regularly.  You are encouraged to check your grades weekly to make sure that you are not missing any work.  Also teachers are human and we do make mistakes and typos.  Be prepared to produce evidence, by saving your work in your binder, and informing M^me Delaney of any inaccuracies.

return to top

Divers (Miscellaneous)
You are encouraged to practice orally at home the day's lesson.  Do not expect French to be like English or like any other language for that matter.  There are lots of similarities and lots of differences.  If you have previous foreign language experience, it will be helpful.

It is expected that you will be on time to class.  The PMSA tardy policy will be strictly enforced.

It is expected that you will complete all assignments on time.  Assignments turned in one day late may receive 75% credit.  Assignments more than one week late will not be accepted and only able to be made up during instructional assistance time under a World Language Teacher's supervision.

M^me Delaney is available during instructional assistance time and will be in Room 308.   She can also be available before or after school by appointment.  Feel free to e-mail her at h can be arranged.

Come prepared with all necessary materials on a daily basis. Please see the welcome letter for details about these materials. Mme Delaney can be reached via e-mail at ddelaney@pths209.org or medelaney@hotmail.com.  Tutoring for French is available by arrangement or during instructional assistance time.

There will be homework just about every night (some exceptions will be made for Fridays)

Most of all enjoy opening up your world by learning a foreign language.  You not only learn the language, you learn the culture and gain a broader global perspective.

return to top

Return to M^me Delaney's Homepage