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Magistra LigonLatin I&IIligonta@cps-k12.org Room 234 363-8518
All students are required to have the following supplies:
*Latin for Americans textbook (supplied) *workbook (to be purchased; $10)
*Binder, size 1.5" or 2"-needs to be durable *Loose-leaf paper, college-ruled
*Blue, black and red ink pens only(not erasable) *2 boxes of kleenex
*pocket dividers for binder- 4 (one per quarter)*refillable water bottle
*note-cards for vocabulary flash cards *book cover (stretchy kind OK)White-out is not permitted.Donations of hand sanitizer requested.
Important Dates for 2009-10:
First Semester: Second Semester:
8/10 Teacher day 1/4 Teacher day
8/11 Classes begin 1/5 Classes resume
8/27 Parents' Night-6.30-8.45 pm- please attend! 1/18 King Holiday
9/7 Labor Day Holiday 2/15 Presidents' Holiday
10/9 End First Quarter 3/11 End of Third Quarter
10/12 Teacher day 3/12 Teacher day
11/1 Open House for prospective families 1-3.00 pm 3/22-26 Spring Holiday
11/9 Veterans' Holiday 5/20 Last day of classes
11/25-7 Thanksgiving Holiday Graduation
12/18 End Second Quarter; begin Winter Holiday 5/21 Teacher day
N.B.: Walnut Hills does not take extra “professional development” days as does most of CPS. Students are expected to be in class.
Basic information:This class will cover roughly one chapter per week. Latin I currently covers chapters 1-28 and Latin II completes the textbook with chapters 29-54. (This may change slightly during the year.)
While chapter quizzes specifically test the new vocabulary, grammar and readings from that particular lesson, due to the nature of learning a language each student must study and review daily, whether or not there is a written assignment due the next day.
The best route to success in Latin class is to 1) prepare assignments assiduously, 2) pay attention during class and make notes of any errors made at home, 3) ask questions in class when unsure about an error, 4) review each day's work at home before beginning the new assignment. This will make studying for Grammar & Translation quizzes (G&T) easier, and will help with daily comprehension.
Extra help:Students needing assistance outside of class should attend help sessions: before classes begin, from 7.00-7.25 and lunchtime (usually lunch 2; bring your lunch with you!) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are set aside for extra help for Latin I and Latin II students. If it seems there is need to separate the classes, any changes will be published online as well as in the classroom. Please come prepared with something specific to work on. Attendance will only be taken of students in attendance and working for at least 15 minutes. Please be aware that sometimes sessions will have to be cancelled due to meetings, conferences, etc: pay attention to the class notice board for information. Please do not wait to seek assistance. While there is a possibility to overcome a failing quarter or even first semester grade, with sustained and significant effort, it is far less stressful for student, family and teacher to "head off" any problems early.
The Classics Department has purchased a software program for practicing vocabulary and grammatical forms (endings), called Latin Vocab Drill / Latin Flash Drill. This program is installed on the student computers in the labs and library. Though it cannot be used over the Internet on the school server, it can be purchased fairly inexpensively for individual home use from Centaur Systems (be sure to specify Latin for Americans 1997 edition). There are separate volumes for Books I (Latin 1-2) and II (Latin 3); consider buying both, since all students are required to complete at least Latin 3.
Assignments: Homework and classwork assignments comprise 25% of the quarter grade each term. (This is a Department-wide policy.) All assignments are equal in weight. Assignments are usually made at least several days in advance and published on the class notice board and on the teacher's HomeLink "Planned Monthly Calendar" sub-page. Please double-check if you are uncertain of an assignment, or call your Latin Study Buddy, a reliable classmate from your own section (different sections may have slightly different homework). LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED; we correct work in class on the day it is due.
Assignments are usually graded for completeness rather than correctness, but be aware that there are specific guidelines for completing different types of assignments (story translation, exercises, flash cards, workbook pages). Partial credit may or may not be awarded for assignments completed in the wrong format. Students completing at least 22/25% of their assignment average may qualify to drop their lowest quiz score at the end of the quarter.
Students are required to turn in assignments which were due during any absence on the day of their return; for absences longer than 2 days, contact the teacher via email no later than the second day out, to make alternative arrangements. Assignments not made up according to this policy will be marked NHI (not handed in) or NMU (not made up). These scores calculate as a zero.
Quizzes: Chapter quizzes comprise 25% of the quarter grade each term. (This is a Department-wide policy.) Each chapter should have two separate and equally-weighted quizzes, one earlier in the chapter on vocabulary and one ending the chapter on the grammar contained in that chapter as well as sample sentences or exercises from the work we have completed in class. Note that careful note-taking and review will earn you a high quiz average! Students earning at least 22/25% of their quiz average may qualify to drop their lowest homework grade at the end of the quarter.
Students absent on a quiz day are required to make up that quiz either before class (7.00-7.20) or at lunchtime on the first day of their return; for absences longer than 2 days, contact the teacher via email no later than the second day to make alternative arrangements. Quizzes not made up according to this policy will be marked NMU (not made up). This score calculates as a zero.
Students' binders must be kept complete and up-to-date, in reverse- chronological order of DUE date
(with the newest material at the front); binders will be collected at least once per quarter- notice may or may not be given prior to collection. Binder checks will count as a quiz grade.
Tests: Class tests are more comprehensive than chapter quizzes. They may be as often as every chapter, and at least at the end of every textbook unit. Tests may include vocabulary, grammar and seen sentences (like chapter quizzes), and also may include culture, history or geography questions or unseen sentences.
Students absent on a test day are required to make up that test either before class (7.00-7.20) or at lunchtime on the first day of their return; for absences longer than 2 days, contact the teacher via email no later than the second day to make alternative arrangements. Tests not made up according to
this policy will be marked NMU (not made up). This score calculates as a zero.
Absences: Students who are absent from school must have a parent or guardian call the appropriate school office by 10.00 am on that day, and on their return to school must present a note from a parent or guardian with the reason for the absence. This must be done before classes begin. Unexcused absences do not carry make-up privileges: please avoid missing classes as much as possible. This is for your protection: it is very difficult to catch up after being out, even for a day. Please be sure to give early notice in advance of any planned absence.
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