ITALIANO 8Signor Parlapiano 2016-2017

Ciao! Welcome to Italian class! My name is Signor Parlapiano, and I will be assisting you on your new journey of studying the Italian language and culture. Learning a new language is a rewarding and fun experience, and it is my expectation that with hard work and practice we

will have a successful year! :)

About your teacher:This is my fifth year teaching Italian here at Van Wyck JHS. I am passionate about the Italian

language and culture, and I hope to convey to each and every one of my students that learning a language is both fun and rewarding.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions/concerns!(845) 227-1700 ext. 20116

nicholas.parlapiano@wcsdny.org

Extra help: available on Thursday mornings (7:20AM) by appointment only

I. Course description:Italiano 8 is the second part of a two-year sequence of foreign language study at the middle

school level. After successful completion of Italiano 7, Italiano 8 and a Proficiency Examination (administered at the end of Italiano 8) students will receive one high school

credit towards graduation.

In Italiano 8, a variety of new units that were not presented in Italiano 7 will be introduced, such as: health/welfare, community/shopping, earning a living/public and

private services, leisure (sports/hobbies), and travel,  Verbs, vocabulary and other concepts from last year will be utilized this year, as well. As the school year ends our focus will be on reviewing for the Proficiency Examination, which measures all that

students have retained from 7th AND 8th grade Italian.

II. Class rules:1. Come to class prepared with all supplies

2. Be seated and ready to work when the bell rings3. Be respectful to each other, your teacher and the classroom

4. Speak as much Italian as possible! Don’t worry about making mistakes… it’s part of the learning process!

5. If you feel as if you need help with something… ask for it. It’s my job to help you succeed!

6. Have fun!

III. Grading policy: Tests: 35% (always announced in advanced)

Quizzes/Projects: 35% (quizzes may or may not be announced in advanced, and the lowest grade will be dropped every quarter)

Homework: 20% (homework is to be completed on-time and neatly)

Class Participation: 10% (I will use the attached rubric provided by the state of New York to assess class participation on a quarterly basis)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The use of any type of online translator (example: Google Translate) for any assignment will be given a 0% and no opportunity for a “re-do”

IV. Class supplies:1. A binder - 1" or bigger - to be used only for Italian class

2. Three dividers, labeled as follows:- "Appunti" (Notes)

- "Fogli" (Worksheets)- "Esami/Esamini" (Tests/Quizzes)

3. Loose-leaf paper for the "Appunti" section of your binder4. Pens/pencils

5. One pack of Post-It notes6. Coloring supplies (to be left at home unless otherwise instructed)

7. A basic Italian-English dictionary (no more than $10 at Barnes and Noble or Jerrick's – to be left at home unless otherwise instructed)

Optional supplies:1. One dispenser of hand sanitizer or Clorox Wipes for the classroom (much appreciated!)

2. Index cards - they are, hands down, the most effective way to study vocabulary!

V. Absent work:Students have the amount of time they were out of school, once they return, to make up

absent work. For example, if a student is out for three days then (s)he has three days from his/her return to school to make up all missed assignments. After the time has passed I will be putting 0% in my grade book for any missing assignment. There will be folders with each

day of the week (Monday through Friday) labeled on them in which students can find the work missed for that day. It is the responsibility of the student to ask a peer to copy any

missed notes taken in class.

VI. “The 85%+ club”:One bulletin board in our classroom will be updated throughout the year to reflect student grades (tests, quizzes, averages) of “mastery” (grades of 85% or higher) of the material. I

would like students to be proud of their work in Italian class; however, I will post names only if both parents/guardians and students are okay with me doing so. With that being said,

please indicate on the sheet that will be returned to me if I have permission to post student name/grade when they achieve 85% on an assessment or for a quarter average (I would like

both the parent/guardian AND the student to indicate this for me, please).

VII. How to succeed in Italiano 8:

1. Study vocab every night, even when there is no written homework. You will be expected to learn more vocabulary this year than any other year of Italian throughout

your middle/high school careers!

2. Don't throw anything away! Old worksheets, tests, quizzes are great study tools, plus you will occasionally assessed on your organizational skills.

3. SPEAK ITALIAN! The more you speak the easier it gets. Remember: "practice makes perfect". Plus you're graded on participation every quarter!

**This is a high school credit-bearing course; therefore, the amount of work and responsibility that is expected from you this year will increase

significantly from last year. Doing the “bare minimum” amount of work will NOT lead to

success this year. You are expected to complete all assignments on-time, you are expected to

study vocabulary/grammar EVERY NIGHT for at least 15 minutes, and you are expected to pay

attention in class at all times.**

Please return this page to Signor Parlapiano by Friday 9/9/16 for your first HW grade!

Student name (printed): __________________________

I have read and understand the rules/expectations of Signor Parlapiano’s Italiano 8 class for the 2015-16 year.

___________________ ___________________

Student Signature Parent Signature

Circle one: Signor Parlapiano may / may not post my name and respective grade on our in-class “The 85%+ club” board when I achieve a score of mastery (85% or higher) on an assessment in Italian class or for a quarter grade in Italian class.

___________________ ___________________

Student Signature Parent Signature