Mrs. Virginia Heasley
Vocal Music/Secondary Latin
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SALVETE, DISCIPULI!
Here is a brief overvue for Latin students in grades 6, 7, and 8 for the 2008-2009 school year.
6th Graders will complete Latin for Children, Primer A and move quickly into Primer B.
7th Graders will have a new beginning! We will start our study in Jenney First Year Latin, completing lessons 1-8. Then we will complete stages 1-4 in The Cambridge Latin Course.
8th Graders will continue in The Cambridge Latin Course picking up with Stage 5 and completing the book. We will then return to Jenney First Year Latin and complete Lessons 9-12.
(These 2 Latin texts have very different approaches to teaching Latin and they compliment different student learning styles.)
All classes will be required to keep a SYNTAX FOLDER (a pocket folder with looseleaf notebook paper in it). All classes will be required to do VOCABULARY CARDS (3x5 cards, rubber bands and a file) for each new lesson and these should be kept in a file for review.
Students may have additional folders and/or notebooks as they organize themselves.
Each chapter, lesson or stage will include a Vocabulary Test or Quiz, a Syntax Quiz and a Test.
The sixth grade Latin class will be held in the 6th grade classroom. In the past some 6th grade students have found it challenging to remember Latin assignments because the class only meets Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I write the assignments on the board in their classroom. Parents, your student may need a little help from you to remember this work in their schedule.
7th and 8th graders must have an assignment notebook and they will be expected to enter their assignments each day.
HOMEWORK
Every night! Review current vocabulary and syntax! Latin is a subject in which each new lesson builds on the vocabulary and syntax (grammar) of all previous lessons. Tests will focus on new material but must include vocabulary and syntax already learned.
Students will regularly be assigned "Vocabulary Cards". These are tools with which they will study and review vocabulary words. I grade these very carefully and I expect the words to be copied accurately, including macra!
We do the majority of our practicing and translating in class. But other assignments are regularly given so I can assess an individual's progress. Sometimes time is given in class for students to begin an assignment so they can ask questions about the work. Sometimes the work must all be done at home.
There are 3 ways homework may be graded:
1. I collect and grade the work myself. I do my best to return this work the next day.
2. We trade papers in class and grade each other's work. These scores are counted.
3.Sometimes I just check to see that an assignment has been completed. 5 points if complete, 0 if not. (no chance to make up)
Homework is 1/3 of the total grade. Tests and quizzes make up the other 2/3. Students who do their homework accurately and thoughtfully, who seek to understand each new point of syntax and who assimilate each new vocabulary list into their ever increasing Latin word pool are able to do well on tests with a simple review of material already learned.
Homework can only be made up before the test is given on that lesson. Once we move on to a new lesson no credit will be given for the previous lesson's work. Students who have excused absences may see me about making up homework, quizzes, and tests in a timely manner.
This is a lot of information for you to take in especially since I'm well aware that I am not your only teacher and we do not all do things the same way. Please don't hesitate to ask questions. I'm available before and after school or you can e-mail me at heaslberry@comcast.net. I'm really looking forward to working with you all this year. There is so much to learn!
Valete, discipuli!