Course Syllabus
Syllabus
Latin I, Mrs. Beach
Course Overview: Latin I introduces students to the basics of the Latin language, primarily focusing on reading and grammar. Another important goal of the course is for students to learn about Ancient Roman culture. Instruction will typically take place in English, but as we progress, students should expect to receive increasing amounts of information in our target language, Latin.
“Nescire autem quid antequam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum. (To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.)” Marcus Tullius Cicero
Rules and Expectations: We will go over rules and expectations more specifically during the first day of school. If you add this course or miss the first day for any reason, you are still responsible for maintaining behavioral expectations, so please see Mrs. Beach for details.
Our classroom rules revole around the qualities of respect and integrity. Students will show respect to teacher, peers, classroom, materials, and selves. This includes arriving on time with all required materials, producing neat work done to the best of the student’s ability, returning classwork and homework on time and complete, and respecting classroom procedures for all activities. Please see the student handbook for schoolwide consequences of tardies, absences, etc.
Above all, please maintain your integrity. Better by far to offer no excuse and suffer consequences, better by far to admit to a mistake, than to lie about it. If you are dishonest with me, I cannot help you, nor will I be able to extend grace to you. Any cheating, including helping someone else cheat, will be subject to severe consequences.
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Behavioral Consequences: We will go over specific procedures in detail during class, but please use your good sense and common decency at all times. If you fail to be respectful and follow our classroom rules, the consequences are as follows:
1st offense = warning (verbal or written)
2nd offense = private conference, additional consequences assigned at my discretion
3rd offense = detention, parents contacted
further offenses = office referral, additional consequences assigned at my discretion
“Time ripens all things; no man is born wise.” Miguel de Cervantes
Makeup Work: Everyone gets sick. I understand. However, you are responsible for content that you miss whenever you are absent for any reason. Assigned paperwork will appear in your class folder along with the date it was assigned, and content covered will be evident via our class website. I encourage you to also find a buddy in your class and trade phone numbers so you can easily get notes. Any and all makeup work is due back after the number of days you were absent (e.g., if you were out for two days, you have two days to make up the work and it is due on the third day back).
*Snow Days: Please check the class website for snow day assignments.
“There's no such thing as dead languages, only dormant minds.” Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Getting Help: I am happy to support you through tutoring as much as possible. However, it is your responsibility to contact me for an appointment. I will not drag you through material if you are not willing to contribute your own effort. If your schedule does not permit tutoring with me, I will also be happy to help you find a peer tutor. If you excel in Latin, you may have an opportunity to become a tutor yourself!
If you just have questions (versus requiring a lot of help with the material itself), you are welcome to drop in whenever I am not teaching or meeting with someone. I arrive at school early and have 4th period open after lunch.
You may make appointments or ask questions anytime by emailing me: beachk@gcsnc.com
“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle
Grades: Your final grade will be an average of the four quarters (20% each) and your final exam (20%). Each quarter will have:
- 2 tests (20%)
- 1 project (10%)
- many quizzes (40%)
- daily grade for each day composed of classwork and/or participation (20%)
- nightly homework (10%)
I like to give quizzes often, but I will not always grade them. You will have at least one quiz per week that is graded.
Late work will be accepted for 50% credit on the following day, but only if you show it to me at the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to obtain this grace after making a mistake. More than one day late is a 0 unless you were absent.
If you miss any important assessments due to absence, it is your job to schedule a makeup time with me. All other work is due according to the schedule above (see Makeup Work).
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston S. Churchill
Device Policy: It is the policy of the foreign language department that any internet-connected device is not allowed to be on your person during class. Please silence and deposit your devices in the appropriate pocket at the beginning of class, and remember to pick them up on the way out. I will not remind you. This policy is zero-tolerance, meaning you will not receive a second chance to put away your device. If I discover it on your person or it makes a sound during class, I will confiscate it and you will have to go immediately to ISS.
“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” Pablo Picasso
In short, be responsible for yourself, be honest, be considerate, and enjoy the opportunity to learn something new.
Please keep the above portion of the syllabus, but sign below accordingly an return to Mrs. Beach by the third day of school. This document will remain available for download on the class website.
I have read and I understand the entirety of this document. I agree to ask questions about anything I do not understand before affixing my signature. I agree to abide by the conditions in this document for as long as I am in Mrs. Beach’s class. If I am unable to abide by the rules contained herein, I understand that I am subject to consequences from my teacher and/or my school.
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Student Signature Date
I understand and agree to the rules and expectations printed herein, and will do all that I can to support this student in the pursuit of learning and integrity. I will contact Mrs. Beach with any questions I have, and I understand that I may contact her at any point during the year for information about this student or this class.
________________________________________ _______________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
Additional Consent Items (Please circle yes or no for each)
- Mrs. Beach may post pictures/video/recordings/work samples of this student on the class website. Yes/No
- Mrs. Beach may use pictures/video/recordings/work samples of this student in her professional portfolio. Yes/No
Mrs. Beach may share pictures/video/recordings/work samples of this student with other teachers for the purpose of professional development. Yes/No
Course Summary:
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