Princess Anne Middle School
2014-2015 Class Expectations
Teacher: Candice Tassone
School Telephone Number: 648-4950
Class: Exploratory French
Best time to reach me: Weekdays 8:30am - 9:00am
Email address: candice.tassone@vbschools.com
Wikispace: www.pams-tassone.wikispaces.com
Guidance Department: 648-4961
Course Description: The nine week Exploratory French course will introduce students to the French language and culture.
Students will have many opportunities to use the language as they interact with their peers and teacher. They will understand
and speak very basic French and they will learn information about other countries where French is spoken. They will explore
the rich traditions and cultures of French-speaking countries in a student-centered environment.
Course Objectives:
 Students provide and understand simple oral and written messages in French.
 Students recognize and use basic vocabulary.
 Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures.
 Students make contrasts and comparisons with their own culture and demonstrate acceptance of others.
Course Scope and Sequence: Exploratory students will cover units on greetings/farewells and introductions, alphabet and
numbers to 31, classroom expressions, classroom objects and colors, days of the week, months of the year, birthdays, weather,
and animals. Sports and French geography is explored, as well as, French holidays, as time allows.
Texts and Materials: There is no textbook for this curriculum. Students will need a 3-brad folder with pockets, clean
notebook paper, pen and/or pencil, and colored pencils/markers OR crayons. All materials should be brought to class daily OR
may be stored in the classroom in a designated area.
Assessment Measures: Students are assessed formally and informally throughout the course. Homework will only be
assigned occasionally and therefore is important when given. Homework, class work, quizzes and projects will be collected,
graded and returned to students within one week of the “turned-in” date. If assignments are not turned in on time academic
detention may be assigned.
Grading Procedures and Policies: The nine-week grade will be based on……
Class work / homework
= 1 (counts once)
Open – notebook quizzes = 2 (counts twice)
Oral presentations / projects= 3 (counts three times)
**Grades will be updated for you to see on Parent Portal each weekend, so you will see new grades on Mondays.
If a task is lengthy, it may take as many as 7 workdays to grade.
Princess Anne Middle School is implementing an academic detention program for teachers to utilize with
students who fail to complete assigned work. Teachers will issue academic detention to students who fail to
complete classwork, homework, or other assignments for the Wednesday following the week in which the work
was due. Wednesday detentions will be held from 4:00-5:30 PM, and parents will be notified of the detention via
an AlertNow email. The purpose of the academic detention is to notify parents of missing assignments and to
ensure students complete and return work considered important to the learning process. Therefore, students
will have until the day of the assigned detention to submit work owed. Those who do will not have to serve the
detention. Students who must serve detention will be required to complete the work owed during that time
frame. Keep in mind these academic detentions will not become part of a student’s disciplinary record.
Help Sessions: Extra help is offered each Monday afternoon from 3:55pm to 4:25pm in room 606. Students must ask
to have their agenda signed by me the previous day, and a parent will need to pick the student up at 4:25pm.
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves
Procedures for conferences, parental contacts: I invite parents to communicate with me often, and I promptly return
calls left for me. It is, however, even faster to communicate through the e-mail, as I check it several times a day. Teamwork
between teachers, parents and students is essential for students’ success. If you would like to meet with me in person, a
conference can be arranged through Guidance. If a student is earning less than an average grade for the grading period, a
face-to-face conference will be requested by the teacher, to set forth a plan of action.
Citizenship Expectations: Students learn more easily in a classroom that feels safe. It’s expected that new language learners
are going to make mistakes. For this reason, “making fun of” anyone will not be tolerated. Be responsible for your own
learning, and please ask questions when any information is not clear. Interruptions to instruction, or someone else’s learning
will result in these steps: 1. Verbal warning, 2. Parental contact, 3. Problem-solving assignment, 4. Detention, and then………...
5. Referral to Administrator.
My wish is that all students will be happy and succeed here! 
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves