Latin I (Magister Selvaggio)
Instructor
Magister
Giorgio Selvaggio
Phone
(916) 780-6800
Ext. 207
Course Overview
This course will teach you how to speak, read, and write Latin at a first-year level. The course will
also focus on the influence that Latin has on the English language, using this exploration to enhance
our English vocabularies. We will also use Ancient Roman culture, history, and mythology to better
understand the people who spoke the Latin language.
Course Objectives
Email
Scholars who complete this course will be able to:
Giorgio.Selvaggio@
johnadamsacademy.com
Office Location
Room 7
-explain how specific English words come from Latin (morphologically and culturally)
-craft a Latin sentence with excellent grammar
-translate Latin into English
-translate English into Latin
-recall key facts about the culture, mythology, and history of those who spoke Latin
Course Materials
 3-ring binder specifically for Latin class
(5 dividers: Notes, Classwork, Homework, Assessments, Misc.)
 Pencil
 Loose Leaf Paper
 Planner
Daily Agenda
Before the period begins, scholars should quietly enter the classroom, take their seats, take out all necessary class materials
(including the previous night’s homework), and face the front of the room.
When the period begins, the teacher will greet the class as follows:
“Salvete discipuli!” (Greetings, scholars!)
The scholars will respond:
“Salve, Magister Selvaggio!” (Greetings, Mr. Selvaggio)
Each lesson will have a warm-up activity, which is to be completed individually. Students should complete this activity
within the first 5-10 minutes of class, and then they should review it, first with a partner, and then as a class.
After the warm-up activity, the teacher will explain what scholars should be able to do by the end of the lesson. Then the
lesson will begin, and scholars should be taking notes. At the end of the period, scholars will hand in any exit worksheets
or other in-class activities.
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Homework
Homework must be completed at the beginning of class. If the homework involves translating sentences, scholars may not
use an online translator. Online translators are not an effective way of demonstrating how well scholars have learned the
material. Use of online translators will be seen as cheating and will result in no credit on that homework assignment.
Denarii
Behavior is rewarded & penalized with fake Latin money known as denarii. The exact breakdown of how denarii is
distributed will be listed on another sheet of paper.
Quizzes and Assessments
This class is focused on vocabulary, grammar, translation, culture, history, mythology, and reading comprehension. In this
class, a quiz is a written or oral assessment that tests one skill scholars have learned. A unit assessment tests every skill
scholars have learned throughout that unit. A cumulative assessment tests every skill scholars have learned throughout
the year up to that point. Scholars will take 1-2 quizzes per week, a unit assessment every 2 weeks, and a cumulative
assessment (midyear exam).
Scholar may not retake quizzes, and low quiz scores will not be dropped. However, if a scholar wants to retake a unit
assessment, he or she may do so only after meeting with the teacher at least once to review the material. Scholars are
allowed 2 retakes per semester, and this is a privilege, not a right.
Classroom Policies
If a scholar needs to leave the room, the scholar must raise his or her hand and ask in Latin one of the following questions:
“Mihi licetne ad latrinam ire?” (May I go to the bathroom?)
“Mihi licetne ad aquam bibendam ire?” (May I go drink water?)
Scholars who engage in inappropriate behavior (talking out of turn, disrupting the learning process, using inappropriate
language) will be given a warning, and if they continue to engage in the same behavior, they will be held after school.
Bullying and insubordination create an unsafe classroom environment, and therefore, scholars who bully or insubordinate
will be sent out of the classroom immediately.
Latin Moments
Latin moments occur when a student sees or hears Latin outside of the classroom. Whether found in a book you are
reading, a teacher of another class, a phrase in a museum, an old building, or a song, Latin is all around us, and scholars of
Latin should recognize this in order to make the most of their Latin experience. On some days, students will be asked to
come to class with Latin moments already prepared in exchange for denarii and participation points.
Grade Breakdown
Quizzes (20%), Unit Assessments (30%)
Midyear Exam (25%)
Semester Project (10%)
Homework (10%)
Self-Assessment (5%)
*You will be allowed to assess your classroom conduct, participation, and behavior. This, too, is a privilege, not a
right.
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