These are Frequently Asked Questions from parents and students:
Q: How do I see my grade?
A: log in to the student/parent portal at: https://ic.sjusd.org/campus/portal/sanjose.jsp If you have questions about how your grade is calculated, you can refer to the course syllabus or send me an email with any concerns you might have.
Q: Do you offer extra credit?
A: I enjoy students who take the time to go above and beyond what is requested of them for projects, assignments, and homework. These students are often rewarded with bonus points.
Tests and quizzes often have bonus questions which represent extra points for those who choose to complete them and do so accurately. I learned from my father that you get out of things what you put into them, so if you do more you get more. That’s my rule of thumb.
Q: What is your late work policy?
A: I have spent the last two years modifying both what and how I assess a student for their level of proficiency and their performance in the French language, and I have come to some different conclusions about late work. What I have decided is that students who do not complete the work will be given an incomplete for graded assignments. Once students submit the work, they will be assigned a grade based on the standards-based rubric.
Q: Do you allow retakes on quizzes and tests?
A: I want students to be successful, and I realize that they may need to go back and master a skill that they have not yet mastered. Which means that they will need to demonstrate mastery of those skills at some point in order to move on to the next level. If a student fails an assessment and needs to show they have subsequently mastered those assessed standards, an appropriate measure will be provided.
Q: Please explain the daily “I can statements” on the agenda?
A: We measure our progress based on three standards of communication:
- Interpersonal Communication
- Presentational speaking and writing
- Interpretive listening and reading
Students take into account the different learning objects for each day and each week and provide evidence in the form of “I can…” statements. Visit the American Council on the teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) for more information on the Global Can-Do Benchmarks.
Q: Is there a way for parents to get involved?
A: Absolument ! Please consider sharing your Francophone connections with us. Email Madame mfoster@sjusd.org to let her know what you might want to contribute. I would love to establish more connections to the community of Francophones here in the Bay Area. If you are involved in l’Alliance Française or another organization and/or are a native French speaker and would like to present a cultural comparison on educational systems, food, transportation, e-commerce, etc. to the students please do not hesitate to contact me. There is one other way to get involved, help sponsor our technology projects through the non-profit organization Donors Choose. Your entirely tax deductible donation will ensure we get the tools we need to teach 21st Century skills to our avid learners. http://www.donorschoose.org/madamefoster
Q: Is there a French club?
Sadly, no. We have not had students interested in starting it up this year. In the past, we have had big plans to:
a)begin a charity fundraiser;
b)sponsor a field trip to the Monterey Defense Language Institute’s Language Day in May;
c)host crêpe sales;
d)host French film festivals;
e)and, as always, eat our way through the different cultural holidays and festivals of France and Canada! [Miam! Croissants, Nutella & Poutine!]
We used to meet weekly on Fridays for FRENCH FRIDAYS!
Should a student wish to start it back up, we could once again reinstitute the meetings during tutorial in MLC-TV Studio vous seriez le bienvenue!
Mrs. M. Foster 