Hello and welcome! I have been teaching Latin in AISD for 14 years. My own three children are all Martin High School graduates, so I have been closely associated with MHS for even longer. I have a B.S. in Education with a major in Latin from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I teach all levels of Latin (first year through AP), sponsor the Latin Club, and Latin Honor Society.
This school year of 2011-2012 will be another exciting year. I look forward to meeting parents at Open House on September 12.
I encourage you to visit this site for various general information and click here for class information and updates.
Please read my classroom rules below.
MRS. MANNIE’S CLASSROOM RULES
1. Follow the teacher’s instructions the first time given.
2. Be respectful of others.
3. Be in your seat and ready to begin class when the tardy bell rings.
4. Pay attention and be prepared for each class.
5. Raise your hand and obtain permission before speaking or leaving your seat. You do not have the right to disrupt the teacher’s ability to teach nor to interfere in any student’s opportunity to receive instruction.
6. Bring required supplies to class daily, unless otherwise specified. Books must be covered at all times. Replacement for the textbook is approximately $58.00.
7. Please, no food or drink in class unless with my permission.
8. Any other rules as outlined in the student handbooks for Martin High and AISD.
SUPPLIES The supplies for this course are black or blue pen, standard pencil, and erasers, notebook and notebook paper. As a notebook, one should use either a small individual subject three-ring binder or a section of a large three-ring binder so that pages may be added or subtracted. No spirals, please!
HOMEWORK There will be homework or preparation for almost every class period. When there is homework not required to be written, I expect you to be prepared. There are times when you may have difficulty with the assignment. If this is the case, you need to have some evidence that you have worked on it. Write questions on the paper or explain how you tried to do it. Incomplete homework assignments may be awarded partial completion points. All homework must be handed in on standard size notebook paper or the worksheet issued. NO OTHER WILL BE ACCEPTED. Homework should be ready for submission at the beginning of class. If you have left your assignment in your locker or another class, you may bring it to me during the NEXT passing period with a penalty of 10 points deducted. Homework will not be accepted after this time. On the rare occasion that circumstances prevent your doing assignments, I will accept a written excuse from a parent at the time the assignment is due and then allow extra time for completion
MAKE-UP WORK Make-up work is determined by the number of days absent, e.g. if a student is absent for two classes, classroom work or assignments are due at the second class. It is mandatory (unless the student indicates otherwise) that the student view my website for daily assignments. However, tests are due ON THE STUDENT’S ENTRY TO CLASS unless otherwise prearranged by parent and teacher. It is the responsibility of the STUDENT, not the teacher to inquire for missed assignments. Make-up work is to be submitted between the passing period before class instruction has begun. If a student is absent during presentation of material or instruction via video, the student will be expected to submit equivalent work. Late project assignments will be accepted only on the next school day, with a maximum grade of 70.
CONDUCT GRADES:
A for consistent compliance with school and class rules.
B for inconsistent and/or noncompliance with school and class rules.
C for repeated noncompliance with school and/or class rules or for receiving office referrals. *
F for major infractions.*
* Conduct grades below a B- will eliminate a student from membership in National Honor Society at MHS
PENALTIES Misconduct in class earns one or more of the following consequences:
A. Reprimand in class.
B. Lowering of citizenship grade.
C. Notification to and/or conference with parents.
D. Referral to office.
CHEATING Cheating is not only abhorrent behavior, but is ultimately detrimental to learning. DO YOUR OWN WORK! You cannot expect to learn the material in any other way. Cheating is characterized by, but not limited to: submission of work other than the student’s own and use of materials not approved by the teacher.* If a student is caught cheating in my class, he is awarded a 0 for that assignment with no chance for its makeup, will have his citizenship grade lowered two letter grades (C or F), and his parents will be informed of his behavior. Remember, incidents of cheating and/or a citizenship grade of lower than a B- will eliminate acceptance into the National Honor Society.
TUTORING I am available before school, during the lunch period or other specific times by appointment.
COMMENTS Here are some suggestions that have been proven successful for other Latin students:
1. KEEP UP. This is the most important. In Latin, you build upon what you learn in the previous lessons, i.e. what you learn in one lesson you will use and be required to know from that time throughout your study. Please check my website for daily work. If you miss learning one lesson, you will find yourself behind, and you will have to work hard to get caught up. If you miss more, … .
2. REVIEW. As we go along, it is necessary for you to review material that you have already learned. As stated earlier, you will be responsible for all material taught in this course. It would be nice if we have more time in class to spend on review, but we do not. You must do much of it on your own. But use your time wisely! Take advantage of “empty” time.
3. THINK. Do not run for help recklessly when you cannot comprehend a grammar concept or a vocabulary word. Spend a little time considering it to see if you may discover the answer.
4. ALWAYS BE PREPARED. If you are unprepared, your grade will most assuredly suffer. If you do not prepare for class you cannot possible expect to get anything out of that period. Coming to class unprepared can be disruptive to the class and to the flow of teaching.
5. BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY. This is half the battle, for every word you know is one less word you have to look up. It saves you an inordinate amount of time in preparation, and it improves your chances of a good score on a test. A further reward from the study of vocabulary will be an increase in English vocabulary through Latin derivatives. It is a FACT that Latin students achieve higher scores on English verbal exams. There are several methods for learning vocabulary – find one that works best for you.
6. ASK QUESTIONS. Whenever you do not understand something in class, be sure to ask questions. There may be other students having trouble with the same concept. Keep questions timely and pertinent to the topic being discussed. If there is still confusion, arrange for additional help by appointment.
7. SPEND ENOUGH TIME TO DO YOUR WORK WELL. You will find that Latin will require that you spend time on it every day. Remember, even professional athletes have to practice and keep in shape! The assignments will not be overwhelming, but they will require you to think. Take your time and do the work as accurately as possible.
8. BE POSITIVE. No one is perfect. If you do not do as well on one assignment as you expected, correct your mistakes, and then learn from them. Let your errors work FOR you.
9. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. It is quite common for high school students to lessen their sleeping hours, rather than increasing them. Remember that this is one of the most critical growing periods of your life. Schoolwork and especially memorization skills diminish with inadequate sleep. And remember to eat a good breakfast since this is the most important meal of the day.
*Further definition of cheating includes but is not limited to:
· Copying someone else’s work and submitting it as one’s own
· Submitting material written by someone else or rephrasing the ideas or example of another without citing reference
· Supporting academic fraud by providing your work to another, whether you believe it will be copied or not
· Using any form of memory aid during quizzes or tests
· Giving or receiving answer during quizzes or tests.
· Accessing a quiz or test prior to its administration.