Mr. Brundage's Language B (French/Spanish) Classes

LOTE/ Language B Midterms

2011-01-20T15:13:00.001-08:00

Seventh and Eighth Grade language students will be taking a midterm worth 25% of their 3rd Marking Period Grade.

This comprehensive exam is an indicator of how well the students have grasped the materials presented so far. It is also used to measure their ability in speaking, reading, writing and listening in French and/or Spanish.

The Listening and Speaking portions of the exam will be given during class between January 18th-20th. Please be sure that your child is present, prepared and on time to class.

The Reading and Writing portions of the midterm will be during the testing session on Friday, January 28th. Again, please be sure your child is present, prepared and on time to school.

Students have a graphic organizer showing the units/vocabulary that will be covered on the midterm. Although we are reviewing in class, students also need to spend time reviewing vocabulary, conversations, past quizzes and homework.

By communicating this information, we hope that together we can continue to ensure your child’s success.

October 2010

2010-10-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

Wilson Foundation Curriculum Night will be on October 21st from 5:00-6:30PM.

We will have a table with more information about the April trip to Montreal, Canada. You may bring your checkbooks to register your child and make the $90 deposit by October 25th, or go online to www.gerbertours.com to register.

Ask your child about...

6th Grade has worked on colors, numbers 0-20, and is now working on nationalities and learning about the masculine and feminine forms. Can they recgonize and pronounce these nationalities?
américain.....américaine
français.........française
anglais...........anglaise
canadien........canadienne

7th Grade French class is working on nationalities and pronouns - getting ready to being putting their vocabulary into sentences. Can they pronounce and identify these pronouns? Here is a video for extra practice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AClbDP9jPJQ&feature=fvsr
je
tu
il
elle
nous
vous
ils
elles

7th Grade Spanish class is working on nationalities and pronouns - getting ready to being putting their vocabulary into sentences. Can they pronounce and identify these pronouns? Here's a video for more practice..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7sTQOkyaVw&feature=related
yo
tú
él
ella
usted (Ud.)
nosotros
ellos
ellas
ustedes (Uds.)

8th Grade French class is working on activities and expressing feelings about whether they like or dislike the activity using J'aime... or Je n'aime pas...

Keep on reviewing and practicing your voculary using flashcards or the game/video links to the right.

Wilson Trip to Montreal

2010-09-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Language B and Humanities Departments seek to provide opportunities for students to enrich appreciation and knowledge of other cultures. This year, we have planned a trip to Montreal, Canada for April 7th-9th, 2011. This trip will be an adventure for 6th, 7th and 8th Grade students. We have scheduled many activities for our students for the appreciation of French, history, including a visit to McGill University, LaserQuest, the Olympic Stadium, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Holocaust Museum, the underground shopping mall and much more!

The cost of the trip is $450.00 (based on 30 students). This price includes round trip motor coach transportation between Rochester and Montreal, hotel accommodation, night-time security in the hotel, tour leader, admission to all services on our itinerary, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. (Lunches are the only expenses not included).

*Students do NOT need a passport, but will need a copy of their birth certificate.

A deposit of $90. is required by October 10th to save your spot.

Another payment of $90 would be due on November 10th
The next payment of $90 would be due on December 8th
The next payment of $90 would be due January 11th.
The final payment of $90 would be due on March 2nd .
Payments can be made by check (made out to Gerber Tours) or paid online by credit card or debit card at www.Gerbertours.com

More information on the trip and fundraisers will be available at Curriculum Night on October 21st.

If you would like an application or have any questions, please call at 463-4100 or see/email Michael Brundage at Michael.brundage@rcsdk12.org
or Lori Locker at Lori.Locker@rcsdk12.org
or Jamie Collins at Jamie.Collins@rcsdk12.org

Welcome to Wilson! Bienvenue! Bienvenidos

2010-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a new school year, and for some, a new school! This blog is another opportunity to share important information about your child’s Language B (French/Spanish) class including our curriculum, classroom procedures and expectations.

For 7th Grade students, French 1B and Spanish 1B is an introduction to the language and culture. We will focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing. Learning a second language requires on-going practice, so I recommend that students practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.
For 8th Grade students in French 1C, we will be practicing listening, speaking, reading and writing to help prepare for the NYS Proficiency Exam in June. To be successful, students should practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.

**8th Graders must pass the NYS French Proficiency Exam in June to receive credit for 1B and 1C and move to French II

Since lifelong success depends on learning to make responsible choices, I have developed classroom procedures that guide students to make good decisions about behavior. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible, and I know that together we will make a difference in this process.

Sincerely,
Michael Brundage
Language B teacher
Michael.Brundage@rcsdk12.org

Classroom Policies & Procedures:
Respect Yourself
(Be prepared, be on time, do your best)
Respect Others
(No bullying/put downs, raise your hand to speak, listen attentively)
Respect Property
(Ask permission if it doesn't belong to you, use resources wisely)

Supplies:
1 notebook (can be spiral or composition book)
1 sharpened pencil or pen (blue or black)
Your Agenda

What will we cover?
French 1 B:
Meeting/Greeting People (Je m’appelle…)
Introducing self/others (être, avoir)
Family
Food
Time/Dates
Weather/Seasons
Daily Activities (faire)
The negative (ne…pas)
Question words
Physical description
Possessions

French 1 C
Review the above PLUS learn the following:
Describing the city
Directions
Clothing
Health/Sports/Leisure Activities
Sequencing
Indirect objects

Spanish 1 B:
Meeting/Greeting People
Introducing self/others
Family
Food
Time/Dates
Weather/Seasons
Daily Activities
The negative
Question words
Physical description
Possessions

**8th Graders will take the NYS Proficiency Exam.
http://www.smithtown.k12.ny.us/lote/second_language_proficiency_exam.htm (expectations)http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/loteslp/slpfrench.html (samples of past exams)

Our 2010 Trip to Montreal

2010-04-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Special Thanks to the following organizations that contributed to make this exciting and educationals trip possible...

SWAN (SouthWest Area Neighborhood) Organization

Trip to Montreal

2010-03-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents, Families and Students,

We are looking forward to an exciting and enriching trip to Montréal, Quebec for April 2nd-4th, 2010.

We will be having a mandatory parent meeting on March 25th from 5-6PM to complete the official district field trip forms, obtain copies of your child’s birth certificates, and answer any questions about the trip. We have also arranged to have a notary there since the RCSD forms and birth certificate copies will need to be notarized.

Please bring the following items with you to the meeting:
o your child’s original birth certificate (or birth certificate with raised seal) (or passport)
o Health insurance carrier + ID number
o Doctor/HMO or primary care physician plus phone number
o list of any allergies
o list of any medications + dosages
o 2 phone numbers

** Some of you have received a letter from Gerber Tours stating a different price to the original $357. Although the company has raised the price with only 20 scholars going, we have district permission for 2 fundraisers to cover that cost. Unfortunately it will not make it any cheaper or refund any money, but it will cover the difference. Sorry for any confusion.

If you are unable to attend, please call me at 730-9687 so that we can make other arrangements.

Thank you for your patience and your support!

Michael Brundage Jamie Collins
French Teacher 8th Grade Counselor
michael.brundage@rcsdk12.org jamie.collins@rcsdk12.org
463-4100 463-4100 x2450

February 2010

2010-02-03T10:46:00.001-08:00

Dear Students and Families:

Congratulations to the children who are on our list for the trip to Montréal, Quebec for April 2nd-4th, 2010. We are looking forward to an exciting and enriching trip.

We will be having a parent meeting in March (date to be determined) to answer any questions about the trip, complete the official district field trip forms and obtain copies of your child’s birth certificates.

Please remember that the next payment of $141 is due on Feb 15th for online payments with debit or credit card. However, since this is our February break, checks need to be in by February 12th.

The final payment of $141 will be due on March 2nd.

Feel free to break up these payments into installments that fit your budget as long as the correct amount is received by February 12th and March 2nd.

For those families that have already paid in full, thank you!

Payments can be made by check (made out to Gerber Tours) or paid online by credit card or debit card at www.Gerbertours.com (online tour code 899B7210)

Thank you for your patience and your support!

Week of November 16th

2009-11-18T07:57:00.000-08:00

Bonjour -

French Class Trip to Montreal - Stay tuned for more details (but start saving now!)
The Foreign Language Department seeks to provide opportunities for students to enrich appreciation and knowledge of other cultures. This year, we are planning a trip to Quebec, Canada at the beginning of April (April 2nd-4th) (Friday-Sunday). The tour company, which is organizing our trip, has scheduled many activities for our French students to see and hear the French language in action! More details to follow!

Seventh Grade scholars are working on our FOOD unit, just in time to dazzle you at Thanksgiving with their new vocabulary. They created a mini-poster showing and labelling 10 items (plate, cups, napkin, silverware, food...). Some of the food vocabulary includes:
le poisson (fish)
le poulet (chicken)
le lait (milk)
un oeuf (an egg)
un crepe (flat pancake)
le fromage (cheese)
la pomme (apple)
la pomme de terre (potato.."apple of the earth")
la glace (ice cream)
le bonbon (candy)
**Also, we are coming to the end of the marking period (Dec 4th) and we will be having another notebook check. Be sure you are ready!

French 1C (Eighth Grade) and French I (Ninth Grade) are working on -er verb endings and question words. We will continue to use the verbs être and avoir in our speaking, reading and writing, but we are also moving on to new and exciting verbs and vocabulary!This week we are working on "Qu'est-ce que tu fais le weekend?" - looking at asking questions and responding to questions about activities using the verb faire. We are looking at different question works to determine the most logical responses.
qu'est-ce que
est-ce que
qui
à qui
avec qui
pour qui
où
pourquoi
combien
comment
quand

No homework?! Students should also be spending at least 10 minutes each night to review and practice vocabulary.

French II is working on expressions with avoir and reviewing the verb FAIRE (to do, to make).

Week of October 19th

2009-10-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Bonjour -
Seventh Grade scholars are beginning our unit on La Famille (the family). We introduced words with our powerpoint featuring the Simpsons. Our new vocabulary includes:
une mère
un père
un frère
une soeur
une grand-mère
un grand-père
un cousin
une cousine
un chien
un chat*
please note that the masculine words have the article "un" and the feminine words have "une".

Seventh Grade scholars got their Marking Period 1 test back on Friday. Most students did a great job. This test included reading, listening, and writing in French. It is impressive how much these scholars have learning already!

Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars are working on asking questions using “est-ce que” and “est-ce qu’", inversion (flipping verb and subject), and n'est-ce pas.
Question words include:
où,
quand,
qui,
avec qui,
de qui,
À qui,
Pourquoi,
comment,
À quelle heure

No homework?! Students should also be spending at least 10 minutes each night to review and practice vocabulary.

October 5th

2009-10-06T03:56:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!
Seventh Grade students (1B) are working with new vocabulary and learning about masculine and feminine forms of words are well. They have also learned to count to 60. Need practice..? Check out the links to the right. What is the difference between "un" and "une"?
un garcon
une fille
un ami
une amie
un copain
une copine
francais
francaise
anglais
anglaise
americain
americaine
canadien
canadienne

French 1C is working on "Les Activites" using J'aime, je n'aime pas, je prefere... We are working on listening and speaking about activities we like and no not like to do while reviewing the -er verb endings.

French II is practicing with question words with "est-ce que" including Quel/Quelle, A quelle heure, Quand, Comment and Pourquoi. We are done with our mini-review and have now started learning new vocabulary and expressions with a HUGE emphasis on the listening and speaking.

French class - Progress Reports

2009-09-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

We are now halfway through the 1st marking period. ALL students have received a progress report. Students who return their signed progress report will receive a 100% homework grade. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at michael.brundage@rcsdk12.org
Thank you for your support and cooperation!

September 21st - 25th

2009-09-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

What's New in French Class?
7th Grade
Seventh Graders have been reviewing colors and introductions, and learning nationalities (both masculine and feminine forms) and adjectives. This week's vocabulary:
français/française = French
anglais/anglaise = English
canadien/canadienne = Canadian
américain/américaine = American
Je suis... = I am
Je suis de... = I am from
Tu es...? = You are...? or Are you...?
Tu es de..? Are you from...?

We are also finding out what counties are French-speaking. Scholars should be able to name at least 10 by now.

We will be having a quiz to review our new vocabulary (numbers, colors, introductions) this Friday! Bonne chance!

8th and 9th Graders
We reviewed vocabulary for body parts, food, pronouns, adjectives and introductions. We are continuing this week with verbs - etre and avoir. Students will be examining the differences between these two verbs in their writing and conversations. We are also focussing on speaking and listening - starting each class with questions about the day, date, time and weather.

September 14th - 18th

2009-09-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

What are we doing?
French 1B has begun working with conversation - we worked on asking someone's name and introducing yourself.
Comment t'appelles-tu?
Je m'appelle ________. Et toi?
We are also finding out what countries are French-speaking. Scholars should be able to name at least 10 by now.
We are also working on colors. We are using the colors to describe the flags of the French-speaking countries.
rouge
bleu
jaune
noir
vert
orange
violet
...........................................................
French 1C and French I have been reviewing vocabulary from last year. We are working on telling time, asking about the weather, date and days of the week. We also reviewed colors, family, food and numbers. This year we are using the vocabulary to have conversations- HUGE focus on listening and speaking. We are also focussing on organization (making sure that scholars are keeping track of the new information in their notebook), please remind your child that each marking period, notebooks will be graded (20% ).
...........................................................
French II has been reviewing verbs (etre, avoir, faire, aller, and -er verbs). They are using the "je/I" form of these verbs to write paragraphs to describe themselves. We are also focussing on organization (making sure that scholars are keeping track of the new information in their notebook), please remind your child that each marking period, notebooks will be graded (20% ).

Open House

2009-09-10T04:53:00.000-07:00

Our Open House at Wilson Foundation Academy will be Thursday, September 10th from 5-7pm. This is an excellent opportunity to share important information about your child’s French class including our curriculum, classroom procedures and expectations. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible, and I know that together we will make a difference in this process.
Looking forward to seeing you there-Michael Brundage

Welcome to Wilson! Bienvenue à Wilson!

2009-09-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

La Rentrée des classes
Welcome to a new school year, and for some, a new school! This blog is another opportunity to share important information about your child’s French class including our curriculum, classroom procedures and expectations.
For 7th Grade students, French 1B is an introduction to the French language and culture. We will focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing in the French language. Learning a second language requires on-going practice, so I recommend that students practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.
For 8th Grade students in French 1C, we will be practicing listening, speaking, reading and writing to help prepare for the NYS Proficiency Exam in June. To be successful, students should practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.
**8th Graders must pass the NYS French Proficiency Exam in June to receive credit for 1B and 1C and move to French II.
French I students will be re-covering the above information, but at a quicker pace in order to complete the 1B and 1C material in one year and pass the RCSD French I exam in June.

Since lifelong success depends on learning to make responsible choices, I have developed classroom procedures that guide students to make good decisions about behavior. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible, and I know that together we will make a difference in this process.
Sincerely,
Michael Brundage
Michael.Brundage@rcsdk12.org

Classroom Policies & Procedures:
Respect Yourself(Be prepared, be on time, do your best)
Respect Others(No bullying/put downs, raise your hand to speak, listen attentively)
Respect Property(Ask permission if it doesn't belong to you, use resources wisely)

Supplies:
1 notebook (can be spiral, composition book or folder with attached paper)
1 sharpened pencil or pen (blue or black)
Your Agenda

What will we cover?
French 1 B:
Meeting/Greeting People (Je m’appelle…)
Introducing self/others (être, avoir)
Family
Food
Time/Dates
Weather/Seasons
Daily Activities (faire)
The negative (ne…pas)
Question words
Physical description
House/Rooms
Possessions

French 1 C
Review the above PLUS learn the following:
Describing the city
Directions
Clothing
Health/Sports/Leisure Activities
Sequencing
Indirect objects

French II
Review ALL the above PLUS learn:
Past tense
-re verbs
-ir verbs
-getting around the city
-medical and dental care
-professions
-daily routine
-nature and the environment
-helping around the house
-expressing wishes and concerns
-comparisons

**8th Graders will take the NYS Proficiency Exam.
http://www.smithtown.k12.ny.us/lote/second_language_proficiency_exam.htm (expectations)http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/loteslp/slpfrench.html (samples of past exams)

le 3 mars 2009

2009-03-03T12:30:00.001-08:00

7th Grade scholars are working on regular -er verbs. We know what they mean already, but now they will be using them in their reading, speaking and writing. In English, we conjugate verbs all the time, but in French we are taking it step by step. These verbs all follow the same pattern:
-Start with the infinitive (- er form)
-Take off the -er to create a "stem"
-Attach the correct ending to the stem (depending on the subject)
For the verb parler, create the stem parl- to create...
je parle
tu parles
il/elle parle
nous parlons
vous parlez
ils/elles parlent
Now students can take any -er verb and use it correctly! Students can access the Quia link to the right for extra practice.

Eighth Grade scholars are working on vocabulary for house/home and community and nieghborhood.
une maison
une chambre
une cuisine
un salon
une salle a manger
les escaliers
le garage
le rez de chaussee

Scholars can use the link to youtube to help them practice the speaking and listening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq_YfT8rqD8&feature=related

and even more detail at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN7n8lrY3Jo

and for information about places in the city, check out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YnpLHyBDIM

Enjoy!

More for February!

2009-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Seventh Grade:
We worked on the expressions:
"j'aime..." (I like...)
"je n'aime pas..." (I don't like...)
"je veux..." (I want...)
"je ne veux pas..." (I don't want...).

Seventh Grade students are including these expressions with their writing and speaking along with the following new vocabulary about a variety of activities. Can you give the English meaning of these verbs?
manger
travailler
voyager
jouer
ecouter
chanter
danser
etudier
telephoner
parler
diner
regarder

Seventh Graders are going places this week. They will be using their new prepositions (à, de, et, ou, avec, pour, mais) in their writing with the correct forms of être to describe various locations.

Students - Impress your parents with the sentences below. Can you read them correctly? Do you know what they mean?
Je suis en classe.
Tu es en vacances?
Il est au café.
Elle est à la maison.
Nous sommes en ville.
Vous êtes au cinéma.
Ils sont ici.
Elles ne sont pas ici.

Week of February 2nd-6th

2009-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the following scholars who scored 90% or better on their January Midterms!

8th Grade
Veronica K.

7th Grade
Jayde B.
Davonta B.
Kelvin B.
Alondra C.
Anastasia D.
Owen G.
Nolan H.
Shakia J.
Evan M.
Leean P.

Preparing for Midterms

2009-01-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

Bonjour, Salvete y Hola! Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Grade language students will be taking their midterm from January 26th – January 30th, 2009. This comprehensive exam is an indicator of how well the students have grasped the materials presented so far. It is also used to measure their ability in speaking, reading, writing and listening in French, Spanish, and Latin.

For the Seventh Graders, the exam will be given in class January 26th – 30th. Please be sure that your child is present and on time to class.

For the Eighth Graders, the exam will be given in class January 26th – 30th. We will use the exam results to work with those students to strengthen any areas of weakness in order to better prepare them for the NYS Proficiency at the end of the year.

For the Ninth Graders, the Spanish, French and Latin 1 & 2 exam is January 27 at 12 noon.

We will be reviewing in class; however students also need to spend time reviewing vocabulary, conversations, past quizzes and homework. By communicating this information, we hope that together we can continue to ensure your child’s success.

Thank you for your support. Merci beaucoup, Gratias, and Gracias!

Week of December 8th - 12th

2008-12-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

Reminder - Parent-Teacher Conferences are THIS week on Thursday, December 11th from 3-5pm. If that time does not work for you, feel free to email me at michael.brundage@rcsdk12.org.

We are beginning our 3rd marking period this week. It is an excellent time to clean out lockers, re-organize folders and check supplies.

Seventh Grade
This week we are focusing on telling time, days of the week and dates. Students are using their numbers vocabulary, plus some new expressions:
Quelle heure est-il?
Il est une heure.
Il est une heure et quart.
Il est une heure et demie.
Il est deux heures moins le quart.
Il est trois heures dix.
Il est quatre heures vingt.

Les jours de la semaine (Days of the Week)
lundi
mardi
mercredi
jeudi
vendredi
samedi
dimanche

Eighth and Ninth Graders
We are working on definite and indefinite articles - including plural and in a negative sentence. We are using the verb AVOIR and the expressions "il y a" and "il n'y a pas".

Week of November 17th - 21st

2008-11-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

Bonjour -
Be sure to check out the post below regarding the Foreign Language Trip to Quebec!

Seventh Grade scholars are working on our FOOD unit, just in time to dazzle you at Thanksgiving with their new vocabulary. They are creating a mini-poster showing and labelling 10 items (plate, cups, napkin, silverware, food...). Some of the food vocabulary includes:
le poisson (fish)
le poulet (chicken)
le lait (milk)
un oeuf (an egg)
un crepe (flat pancake)
le fromage (cheese)
la pomme (apple)
la pomme de terre (potato.."apple of the earth")
la glace (ice cream)
le bonbon (candy)

**Also, we are coming to the end of the marking period (Dec 5th) and we will be having another notebook check. Be sure you are ready!

Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars are working on the unit "Ma Chambre" talking about items in the bedroom. We will be having our quiz this week on Thursday covering our new vocabulary, plus prepositions. They have a graphic organizer to help focus their efforts. Vocabulary includes:
une chambre (a bedroom)
une porte (door)
une fenetre (window)
un lit (a bed)
une chaise (chair)
plus possessions in their room such as:
un ordinateur (computer)
un baladeur (CD player)
un portable (cell phone)
un appareil-photo (camera)
un velo (bike)
un cahier (notebook)
une montre (watch)

**Also, we are coming to the end of the marking period (Dec 5th) and we will be having another notebook check. Be sure you are ready!

Foreign Language Trip to Quebec, Canada

2008-11-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Foreign Language Department seeks to provide opportunities for students to enrich appreciation and knowledge of other cultures. This year, we are planning a trip to Quebec, Canada during April 30th – May 3rd, 2009. This trip will be a combined adventure for those students taking Spanish or French. The tour company, which is organizing our trip, has scheduled several activities for both our French and Spanish students.

The cost of the trip is $455.00. This price includes a visit to Quebec, round trip motor coach transportation from Rochester to Quebec, hotel accommodation, night-time security in the hotel, 24 hour trained multilingual tour leader, admission to all services per itinerary, breakfast and dinners. (Lunches are the only expenses not included).

The following are the refund policies for this trip:
1. All applications for this trip are subject to approval by building administrators.
2. Since there is limited space, a $55.00 non-refundable down payment is required as soon as possible in order to secure a place on this trip. Spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis.

Cancellation Policy:
There is a trip cancellation insurance that you may purchase at an additional cost of $29.00. If you desire to purchase this insurance, it has to be paid at the time that the initial deposit is paid. (If you purchase this insurance and if the student is unable to travel, s/he will receive a full refund).
If you have not purchased the trip cancellation insurance and you cancel the trip after December 15th, 2008, there will be no refund unless you are able to find someone who might take that spot. (the tour company charges a fee of $55.00 per name change). If someone else is willing to go in your place, then we will be able to refund you everything minus the $55.00 fee.
Please remember that the tour price is based on 40 paying participants. If anyone backs out, after we have made a commitment with the company, it will affect the trip cost for the rest of the group.

Medical Insurance:
If a student does not have medical insurance, or if the current medical insurance does not cover him/her in Canada, then that student is required to purchase medical insurance for this trip at the cost of $20.00. This insurance may be purchased up to one week before departure.

Payment Schedule:
Our tour company requires all payments to be made 45 days before departure. In order to facilitate payment, please abide by the following schedule:
November 25, or ASAP $55.00 + $24.00 (optional -Trip cancellation insurance)
December 19, 2008 $100.00 January 22, 2009 $100.00
February 13, 2009 $100.00
March 13, 200 $100.00
Total: $455.00 + $24.00 Trip cancellation insurance (Optional)

Fund Raising
We will be working on fundraising, but we will not be able to fundraise for the entire amount. Students are encouraged to save their money, use the trip as a "Christmas/holiday/birthday" present and to earn money though odd jobs (raking leaves or shoveling snow for family or neighbors).

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at michael.brundage@rcsdk12.org

November 10th - 14th

2008-11-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Bonjour -
All 7th Grade scholars got a progress report from French class, AND their tests from Friday back. Each scholar has a graph in the front of his/her notebook to graph the test scores. This is a great tool for scholars to chart their progress.
This week in class we will be working on:
-ordering snacks and beverages in a cafe
-asking about prices and paying for the food/drink
-using French money
Some useful vocabulary:
j'ai faim...I'm hungry (literally - I have hunger)
tu as faim?....are you hungry?
Qu'est-ce que tu veux?...What do you want?
Donne-moi...Give me
S'il te plait...please (informal)
si'il vous plait...please (formal)
je voudrais (I would like)
merci..thank you
merci beaucoup...thank you very much

Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars are continuing to review their verbs (faire, etre, avoir and the -er verbs), plus question words with our new vocabulary. We are still working on our unit covering "Le monde personnel et familier" to be able to describe ourselves, describe friends, ages, describing a bedroom, and talking about and describing everyday objects.

November 3rd - 7th

2008-11-03T05:13:00.000-08:00

Bonjour -
Seventh Grade scholars will be using their number vocabulary (I hope you remember them!) to talk about people's ages. In French, like Spanish, talking about age uses the verb "to have". I "have" a certain age will be "J'ai vingt ans".
J'ai ________ ans. = I am/have ______ years old.
Il a ________ ans. = He is/has _______ years old.
Elle a ______ ans. = She is/has _______ years old.
We will be practicing ages with our conversations to focus on our listening and speaking skills.

The Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars had their test last Thursday about faire and question words. This week we will be starting a new unit covering "Le monde personnel et familier" to be able to describe ourselves, describe friends, ages, describing a bedroom, and talking about and describing everyday objects.

Week of October 27th -30th

2008-10-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Bonjour -

Seventh Grade scholars are beginning our unit on La Famille (the family). We introduced words with our powerpoint featuring the Simpsons. Our new vocabulary includes:
une mère
un père
un frère
une soeur
une grandmère
un grandpère
un cousin
une cousine
un chien
un chat
*please note that the masculine words have the article "un" and the feminine words have "une".

This Thursday, Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars will be having our next test for French 1C and French I. Students will be reviewing this week. This test will cover:The verb faireExpressions using faireAsking questions using “est-ce que” and “est-ce qu’”Asking questions using inversion (flipping verb and subject)Question words including: où, quand, qui, avec qui, de qui, À qui, Pourquoi, comment, À quelle heure…Culture including Vietnam + schools and classes in France

Week of October 20th - 24th

2008-10-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

What's Happening?

Seventh Grade scholars are getting their Marking Period 1 test back on Monday. Most students did a great job. This test included reading, listening, and writing in French. It is impressive how much these scholars have learning already!
This week we are working on some new vocabulary:
Tu connais..?
Il est...
Elle est...
Il s'appelle...
Elle s'appelle...
le
la
les
l'
cent
mille

Eighth and Ninth Grade scholars also got back their Marking Period 1 tests. Most of these scholars did a great job combining the review with the new vocabulary. We will continue to use the verbs être and avoir in our speaking, reading and writing, but we are also moving on to new and exciting verbs and vocabulary!
This week we are working on "Qu'est-ce que tu fais le weekend?" - looking at asking questions and responding to questions about activities using the verb faire. We are looking at different question works to determine the most logical responses.
qu'est-ce que
est-ce que
qui
à qui
avec qui
pour qui
où
pourquoi
combien
comment
quand
No homework?! Students should also be spending at least 10 minutes each night to review and practice vocabulary.

Week of October 14th - 17th

2008-10-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!

Seventh Grade scholars are working on numbers 70-100, and looking at the articles un, une, le, la, les and l' this week.

**Seventh Grader scholars will be having a quiz this Friday. They will have a graphic organizer so they know what will be covered.

**Notebooks are also due. As we are focussing on organization, the notebook check is equal to a test grade for the 1st marking period. Scholars should have the following in their notebooks:
-Class Expectations
-Introduction conversation
-Why Learn French
-Colors
-Maps (France + Africa)
-Nationalities (masculine and feminine forms)
-Test Score graph
-un/une chart
-Numbers 0-69
-Telephone numbers

8th and 9th grade scholars will also be having a test this Thursday (jeudi). They have a graphic organizer to show what will be covered.

****Notebooks are also due. As we are focussing on organization, the notebook check is equal to a test grade for the 1st marking period. Scholars should check the list in class to be sure they have everything in their notebooks.

Week of October 6th - 9th

2008-10-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

Quoi de neuf? (What's new?)

French 1B (7th Graders ) are working on numbers (1-69), friends and family and using the articles un or une for a/an. Learning and using the correct articles will help students remember if the object/word is masculine or feminine which will help later with adjectives.
This week's vocabulary includes...
un ami
une amie
un copain
une copine
un garçon
une fille
un prof
une prof
Tiens!
Voici
Voilà
Qui-est-ce?
C'est...
.................................................
French 1C and French I (8th and 9th Graders) are working on regular -er verbs in the present tense. We are taking the infinitive (-er form), dropping the -er ending, and adding the correct ending depending on the subject/pronoun.
je parlE
tu parlES
il/elle parlE
nous parlONS
vous parlEZ
ils/elles parlENT.

* Rememember the pronunciations for the endings of je, tu, il, elle and ils/elles are identical.
** Also remember these forms have 3 meanings (I play, I do play, I am playing...).

Students should be reviewing the meanings of the pronouns, and continue to review the verbs etre and avoir.

September 29th - October 3

2008-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Quoi de neuf? (What's New?)

Seventh Grade (French 1B)
We are already working on conversations by answering the following questions:
What is your name? Je m'appelle _____________.
What is your nationality? Je suis _____________.
(remember masculine or feminine forms)
Where are you from? Je suis de ______________.

We will also be working on the numbers 11-20.

We will also be asking the question, "How are you?"
Comment vas-tu? (informal)
Comment ça-va? (informal)
Ça va? (informal)
Comment allez-vous? (formal)

with LOTS of different responses!
...........................................................................

French 1C and French 1 (Eighth and Ninth Grade)

We are working on conversations (speaking and listening) about different activities. We will be able to explain if we:
like (J'aime....)
dislike (je n'aime pas....)
prefer (Je préfère...)
these activities.

chanter
étudier
écouter la radio
travailler
voyager
jouer au foot
jouer au tennis
jouer au basket
jouer au jeux vidéo
parler français
parler anglais
parler espagnol
regarder la télé
téléphoner
danser
dîner au restaurant
manger
nager

How many can you identify?

September 22nd- 26th

2008-09-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

What's New in French Class?

7th Grade
Seventh Graders have been reviewing colors and introductions, and learning nationalities (both masculine and feminine forms) and adjectives. This week's vocabulary:
français/française = French
anglais/anglaise = English
canadien/canadienne = Canadian
américain/américaine = American
oui = yes
non = no
et = and
ou = or
aussi = also
Je suis... = I am
Je suis de... = I am from
Tu es...? = You are...? or Are you...?
Tu es de..? Are you from...?

We will be having a quiz to review our new vocabulary this Friday! Bonne chance!

8th and 9th Graders
We reviewed vocabulary for body parts, food, pronouns, adjectives and introductions. We are continuing this week with verbs - etre and avoir. Students will be examining the differences between these two verbs in their writing and conversations.

September 15 - September 19

2008-09-16T03:53:00.000-07:00

What are we doing?
French 1B has begun working with conversation - we worked on asking someone's name and introducing yourself.
Comment t'appelles-tu?
Je m'appelle ________. Et toi?

We are also finding out what counties are French-speaking. Scholars should be able to name at least 10 by now.

We are also working on colors. We are using the colors to describe the flags of the French-speaking countries.
rouge
bleu
jaune
blanc
noir
vert
orange
violet
...........................................................
French 1C and French I have been reviewing vocabulary from last year. We are working on telling time, including the "24 hour clock". They are looking at the difference between Quelle heure est-il? and À quelle heure est le film? We also reviewed colors, family, food and numbers.

As we are focussing on organization (making sure that scholars are keeping track of the new information in their notebook), please remind your child that each marking period, notebooks will be graded (20% ).

Open House

2008-09-09T11:57:00.001-07:00

Our Open House at Wilson Foundation Academy will be Thursday, September 11th from 5-7pm. This is an excellent opportunity to share important information about your child’s French class including our curriculum, classroom procedures and expectations. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible, and I know that together we will make a difference in this process.

Looking forward to seeing you there-
Michael Brundage

Welcome to Wilson! Bienvenue à Wilson!

2008-09-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

La Rentrée des classes

Welcome to a new school year, and for some, a new school! This blog is another opportunity to share important information about your child’s French class including our curriculum, classroom procedures and expectations.

For 7th Grade students, French 1B is an introduction to the French language and culture. We will focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing in the French language. We will learn about people, families, homes, school, foods, weather, hobbies, shopping, and more! Learning a second language requires on-going practice, so I recommend that students practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.

For 8th Grade students in French 1C, we will be reviewing last year’s vocabulary, plus describing the city, chores, clothing, health, sports/leisure activities plus adjectives and feelings. We will be practicing listening, speaking, reading and writing to help prepare for the NYS Proficiency Exam in June. To be successful, students should practice their vocabulary words for 10 minutes daily.

**8th Graders must pass the NYS French Proficiency Exam in June to receive credit for 1B and 1C and move to French II.

French I students will be re-cvoering the above information, but at a quicker pace in order to complete the 1B and 1C material in one year and pass the RCSD French I exam in June.

Since lifelong success depends on learning to make responsible choices, I have developed classroom procedures that guide students to make good decisions about behavior. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible, and I know that together we will make a difference in this process.

Sincerely,
Michael Brundage
Michael.Brundage@rcsdk12.org

Classroom Policies & Procedures:
Respect Yourself
(Be prepared, be on time, do your best)
Respect Others
(No bullying/put downs, raise your hand to speak, listen attentively)
Respect Property
(Ask permission if it doesn't belong to you, use resources wisely)

Supplies:
1 notebook (can be spiral, composition book or folder with attached paper)
1 sharpened pencil or pen (blue or black)

What will we cover?
French 1 B:
Meeting/Greeting People (Je m’appelle…)
Introducing self/others (être, avoir)
Family
Food
Time/Dates
Weather/Seasons
Daily Activities (faire)
The negative (ne…pas)
Question words
Physical description
House/Rooms
Possessions

French 1 C
Review the following:
Meeting/Greeting People (Je m’appelle…)
Introducing self/others (être, avoir)
Family
Food
Time/Dates
Weather/Seasons
Daily Activities (faire)
The negative (ne…pas)
Question words
Physical description
House/Rooms
Possessions
Learn the following:
Describing the city
Directions
Clothing
Health/Sports/Leisure Activities
Sequencing
Indirect objects

**8th Graders will take the NYS Proficiency Exam.
http://www.smithtown.k12.ny.us/lote/second_language_proficiency_exam.htm (expectations)

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/loteslp/slpfrench.html (samples of past exams)

May 27 - May 30th

2008-05-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Eighth Graders -
Countdown to NYS French Proficiency!

What is on the test?

Part 1A…..Informal Speaking……10 points
Part 1B…..Formal Speaking……….20 points (starting May 29st)
Part 2A….Listening questions in English….20 points
Part 2B….Listening questions in French….10 points
Part 2C….Listening answer in pictures….10 points
Part 3…..Reading……20 points
Part 4….Writing…….10 points

**You need to pass this test to get credit for French 1 (1B and 1C)**

What do I do for the formal speaking?
The Formal Speaking portion of the test consists of communication tasks to be performed by the student with the teacher. Each task deals with a simulated conversation.

What are the conversations (tasks) about?
Can we talk about anything?
The tasks are divided into FOUR categories:
v Socializing
v Providing and Getting Information
v Expressing Personal Feelings
v Persuasion

How will I be scored?
Students will receive ONE credit for each of the four “utterances” (responses) that are comprehensible and appropriate. Students can receive a total of 5 points for each category.

No credit given for:
Ø Yes/No…Oui, Non responses
Ø Restatement of all or main parts of what the teacher said
Ø Proper names used alone
Ø Socializing phrases like Bonjour, Ça va? (except in socializing task)

How can I prepare for the speaking?
o Be in class to prepare
o Listen and participate in class
o Review/study phrases and vocabulary at home
o Practice conversations with classmates/friends to prepare
o Review the “Useful Phrases Sheet”
o Be ON TIME to the testing location for Speaking portion
o Do your best

Seventh Graders -
We are still working on our Body and Clothing Unit. Last week's quiz was on the Body Vocabulary, and this week's quiz on Friday (5/30) will cover the clothing vocabulary. Use your bellwork, the powerpoint information and the packet pictures/visuals to help you study. Flashcards help too - and check out the links to the right - especially Quia and select Clothing (you don't have to pay to use this site).

May 12th - May 16th

2008-05-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

7th Grade Scholars are beginning a new unit on Le Corps and Les Vêtements covering body vocabulary and clothing. We will use our verb AVOIR (to have) plus our masculine and feminine adjectives to describe clothing and body parts that people have (example: I have brown eyes, but she has green eyes) to show the difference in the forms of the verb avoir. Reminder that students need to continue to review at home, especially the verb forms.

We are also having a notebook check at the end of the marking period worth ONE TEST GRADE. This is an effort to encourage students to be more organized with their notebook this marking period. If students are absent, they are expected to complete the work/notebook with the necessary information. They can use the chart in class to see what needs to be added to the notebook.

8th Grade Scholars are reviewing for the Proficiency Test (see last week's information). Classes are competing to see which class will have ALL scholars in their class pass the test - to see which class will share Mr. Brundage's head! It will take reviewing and studying - but it will be worth it!

The 8th Graders' Movie Reviews (in French, of course) are on display in the hallway on the 2nd floor. It is great to see students excited about their work and showing their friends!

Several students also had the opportunity to see the movie Persepolis at the Cinema Theatre. It was a great movie (in French) based on a graphic novel about a young girl growing up in Iran during the revolution.

May 5th - 9th

2008-05-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Important Reminder for 8th Grade Scholars

***NYS Proficiency ***

Soon your child will be taking the grade 8 NYS Proficiency Examination in French. This test assesses what your child has learned last year and this year. Your child must score a 65% or above to receive credit and move to Level II, a tenth grade course, next year. The test sections include speaking, listening, reading and writing and are given in two parts. Speaking is one part; the listening, reading and writing sections are the second part.

Although we practice speaking/writing/listening/reading French in class, your child should review for ten minutes each night. If he/she has not yet begun to review, perhaps you can have him/her show you the work from class. You, as well as a classmate or older sibling, can review with him/her.

The individual speaking part of the exam (20% of the total test grade) will be administered at the end of May and/or early June. Your child will be scheduled for one day during school, on a one-on-one basis, to take the speaking part of the exam. Each student will be tested on four different conversations with the teacher. Please be on the look out for the dates as it is essential that your child attends school on the testing date scheduled.

The remainder of the final will be given on Monday, June 23th for grade 8. Please send the required blue or black pen with your student. It is a State Exam: “students must be present and on time.” If a student is absent from the test there is no makeup.

Week of April 7th - 10th

2008-04-07T06:15:00.001-07:00

Hello -

April already!

7th Grade scholars will be having their test on Unit 3 this week on Wednesday. They should use their graphic organizer to focus their efforts. It will cover our verbs (meanings plus the correct forms for etre and the regular -er verbs), plus putting sentences in the negative form, plus places, people and the prepositions to connect them all. Bonne Chance!

Here are some more movie reviews from the 8th grade scholars. Great work!

Dream Girls est un très bon film avec les actrices Jennifer Hudson et Beyonce Knowles, et les acteurs Eddie Murphy et Jamie Foxx , et des autres. Ca dure pour deux heurs et dix- sept minutes. Je recommende ce film pour les adolescences et adultes. Je ne recommende pas pour les enfants parce que il y a des drogues. Il s’agit de trois femmes qui veulent a convenir célèbre. J’aime la musique excellent et les chansons. Le film est magnifique! Allez aujourd'hui et voyez soi même!
- Jenna Hofmann

Pirates des Caraibes: Le Secret Du Coffre Maudit- c’est un très bon film! C’est une aventure. Johnny Depp et Orlando Bloom sont les acteurs dans ce film. Keira Knightley est l’actrice dans ce film. Le film est deux heures et demie. Le film est pour tout le monde. Il s’agit des pirates pénible à rassembler une-cent essences. J’aime la musique, les acteurs, la comédie, et l’action. C’est le meilleur film parce que Johnny Depp est Beau!
Erica Mason

Our Movie Reviews

2008-03-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

The 8th Grade scholars have done a "magnifique" job with their movie reviews. Scholars wrote a brief summary of their movie without giving away the ending, they described actors, actresses, settings, and used persuasive language to explain why their film is the best! Check these out...and be sure to check the site next week for more!

Will your movie review be next?

Little Man

by Hanan Allen

J’aime le film l’histoire de Little Man. C’est un comédie. Le Wayan Brothers sont les acteurs dans ce film. Le film est une heure et demie. Le film est pour tout le monde. Ils s’agit un petit homme qui vole un diamant de $10,000. J’aime cette comédie. C’est un bon film parce que c’est très amusant.

♥♥♥L’amour et le Basket♥♥♥
de Ashlee Henderson

Mon film est L’Amour et le Basket. C’est un film d’amour, de comedie, et du drame. Les acteurs sont Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan et Kyla Pratt. Le film est une heure et demie. C’est pour les adultes. Il s’agit de l’amour, le basket, le travail au lycée. J’aime regarder ce film avec les acteurs jouent au basket. C’est le meilleur film parce que les acteurs et les actrices sont magnifiques et c’est amusant.

Week of March 24th-March 28th

2008-03-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!

This week, 7th Grade scholars are continuing to use the regular -er verbs with the correct endings. We are focussing on conversation (listening & speaking), using our -er verbs and our question words.
Do you know what ALL these words mean?

où
quand
à quelle heure
comment

pourquoi
parce que

8th Grade scholars are writing movie reviews. We discussed different genres/types of movies:

les films d'action
les comédies
les films romantique
les dessin animés

aventure (yup, no "d")

and les acteurs et les actrices.

Now they are writing a persuasive movie review about a film of their choice - in French! Look for their completed work in our hallway!

Surrealism and Rene Magritte

2008-03-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

Bonjour-

Several students were so impressed and interested in our artist of the month, Belgium painter Rene Magritte, that they found more information about Magritte on the internet. They found one clip with more of his art work set to music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7lr0SYUfEo&feature=related, and two others showing "Magritte in motion", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfJJsXpCM0&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qCVIelcIYE&feature=related. It is great to have such dedicated and interested learners in our class. Thank you for sharing!

Week of March 17th-21st

2008-03-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

A short week with lots of activity!

Homebase 249 had perfect attendance BOTH days for the NYS Math Exam and won the raffle for the pizza party. Pizza details to follow!

Attendance is not only key to winning a pizza party, but obviously key to academic performance. Attendance is a critical component our scholars must be committed to EVERYDAY to be successful at Wilson, later in college and the workplace. Please continue to reinforce this habit with your child.

7th Grade scholars are working on regular -er verbs. We know what they mean already, but now they will be using them in their reading, speaking and writing. In English, we conjugate verbs all the time, but in French we are taking it step by step. These verbs all follow the same pattern:

-Start with the infinitive (- er form)

-Take off the -er to create a "stem"

-Attach the correct ending to the stem (depending on the subject)

For the verb parler, create the stem parl- to create...

je parle

tu parles

il/elle parle

nous parlons

vous parlez

ils/elles parlent

Now students can take any -er verb and use it correctly! Students can access the Quia link to the right for extra practice.

8th Grade scholars are creating flip-charts to help them master expressions using à and de.

All French 1 scholars will be looking into our artist of the month, surrealist painter, Rene Magritte. They will viewing a powerpoint (created by their peers) and creating a graphic organizer to organize their new information. What French-speaking country was he from? What is surrealism?

Ask your child about this fascinating artist!

Week of March 10th-14th

2008-03-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

Bonjour -
All French 1B and 1C scholars received progress reports before the February break, along with any missing work. Scholars have been encouraged to complete the work, both for the independent practice, and to improve their grades. Remember that Friday, March 14th, is the last day of this marking period!

Ask your child about Tatie Danielle. We watched part of a French comedy about a cantankerous woman who torments everyone around her.

This week, 7th Graders are working with the regular -er verbs such as parler, manger, travailler and voyager. They will be using the correct endings depending on the pronouns. Students are expected to review these endings at home. The links to the QUIA games are a great way students to get extra practice.

Last week, 7th Graders had a re-quiz on pronouns, the forms of the verb être and different prepositions. We worked with memory cards showing equations with matching answers in French (example: 2x=10, and to solve for x, the answer would be "cinq"). This was a great way for scholars to review their vocabulary and numbers, while preparing for the NYS Math Exam.

8th Graders also had a test last week covering the verb aller, family members, the forms of à and de, and the possessives. We will spend more time reviewing this week, both in class and at home. Then scholars who scored below a 90% will take a re-test on Thursday.

Week of February 25th - 29th

2008-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back!

Congratulations to Marion Cotillard, the French actress from the movie La Vie en Rose about the French singer Edith Piaf who won the Oscar for Best Actress!

Last week, ALL Seventh and Eighth Grade French students received progress reports. This is the mid-way point for this marking period, so it was a great chance for students to see their success and brag about their progress at home (à la maison) or complete any missing work/assignments. We have been having homework in French class every Wednesday night. It has been a great opportunity for students to practice and master new skills and vocabulary.

This week, Seventh Graders will be working on new verbs. They SHOULD know the verb etre and the different forms already. We are moving to the next step using the same pronouns with regular -er verbs in our reading and writing.

Eighth Grade scholars are working on possessives (my, his, your...) remembering the different ending for masculine, feminine and plural objects. We will also be looking at a clip from the movie, La Vie en Rose, about Edith Piaf and analyzing the vocabulary and themes of several of her songs such as "Je ne regrette rien" and "La vie en rose". You can see clips of her singing these on http://www.youtube.com/ and search "Edith Piaf". What a great opportunity to hear her sing and learn a bit more about French culture!

Week of February 11th -15th

2008-02-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

All Students -

Be sure to check out the new French-speaking Country-of-the-Month. Watch the bulletin board for more information! Can you tell which country it is? Can you locate it on a map? Bonne chance!

Seventh Graders are going places this week. They will be using their new prepositions (à, de, et, ou, avec, pour, mais) in their writing with the correct forms of être to describe various locations.
Students - Impress your parents with the sentences below. Can you read them correctly? Do you know what they mean?
Je suis en classe.
Tu es en vacances?
Il est au café.
Elle est à la maison.
Nous sommes en ville.
Vous êtes au cinéma.
Ils sont ici.
Elles ne sont pas ici.

Eighth Graders are looking at the difference between expression with jouer à and jouer de. Can you explain the difference? We are looking inside "un immeuble" to see and describe families and neighbors, occupations/hobbies, and the floor where they live. We are making "des comparaisons culturelles" as we examine how French and American people label or number floors in a building.

Week of February 4-8th

2008-02-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

This week in French class, Seventh and Eighth Grade students will be learning about Canada, our francophone country of the month. As one of our LOTE Standards is Culture, students will learn about the culture of Canada with a powerpoint slide show that their peers researched and created. Students should have their Canada Graphic organizer in their notebooks (some scholars still need to bring their notebooks to class). Ask your child about the capital city of Canada, or about their government, about a famous Canadian, or about Canada Day.

Seventh and Eighth Grade scholars will also be learning about Mardi Gras this week through another powerpoint slide show. Ask your child about what "Mardi Gras" means, or the origins of the celebration, or the official Mardi Gras colors and their meanings. Again, this is a great opportunity to learn about the celebrations as part of culture in French-speaking countries. "Laissez les bon temps roller!"

2008-01-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

Week of 1/28/08- 2/1/08

Seventh Grade: They are working with the expressions:
"j'aime..." (I like...)
"je n'aime pas..." (I don't like...)
"je veux..." (I want...)
"je ne veux pas..." (I don't want...).
Seventh Grade students are including these expressions with their writing and speaking along with the following new vocabulary about a variety of activities. They also are working with making sentences negative (NOT) by placing ne...pas around the verb.
manger
travailler
voyager
jouer
ecouter
chanter
danser
etudier
telephoner
parler
diner
regarder

Eighth Grade: We are beginning with a new verb: ALLER (to go). Students need to continue to review the forms of the other verbs (ETRE, FAIRE, AVOIR, -ER verbs). We will have a quiz on Friday on the forms of ALLER.
je vais
tu vas
il/elle va
nous allons
vous allez
ils/elles vont