General Workplace course information

 Website

We owe our website to a former Spanish for the Workplace student, and now graduate of Casa Grande High School - Austin Allen.   Austin created the site as a project for a web design class at Casa.  I am honored and grateful he chose the workplace to use as his project! Many, many thanks Austin!

Donations

Please see the section on donations on this site.

Homework

Homework will be posted on the website by students responsible for that task.  Homework is due the minute the bell rings to begin class.

Assistance/help

Students will be able to communicate with each other and the teacher via the website with questions or concerns.  Students may see the teacher during tutorial or lunch for assistance too.

Field trips and speakers

Based on student motivation and participation - we will have speakers when possible as well as field trips.  However, students in committees (with guidance) will be responsible for planning and executing both.

Technology in the classroom

Technology, unfortunately is limited in our classroom.  At this point we  have 4 computers with 12 headphones and 4 microphones - headphones and microphones compliments of Rotary of Petaluma.  Ideally we would have a bank of 8 computers so students could rotate use of the computers.  Classes can have up to 32 students meaning we would have to rotate quite often with only four computers - realistically it is a logistical dilema as I have tried this in the past.  I will do my best to make computer use available to students.

 As you will see technology is something that is on the donations list.  Programs cost anywhere from free - on the internet (see links for some great sites) to hundreds of dollars a year for the subscription to a site.  Student committees will be part of our technology search.  I am on the technology committee of Casa Grande High School and will continue to stress the need for technology - computers specifically as they are so much a part of career preparation.   At this point I don’t foresee the acquisition of much in the near future or perhaps several years.  The technology needs at Casa Grande High School as a whole are great.  Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or ideas - they would be most appreciated.

  As level IV is a small class and part of a III/IV combination class - they will be using the computers on a daily basis for a variety of activities which will enhance grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension.  I look forward to the students’ comments on the experience.  They will also be using the programs for the creation of pod casts or television announcements for their projects among other things

Classroom discipline

Guilt by association.  Students are encouraged to sit with classmates they know they can work with in a productive and cooperative manner.  Choosing to sit by individuals who are overly social or mischievous affects student learning and production- lessons that usually impact grades because of reduced or low performance.  Students learn to make choices that will benefit their ability to succeed.  I have found the guilt by association model to work quite well in the past - students will often make unwise choices at the beginning of the school year - but since they can change their seating arrangements as they like - this can be easily remedied.  I ask only there be no more than 4 students per table - occasionally we will place 5 if the class is particularly large. If there are any student seating issues  which cannot be resolved in this manner- students are asked to speak to me privately and I will arrange the situation as discreetly as possible.  The students  are here to learn and enjoy themselves, not be penalized by having to work with classmates who are uninterested in contributing in a useful  manner. 

Semester grading policy for the foreign language department:

First six week grading period - 25%

Second six week grading period - 25%

Third six week grading period - 25%

Semester finals - written essay, oral exam, grammar - 25%

Teacher contact

It is easiest to communicate via e-mail.  Please feel free to contact me at my school address:

pmcnees@pet.k12.ca.us