The following are things that I will try to do each day in my classroom.  I have addressed these statements to my students.  It isn't always easy to do these things.  It isn't always possible.  They might not be things that you can do , or are willing to do, or would be right to do with your students.  I can only say that they have worked for me whenever I am able to follow them.

Dear Students,

These are things that I will try to do as part of our classroom code.  I do these things in order to honor you as a person and as a student so that you may learn as much Spanish and as possible this school year.

I will value your privacy.

*I will collect and pass back all papers face down.  I will read and correct your work when other students are not watching.  Other students'
 work is not your business when you are not working together.

*Disciplinary conversations will take place (whenever possible) out of the sight and sound of others.

*I will not discuss your grades with others nor post them publicly.

I will treat you as a person of integrity.

*I will not yell.

*I will not use profanity. 

*I will not use sarcasm.

*I will not mock you.

*I will not gossip about you nor in your presence.

I will offer you opportunities to succeed.

*I will wait for your attention.

*I will give clear instructions.

*I will plan appropriate activities.

*I will remember that you are a beginning language student.

*I will give you time.

*I will answer your questions.

*I will give you appropriate boundaries for your age level.

*I will give you clear due dates.

*I will tell you what I am grading, how I am grading, and what I am using the grades for.

*I will give you public and private opportunities to interact with the language.

*I will point out your successes and celebrate them.

I will not expect perfection.

*You will not have to have an error-less paper to receive an A.

*I will not dock points for late papers if you a)have a plausible explanation or b) hand it in by the end of the day.

*My grading standards will be based primarily on comprehensibility and appropriateness as per NYS Standards.

*Language will have more importance than artistry.

*I will enter weekly quizzes in my gradebook based on the 80/80 principle.  (80% of the class achieves 80% or higher)

I will remember that you are a human being and treat you that way.

*I will allow you to use the rest room.

*I will give you a reasonable amount of time to catch up on missed work.

*I will try not to schedule due dates when I know that other teachers have assigned you large projects or tests.

*I will listen to your question, concerns and issues.

*I will loan you paper and a writing utensil if you need it.