Welcome to Japanese Class Open House August 26

Welcome to Japanese Class! Open House August 26 th, 2015

Welcome, 6 th graders!

Who is Johnson Sensei? • Born & raised in Niigata, Japan • Came to the U. S. in 1996 • It’s my 13 th year at EPMS. I have taught for 19 years in the U. S. (at North Cobb HS, GA Tech, and Agnes Scott) before coming to EPMS. • Certified to teach Japanese (GA), Japanese Calligraphy and English (Japan)

Connects to other Asian languages & cultures Facilitates admittance into a good university Teaches new learning skills Gives a child selfconfidence & pride Benefits of Learning JAPANESE Helps in employment opportunities Teaches the value of respect & admiration for other cultures Helps students to look more critically at his/her native language About 8, 000 Japanese companies in US, 466 companies in Georgia (2010). Japanese language skills can optimize student’s career!

Grading Policy & Evaluation • • • Major assessments (tests & projects)——–——-25% Minor assessments (quizzes & small projects)— 15% Performance-based assessments (PBA)——–— 30% Participation/Classwork------------——---10% Homework ———————–————— 5% Mid-term/Final Common Assessment (FCA)—— 15% • It is important for students to keep their average of above 70% throughout the year! • Reward system (extra credit) • Students who successfully complete 7 th & 8 th grade Japanese program will receive one High School Japanese I credit. These students will have the privilege of taking Japanese II (Regular or Honors) in 9 th grade, depends on their performances.

Late work and Incomplete work policy • Late work will be accepted within the nine-week period. Late classwork and homework will receive a maximum grade of 50. Major projects will be reduced 10 points per day late. On the 5 th day and thereafter, projects will be accepted for 50% of the grade. • Classwork and homework will be graded on completion and/or accuracy.

Class Rules • Come to class on time, prepared, and ready to work • Respect others and the furnishings & equipment in the classroom • Keep food, drinks, and gum out of the classroom • Raise your hand wait to be called on to speak • Speak Japanese Consequences • 1 st time: Verbal warning • 2 nd time: Parent contact • 3 rd time: Detention and referral to team for discussion. • 4 th time: Office referral * Severity of situation depends on consequence

Study Sessions Tuesdays & Thursdays (8: 00 -8: 30 a. m. ) or by appointment Extra study/help sessions are available based on the student’s request and my schedule. Students need to bring a signed agenda (signed by sensei), in order to attend.

Basic facts about Japan Family and pets Hiragana Alphabet 6 th grade Japanese Classroom items & School in Japan Greetings and expressions Numbers and Kanji

Special Class Events & Activities Based on Japanese Cultural Festivals/Events • New Year’s celebration (January): Food with New Year’s rice cake, calligraphy, and New Year’s games • Bean-throwing ceremony (February): Throw beans at “Oni” and eat the same number of beans as your age • Girl’s (Doll’s) Day (March) • Children’s Day (May): Making carp • “Omisoka” Preparing for New Year: New Year’s Card, noodles, cleaning • Japanese students’ visit (Tentative)

Japanese Events & Activities Outside of Classroom • Japan Fest (September 19 -20) at Gwinnett Center. Free student tickets are available soon! • New Year’s Card Contests (State & National levels) in December • Japanese Art Contest • Fulton WL Spoken Language Contest “Linguapalooza” (selected students) • Japan Trip (Summer, 2016)

Special Japanese Academic Award • Hiragana 100 Club Students who have the average of 90 and above in all the alphabet quizzes/test belong are recognized to be in the Kana 100 Club.

Five things you can do to help your child succeed in Japanese class 1. Make sure that he/she completes homework (check agenda) 2. Establish good study habits at home (even 5 minutes per day for review) 3. Quiz your child with index cards & study guide 4. Show interest, and ask him/her what he/she learned that day 5. Encourage/support him/her to be involved in Japanese-related events and activities

Communication With Parents • Weekly e-mail will be sent home on Monday • Assignment will be posted through Edmodo: Please sign up at Edmodo. com (code: m 33 t 3 a) • Class events and photos will be posted on my website (epmsjapanese. weebly. com)

Questions? Please Contact Johnson sensei! • Contact: Ms. Miyuki Johnson Japanese teacher World Language Department Chair • Phone: (770) 667 -2892 ext. 239 • E-mail: johnsonmi@fultonschools. org • Website: www. epmsjapanese. weebly. com