Beginning Spanish (Semester class) Classroom Policy and Course Description Instructor: Mrs. Paula Miller Deerlake Middle School

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1 Beginning Spanish (Semester class) Classroom Policy and Course Description Instructor: Mrs. Paula Miller Deerlake Middle School Contact information: Teacher website: Welcome to Beginning Spanish! Even if you have never learned to speak Spanish, you have already learned dozens of words that come from Spanish: for example, foods like tortillas, nachos, queso, and salsa and places in Florida such as Key Largo, Lake Buena Vista and Boca Raton. Although this class is not a high school credit class, the purpose of this introductory Spanish class is to prepare students to take Spanish 1 as a high school credit class in the future. This class lasts one semester (two 9 weeks grading periods) and is designed to help students develop listening and speaking skills in Spanish. Students will also demonstrate beginning ability in reading and writing Spanish. The introductory class will help students appreciate the contributions of Hispanic culture to everyday life in the United States. TEXT BOOK/CURRICULUM Students will be using teacher-developed materials based on Exprésate Level 1 and a variety of on-line and printed resources. Students will be issued a text book to use as a reference. CLASSROOM & HOME ESSENTIALS a reliable internet connection at home a section of a notebook to keep Spanish handouts notebook paper index cards COURSE DESCRIPTION & CURRICULUM GUIDE M/J Beginning Spanish (# ) The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the Spanish language and its culture. Students will learn beginning language skills in listening and speaking and receive an introduction to basic skills in reading and writing in Spanish. Culture, connections, comparisons, and communities are also included in this nine week exploratory course. Assigned work and benchmarks will correspond to the Florida Next Generation World Languages Standards adopted in World Language Standards are listed on the teacher website under Important Documents. This is a general overview of the topics to be covered over the course of the semester in your Beginning Spanish course. Topics may be subject to change according to class needs. the Spanish Alphabet Greetings Numbers Months of the Year 1 Days of the Week Weather

2 Clothing Colors Descriptions of People Family Sports Holidays and Celebrations Around House and Town Animals School Feelings Parts of the Body Food, Drink, and Restaurants Present tense of regular verbs Present tense of the verbs ir, tener The verbs ser and estar The verb gustar Noun/Adjective Agreement Subject Pronouns Definite/Indefinite Articles Telling Time Culture & Traditions of various Spanish-speaking countries GRADING POLICY Students and parents will be able to keep track of the progress in this course via the online Gradebook, which will be updated at least every 10 days. You will have a variety of assignments in this class and all will be graded on a point system. For example, a homework assignment may be worth 10 points while a quiz or mini-project may be worth 30 points. Please turn in your work to make sure you earn your points! Our assignments will include: online enrichment activities, class worksheets, quizzes, and at least two mini-projects each grading period. Grading Scale CONDUCT GRADES A Outstanding B Satisfactory C Needs Improvement D Unacceptable F 59 and below Percentage: 70% Assessments 30% Participation and Homework ASSESSMENTS Students will be assessed on what they have learned in the form of quizzes and projects. Quizzes are always announced in advance so that you have every opportunity to be well prepared. I test what I teach, and students will always be told exactly what to study for in advance. There may be four or five quizzes during each grading period. Students can also expect to have one informal speaking assessment each grading period. HOMEWORK Homework will occasionally be assigned. It may be graded for accuracy or for completion, depending on the assignment. When homework is assigned, please budget approximately 15 minutes for this task. A good study habit is to review vocabulary every day making flash cards for all new vocabulary is a great strategy. Assignments will be posted in the classroom each day and can also be viewed on the teacher website. Students are responsible for keeping up with homework assignments, especially when they are absent. They will have one day for every day they are absent (excused absences only) plus one extra day to make up work. Unexcused late work will not be accepted. However, I will allow students to make up two missed homework assignments during each grading period for 70% credit. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES In addition to the rules and policies stated in your student planner and Code of Conduct, please be aware of the following classroom rules and procedures: 2

3 1. Be prompt: Please be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings. Take care of personal business between classes. 2. Be polite: Please respect each other! In order to create a positive learning environment, we must treat each other with respect and courtesy at all times. Respect the property of others and the property of the school. 3. Be productive: Do not disturb the class by talking to your classmates at inappropriate times or making unnecessary noises or comments. The use of cell phones, MP3 players, or any other electronic device is not permitted during school hours. However, the teacher may permit use of cell phones for instructional purposes. 4. Be prepared: Please do not work on any other subject s assignments during class. If you are seen doing work for another class, it may be confiscated and the teacher for that class will be notified. The honor code will be strictly enforced. Cheating/plagiarism will result in a zero. 5. Be positive: Come prepared to class with your materials, completed homework, and a positive attitude. With a positive attitude, you will learn AND have fun! DISCIPLINE District, school and grade-level policies will be observed with the consequences detailed in the grade-level information letter and student handbook. Please become familiar with student rights and responsibilities in the Student Code of Conduct. According to the Deerlake discipline policy, the following interventions may be used for Class 1 offenses: 1 st offense: Warning 2 nd offense: Teacher Strategy (such as changing seats, etc.) 3 rd offense: Teacher/Student Conference and Parent Contact 4 th offense: Referral COMMUNICATION Grades can be checked on Gradebook. Students will be provided a username & password. There is a link on the Deerlake web page. Weekly assignments can be viewed on Mrs. Miller s teacher website for Beginning Spanish class. The teacher website has links for helpful grammar and vocabulary review activities. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. To help Deerlake go green, students will go over a class set of this policy letter. You may refer to this form at any time on the teacher website. I will be happy to give you a printed copy of these policies at your request. Returning the signature page with appropriate signatures by Friday, August 19, 2016, counts as one homework grade. I hope that this semester-long Beginning Spanish class will inspire you to seek many opportunities to practice your new language and to enjoy and appreciate Hispanic culture. Bienvenidos a la clase de español! Your partner in education, Mrs. Paula Miller millerp@leonschools.net

4 Please return this page to Señora Miller by Friday, August 19, This will be your first homework assignment and it s an easy A. Muchas gracias! STUDENT VERIFICATION: I have read, understood, and agree to abide by the classroom policies set forth in Mrs. Miller s course description for Beginning Spanish. Print Student s Name Student s Signature Class Period Date PARENT/GUARDIAN VERIFICATION: I give permission for my child to participate in the supervised viewing of the Internet for educational purposes in this class as on-line resources, research and presentations are an integral part of this course. My child and I have reviewed and understand the expectations and policies stated in the Classroom Policy for Beginning Spanish. We also acknowledge the availability of all class information and the course description online via Mrs. Miller s teacher website. ( _ Print Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date Relationship to Student Best time to be contacted: Preferred phone number: 4

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