Spanish Syllabus Early College High School Spring 2016 High Expectations yield High RESULTS! Instructor: Señorita Diana Rojas Room: D104 Phone #: 972-343-7635 Conference and Tutoring: 2:50-3:30 Course Description: In Spanish 1, you will be introduced to the Spanish language and culture. In this course, you will learn the elements of basic conversational and written Spanish. Emphasis will be on developing proficiency using the present tense in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Since interaction using the language is an important element to learning, you will often work with your classmates. You will also learn about traditions, holidays, and common activities in Spanish-speaking countries. Various projects will be required in this course emphasizing Hispanic culture and incorporating technology. Most importantly, you will begin your journey towards learning a second language, giving you a multitude of opportunities in the future! Major Instructional Goals: The student will (in the target language ) ask and respond to questions on everyday topics such as foods, time, weather, days, months, seasons, clothing, colors, body parts, family members, rooms in a house, places in a city, and numbers. compose simple sentences in the present tense and implied future tenses, using appropriate verb forms and word order. respond appropriately to simple directions. ask and respond appropriately to statements on a variety of everyday topics such as greetings, introductions, basic needs, family, shopping, sports, likes and dislikes, etc. present information on everyday topics using subject pronouns and descriptive, possessive and demonstrative adjectives. describe various aspects of Hispanic cultural practices and perspectives on such topics as food, family and the educational systems. identify products of Spanish-speaking countries such as art, music and culture. locate Spanish-speaking countries and identify major geographical features. demonstrate an awareness of formal and informal forms of language. compare aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures to their own culture. demonstrate evidence of personal use of the Spanish language beyond the classroom. master the appropriate accent while speaking in Spanish (no Texas twang!)
What to Expect in this Class: *Remember: this is a HIGH SCHOOL credit course! Students are expected to behave maturely, respectfully, and keep up with the pace of a high school course. Students should attend tutoring sessions if they feel they are getting behind, as the class moves at a more accelerated pace than previous Spanish 1A or 1B classes. Class activities: Interacting with others and participating in class activities in the target language is essential in order to learn a language. Expect to work alone, in pairs, in teams, and as a whole class. Homework/Projects: Language learning takes time and requires lots of practice for mastery to occur. Homework and projects are designed to assist in this learning process and are expected to be completed before class begins. Tests/Quizzes: Tests and quizzes will serve as one indicator of your mastery of what we have learned in class. In the case that you do poorly, you will have the chance to retake with the opportunity to improve the grade up to 70%. This will give students who do poorly the chance to improve their grade but still reward the students who show their mastery of the material on the first quiz. All retakes must be done before the unit test and must be taken outside of class time. Attendance: Daily attendance and participation will assist you greatly in learning Spanish. Missing class means you are missing vital explanations and group practice, and you will likely find yourself getting behind. Tardies: Be on time! Tardies will be dealt with according to the GPISD policy. Any bellwork or quizzes missed due to tardiness will result in a zero for the assignment. Help: ASK: Always Seek Knowledge! I am happy to provide assistance outside of class. I am generally in my room for at least 30 minutes after school. Please make an appointment with me if additional help is desired. I can also provide contact information for a qualified tutor. SUPPLY LIST: Things you ll NEED on a daily basis: 3 ring binder (with clear flaps on front and back) Loose leaf paper (wide-ruled) 5 tabs/dividers (must have slot for labeled tab to be inserted) Red pens Pencils Highlighters Personal Pencil Sharpener Text: En español (McDougal Littel) Workbooks: Más Practica (will stay with students in binder) Actividades para Todos (will stay in classroom) Lecturas para Todos (will stay in classroom) All supplies and workbooks will be needed EVERY DAY!! Failure to do so will result in a 15-minute detention to be served on the following Friday. **Official Supply Checks began on Monday January 25th. Students will be assigned 15 minutes detention every day they do not have ALL of their supplies in their binders and organized correctly. Detentions are served on Fridays.**
Detention: Detention is given to students for failure to follow one of the classroom rules below: Bring all necessary supplies, including homework, to class and follow instructions during class. Respect teacher, speaker, and classmates and their property (includes talking without permission/excessive talking/disrespectful behavior). Stay in seat at all times unless teacher has given permission to move (includes sharpening pencil, throwing trash away, getting tissue, etc.) Follow all ECHS rules. (includes chewing gum) Pass the class with at least 70%. (Must complete or make-up assignments/tests in detention) Other Students receive 15 minutes detention each day that they are in violation of Srta. Rojas classroom rules. The 15-minute increments add up throughout the week and detention is served on Fridays after school. Failure to show up on time will result in either double detention or office referral. How You Will Be Graded: Several elements will be used to determine your grade. Tests Quizzes Homework Class Work Participation Spanish Binder Binder / In-class assignments: In-class assignments will be randomly collected for a grade. In addition, you will be expected to turn in your Spanish binder at the end of each quarter. You will need a three-ring binder for the organization of handouts and notes. Your binder must be organized and the tabs should be labeled as follows: Warm up (bell ringers, quick reviews) Daily Notes (grammar notes, vocabulary, group work, etc.) Book Work (book activities) Worksheets (handouts printed from copier) Tests/Quizzes Projects You also need to include your syllabus at the front of your notebook. Your notebook will be checked for its contents, neatness and organization.
Participation: Participation is essential for success in this class. Points are earned daily for participation and completion of assigned tasks. This includes willingness to work with others and the teacher. Your participation grade will be derived from several random observations the teacher will make throughout the quarter using points assigned via the rubric below. 5 points: Above and beyond good! You go the extra mile. You were in class on time. You were prepared with all of your supplies. I saw and heard you do all of the following: You listened carefully when other spoke; spoke only in Spanish when instructed; asked and answered questions; gave your opinions; and made positive contributions to class discussions (i.e. stayed on task, looked for ways to help out, volunteered for presentations, and so on.) 4 points: Good participation You were in class on time. You were prepared with all of your supplies. I saw and heard you do most of the items listed above, but not all, and not all of the time. 3 points: Average participation You were in class on time. You were prepared with most of your supplies. I saw and heard you do at least some of the items listed above. Below average participation: You can do better You were in class on time or had a tardy. You were unprepared and did not have all of your supplies. You did very little of any of the items listed above. Homework: Homework must be completed by the beginning of class in order to receive full credit. As we review the homework in class, you must correct any errors with a red pen. Late work will only be accepted for students with excused absences and must be turned in the day following their return to class. Cheating on any work in class will not be tolerated and will result in a zero. The absence of a proper heading on the student s papers will result in an automatic 5-point deduction. The proper heading includes: first & last name, date, and class period. If You are Absent: It is your responsibility to find out what work was missed. Do not interrupt the class or the teacher to find out about missed work. You may come in before or after school, or wait until the last 5 minutes of class to find out about any missed assignments. Assignments and tests not completed within the allotted time will receive a zero. If you are absent the day before a test, you still have the responsibility of taking a previously announced test upon your return. Work missed because of truancy may not be completed for credit. Rules/Procedures: Respect your peers, your teacher, property and yourself Follow directions the first time they are given Bring binder and ALL supplies to class on a daily basis Contribute to class in a positive way No gum or food in class All electronic devices should be turned off and put away this includes CELL PHONES If you have a concern or special circumstance that needs attention, please see Srta. Rojas Restroom use is reserved for absolute emergencies only. Classes are only 50 minutes long, so you must make time during passing periods or ask me for an extra minute before the bell rings for class to begin to use the restroom.
Spanish Syllabus Name Period Please read the entire syllabus and sign below. Return to Señorita Rojas by Monday, Jan 25th. Once signatures are verified, this syllabus will remain in the student s Spanish binder all year. Student: Carefully read the syllabus. Then sign Part A below. I have read the information included in the Spanish syllabus. I agree to abide by all of the information in this syllabus and know I can be successful in this class by bringing all of my supplies on a daily basis, maintaining good attendance, participating in class, completing homework, getting help if needed in advance of tests and quizzes, and promptly finding out what work I missed and turn it in when I am absent. I will be respectful and considerate whenever in Spanish class. Student signature Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Parents: Please read the syllabus and complete sections A-E below. You may now check your child s grades and attendance online through GPISD Gradebook. I/We have read the syllabus and understand the importance of encouraging our child to bring all of his/her supplies on a daily basis, maintain good attendance, participate in class, complete homework and to seek help if needed in advance of tests and quizzes. We know that we can contact the teacher by phone at (972)343-7635 A. Parent/Guardian signature Date B. Name(s) and phone #(s) of parent or guardian to discuss child s progress: C. E-mail address D. Internet access at home? Yes No E. Parents, I really want to hear from you about your son or daughter. Please take a moment to share helpful information about your child and/or communicate your questions/comments regarding the course.