Overview
Welcome to Spanish! These first two years are your foundational classes in Spanish. What you accomplish here are the building blocks for what you learn throughout your future Spanish classes. These are the most important years in Spanish! You will be introduced to substantial vocabulary, different verb forms, beginning reading and listening comprehension, as well as activities to acquire and develop fundamental speaking skills.
In Spanish class students need to have a good attitude and a willingness to participate in order to be successful. Mistakes are expected when we practice speaking. Some of the class is conducted in Spanish. You won’t understand everything at first, but when you pay attention to all clues and pictures that are presented you will catch on. The idea is that you keep listening so that your comprehension abilities can grow. Students will be asked to work independently and in small groups and need to appropriately manage their own work habits and behavior.
Remember that help is always available from your teacher. Please contact Mrs. Del Valle immediately for extra help if you are having difficulties. This can be done by e-mail or in person.
Class Rules
1. Act and speak with respect at all times. No off the wall comments, no put downs and no disruptions during instruction or work time.
2. Arrive on time. Be in your seat at the bell. Anywhere else is tardy.
3. Cell phones may be out ONLY when used in instructional activities as directed by the teacher. Otherwise, your devices must be turned off and stored in your backpacks before the bell rings. “Bell to bell, no cell” is our rule. Devices will be confiscated if they are out without the permission.
4. Food, drinks, gum and candy are not allowed in class. (Due to terrible ant problems!) Clear water only.
5. Plagiarism / Cheating – Plagiarism is the use of any idea or phrasing of an idea traceable to a single source without proper acknowledgement. Plagiarism is also turning in someone else’s work as your own or supplying your work to another student for him/her to use. Cheating is copying homework or classwork, web sites, quiz and test answers from other students with or without their permission. Students who work “together” should not have identical work. Parents / guardians must be contacted. Cheating and Plagiarism results in a zero for the assignment and a referral to the school administration.
Absenses
Classwork and homework may be made up for EXCUSED absences only.
On the day you return, Please see Mrs. Del Valle for the class work and to make arrangements for test or quiz makeups. You have the same number of days that you were absent to make up work. For 2 days absent, you have 2 days to make up work.
Please see Mrs. Del Valle if you have an extended illness.
Materials
1. Textbook – Realidades There is a link to the textbook on the tab of my homepage.
https://sites.google.com/a/sduhsd.net/del-valle/realidades-textbooks
NOTE: Textbook may be check out to student for semester upon request
2. Blue or black pen and loose leaf paper.
3. Red or colored pen to correct work
4. Highlighter to highlight important notes.
5. One composition notebook just for Spanish - NO SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS PLEASE
PLEASE HAVE AT HOME TO BRING TO SCHOOL UPON REQUEST:
6. Colored pencils for homework
7. 3 x 5 notecards, to be brought to class as requested
Homework You will have about 20 – 30 minutes of homework nearly every night. It will be written daily on my web page. If there is no written homework, you are expected to study the current vocabulary and grammar topics.
Homework Expectations:
· Homework is due when the bell rings. It may not be turned in late or delivered to class later. Late homework or homework done in class quickly the day it is due is not accepted.
· Homework must be complete and legible.
· Homework must be done accurately and legibly for full credit.
· If you are absent, you will have one class period from the date of your absence to complete the work that you missed.
Again: Neatness and accuracy, including spelling, in all work always count.
Illegible work will not be accepted. Incomplete work will not be given any credit.
Preparation for Class Come to class prepared (with your materials and all necessary papers) every day. Please be organized and be able to quickly and easily access handouts, notes and other necessary items.
Tests and Quizzes There will be frequent quizzes on vocabulary and grammar topics. Spelling always counts! There will be a chapter test at the end of each chapter in the book, approximately one per month. There will also be a midterm exam at the end of the first semester and a comprehensive final exam at the conclusion of the school year. If you are absent you will be required to come in at lunch immediately when you return to make up the test or quiz.
Classwork Classwork includes oral and written assignments and activities completed in class in which students develop and practice their Spanish language skills. Examples include: grammar exercises, skits, presentations, essays, letter writing, listening, activities, etc. This also includes positive and active participation. Accuracy, spelling and neatness always count! Illegible work cannot be accepted. Oral presentations are to be memorized and presented without notes.
Grades Your grades can always be accessed by you or your parents through your Aeries account. Your grade is determined by the quality and accuracy of the work you submit and your participation in class. Your semester grade is broken down into the following categories:
25% Classwork, includes warm ups, oral assignments, 25% Quizzes
participation (logged daily) and projects 25% Exams
15% Homework 10% Final Exam
Grading Scale
B+ 88% - 89% B 82% - 87% B- 80% - 81%
C+ 78% - 79% C 72% - 77% C- 70% - 71%
D+ 68% - 69% D 62% - 67% D- 60% - 61%
Rounding Policy
Grades ending with .5 or higher are rounded to the next grade IF homework is at least a 85% and there is not more than 1 missing assignment in that semester.
You may fill out the Google Form to indicate that you have read the syllabus.