Spanish 1 CP Syllabus

Spanish 1 CP Level Syllabus

Contact Information: Señora Caldwell

Email: aacaldwe@greenville.k12.sc.us   

Telephone: (864)355-7946 (voicemail)

COURSE DESCRIPTION (Focus and Purpose): 

This course prepares students to: perform interpersonal, interpretive and presentational communicative tasks within the novice high to intermediate low range on the ACTFL Proficiency scale; interpret, exchange, and present, information, concepts and ideas both within the classroom and beyond on a variety of topics including connections to other subject areas; and understand the relationship among the products, practices and perspectives of other cultures. In addition, students develop insight into their own language and culture. PREREQUISITES: None

UNIT TITLE

Intro Unit Performance & Proficiency My Friends & I

My School Life

Let’s Eat

Home Sweet Home

My community

Going Green

*Subject to change due to cultural celebrations and activities

Goals: 

As a world language educator, my purpose is to help my students achieve the following goals while participating in the Fisher MS Spanish program:

1. To know that other cultures successfully exist without the English language.

2. To communicate at novice and intermediate levels when speaking, listening, reading 

    and writing in the target language.

3. To be comfortable and open-minded about the Spanish language and its respective cultures, thus 

     drawing comparisons between this language and cultures and the English language and cultures 

     in the United States.

4. To actively seek opportunities to use Spanish language and cultural skills in the community.

5. To connect Spanish learning to other academic disciplines.  

Instruction will be based on the Greenville County Schools curriculum guide (found on the District Webpage) and the South Carolina Foreign Language Curriculum Standards. These standards can be accessed on the SC Department of Education website:  https://ed.sc.gov/index.cfm?LinkServID=B8AC450D-A4FC-F1FE-B849764B7BCFB347 

Level One Proficiency Benchmarks: Novice 

At the end of level one, students can consistently demonstrate the following levels of proficiency regardless of context:

• INTERPRETIVE: I can identify the general topic and some basic information in both very familiar and everyday contexts by recognizing practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences in texts that are spoken, written, or signed. *End of Year Target: Listening Novice Mid / Reading Novice High

• INTERPERSONAL: I can communicate in spontaneous spoken, written, or signed conversations on both very familiar and everyday topics, using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, simple sentences, and questions. *End of Year Target: Novice Mid

• PRESENTATIONAL: I can present information on both very familiar and everyday topics using a variety of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences through spoken, written, or signed language. *End of Year Target: Speaking Novice Mid-High / Writing Novice Mid

• INTERCULTURAL: In my own and other cultures I can identify products and practices to help me understand perspectives. I can interact at a survival level in some familiar everyday contexts. *End of Year Target: Novice

*Note: Students will not always progress to a new proficiency level each year.

SCCCR Standard for World Language Proficiency 2019 (p. 12)

ASSESSMENTS and GRADING

Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Classwork assignments, tests, projects, group work, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. The district-wide grading scale is as follows:

100-90 A

89-80 B

79-70 C

69-60 D

59-0 F

Grades will be divided as follows for courses in World Languages in Middle School:

Modern Languages

(3) 60% Major grades (Tests, Projects) include 1 IPA & 2 additional assessments:

*All major assessments should assess each communication mode:

Interpretive Task:  Demonstrate understanding of spoken or written text about a familiar topic

Interpersonal Task: Two way spontaneous spoken or written exchange about a familiar topic

Presentational Task:  One way spoken or written presentation about a familiar topic

(8) 40% Minor grades (Classwork, Participation, Quizzes) include a balance of tasks in each mode: 

Interpretive Tasks (2-3):  Demonstrate understanding of spoken or written text about a familiar topic

Interpersonal Tasks (2-3):  Two way spontaneous spoken or written exchange about a familiar topic

Presentational Tasks (2-3):  One way spoken or written presentation about a familiar topic

No student will receive a grade below 50 in the gradebook for any individual assignment.

Student grades will be taking a first semester exam (One of the three major grades for second quarter) and an End of the year exam (One of the major grades of the fourth quarter).

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

Students will need:       

• Charged Chromebook

• Composition Notebook or Binder (to take notes and glue handouts)

• All the school supplies that your child may need (like: Pens, pencils, markers, highligters, etc.)

Google Classroom: This is the place to keep up to date with the classroom's events, homework assignments, helpful resources for your child and what your child will be learning this year.   To my students, this site will help to keep you up to date on homework assignments as well as project and test dates. 

Integrated Units:  As students study different topics, (ie. Numbers), a connection to the particular subject will be made.  Numbers will be taught as math problems.  Links to social studies will be made as students learn about the history of Spanish speaking countries, etc. 

Teaching Methods and Strategies:  I provide world language instructions to my students composed of varied mini-lessons within a single class period to increase and maintain student interest.  In the classroom, I use guided and pause-procedure lectures, collaborative pairs, guided and independent practice, mnemonic devices, readings, selective and random questioning, and research.  Reading and writing are fundamental skills and concepts that promote success in education and self-actualization toward becoming a life-long learner. 

Homework:  Homework will be infrequent and very limited.  Students should review the notes that are taken in class each day.     

Makeup Policy: The makeup policy listed in the student handbook will be followed for this class.   

HONOR CODE POLICY AND PLAGIARISM: 

I adhere to our school honor code and plagiarism policy. Cheating or copying of work belonging to another person is a violation of school rules as well as personal ethics. Both the lender and borrower will receive the lowest grade allowed on the work, and parents will be notified.  Plagiarism is cheating and will be addressed as such. This includes language translators. 

Examples of plagiarism include:

• Copying and pasting from the Internet or copying directly from books or magazines without properly citing the source. 

• Copying another student’s work, turning in another student’s work, or having another student do the work. 

• Buying papers on the Internet or any other source.

• Using Google Translate or any  translation website to complete an assignment.

PARENT COMMUNICATION:  

Parents, teachers, and students work together to promote learning. It is important for me to communicate with you on a regular basis concerning your child’s progress in learning required concepts and standards. Please feel free to call me at any time. Calls during the instructional day go directly to my voicemail. I will always respond within 24 hours. You can also reach me by email any time of day. 

I am available for a conference before or after school hours. 

Communication:  I can be reached at (864)355 7946  (voicemail) or at aacaldwe@greenville.k12.sc.us  or  aacaldwe@greenvilleschools.us