Spanish intro 8th

ESPAÑOL intro 8th Syllabus.

Northwest Middle School

Instructor: Mr. Leonardo Sanchez  

Room: B-220

Phone: (864)-355-6936

Web site: https://sites.google.com/greenvilleschools.us/lsanchez/home

Dear Parent or Guardian,

A new school year has begun and this is always an exciting time. Your child has chosen to begin the acquisition of a foreign language, and it is going to be a great year! As we begin, there are a few things that I would like for you to know.

About me…My name is Leonardo Sanchez Palomino.  I’m from Bucaramanga, Santander in Colombia (not Columbia).  I have been a teacher for 17 years: 3 in Woodmont High School, 1 in Pickens Middle School, 5 in Campbell county schools in Virginia (USA) as a Spanish teacher and 5 in my native country as an ESL teacher.   I have a BS degree in accountancy and a master in teaching Spanish as a second language.

I like to play basketball and listen to all kind of music.  I also love to spend time with my family.  I’m married to Marlynde Gamboa, she is also a Spanish teacher.  We have two American daughters: Katherine (18) and Gabriela (14).  I love teaching and sharing my culture and I look forward to an outstanding year at Northwest Middle School.

Course Description:

This Beginning Spanish intro 8th course is designed to develop student’s basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. The students will demonstrate basic listening and reading comprehension of common vocabulary. They will use a limited set of simple oral questions and statements to be used in common daily conversation. Reading will be limited to simple passages of the material covered orally in class. Adjustments to this schedule will be made as necessary.

Course Objectives:

The objectives for Spanish I are based on the standards found in the Modern Language Standards.

Classroom Expectations

All students are expected to maintain acceptable behavior in and out of school. At NWMS we expect that all Panthers demonstrate positive character and behavior. Any behaviors that oppose a positive learning environment will be subject to the NWMS discipline policy. Please see the student handbook for additional information.

Course Outline:

This outline is intended as a guide only in assisting the teacher in planning. When necessary, adjustments may be made to the material covered.

Unidad 1 – Todo sobre mi

Unidad 2 – On the place we’ll go

Content

• Conversational Spanish Topics

Greetings, salutations, and introductions

Personal information (age, origin, etc. ...)

Adjectives, Feelings, places

School, classes

Time, numbers, days, months, and dates

Personal descriptions

Family

Weather

• Grammatical topics

Subject pronouns

Definite and indefinite articles

Noun adjective agreement

Subject-verb agreement

Pluralization

• Verbs

Present tense regular verbs

• Culture of Spanish-speaking countries

Materials:

Spanish students are required to keep a notebook only for my class because we do not use a textbook.  Everything that your student needs will be given in class, and the notebook is necessary to keep the lessons from getting lost. In addition, we often refer to previous lessons, and the notebook will help your child to stay organized and prepared.

The materials that your child will need for Spanish include:

·         Chromebook (You need to bring it every day to class charged)

·         Composition notebook (not the spiral type)

·         Index cards (Notecards)  

·         loose leaf paper

Grades

Percentages will be recorded in PowerSchool for all items assessed. Each progress report and report card will be assessed by applying designated weighted percentages to the following items:

Minor Assessments: 50%

-Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs)

· Interpretive Tasks

· Interpersonal Tasks

· Presentational Tasks

-Quizzes

-Classwork

-Class Participation

-Homework: Homework will be assigned to reinforce and practice language concepts acquired in class.  It is expected that you complete assignments in order to apply new and recycled concepts.

Major Assessments: 50%

-Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs)

· Interpretive Tasks

· Interpersonal Tasks

· Presentational Tasks

-Notebook

-Tests

-Projects

Grading Policy

The State Board of Education requires all schools to follow a statewide uniform grading scale. Middle school course averages have a floor of 50 for each grading period for each course.

Grading Scale: A (90-100) B (80-89) C (70-79) D (60-69) F (50 or less)

Major Assessments: 50% Minor Assessments: 50%

Make-Up Work Policy

Students are responsible for missed work in the event of an absence. In accordance with District policy, students have 7 days upon returning to school to complete missed work within the quarter the work was assigned.  Missed assignments will be noted in the gradebook as missing until complete. For example, if missing work occurred during the end of Q1 and Q2 has already started and the 7 days allowed overlaps from Q1 to Q2 the work will be accepted during Q2 because the days allowed fall within the 7 days make up time frame. If the 7 days ends on a Saturday or Sunday the assignment will be due the next school day the student is present. Recap: students have 7 days from the absence to submit missing work, no more than 7 days unless admin approval.   

Re-do Work Policy

•  Any student can redo a major assessment one time if they score below a 60, if the request is within five school days from the date they received their grade/returned assessment. 

• A teacher does have the discretion to allow a redo more than five school days if they choose, but a student should be allowed at least five days to request a redo.

• A type of remediation activity, determined by the teacher,  must be completed by the student prior to the assessment retake.

• The grades for the 1st and 2nd attempts of the assessment will be averaged together (regardless of whether the 2nd attempt is higher or lower than the 1st attempt). If either assessment score is below a 50, the teacher will use the grade floor of a 50 to average into the final assessment grade.

• Redo attempts should happen outside of class time (i.e.,advisory, tutoring time, Panther Success, etc.).

• The teacher should receive a parent/guardian written note, email, or phone call prior to the student being granted a redo attempt. A teacher can waive this requirement at their discretion if the parent/guardian is unreachable via phone or unable to return a note/email granting permission for the test retake.

Late Work Policy

Schools will accept late work with no penalty to the student up to 5 days after the original due date or the end of the grading period, whichever comes first. A teacher may extend the late work acceptance deadline upon administration approval of extenuating circumstances but may not reduce the time. The work, although submitted late, will not receive a point reduction. Assessments must be about mastery of content and if graded, the goal is to assess mastery, not behaviors. Work can be accepted late across grading periods by special exception and approval of administration.

Attendance:

NWMS attendance and tardy policies will be followed. 

Tardiness:

Students are expected to arrive at class on time, in accordance with school policy.

Classroom Rules:

Have RESPECT

-for yourself, for your classmates, for the teacher

Take RESPONSIBILITY

-arrive on time, come prepared, study, and complete all assignments

PARTICIPATE

-in all activities

¡HABLA ESPAÑOL!

ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES!

No i-pods or other electronic/listening devices

If you have any questions, concerns, advice, etc. please do not hesitate to contact me.  I think e-mail is the best way lsanchezpalomino@greenville.k12.sc.us  but you can call me before or after school. (864)-355-6936.

As a parent and an educator, I firmly believe that the learning experience is a partnership between students, teachers and parents.  Together we can help them succeed.

I think ¨All students can succeed, if they really want to, if they are willing to work and if they think positively. ¨

Leonardo Sanchez-Palomino (864) 355-6936 

 lsanchezpalomino@greenville.k12.sc.us