sra. Torres

Hi, and welcome! This is our department below. I'm the one with the cap on. We are trying to be an Eagle :)

Contact information

vtorresdenarvaez@greenville.k12.sc.us 

Classroom Phone Number 355 2890

Classroom C 221

I can help students who feel the need for some extra help or simply need guidance as to what or how to do assignments. Students should let me know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly.

all students have google classroom access    (parents invited)

 I'm using Google Classroom in class with students! I'll use it to share important updates, assignments, reinforcement resources and more.  

Biographical information

I am a native Spanish speaker born in Colombia and raised there and in Australia. Teaching is a passion of mine and has been since 1998. I have a Masters degree in Bilingual Education, and in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Besides teaching, I also love all things endurance sports and  triathlon, which is one big reason we decided to move to Greenville in 2018, and we love the city!  I look forward to having a great time learning from each student and teaching them a wonderful language and culture.

Schedule 2023-2024 

SEMESTER 1

Periodo 1 8:45 – 10:15 Spa. 2 Honores

   Periodo 2   10:20 – 11:55           Spa. 2CP

Periodo 3 12:00 – 2:05* Planeación

Periodo 4 2:10 – 3:45 Spa. Honores

SEMESTER 2

Periodo 1 8:45 – 10:15 Spa. 2CP

   Periodo 2   10:20 – 11:55         Planeación

Periodo 3 12:00 – 2:05* Spa. para nativos

           Periodo 4 2:10 – 3:45   Spa. 2 Honores

MATERIALS NEEDED 

Chromebooks charged and ready. All students should have a notebook or a 3-ring binder and pencils. 

welcome letter to parents and students 

My name is Veronica Torres and I will be your student’s Spanish teacher this year. I have taught since 1998 and I have a masters in Bilingual Education, and TESOL. I am from Colombia and speak fluent Spanish and English. I am enthusiastic about teaching and love my job.

In your student’s Spanish course, it is my goal to help your student gain familiarity with the Spanish language. He/she will be encouraged to develop their knowledge, communicative and written skills, and experiences to become a productive member of both our class and society. As a student, they will also be given the opportunity to enhance their talents and skills through a focused effort on writing, real world application, communication and presentations. This is a fast-paced course and it is VERY important that your students be present every day. I have high expectations for your student in this class and truly believe every student can succeed, given they take this class seriously and want to learn. As with any language, your student will need to continue building their knowledge base. That knowledge base began with this Spanish I. We will work together to take an enormous step forward to become proficient in the Spanish language. Again, I look forward to working with your student this semester!

Mrs. Torres, Room C221

vtorresdenarvaez@greenville.k12.sc.us 

Course Description

Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 are designed to prepare students to function at beginning levels of proficiency in a variety of authentic situations.  Consistent with the South Carolina state framework for modern languages, emphasis will be placed on communicating in the target language, building cultural awareness, making interdisciplinary connections, drawing comparisons between languages and cultures, and learning to use the target language within our school community and the broader regional and global communities 

Instructional Philosophy

Instruction will be in the target language as much as possible in order to develop listening skills.  The textbook and accompanying videos will supplement authentic listening and reading activities.  Authentic texts and auditory materials will be a springboard for speaking and writing activities used for Integrated Performance Assessments (IPA’s) designed for each unit.  Other materials will be integrated where desirable. 

Spanish for Native Speakers' Class:

This course prepares heritage Spanish-speaking students to understand and use the complexities of language fluently and accurately to perform communicative tasks. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in contemporary and historical contexts, develops students' awareness and appreciation of tangible and intangible products, practices and perspectives 

How is Spanish class time structured?

Classes are 90 minutes long.

Each day, class will begin with a bell work that will be ready for students as they enter. 

Teacher introduction of the day’s lesson. Mini lecture or demonstration.

Guided practice time for students to practice what they have learned.

Independent practice where students apply and create according to what they learned.

Class will end with a Ticket Out the Door (TOD). 

How will you be graded in this class?

MINOR GRADES (40%):

Projects

Presentations

Classwork

Google Classroom assignments

Digital Textbook practice

MAYOR  GRADES (60%):

EdPuzzles average

Daily notes and Digital notebook

Test Sept 1st

Test Oct 2nd

Grading Structure:

A = 90-100      B = 80-89        C = 70-89        D = 60-79        F = any grade below 60

Course Outline for Spanish 2 CP:

Review Spanish 2 CP

Unit 1: ¡Bienvenidos a Español 2!  / Welcome to Spanish 2 

Unit 2: Identidad: ¿Quién soy yo? / Identity: Who am I? 

Unit 3: La Rutina Diaria: ¿Cuáles son las opciones que tengo? / Daily Routine: What are my choices? 

Unit 4: Eventos: ¿Qué te pasó? / Events: What happened? 

Unit 5: Mi niñez: ¿Cómo he cambiado yo? / My childhood: How have I changed? 

Unit 6: ¡A vacaciones!: ¿Cómo fue tu viaje? / Vacations: How was your trip?  

Review Spanish 2 Honors. Same as 2CP but with a deeper focus and extended material.

Review Spanish for Native Speakers

Unit 1: Nuestra identidad/ Our identity

Unit 2: Raices Hispanas y el idioma espanol / Hispanic roots and the Spanish language

Unit 3: Comida e identidad / Food and identity

Unit 4: Que la historia los obsuelva /Those who shaped our history

Unit 5: Myths and leyends / Nuestros mitos y leyendas 

GENERAL RULES - Expectations

RESPONSIBILITY 

• Be ready for class, in a quiet place, with no distractions.

• Begin work immediately so you have enough time to get through the lesson.

• Have paper (notebook or binder), pens or pencils each day.  Take notes.

• Stay on task during the class period, and hand in assignments on time.

RESPECT 

• Listen when your teacher or classmate is speaking.  This is not the time for working on other assignments or personal grooming.

• Do your own work.  This shows respect for yourself as well as for your classmates. 

RIGOR

• Always do your best work.

• If you anticipate being absent, make sure you catch up.

• When you are absent, speak to your teacher as soon as possible to make up missed work.  Some students E-mail for assignments – Super!  Call a friend to ask about your homework for the next day. Always check Google Classroom.

ASSIGNMENTS 

• Assignments will be posted on Google Classroom, and will be explained in class or through video recording on Classroom Slides. Make sure you follow instructions and do your best work.

• Turn in on time so you avoid falling behind.

·         When you are absent, speak to your teacher as soon as possible to make up missed work.  Some students E-mail for assignments. With a doctor’s excuse you will be given 5 days to make up homework.

LATE WORK – TARDY POLICY 

• Always turn in your work on time. Not doing so means I will take 10 points off for every late day. We don’t want this! It’s not worth getting a lower grade when you could get your best grade doing the work on time. (More info an Tardy Policy below)

• If you anticipate being absent, with a doctor’s note, you will be given 5 days to make up the homework.  

CLASSWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS

• Always turn in your work at the time the teacher states. This may be after completing the assignments or at the end of class, or the next day. Be as organized as you can. I can help you if you need it.

ENTERING THE ROOM

• I will always be at the door greeting you. Please greet back. Saying hello means you acknowledge someone else’s presence. This is common courtesy and I expect this from every one of you. A simple ‘Hola!” will make my day. Gracias!

• Be in class on time with an open mind and ready to start learning. Be in the classroom (virtual classroom at home), seated and quiet, when the class time starts.

• Start working on you bell ringer immediately (posted for you on the board) after the bell rings.

EXCITING THE ROOM

• Class is over when the bell rings. Not before. I will dismiss class so do not start packing unless I dismiss class. This may be 2 or 3 minutes before the class ends.

• Make sure you leave your space as clean as you left it. No papers on the floor. If you see one, please do the right thing: pick it up and put it in the recycling box.

• A “thank you’, ‘Goodbye”, or “have a good day’ go a long way. Make is a practice to exit the class saying good bye to your teacher. I will always wish a great remaining of the day.

GROUP WORK

• Always follow instructions.

• Work with a low voice and focus on the task. This is not social time. 

RESTROOMS

• You may NOT leave the classroom 15 minutes after or before the bells.

• You have 5 minutes in between class. Use the restroom then.

• If you must absolutely go, raise your hand and wait until I call on you. Don’t forget to take the classroom pass.

CHROMEBOOKS 

• When working in the Chromebooks, take your computer and work silently.

• Work on task.

• Make sure it is charged guys...

HONOR CODE 

All students are expected to follow the Honor Code/Policy. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for any given assignment. All honor infractions will also be turned in to the office for documentation.

• Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

• Willfully giving or receiving an unauthorized, unfair, or dishonest advantage in school     work over others

• Attempting cheating

• Turning in work that is not one’s own

• Sharing work through e-mail or any other electronic communication

CELL PHONE POLICY:

To increase student engagement and minimize distractions to the instructional environment, students are not allowed to use their personal electronic devices, which include, but are not limited to cell phones and earbuds, during any class.

Link to printable syllabus: Click here

Eastside High School

2021-2022

Make-up Work Policy

• Make-up work is defined as work not completed or turned in due to a student’s absence.

• This policy is set by the district.

• Students may be allowed to make up work due to absences that are excused, unexcused or related to discipline with no penalty within 5 days or a reasonable time according to GCSD board policy.

• If a student misses work due to an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to coordinate time with the teacher within 5 days of return to make up the work.  Any work not submitted within the 5 day makeup period will turn into “late work.”

• Alternative assignments may be given for performance-based tasks that cannot be recreated in a make-up format.

• If a student is present on the day a test, quiz or project due date is announced and then absent on the day of the test, quiz or project deadline, he/she must be prepared to take the test, quiz or turn in the project on the day he/she returns to school.

• Field trips and participation in other extracurricular events (such as athletics) are considered attendance days.  Work missed due to such events can be submitted electronically by midnight on the day that it is due.  Items that cannot be submitted electronically should be submitted the following attendance day.

• Students are encouraged to utilize the before and after school tutoring programs to complete make-up and late work in a proactive manner.

Late Work Policy

Teachers reserve the right to alter this policy based on extenuating circumstances.  Extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the administration.

• Late work is defined as work not completed/turned in on time even though the student attended the class.

• Any assignment which is not turned in on time will be deducted 10 points off of the original grade earned for each school day the assignment is late up to five days.

• After five days, the student will be assigned a 0 for the assignment.

• Late work will not be accepted after the end of a grading period.

• Students who have 504/IEP/ESOL accommodations specifically allowing for extra time may exceed the 5 day window to maintain compliance with their respective educational plan.

• Dual Credit courses may have varying late work policies that are aligned with their parent university.  

• Students are encouraged to utilize the before and after school tutoring programs to complete make-up and late work in a proactive manner.