La Clase de Señor Powell—Español II
Welcome to your second semester of Spanish II! I hope that this Semester will encourage you to continue your studies in Spanish, as you truly begin to see great communicative abilities, the result of your dedication over the past year and a half. But if this semester will mark the end of your official time studying Spanish, my hope is that you will have developed an ability to communicate in Spanish for years to come. I also hope that that you will have developed an appreciation for the Spanish language and culture.
Required Materials: Please bring the following materials with you to class on a daily basis.
Texts. Realidades— There will be a class set that students will have for classroom use. There is also an online version of the text that can be reached through my website. As an additional resource, students who would like to check out a text for use at home may do so through the teacher and library.
Composition Workbooks and a 3-ring notebook for materials
A Spanish-English pocket-sized dictionary and flashcards-- recommended
*****Please come to class daily with pen/pencil, text, notebook, etc.
**Homework and Project-(effort) 20 % Daily work, Project—effort
**In-Class Spanish Participation 15 % Attendance, active participation, staying in Spanish)
**Tests and Quizzes 65 % Grammar & Vocab quizzes, + comp. on assigned readings,
Language in Context, orals, writing, project—ability
**Please Carefully Read this Important Note:
A large part of your success in this class and of foreign language acquisition in general, will be your EFFORT. A great deal of this class is based on effort. Homework is effort-based. If you do your best effort, you will not be graded down for errors. Participation is graded 100% on effort; you will be rewarded for actively participating and staying in Spanish, whether or not it is perfect Spanish. For grammar, there are countless on-line practice activities (and tutoring) as well as activities that you can do to learn vocabulary and expressions. Some people will have to work harder than others, but the bottom line is that 100% effort is a large part of your success in this class.
Daily Homework: It is a vital aspect of your experience in Spanish. Your best effort and active review of h.w. will give you a broader base for understanding the class. Homework is due at the start of the class period following the day it was assigned. No late homework will be accepted unless specifically approved by Sr. Powell.
Projects: All written projects must be a students’ own work. “Word-only” translations (not entire phrases) are allowed from on-line sources/friends. Do not write work in English first, then translate. Write it in Spanish, using grammar that we have already studied (rather than tenses we haven’t). Presentations will receive a grade for their written project, then students will receive a corrected copy that they will use for the “speaking/ oral” portion. Late projects will be accepted at ¾ credit after first day, ½ credit after one week, no credit after one month.
Organization: Students are asked to organize and keep any hand-outs, in-class activities and home work in a
3-ring binder.
Extra Credit: Students may earn extra credit for tutoring, participating in various cultural opportunities that arise, by creating unique projects, and by saving bathroom passes. However, there is a maximum allotment permitted (2%) for completing a given number of different activities, and please get teacher approval beforehand.
Participation (Spanish-Only, Active Participation): Students will constantly be evaluated on their ability to maintain their efforts in a Spanish-only immersion environment. I will monitor volunteering and monitor active participation in partner and group activities. Rather than lose points, decide to be rewarded for your Spanish!
Quizzes/Tests: You will be quizzed on vocabulary, grammar and writing, reading and listening comprehension, and culture. There will also be oral evaluations. Benchmarks exams will be scored as a 0 until students can pass them with a 70% or higher. There will be an extra incentive for passing them the first time, and students will have 2 weeks to successfully pass them for a “C+” grade.
Retakes: With the exception of Benchmark Quizzes as stated above, retakes are not part of this class. However, for students who receive a D or an F on a test, I do allow one re-take to bring them up to the grade of 70%, max. They must re-take within 2 weeks of receiving their tests back. Students with an F are allowed to keep retaking tests and benchmark quizzes until they can demonstrate basic understanding in order to pass the class; however, this is provided that there is a written plan of study/tutoring and student/teacher/parent signed agreement.
Tardies/Attendance: You have 3 excused tardies, then an ASA for each one afterwards. Your daily attendance is critical to your success in this class, and frequent absences will result in points deducted from your participation grade—although these can be made-up through writing assignments (see Sr. Powell). If you are absent, I expect you to check with your homework partners. Also, please check on-line and check the make-up work box for handouts. Please do not ask me what you missed during the first five minutes of class. Instead, plan to see me outside of class, or during a quiet time in class. If you miss more than one day, I ask that you or your parents e-mail (or call) me while you are absent, so that you don’t fall too far behind.
*If homework was due on the day you were absent, it is due on the day you return.
*Students have one week to make up tests or projects for full credit. After that, tests can
be made up at ½ credit. If you miss a test, please schedule a time to come in. Also, when you are absent, I
will ask what your homework partners told you, then I will fill in the gaps. My homework partners are:
Name: _________________________Phone:_______________
Name: ________________________Phone: _______________
Extra Help/Make Up Tests: Students are always welcome to come in with a quick question anytime, but if they would like tutoring, to make up a test, --or if they missed more than one day of school and need me to explain missed work, please try to come in during the following set “office hours.”
Weekly RTI times, + Mondays and Wednesdays: 2:15-3:00
Wednesdays: 7:20- 7:45
I have high expectations for my students. You will stretch yourselves in this class and reap the benefits in so doing. I’m looking forward to a great year at BHS. Un año que sea fantástico en todos aspectos. Gracias-
Señor Powell brian.powell@bellinghamschools.org (the best way to contact me) or 676-6575 ext. 7210