Syllabus+Spanish+4+&+5

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to the class. I am excited to be your teacher and hope you're excited to be in my class. You will be amazed by how much you will learn this year and how fun it is.     The goal of this class is COMMUNICATION in Spanish. We will also explore Spanish-speaking CULTURES and make cultural & linguistic COMPARISONS with our own culture. CONNECTIONS between Spanish and other subjects (social studies, art, literature, English grammar, etc.) will be made throughout the year. We will also explore opportunities to use the Spanish language outside the classroom in our local, state, national, & world COMMUNITIES.     TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading & Storytelling) is the method we will use all year. It is based on the belief that large amounts of comprehensible input (listening & reading) produce grammatically correct output (speaking & writing).  Acquiring the Spanish language is different from learning math or history because it involves a set of skills. It’s more like learning to hit a ball or ride a bike. You must build on it gradually and practice often in order to remember how to do it forever. You might want to ask your parents if they remember you acquiring your first language. Were you an early or late talker? Did you do anything “strange” as you learned to speak? Which words were hardest for you to pronounce? In this class, you are equivalent to a 5th - 7th grader again. Your language skills will continue to improve quickly as you build on your first language skills.  If a student has acquired a first language, it is possible for him to acquire a second (& third & fourth, etc.). Every student acquires at a different rate & it is my job to help any student who is feeling lost, bewildered, or overwhelmed. Equally important is the need for us all to create a safe environment where everyone is valued for who he is. We are glad each of you is here and hope you are ready to participate wholeheartedly in the funny, zany stories we will create together.    Bring the following to class with you everyday: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1. Pencils or pens <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2. Lined paper <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3. Agenda planner <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">4. Folder or binder || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**If you have difficulty remembering the basics – paper, pencil, folder – please bring a set to leave in class every day.** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You will not be issued a textbook, however, we may use them from time to time in class. Your **handouts & the novel** are the only resources you will need to complete //any// assignment given. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma; msofareastfontfamily: Tahoma; msolist: Ignore;">1. __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Extra Credit __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> – Instead of earning extra credit, students will choose the lowest **earned** **score** (i.e. it cannot be an assignment that you did not complete) to drop from their overall grade at the end of each semester. For this reason, students’ grades **will not be rounded up** at the end of each semester (i.e. 89.7% = B, 79.9% = C). <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 3. __Absences/Make-up Work__ – When you miss class, any papers that were passed out during your absence will be <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> placed in the vertical file on the bulletin board labeled “¿Ausente?”. A calendar of daily class activities as well as any <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> electronic resources used in class can be found on Doña Sofía’s wikispace at [|www.cyberspanish.wikispaces.com]. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msospacerun: yes;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">Make-up assessments will be administered during XL, before & after school. Make-up viewing of videos ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1. __Letter Grades__: 90-100% A 89-80% B 79-70% C 69-60% D 59-0% F <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2. __Grade Weights__ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">20% Final Exam <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">20% Cultural Information <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">20% Identification & Usage of <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> patterns of Spanish <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">20% Oral Communication __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">20% Written Communication __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**Assessments will include a variety of activities, such as, pencil and paper tests, individual and group projects, oral presentations in Spanish, and skits. Some will be incorporated into the class session, others will not, and some will be completed both in class and outside of class. Some will be announced, others will not. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3. __Class Activities__ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">
 * //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">"At each new level (of language study), the language sophistication will increase, but it takes 5-7 years of intense study to attain fluency in a second language." //**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> - USD 259 Foreign Language Standards
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I. National Foreign Language Standards **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">II. Teaching Methods & Philosophy **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">III ****<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. Necessary Supplies **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Also bring the following: **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 3rd hour – 2 dry erase markers **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 5th hour – 1 ream single-colored paper **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 6th hour – 1 ream single-colored paper **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 7th hour – 1 ream single-colored cardstock **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 8th hour – 1 box of Kleenex ** ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IV. School/Classroom Policies **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> will take place after school only. **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">VII ****<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. Assessment **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">100% Total ** ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**IMPORTANT** The misuse of on-line translators and/or dictionaries will result in a zero for the assignment with NO chance to make it up. Also, partial or full plagarization of a published text or a website for any assignment will also earn students a zero on the assignment with no opportunity to make it up. Finally, the plagarization of an assignment from another student will result in a single earned score being split //by the students themselves.// ** ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**IMPORTANT** The misuse of on-line translators and/or dictionaries will result in a zero for the assignment with NO chance to make it up. Also, partial or full plagarization of a published text or a website for any assignment will also earn students a zero on the assignment with no opportunity to make it up. Finally, the plagarization of an assignment from another student will result in a single earned score being split //by the students themselves.// ** ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Novel **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> – Students will read one //REAL// novel in class this year. Each student has the option of purchasing a paperback copy. Details will be provided. “Reading” will be in Spanish this year with liberal use of discussion/clarification. Pop-up grammar questions will keep students’ attention focused on the structure of the Spanish language.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Journaling **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> – Students write/type for 10+ minutes in Spanish on a topic. This is a semester-long assessment meant to document students’ improvement in written communication.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Free Voluntary Reading **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> – Students have the opportunity to read children’s books and magazines in Spanish each B-day class period.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Quizzes **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">– A way to provide both Doña Sofía and students with feedback on their progress acquiring Spanish. Doña Sofía will use the information to evaluate her instruction and tweak it to better meet students’ needs.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The International Dinner **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> - <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">The International Dinner is an annual tradition of the Northwest Foreign Language Department. The purpose of this event is to promote interest in and tolerance of world cultures. This year’s event will be Tuesday, December 1st from 6:30-8:00pm. Participation and attendance at the International Dinner is an opportunity for you to increase your semester grade by up to 3%. Stay tuned for more details!
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">Field Trips – **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">Doña Sofía would like to take advantage of multiple field trip opportunities as they arise. The first will be to the Wichita Art Museum Friday, September 4 to see an exhibit of Mexican art. Permission slip coming soon! <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">