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Course SyllabusGrand Ledge High School

Trimester Course Syllabus

2014-2015

Name of Course:Spanish 1a & 1bTrimester: 2, & 3

Teacher Name:Mrs. Britton Smith

Grand Ledge High School: Office - (517) 925-5815

Teachers Direct Phone Number: (517) 925-5849

Contact Times: 7:15-7:35 a.m. or 2:45-3:15 p.m. (please email at any time!)

Email: smithb@glcomets.net

Purpose/Course Description: In this course students will increase abilities to communicate inSpanish, expressing ideas, needs, wants, and reactions in the target language orally and in writing.Students will also dive into deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, focusing on their culture,music, and heritage. Students will improve in listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities throughpractice and repetition.

Topics, Key Concepts, and Units of Study:(Spanish 1A Buen Viaje , Chapters p-4, 2B Buen Viaje I, Chapters 5-8)

1 Foreign Language Credit (1 trimester) Grades 9-12

Spanish 1A:

Vocabulary topics include: greetings, courtesy phrases, date, time, describing people/places, nationalities,numbers, school subjects, activities, school supplies, clothing, colors, and shopping

Grammar topics include: singular adjectives, def/indef articles, present tense ser, plural forms of nouns,adjectives, and verbs, tu vs usted, present tense ar verbs, irregular verbs ir, dar, and estar, al and delcontractions.

Culture topics include: intro to Don Quijote, Spanish in the US, Students in Madrid, Schools in Latin America

Spanish 1b:1 Foreign Language Credit (1 trimester) Grades 9-12

Vocabulary topics include: foods, beverages, ordering and paying in a restaurant, family, rooms in a house,expressing age, team sports, body parts, health/illness, medical terms

Grammar topics include: er/ir verbs, the verb tener, ir + a +infinitive, possessive adjectives, present tensestem-changers, ser vs estar, gustar, aburrir, and interesar with indirect object pronouns

Culture topics include: differences in eating habits in the U.S. vs Hispanic countries, importance of family,soccer in Hispanic countries, going to the doctor

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Course SyllabusGrand Ledge High SchoolTextbooks Used and Other Sources:Buen Viaje! Level 1 (2a) (Glencoe), Buen Viaje! Level 2 (2b Chapters 2-5)Textbooks are classroom set only; they may not leave the classroom.

Entire textbook is available on a CD-ROM and may be checked out for a 48 hour period.

You can also buy the book, pretty cheap, used: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-

listing/0078465702/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

Supplementary readings and handouts.

The internet will be used in class on occasion for cultural reference, and certain websites will be suggestedfor at-home practice on vocabulary and grammar.

Some great apps you may find useful: Spanish mindsnacks (fun games teach basic vocabulary),wordreference, and ConjuVerb.

Parents and students can also access Edmodo to view more details on the class (more information will begiven).

Students and Parents can sign up for Remind101, a service that provides students with important homeworkand test reminders, (more details to come)

Materials Needed (Supplies Suggested):Students should bring a 1-2 inch binder.

Methods of Instruction:Students will enjoy being able to use technology, hands-on activities, art, music, dance, and lots of verbalpractice to master language development in the target language. Edmodo and Remind101 will also be usedfor student/parent/ teacher communication and as a hub for extra information available online.

Evaluation/Grade Calculations:

Student grades will be point based off the basic percentages below (though a point system will be used foreasier calculations). Test/Quizzes 50%, Assignments 25%, Listening/Speaking/participation 25%, Final 20%

Types of Evaluation and Assessment: Students will be evaluated in their language masteryin writing, verbal, and listening tests. As well as given opportunities to complete projects and group work.

Grading Scale:

93-100 A 73-76 C

90-92 A- 70-72 C-

87-89 B+ 67-69 D+83-86 B 63-66 D

80-82 B- 60-62 D-77-79 C+ 0-59 F

Assignment Expectations:Students must turn in work the day it is due, complete, and according tothe rubric/specifications of the assignment in order to receive full credit.

Late Assignments: Students must fill out the missing work binder page if an assignment is notcomplete at the given due date. Missing work will be recorded in the online grade book as a zero, mi.

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Course SyllabusGrand Ledge High SchoolStudents are given the opportunity to turn in late work at any point prior to the second-to-last week of thegrading period (mid-term/end of the trimester) for half of the credit of the original assignment. Students willbe given varied opportunities for extra credit work. These points are limited and require the student tocomplete work outside of class.

ClassroomProcedures

Student Responsibilities expectations:(see additional rules in Spanish: teneractitud positiva, participar, escuchar y prestar atencin, respetar a los dems, y hablarespaol)

Prompt: Students are expected to arrive promptly to class and to begin work on their Bellwork.

Prepared: Students should have homework completed prior to arrival in the classroom. Students are alsoasked to pick up papers needed, collect corrected work, and to bring all materials needed for class.

Polite: Students should follow all school rules and treat classmates and teacher with respect. They should

come to class with an open mind, ready to learn about another way of life and culture. Comments that arerude and abrasive will not be tolerated.

Productive: Students are asked to follow all instructions THE FIRST TIME, to dive in, and to produce workthey are proud to call their own.

Consequences: Students who are not following classroom and school expectations will be given oneverbal warning and then school consequences will fall into place. Negative consequences might include:loss of points, isolation from fellow classmates/move of seat, involvement of principal and school discipline.

Students showing excellent classroom conduct and dedication to the class can look forward to the followingpositive consequences: positive notes home, high fives, verbal encouragement, extra points, choice of a

seat, calls home, and more.

Passes: When students miss class because of needs outside of the class, they are expected to make upthe material they have missed. Students should quietly bring up passes to the teacher if entering late.Students may find they need to use the restroom or get a drink. They may excuse themselves once a classperiod by signing out and taking the pass. Students who abuse this privilege loose it.

Cheating: The act of obtaining answers or completing assignments in a fraudulent or deceitful manner.Disciplinary action will be determined by staff and administrators. Possible zero grade for assignment andpossible suspension. (One hour three days) Students are ALWAYS forbidden to use Google Translate orother such online translators as a source of information in Spanish class. Students may usewordreference.comwhen given permission. Students found using online translators, especially on writing

activities will no longer be allowed to use a device within the class and will be considered to have practicedacademic dishonesty.

Attendance/Tardy:The High School attendance/tardy policy is available on-line in the student handbook at:http://www.glps.k12.mi.us/ourschools/grandledgehighschool/

Additional Operational Information:

Bellwork: Class will open each day with a 2 point question to be answered on a two-week calendar givenand collected by the teacher. Students will also be required to write down their learning goal on this calendar.Bellwork will be graded at the end of the two-weeks, but students will have a chance to fix errors as theteacher reviews the question in the first minutes of each class.

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Course SyllabusGrand Ledge High School

Cell phones/devices: Students may use their cell phones, tablets, or laptops for class-relatedassignments. Students will know by the color placed on the classroom door (red-no device today, yellow-bring it to use as a reference, or green-it will be helpful to you today) if it is recommended. When the day isa red day students must have the device on silent and out of sight. When the teacher places the signindicating yellow or green, students MAY use their device for class-related activities. This DOES NOTinclude using cell-phones and devices for all other uses (i.e.-social media, text messaging, calling, video and

camera functions, etc. . .) Students will be given ONE warning and the second time their device will beplaced on the teachers desk until the end of the period. Repeat offenders phones will be taken to the mainoffice.

Punch card: Students demonstrating positive behaviors will be given a punch card. When the studentparticipates and goes above and beyond, the student will be given one punch on their card. After filling thecard, students can redeem the card for any of the privileges listed.

Homework binder: Should a student not have an assignment completed, he or she should fill in thebinder explaining why the homework is incomplete. Parents may request to look at the binder at any point.

Missing class: Students can find any work they missed in the absent folder, they will find worksheets andnotes that they missed.

Spanish/English: There will be many periods within the class that students will be asked to speak only inSpanish, students who violate this request, speaking in English, will lose participation points. The teacherwill simply deduct them within the grade for that day. When learning Spanish, you WILL make mistakes (justlike when you learned English), but putting forth the effort to speak and participate is the main emphasis ofthe class.