Carol Barnett

Spanish 3 and 4 September 2016 to June 2017

Carol Barnett:

Hours: 7: 30 am to 3 pm

Planning: 10:10 am to 11:00

Content: Welcome to 2nd year Spanish. This year we will continue to expand reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in Spanish through a variety of methods including story telling, vocabulary games, listening practice, movies, and readings. In this class we work together with partners in order to give you practice before you are expected to speak in front of the class. You will have homework two to three days a week on average. However, daily study of vocabulary and grammar is expected. You will be given time in class to start all assignments, and depending on your focus, you may get the majority of your assignment done during class time.

In Second year Spanish you are expected to expand your vocabulary, including the house and chores, clothing, daily activities, children’s activities, driving, going to the store, food, and cooking. Grammar topics include practicing present tense, and learning two past tenses, commands, object pronouns, positive and negative words, and the present progressive and present perfect tenses. Second year Spanish is perhaps the most challenging year in terms of new grammar concepts, but with effort and focus in class, each student can be successful. For a full list of course content through the first two years of Spanish, please see my teacher web pages.

Expectations: I expect each student to come to class prepared to work, with all necessary supplies, assignments and books ready to learn. I expect you to follow all class room rules, and to make every effort to be in class each day. Please note that electronic devices are not welcome in class. Keep your cell phone out of sight. You have only 55 minutes a day in class in which to learn Spanish, you can text your friends at lunch or after school. 

Behavior – All ARHS rules apply. Pay close attention to the electronics rules in your student handbook. No soda in class. No junk food in class. Socializing and texting are a hindrance to the learning process, please join the conversation in Spanish and respect your classmates. Cheating and plagiarism (including the use of language translators and native speakers) will not be tolerated. If you cheat expect to receive a zero for the said test, project or assignment until YOU do it yourself. You will have a minimal amount of time to complete the assignment at that time. Save time, do your work yourself the first time.

Grading: Grading will be based on your mastery of the World Language Standards of Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Community. You can check these out at the site below, or on my teacher web pages.

Assessments =80%. Students will do a variety of presentations in this class demonstrating use of the Spanish language - these may include dialogues, poems, or cultural presentations or specific themed projects such as a children’s book, “my childhood” presentation, “ a day in the life of______”, a fashion show, an imaginary vacation to a Spanish speaking country and memorization of a poem. There will also be traditional tests and quizzes. Tests, quizzes and projects are listed as Assessments in Skyward. There are weekly quizzes in this class and tests are administered at the end of a chapter. These are the measurement of whether or not students have mastered the learning standards. Assessments will equal 80% of the semester grade. However, because students achieve or come to mastery at different times there are some instances that may warrant a student re-taking a test. This is an option that will only be available to students that have completed all homework for that grammar concept and vocabulary and that complete a form, signed by the parent, explaining how they will prepare for a re-take of the test. Students will have two weeks from the time of a test to appeal for a second test and will only be granted permission to do so if the student submits an adequate preparation plan and presents evidence of its completion. This re-take option is not to be a habitual thing. It is for the one or two times a semester that you may need a second chance to show you have learned the lessons, and is at teacher discretion.

Language usage and proficiency checks: We will be practicing Spanish daily in class, whether this be answering questions in class, asking questions in class, singing songs, listening to songs, working with a partner, or the teacher. These Proficiency Checks will be part of the semester grade and may be part of our practice or as an assessment. You must be in attendance to receive these points as re-creating these scenarios may be impossible.

20% 21st Century Skills (21st Century Skills are a set of abilities that students need to develop in order to succeed in college/work/military.)

• 1. Conducts self in a respectful, professional manner (participation).
• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Respectful Behavior/Professional Decorum
• Engaged/On-task Participation
• NO Electronics (unless specified by teacher for an in-class activity)

• 2. Is accountable for results (assignments). (Assignments will vary in points).
• Completes practice work/activities in class and at home.
• Is engaged in learning (note-taking, being prepared with class supplies, active listening, responding to/asking questions, making corrections on assignments).

Make up work: I do not correct late work. When you are absent due to illness you have one week after your return to school to turn in the assignments or take the tests you missed. If you have a planned absence due to a field trip, family trip or appointment, you should turn in your work ahead of time, and where possible take your test ahead of time. Please keep in contact with me via email when possible when you miss class so that your return to school will be less stressful. Make up tests need to be taken before or after school. If those times are impossible for you, we can make arrangements for testing during lunch time (you can still eat )

Commitment Pledge: As your teacher you may expect me to have a lesson ready each day. I will make every effort to have tests and quizzes back to you within two teaching days and projects within one week. I will make every effort to accommodate all learning styles, from auditory to visual to kinesthetic learners. I will work to preserve a positive learning environment in which all students can learn. This means maintaining discipline in the classroom, and assisting students who need extra help. I am more than happy to assist students before or after school when you need a little extra explanation, just let me know when you’d like to come get help as occasionally I have other meetings or other students needing assistance.

You have the right to expect a fair evaluation of your work. If you are feeling like a test score doesn’t reflect what you have learned, please come see me, and we can try an alternative assessment.

Grades on line: I input grades once a week, unless we have just had a reporting period. I put make-up work and make up tests in the computer every 6 weeks. Feel free to bring in a grade print out, and I will sign a missing assignment spot to show your parents that you have made up the work, it just hasn’t been put into the computer yet.

For success this year be flexible, ask for help if needed, study, and use the book site: phschool.com and practice in class all you can.

Required items: Each student is expected to have a spiral notebook (70-75 pages), a 3 ring binder with dividers, red pens, paper, pencil, highlighters, and pen in class DAILY.

Please sign up for REMIND.COM for text reminders of due dates.

Spanish 3 and 4 Instructor: C. Barnett for 2016 and 2017.

Copy of course syllabus is available on my Swift page: http://swift.auburn.wednet.edu/arhs/cbarnett/index.php

I have read and understand the expectations of Spanish Three and Four. Please sign and return this portion of the syllabus to me.

Student name______

Student signature______Date______

Parent name______

Parent signature______Date______

Best way to contact parent phone or email?

Home phone ______Work phone______

Email______

DONATIONS NEEDED: If you can afford to bring in one of the following items it would be appreciated: Disinfecting wipes (for sanitizing desks), Hand Sanitizer, or Kleenex. Thanks. The item may be exchanged for one assignment/homework pass.

PS As a special request: Remind your student that electronic devices are NOT appropriate in the classroom, and will be confiscated if out during the lesson. Please note: cell phones must be turned OFF during class time and put away. If your family is in crisis/emergency mode, and you need your child to be in close contact, send me an email and he/ she will be allowed to have his/her phone on for the day and quietly go to the hall to take a call. Having cell phones ringing/vibrating during class is very disruptive and text messaging is a real problem in the classroom.

Cell phones can be wonderful teaching tools: listening to Hispanic music or pod casts in Spanish would be wonderful outside of the classroom, or during the 5 to 10 minutes allowed for assignment work on homework days. They are not allowed during the regular lessons and should NEVER be out at the beginning of class.

While I love the way technology can help us in the classroom, it can also destroy the learning environment, and keep students from focusing on the day’s lesson. Please help us maintain a productive classroom.

On my teacher web pages please find a copy of the syllabus, the World Language state standards, proficiency charts, and various rubrics, and how to sign up for REMIND.COM