Lassiter High School

Spanish II Honors

2016-2017

Fall Semester

Courses: Spanish IIHonors

Instructor: SeñoraBaumann

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COURSE GOALS: Spanish 2 Honors continues to build on the foundation established in Spanish 1 language studies. The content of this course includes thematically-organized units in which students learn to communicate about their own lives and learn about Spanish-speaking cultures. In addition, this course will help the student acquire knowledge of the Spanish language by integrating the four language skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking. Emphasis on oral proficiency is placed through the use of the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes of communication. Development of these skills occurs in a curriculum that emphasizes the foreign language standards of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities.

Your child was placed in Spanish II Honors based on their performance in Spanish I. This class requires excellent study skills, drawing on previous knowledge of vocabulary and verb tenses, and speaking the language on a daily basis in class

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the semester students will be able to…

  • Demonstrate the ability to comprehend the language in both aural (listening) and written forms
  • Communicate competently and proficiently in both oral (speaking) and written forms using advanced vocabulary and grammatical structures
  • Reach “Novice-High” proficiency according to the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language) Guidelines.
  • Understand the various components of the Spanish language and its cultures while making connections between these and the US culture

TEXTS/READINGS:Descubre 1 and Descubre 2, authentic reading and listening materials from the internet, and supplemental textbooks

GRADING POLICY:

40%Summative Assessments:Tests/Projects/Performance Tasks

30%Formative Assessments:Quizzes including speaking assessments

10% Homework/Classwork: Will include but not limited to communicative activities, textbook activities, handouts, short stories, interviews, articles, and other texts. (Interpretive and Presentational skills) Alsol includes but not limited to audio activities, spontaneous conversation, interviews, podcasts, and everyday use of Spanish in class which will be quantified every 6 weeks based upon your “Participacion” grid. (Interpretive and Interpersonal skills)

15%Final Exam

TESTS AND PROJECTS: Tests and projects will be assigned after completing a unit of study. Late projects will lose 10 points for each day it is late after the due date. If the project has not been turned in after a week from the due date, a zero will be given. Students will be well-informed of details as well as all dates regarding these assessment items.

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: Homework and classwork is assigned frequently and is often checked for completion or accuracy. If homework graded for completion, students will receive either a “100” or a “0.” They may receive a “50” if it is a day late. After one day, it is a “0”.

CLASS PARTICIPATION:Language development requires that the student actively participate in using the language. Each student will be given a grid with 25 spaces which need to be filled with 25 stamps every 6 weeks. Some examples ofways to earn participation stamps: Frequent responses in Spanish, willingness to speak in Spanish, cooperation during group work, speaking Spanish during unstructured communicative activities. Negative participation: inability to complete tasks due to lack of materials, lack of focus, and continuous use of English.

ABSENCES / MAKE-UP POLICY: For class work and homework missed, students have one day per absence to complete and turn in the work assigned. Homework will be assigned 3-4 times a week. In the case of an emergency which would affect completion of homework, please notify me by e-mail. It is the student’s responsibility to get the missed work from the teacher.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

  1. Turn off and put away cell phones and other electronic devices. You cannot perform at your highest potential in a foreign language classroom with the distractions of texting and/or listening to music.
  2. You MUST treat each other respectfully: this means no horseplay (slapping, shoving, etc.), and no disrespectful comments to me or classmates.
  3. Participate in Spanish in every activity to your fullest potential.
  4. Please do not throw trash across the room into the wastebasket!! Save your trash and place it in the wastebasket or recycling boxes at the end of class. If food wrappers continue to be a problem, there will be no food allowed in the classroom.
  5. Class is over when the bell rings, not when you are ready. Please remain in your seatUNTIL THE BELL RINGS,NOT BEFORE.

REFERENCES:

Descubre textbook and corresponding online activities as well as authentic realia such as books, magazines, broadcasts, videos, and music.

  1. Please visit the teacher’s blog for additional resources such as online tutorials and more.
  2. Dictionary: It is important to own a Spanish/English-English/Spanish dictionary to use at school and home as building and understanding vocabulary is a critical component of learning a language. The dictionary is to be used primarily when reading and listening in Spanish. In reading and listening to language, the dictionary is your best friend.

MATERIALS NEEDED

  • 3 ring binder notebook with 4 dividers (HW/CW, Grammar Handouts/Notes, Vocab Lists, Quizzes/Tests)
  • Earbuds or headphones for listening activities
  • Expo dry erase markers and eraser

TRANSLATORS: At no time may students use translators in this course. However, they may use to help them look up words, expressions, and grammatical forms. Should students choose to use a translator; their work will be given a “0.”

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating is considered a serious matter. The parents of a student who has been involved in cheating will be notified and the student will receive a grade of zero for the test and a grade of U in conduct.

For this course, cheating is defined as, but is not limited to, the following acts:

  • Using computer translators. Online translators are not always accurate and I will know if you have used one to complete a lengthy writing assignment.
  • Copying anyone’s answers to questions, exercises, study guides, classwork or homework assignments.
  • Taking any information verbatim from any source, including the Internet, without giving proper credit to the author, or rearranging the order of words and/or changing some words as written by the author and claiming the work as his or her own, i.e., plagiarism.
  • Looking onto another student’s paper during a test or quiz.
  • Having available any study notes or other test aids during a test or quiz without the teacher's permission.
  • Collaborating on assignments when independent work is expected.
  • Displaying cell phone during exams and/or quizzes. (Phones will be confiscated.)

FINAL EXAM: The final exam is cumulative, covering work from the entire semester.

BONUS SPEAKING POINTS: Once every 6 weeks, students may add 5 points to their lowest quiz or test grade if they have filled up their speaking grid.

LATE WORK:

I will not accept late work. Most of the time, there is class time to work on written/homework assignments and this time should be utilized. Accepting late work creates the attitude that assignments can be turned in whenever is convenient to the student and also increases the chances of assignments being misplaced when it is not turned in with the similar assignments.

EXTRA CREDIT:

Finally, there is NO EXTRA CREDIT for this course. You are expected to complete your assignments each and every day and take responsibility for doing so. If there are extenuating circumstances that make it difficult for you to complete assignments, please talk to me so that I may accommodate your situation.

HELP SESSIONS/TEACHER AVAILABILITY: I am available Monday - Thursday after school for help sessions from 3:35-4:00. However, please let me know you are coming and with what you need help. If parents or students desire tutoring services, a list of tutors in the local area is available through the guidance office.

ALSO, A BOX OF TISSUES OR A BOTTLE OF HAND SANITIZER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Gracias 