Guidelines for Success in Spanish -Expectations, Policies and Grading This will be read and explained in class. There is room for students to make additional notes if needed for clarification. This is to remain in their portfolio for this class to use as reference throughout the year. The last page, the signature page, should come back signed after we have completed the discussion in class. 1. TARGET LANGUAGE Spanish, like any language, is a skill. It is not a class where you can learn material for a test and then forget it. Acquiring a language is like learning to ride a bike or learning to swim. It s a skill you build gradually over time with constant practice and that you use and remember over time. How did you acquire your first language, English? You kept practicing and practicing every day. That s what you need to do to learn any second language. Spanish is the language taught and is therefore the language in which I communicate most often in the classroom. I begin by teaching basic classroom communication terms and questions so that, after abundant repetition, students feel comfortable with those everyday tools of expression. There is also time set aside each class period when new material is introduced, generally in English, to insure that everyone understands the new concept. Students are expected as part of their participation grade to use Spanish in class at all times, even when communicating with peers. 2. SUPPLIES We suggest the following supplies be available to each student as soon as possible: a zipped pen/pencil plastic pocket that will go in a 3-ring binder, at least 2 inches wide, 12 dividers, blank notebook paper, blue or black pens, at least one dry erase marker and a 3-hole punch that will go into the rings of the binder. Other supplies that will be needed throughout the year: a disposable camera - a blank cassette tape on which to record yourself (I ll let you know in advance when to bring it in) - colored markers glue stick scissors - a small pocket Spanish-English dictionary various colored highlighters index cards various colors of construction paper and poster board ruler small calculator. During the year, we will be doing various hands-on projects in class to help demonstrate various cultural and historical aspects of the language. At that time, I will notify students of any special supplies needed 3. NIGHTLY ASSIGNMENTS - Students are assigned a quiz or test AND homework EVERY CLASS PERIOD. Students will receive a list of quizzes and homework at the beginning of each unit of study. This list will be assigned prior to the start of each unit. The ONLY time that there will not be a quiz is on the night prior to a unit test. 4. HOMEWORK POLICY - Homework is assigned for several reasons. It may be designed to practice a new concept or vocabulary, it may be to prepare for a speaking or listening task or it may be 1
to explore some cultural aspect of the Spanish-speaking world. It is ALWAYS graded. Homework and/or mini projects such as skits, dialogs, etc. are due on the date assigned. Work not done on that date will be considered late unless the student is absent. In that case the work is due the day the student returns to class. Any quiz or homework assignment not completed on the date due will be recorded in K12 as a zero until received and graded. Late work will only be accepted ONE class period late and will have a 20-point penalty applied to the grade. After that, it is a permanent zero. 5. RE-TAKE AND RE-DO COUPONS At the beginning of each marking period students will receive re-take coupons for quizzes and re-do coupons for homework. The coupons for each marking period are different colors and so cannot be used from one marking period to the next. These coupons are a privilege that can be revoked if the student either abused the privilege or repeatedly fails to follow instructions. Those instructions and expectations are printed on each coupon. Any quiz or homework assignment not completed on the date due will be recorded in K12 as a zero until received and graded. This helps remind the student of work needing completion and the impact it has on the overall average if not done. 6. QUIZ MAKE UP AND RE-TAKE EXPECTATIONS - Any quiz or homework assignment not completed on the date due will be recorded in K12 as a zero until received and graded. It is the responsibility of the student to prepare a make up and re-take request so that I can get the appropriate quiz to the appropriate TA teacher. Re-take requests must be signed by a parent before the request will be honored. Re-take quizzes will be done in TA unless there is an Honor Code violation issue. In the case of any Honor Code violation, the student will automatically lose the privilege of retaking quizzes for the remainder of the marking period and will have any additional consequences as outlined in the student handbook. Homework MAKE UP and RE-DO instructions are very similar. The difference is that homework being redone must be done on a separate sheet of paper either during TA or at home and turned in with the appropriate coupon attached. I may choose to give a different quiz on the same material whenever a student is choosing this option. The re-take quiz MUST be turned in to the TA teacher immediately on completion with a re-take coupon attached to the quiz. Quizzes turned in without a coupon will not be accepted. 7. MAKE UP POLICY - Since I do not have a TA and since I am often doing other tasks during TA outside of the classroom, students who need to make-up tests or who need extra help will need to notify me in writing as to what assistance or test is needed and what TA they are in so that I can come by and get you when I am free or let you know when I will be in my room. DO NOT SIMPLY COME BY MY ROOM WITHOUT CHECKING WITH ME FIRST. Students who drop by while I am either out of the room or engaged in some administrative duty will be sent back to class immediately. Any quiz or homework assignment not completed on the date due will be recorded in K12 as a zero until received and graded. This helps remind the student of work needing completion and the impact it has on the overall average if not done. 2
8. EXTRA HELP - Students who need additional time after school need to see me BEFORE arranging for a ride to be sure that I do not already have meetings or conferences planned for that time. I also would suggest that high school students at the local high school are available for tutoring during the school year. 9. CLASS ATTENDANCE - Your daily attendance in class is required for optimal progress. However, if you are out for 3 or more consecutive days, parents can call the Guidance office and request assignments. Assignments can be picked up in guidance 24 hours after the request has been made. I will be checking with each student to be sure that he or she has at least the names and phone numbers of 3 different classmates written in your assignment notebook who can be called when absent for less than 3 days. 10. LABELING WORK TO BE TURNED IN - Whenever turning in work the student should check to be sure that the work includes his or her Spanish name and last name, the date, and the class period. The work should also include the homework or quiz number so that it can be checked and recorded correctly. Work turned in without this information will be returned. It will not be graded until appropriately labeled. Work turned in without names will not be graded until claimed. Work without a name is placed in the file labeled PAPERS WITH NO NAMES in the classroom. Students are responsible for checking the lost papers file if their work is not returned to them. 11. CODE OF CONDUCT - All students are responsible for knowing and following both the Henrico County and George H. Moody Middle School Codes of Conduct. The Codes will be followed at all times. Creating and maintaining a classroom atmosphere of fairness, respect, caring, and success requires everyone s cooperation. If you choose not to cooperate with me and your classmates in achieving our goals, you will receive ONE reminder, then a writing assignment and immediate call home. If the problem continues, it will then be turned over for team and administrative intervention. Make the right choices. 12. NIGHTLY REVIEW - Because you are learning another language, spelling should be learned along with definitions. You will be learning some ways to help but it is the responsibility of the student to study vocabulary every night, not just on those nights before class meets. 13. ACTIVE CLASS PARTICIPATION Participation in this class is not an option; it is an expectation. It is part of each student s grade every marking period. Oral and active class participation is a key graded component in this course. Students will be expected to speak in Spanish every day. Preparedness for every class is critical to successful class participation. Participation for all students is assessed using both oral input into classroom activities as well their preparedness for class. Being unprepared will limit your ability to participate which in turn will affect your participation grade. We will be discussing the specific oral expectations soon; after that, each student will be graded accordingly. 14. STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES Every student is expected to participate in Student-Led conferences. These take place at the end of each marking period and count as a test grade once the 3
appropriate documentation has been completed and submitted. Students will be keeping graded homework, quizzes, tests, and various other pieces of work in their portfolio to use for review and for use during student-led conferences. More on this will be going home during the first nine weeks. The portfolio binder will be used for a variety of purposes, including storing graded quizzes, assignments and tests. 15. APPROACHES TO LEARNING Approaches to Learning is the term used when referring to a variety of study and learning skills. Students will be learning skills that are designed for learning a new language and are expected to apply the Approaches to Learning skills taught in class at home as they prepare for class. 16. TEXTBOOK AND WORKBOOKS Students are expected to bring their textbook and workbook to class every day. Students will have assignments given in the workbook and it provides the student with another opportunity to practice the points covered in class as well as providing an excellent resource for review prior to testing. 17. BINDERS - Each student will have one binder to be used as a portfolio. In that binder the student should have 12 sections labeled as follows: Title Page, Preface & Reflective Writing Grade Log, Weekly Grade Checks & Journal Entries, Graded Quizzes Quiz & Homework lists Tests & Project Information Class notes & Grammar handouts Peso, Game & Team activities & information Homework, Class work, Video & Listening Activities Student-Led Conference Information Reference information 1 st nine weeks 2 nd nine weeks 3 rd nine weeks This binder should also have extra loose-leaf paper. 18. HONOR CODE - Any student giving or receiving ANY kind of help on a graded assignment, quiz or test will receive an automatic zero for the assignment, quiz or test. Students who submit projects done by others as their own will also receive no credit for the project. Parents will be contacted and a writing assignment given as prescribed in the Code of Conduct. 19. NINE WEEKS GRADING - Nine-week averages are determined as follows: Daily homework, mini projects and class work 25% Daily quizzes 25% Tests & major projects 30% Oral Active Class participation 20% 4
20. SEMESTER AVERAGES - Semester grades are determined as follows: 6 th graders 7 th & 8 th graders 1 st nine weeks X 4 1 st nine weeks X 2 2 nd nine weeks X 4 2 nd nine weeks X 2 Semester exam X 2 Semester exam X 1 = semester average = semester average 21. WEEKLY GRADE CHECKS AND JOURNAL ENTRIES Each week student are assigned a journal entry to reflect on their learning for the previous week. They will also be required to check their grades on K12 Planet once a week. Students will be assigned weekly journal entries with specific topics to be covered. They are always done in English and are assigned to help the student focus on some aspect of his or her learning or on some cultural aspect of the Spanish-speaking world. Each grade check and journal entry counts as a homework assignment grade each. The weekly journal entry is to help the student get into the habit of reflecting on what is being learned each week, what areas need improvement and what he or she may still have questions or concerns that need to be addressed. My goal is to export by Monday afternoon to reflect the grades from the week prior. Because it takes at least 24 hours for K12 Planet to upload grades, the changes will not show up until at the earliest Tuesday evening. There will be additional information regarding the weekly grade checks and journal entries given to students after we begin classes. 22. HOMEWORK & QUIZ LIST SHEETS - At the beginning of each unit of study, I give each student a Homework & Quiz List Grid. This grid is their list of the quiz and homework assignments that will be due each class period during the entire unit of study. The quizzes and assignments are sequential unless announced otherwise in class. Because this is provided for the students, there are no surprises and no reason for a student to be unprepared for class. It also provides consistency if I am absent from the classroom. Every student should know what is expected every day. 23. EXTRA CREDIT Extra credit is NEVER an option for a student to make up for a student s failure to study for assigned quizzes or failure to do the regularly assigned work. In fact, I will not even discuss extra credit assignments with a student who is not up to date with all grades. No student will pass or fail because of extra credit. It is the mastery of the content and skills that have the greatest impact on a student s average. Students have the opportunity to EARN extra credit in this class every day by helping their team perform their best on quizzes, tests, and assignments. Extra credit is not a right but a privilege and may be revoked if abused. There are no other extra credit options. 24. COOPERATIVE LEARNING TEAMS - I employ several cooperative learning activities in class. Cooperative learning provides the students with many more speaking opportunities than I could possibly provide in a one-on-one situation. It also helps the students learn how to work together as a team to reach a common goal, a skill that many businesses say is needed by applicants entering the job 5
market. However, individual students are NEVER graded on anything that is produced by the team. Students are always assessed on their personal contributions only. Students will use their cooperative learning teams to do a lot of peer editing of work. Peer editing is designed to help students begin to see their own errors prior to assessment. 25. SPECIFIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY ACTIVITIES The following are suggestions to help students develop or improve good study habits: a. Schedule your daily study and writing time for the same time every day. Do it in a quiet place. b. Don t get caught by unexpected schedule changes at home; be ready and plan ahead. c. Never assume there is no homework. You should always be studying and reworking the material covered each day in class to be sure it is clear. d. Write down questions that come to you as you study to ask in class the next time class meets. e. Read the reading selections assigned aloud. You might even consider reading into an audio tape or recording it on your ibook to practice pronunciation, phrasing, speed, fluency and comprehension. Listen to yourself. f. Go back over class notes and underline, highlight, memorize rules and patterns. g. Learn and review, review, review vocabulary. Divide words into manageable groups to work on EVERY DAY, not just before class meets. Consider making yourself flash cards and either using the English as your cue for the Spanish or have a parent call out the English to see if you can spell out the Spanish. h. As the class advances, review old material. Foreign language is like math everything is built on what you learned before. g. Watch a Spanish television program if you have access to it or listen to Spanish music. Choose something that appeals to you. This will get your ear used to the flow of the language and will help with vocabulary. h. Telephone classmates that are taking Spanish and converse totally in Spanish. The more speaking practice you get the more comfortable and confident you will be when you are tested on your oral abilities. i. Find people who speak Spanish in your neighborhood, church, or circle of friends with whom you can practice speaking Spanish. If possible attend Spanish cultural events in the community. j. Practice EVERY DAY writing about anything that comes to mind in Spanish. Begin by writing for 2 minutes at a time and as you become more comfortable, increase your time. This will help develop quickness of thought, vocabulary recall, writing skills and your written communication ability. k. Talk to your family as much as possible in Spanish even though they may not understand you and may respond in English if they do understand. The practice will be helpful to you and they may learn a few things in the process. 6
l. Get your rest. Being tired and overly committed will wear you down and stress you out. m. If you think you need extra help, find a good student with whom you can study, have a parent quiz you or contact your local high school guidance department for the name of a high school Spanish student who would be interested in tutoring. n. Never cram. Cramming is not fun and you will not retain the information. The best advice is regular study. 26. E-MAIL ADDRESS - If you would like to e-mail me, my address is: Otherwise, please feel free to leave a message at school and I will return your call as soon as possible. 27. A DUE DATE IS A DEADLINE. Find a system that works for you to be aware of short-term and long-term due dates. Students have a tendency to procrastinate and over-commit to out of school activities. Deadlines are one of life s lessons and the sooner students learn to plan ahead, the more calm and stress-free everyone will be. 7
Dear Parent: As the new school year begins, your son or daughter will be working with many different teachers, each of who has specific procedures for and expectations of their students. To help your child achieve his or her greatest potential in Spanish class, we have reviewed the guidelines, policies and expectations above. Please take the time to review them with your son or daughter so that you will be able to help reinforce good habits at home that will lead to a successful and rewarding year. Learning a new language is challenging, hard work that offers many rewards. Your child will be learning new Spanish vocabulary, learning how to put words into sentences and paragraphs, both orally and in writing. He or she will be learning about the cultures and traditions that exist in the various countries where Spanish is spoken as well as the large Hispanic community within the United States. It is important to remember that learning a second language requires hard work over time. Your child will be expected to do every assignment and all assignments thoroughly. He or she will be expected to study vocabulary for at least 25 minutes every night. He or she will be expected to pay attention and participate in class. I expect every student to cooperate and work well with every other student in the classroom. I expect students to come to class prepared to learn with all necessary materials. The best help parents can be at home with a foreign language is to help your son or daughter drill vocabulary. I spend a great deal of time in class working on pronunciation, listening skills and grammar; these are areas that the student cannot do at home. I do not spend class time going over vocabulary. Since students are always required to produce the Spanish, a parent can give their son or daughter a practice quiz by calling out the English vocabulary terms. The student should be able to write them correctly. That means that spelling and accent marks count. If possible, encourage your son or daughter to "teach" you or a younger sibling what we're covering in class. It helps! Please sign below to indicate that both you and your child have reviewed and understand these classroom procedures and have your child return the signature page to me next class period. If you have any questions or concerns, please note them below. Thanks in advance for your help and cooperation in making this a wonderful school year! Sincerely, Parent signature Student signature 8