Spanish 1 Syllabus 2011-2012 - Eagle Mountain …

1 ED WILLKIE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS Syllabus - Spanish I 2011 - 2012 Teacher: Se ora Melva Barresi Phone No. 817-237-9631 Ext. 6330 E-mail: Book: En Espa ol 1 Spanish 1 COURSE OBJECTIVE: Using age-appropriate activities, students develop the ability to perform the tasks of the novice language learner. The novice language learner, when dealing with familiar topics, should be able to: (1) understand short phrases when listening and respond orally with learned material; (2) produce learned words, phrases, and sentences when speaking and writing; (3) detect main ideas in familiar material when listening and reading; (4) make lists, copy accurately, and write from dictation; (5) recognize the importance in communication to know about the culture; and (6) recognize the importance of knowing the components of language, including grammar. (7) use the skills of listening, speaking, and writing to reinforce the skill of reading.

2 HOW TO SUCCEED IN Spanish CLASS: Come to class every day, be seated in your desk, and stat working when the bell rings! Actively listen, question and participate in the daily activities. Be organized. Don t get zeros for not finishing your homework. Use the many resources available to you (tutorials, games and practice activities on our website.). If you are absent, ask your teacher for the information about the class you have missed, so you won t fall behind. Study EXTRA for test and quizzes. (Student study groups are great for this!) Get in as much listening time as you can outside of class. ( Spanish TV, radio and DVDs are great!) EXPECTATIONS: ALL SCHOOLWIDE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES WILL BE FOLLOWED IN THIS CLASS. I expect students to work with me to create an atmosphere that is kind and respectful. With kindness and respect the classroom will be a safe place and all students become willing to make mistakes and take risks.

3 If students and teacher are willing to admit confusion and mistakes with good humor, others will be willing to do the same. Follow the classroom rules. Come prepared and ready to learn. Enter the room quietly and begin the Warmup assignment. Participate daily and ask questions when you don t understand. Your job is to learn! Respect yourself, your classmates, and your surroundings. Listen with your eyes and ears. Make sure you understand the directions before beginning an assignment. Use your time wisely. Remain on task, and pay attention. Always use your indoor voice. No profanity, food, drinks, cell phones, or chewing gum. Keep a positive attitude, and always be respectful. The bell does not dismiss you. Take responsibility for your life and your actions. NO EXCUSES!!! There is only one person that can control your actions and your attitude. That person is YOU!

4 If you don t assume responsibility for your life, then you have no power create the future that you want for yourself. EXPECTED LEARNING: 1. Students will be able to understand all forms of greetings in Spanish and will be able to use them. 2. Using his/her understanding of the Spanish alphabet, s/he will be able to read Spanish words and approximate the correct spelling. 3. Count to 1,000,000. 4. Know the colors. 5. Understand the concept of gender in Spanish grammar, masculine and feminine. 6. Express likes and dislikes. 7. Students will have a basic vocabulary covering many action words, body, clothing, family, locations in the neighborhood, and describing words. 8. Students will be able to change action words depending on who is doing the action (I, he/she, they). 9. Students will be exposed to common weather conditions, know the days of the week, months, seasons, and be able to tell time to the hour and half hour.

5 10. Recognize the basic subject pronouns, yo, t , l, ella, ustedes. BADGER CLASSROOM GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS BE RESPONSIBLE ALWAYS TRY DO YOUR BEST COOPERATE WITH OTHERS TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT, INCLUDING YOURSELF TUTORIALS: I am available for tutoring Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8:00 - 8:30 and afterschool on Thursdays from 4:00 to 4:30 (first come-first served basis). You can also set up an appointment if circumstances don t allow you to come during the regular schedule. Students who come to tutorials must: be prepared to work on a specific assignment or concept and have all necessary materials (book, worksheet, paper, pencil, etc.). Students that are unprepared or not working will be asked to leave. Tutorial time is not chat-time. MATERIALS Students need a red grading pen, blue or black pen, pencil, notebook paper, and a Spanish /English dictionary (for at home use), colored pencils or crayons.

6 Each week s/he will be given a list of vocabulary words. Vocabulary quizzes will be based on this vocabulary list. When absences occur it will be up to each student to catch up on recording these words. Pencil is required every day. Coloring tools are used often. Each student maintains a folder that is kept in class. All vocabulary that students need to study at home will be recorded in the planner each week. HOMEWORK Learning a new language requires a lot of practice so homework will be assigned at least three times a week, and needs to be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date. It is YOUR responsibility as a student to make sure that all work is completed prior to the time that you come to class. In order for you to be successful in this class, it is imperative that you practice speaking, reading and writing at home as well as in the classroom. Spanish is like basketball or football.

7 If you want to be good at it, you have to practice, practice, and practice. The weekly vocabulary needs to be gone over at home (or on the bus, or in the lunch line, or while brushing teeth, etc.). I recommend a minimum of three times a week for a minimum of 5-10 minutes each time. Easy? Easy! Do it! Families can help by giving friendly playful quizzes or, better yet, offering to be taught the vocabulary by your student. GRADES Because this is a comprehension based Spanish class, participation is especially important, so, be actively paying attention or volunteer. Once the school year is well underway, there will be weekly quizzes based on the words of the week. There will also be Pop quizzes to ensure that students are keeping up with the work and studying. Announced quizzes and exams can be retaken within 3 days from receiving your grade. It is possible to receive a max score of 70 on all retakes.

8 IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO RETAKE A TEST OR QUIZ. Students will be graded on: Homework, Daily work and participation Mini-quizzes and Pop quizzes (for homework comprehension check). 1 to 2 Spanish -only essays. Oral presentations (in Spanish ) and projects. Major Exams: includes listening, reading, speaking, writing Grades will be calculated in the following manner: 10% Homework 30% Daily/Participation Grades 20% Quizzes 40% Major grade (Tests, writing assignments, projects) LATE/MAKEUP WORK 1 day late 80 is the highest possible grade 2 days late 70 is the highest possible grade and a phone call home 3+ days late 50 is the highest possible grade Once work is 2 days late, a parent will be notified. If the student has not completed the assignment and all efforts are exhausted, the student will receive a zero. When you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what work you missed.

9 If you miss a test or quiz, it is YOUR responsibility to set up a time for you to make it up. Work assigned before an absence will be due upon returning to class. If you do not turn it in, it will be considered late. If you were absent on the day of a quiz or test that was already announced then you will be expected to take it the day you return. If you are absent the day before a quiz or test that was previously announced, you will be expected to take it along with the rest of the class when you return. If your absence is excused, you will have one day to make up work for each day that you were absent. After that, the Late Work Policy will be in effect. Please sign below indicating that you have read and understand the Syllabus for Mrs. Barresi s Spanish class. If there are any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me throughout the year. I would also encourage you to seek information about the class on Mrs.

10 Barresi s webpage. Please return signed by _____. _____ _____ _____ Student s name Parent/Guardian s Signature Date