¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español!
Welcome to Spanish Class!
7th and 8th grade Spanish Syllabus
Introduction: Hello! I am Señora Lea Martin and I will be your Spanish teacher this year. I am a graduate of the University of Michigan where I majored in Spanish and history. I got a lot of Spanish speaking experience when I lived in Ecuador for a few years. I have also visited Spain and Perú. Some of my interests are; singing, playing flute and guitar, running, reading and spending time with my family.
Hello, I am Señorita Angela Easterbrook and I will be your Spanish Paraprofessional this year. I am a graduate of Michigan State University with a major in Psychology. My experience with Spanish comes mostly from my family. My mother is originally from Guatemala. I also took Spanish in school, and have made several trips to Guatemala that increased my learning of the culture. Some of my interests are: Cooking, reading and spending time with my family.
Grading: Students’ grades will be weighted in the following manner:
Class participation 25%
Homework 25%
Tests and quizzes 25%
Projects 25%
Class Participation: Students’ behavior in class counts towards their grade. All students start each class period with 5 (five) class participation points. Points can be lost in these ways: 1. Coming to class unprepared. (no homework, no pencil…) 2. Exhibiting disrespectful, disruptive and/or uncooperative behavior. 3. Not following middle school rules. 4. Not complying with class contract. Points can be gained by: 1. Positive participation in class activities. 2. Exemplary respectful or helpful behavior toward teacher, paraprofessional, or other students. Chill Time/Classroom Management Strategy: When a student has lost 3 (three) participation points in any single class period, they will have chill time. This consists of sitting in a desk separated from their peers for a period of time. While in chill time, the student gets a chance to cool off and collect their thoughts. They will need to write or express why they needed chill time to Señorita Easterbrook or me. While in chill time, students can still loose class participation points, but they can’t gain them back until they rejoin the class. When chill time is over, the student my rejoin the class and regain their points, or continue to lose them. If a student loses all their participation points for two days, we will make parent/guardian contact. If a student loses all participation points for three days, we will make parent/guardian contact and refer the student to the school behavioral specialist for detention. If a student has multiple detentions, further counseling/discipline and contact with parents/guardians may be necessary to help the student modify their behavior so that they can receive maximum benefit from this class.
Homework: Homework is due at the door on the due date assigned. Students are to come to class with their homework in their hands. Srta. Easterbrook or I will stamp the assignment. A stamp means the homework was ON TIME. Only ON TIME homework will receive full credit. ON TIME means AT THE DOOR. Homework turned in later during the class period, or the next day, is LATE. Late homework gets ½ credit. I will accept late homework for three days after the due date. Any homework not turned in after three days will receive a zero. Exceptions will be made for excused absences.
Tests and Quizzes: Test and quiz dates as well as a lesson agenda will be posted and updated on the class website: lb.martin.educatorpages.com Click on the page that corresponds to your class. (7th grade Spanish, 8th grade Spanish) Tests and quizzes that count for grades will not be given without at least one day warning, unless the class agrees otherwise.
Projects: From time to time during the marking period, students will work on projects relating to Spanish and Hispanic culture. These may include; reports, PowerPoint presentations, videos…etc. Students need to put effort into these projects to gain self-esteem and to receive full credit. Rubrics for projects will become available to students as hard copy and on the website as the projects are assigned.
Extra Credit: Extra credit is available to students by posting to discussion questions on the ‘Nuestra Clase’ Facebook page. When students post well thought out answers, in complete sentences, with proper netiquette, they will receive extra credit. If students post rude comments, or use language that is not school appropriate, they will be blocked from posting on the page and lose their opportunity for extra credit.
Teaching Method: The teaching method that I will be using most in this class is called; total physical response storytelling. (TPR or TPRS) This method is evidence based and proven effective in teaching fluency. One study found, “Our experimental group with only 45 hours of TPR instruction was compared with high school students with 200 hours of traditional instruction in Spanish…the TPR group vastly outperformed the traditional group…on T/F tests based on the stories.” (tpr-world.com/review-evidence.pdf)
Materials Needed for this class: Pencils and/or pens. Eraser. A One inch three ring binder, any color. Two pocket folder for homework. Black dry erase marker(s).
Cell phones and other hand held electronics: Cell phones, ipods, other mp3 players, and hand held gaming electronics are not allowed in the classroom. These and any other hand held electronic device found in the possession of a student during class or in the hall will be confiscated and taken to the office for parent pick-up.
Conclusion: There are over 30 million Spanish speakers in the United States. It is a living language relevant to our lives as Americans. Many popular songs and movies are either in Spanish or based on Hispanic culture. Businesses hire people who can speak Spanish and value them as a resource. Spanish is one of the easiest world languages for native English speakers to learn, and it opens the door to more language acquisition.
Parents/Guardians: Please help your student start the year with an ‘A’. Both of you read and sign this syllabus and turn it in to me by Friday, September 7. Thanks! I know we are going to have a great year!
I have read and agree with the policies explained in this syllabus:
Parent signature__________________________________________________ Date______________
Student signature__________________________________________________Date______________