Middle School Spanish Course Guidelines

¡Lo que bien se aprende, nunca se pierde!

Our Four Expectations:

1)    Be respectful of others and school environment.

2)    Be prepared with materials, work, and a good attitude- this helps create a positive learning environment!

3)    Observe all rules in the student handbook.

4)    Give Spanish a try every day! :)

6th Grade Text: Navegando 1A is an introduction text that aids in the grammar lessons and provides a resource for each vocabulary unit. This text and course are considered Part I of Spanish I.  Navegando 1A is a classroom set, however students may

check out a text at any time throughout the school year.

7th Grade Text: Navegando 1B is a continuation text, which is used to aid in the application of grammar. It is considered Part 2 of Spanish I.

8th Grade Text: Navegando 2 is a very comprehensive text that aids in the application of grammar and units of vocabulary. With this text, 8th graders will cover Part 1 of Spanish II.

Course Objectives

-    To make the most of the 55 minute period by trying to speak Spanish.

-    To discover, experience and appreciate Hispanic culture.

-    To use the past tense in speaking & writing.

Materials

-    Spanish section in binder organized into 2 or 3 categories:  Gramática/Vocabulario, Cultura, and ¡Vamos!   as the optional 3rd.

-    Agenda for noting assignment due dates and homework.

-    Spanish-English Paperback Dictionary

Tips for Success

It is of the utmost importance for students to keep an open mind and open ears in Spanish Class.  Immersion is proven to work best when students simply try and keep listening.

-    Homework is about maintenance in a foreign language class.

-    Even when no homework is given, students should review and study newly learned words and practice speaking every week for at least 10 minutes.

-    Building a vocabulary foundation takes time and practice on the student’s part.

-    Always check the Class Pages for up-to-date assignment information.

Assessment

-   Projects and Papers are assessed with a specific rubric and point values vary according to length and involvement.

-    Quizzes usually focus on only one or two components of culture, vocabulary, and/or grammar.

-   Map Quizzes are given once a trimester and are worth 21 points.

-   Tests will assess material learned from an entire unit/chapter.  If a student knows s/he will miss a scheduled test, arrangements must be made prior to the absence. Students will have no more than 2 days to make up a test.

-    Homework may be worth 5- 10 points and is will not receive a grade if turned in late. 

Turning in Work: 

Homework needs to be ready at the beginning of class.  All homework is to be completed with effort and placed in the appropriate tray labeled with your class period.  The teacher is NOT responsible for papers unaccounted for via the turn-in tray. Assignments are due on the date assigned- no exceptions.  

Late work will not be accepted for a grade, but is still expected to be completed. In the event that an assignment is not completed and turned in on the due date, the work will receive a zero and the student will be expected to complete the assignment and turn it in the following day. Failure to do so will result in an appropriate consequence.  Completing assignments is an essential part of learning another language! 

Late projects and papers will be lowered a letter grade for each day they are late up to one week, after which the paper/project will no longer be accepted and will result in a 0.  

Absence Policy:

It is the student’s responsibility to ask the teacher for make-up work.  If the teacher is not asked for the assignments on the day that the student returns to school, the opportunity to make up work is missed and all assignments will result in a zero. Students will not ask the teacher during class instructional time for missed work.  Students may ask the teacher for make-up work during non-instructional time such as before or after class, while students are working independently in class, or before or after school.

¡OJO! Students absent due to illness or other unforeseen incidences should come to the Spanish room the very day they return to campus and not wait until the next time s/he has Spanish Class.  For example, if Spanish is only on Mondays and Thursdays and the student misses a Monday class, s/he should come find out what was missed on Tuesday and not wait until Thursday’s class.

Translators: 

Any type of device or website that translates a student’s work from English into Spanish other than a dictionary is prohibited from the classroom.  Any work that is found to have been created using a translator will NOT be accepted and the student will be asked to redo it.  Dictionaries are encouraged in the classroom.   Examples of online dictionaries are www.wordreference.com and www.spanishdict.com.