Guidelines for Spanish 2015-2016
Why study Spanish? The goal of studying Spanish is to express and to communicate! So don’t wait until you get it perfect. Just start talking and you’ll get better and better! You’ll make some mistakes, but the longer you practice, the more improvement you’ll see.
MATERIALS
Be organized. Bring the following materials to class everyday:
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
BEHAVIOR
You are responsible for your behavior and actions and will be held accountable for them. Your behavior will be tracked daily on the seating chart. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will result in the following consequences:
GRADING
Grading for this class is based on skill development in the following areas: vocabulary, grammar, writing, reading, listening and speaking. Cultural knowledge will also be assessed.
Tests, Quizzes and Projects 60%
Daily Homework/Assignments 40%
100% ciento porciento
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Students are expected to participate in all class activities and complete nightly homework/review as it provides essential practice in developing the skills that are assessed. Students will be asked to do a variety of activities including writing, reading, acting, drawing, listening, speaking, and working on the computer. Participation in these activities provides some of the necessary practice students need to learn the vocabulary and concepts.
However, most students should also expect to spend an additional 5-10 minutes each night reviewing vocabulary and any notes on grammar or culture from class. Committing vocabulary and concepts to long term memory is necessary for building fluency in any language. Studying for 10 minutes a night for 5 nights in a row is a much more effective way to prepare for a test than cramming for 50 minutes the night before. To learn vocabulary and concepts for long-term retention, which is essential to learn a language well, students need to commit some time each night to review. Thus, a combination of daily classroom practice and personal review time at home are essential elements in developing strong language skills.
DAILY WORK
Student work will be recorded weekly and grades will be recorded weekly. Grades may be accessed on-line at the Floodwood School website: www.floodwood.k12.mn.us.
If a student is not able to complete an assignment for the day it is due, it should be finished and shown to the teacher by the following day. Unless the student is absent, late work will be accepted no later than the following day.
PROJECTS
Projects are assigned with an assessment rubric and need to be turned in on time. Projects become part of a student portfolio and are reviewed at the end of each quarter.
TESTS and QUIZZES
Students will be assessed on skills listed in the grading section weekly. Approximately every two weeks there will be a unit test, and students will be told what specific skills will be assessed on the test so they can effectively prepare. Daily review of vocabulary, doing practice activities in class well, actively participating in class, and doing nightly homework are the best way to prepare for quizzes and tests.
RETAKES
On occasion a student may need to re-take a quiz or test. Retakes will be offered to students who:
**Students should use good study habits to prepare well for the tests.
TAKE NOTES and CLEAR UP QUESTIONS
Notes are valuable learning tools. Take notes and ask questions if something isn’t clear. If you think of a question later, write it down and be sure to ask the next day. No question is a silly question. Chances are someone else has the very same question. You might write the question instead of ask it in class, and send it by e-mail or turn it in to the homework box on the teacher’s desk.
ABSENCES and LATE WORK
In the case of an absence, speak to the teacher as soon as possible to make arrangements to complete the work. Unless a prior arrangement has been made, the missing work needs to be turned in to the teacher no later than two days after the day of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to talk to the teacher to find out what work they missed.
¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español!
Why study Spanish? The goal of studying Spanish is to express and to communicate! So don’t wait until you get it perfect. Just start talking and you’ll get better and better! You’ll make some mistakes, but the longer you practice, the more improvement you’ll see.
MATERIALS
Be organized. Bring the following materials to class everyday:
- Realidades textbook
- Pen/Pencil
- Single-subject notebook
- Three-ring binder
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
- Show others and their belongings the same respect you would like for yourself and your things.
- Cooperate with one another. You will do a lot of pair work and will need to work with a variety of people.
- When you have questions or comments, raise your hand to be recognized. Blurting out answers in not acceptable!
- Come to class prepared and ready to participate actively. This means having your required classroom materials and having homework/studying done the night before.
- Arrive and be ready to begin class on time. Being on time means being in your seat when the bell rings. At the end of the hour, wait in your seat to be dismissed.
- Do your best work.
BEHAVIOR
You are responsible for your behavior and actions and will be held accountable for them. Your behavior will be tracked daily on the seating chart. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will result in the following consequences:
- A warning from the teacher that the behavior is inappropriate.
- A private conversation with the teacher about behavior.
- A desk reassignment may be given.
- A call to parents/guardians and/or a detention.
- A referral to the office.
GRADING
Grading for this class is based on skill development in the following areas: vocabulary, grammar, writing, reading, listening and speaking. Cultural knowledge will also be assessed.
Tests, Quizzes and Projects 60%
Daily Homework/Assignments 40%
100% ciento porciento
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Students are expected to participate in all class activities and complete nightly homework/review as it provides essential practice in developing the skills that are assessed. Students will be asked to do a variety of activities including writing, reading, acting, drawing, listening, speaking, and working on the computer. Participation in these activities provides some of the necessary practice students need to learn the vocabulary and concepts.
However, most students should also expect to spend an additional 5-10 minutes each night reviewing vocabulary and any notes on grammar or culture from class. Committing vocabulary and concepts to long term memory is necessary for building fluency in any language. Studying for 10 minutes a night for 5 nights in a row is a much more effective way to prepare for a test than cramming for 50 minutes the night before. To learn vocabulary and concepts for long-term retention, which is essential to learn a language well, students need to commit some time each night to review. Thus, a combination of daily classroom practice and personal review time at home are essential elements in developing strong language skills.
DAILY WORK
Student work will be recorded weekly and grades will be recorded weekly. Grades may be accessed on-line at the Floodwood School website: www.floodwood.k12.mn.us.
If a student is not able to complete an assignment for the day it is due, it should be finished and shown to the teacher by the following day. Unless the student is absent, late work will be accepted no later than the following day.
PROJECTS
Projects are assigned with an assessment rubric and need to be turned in on time. Projects become part of a student portfolio and are reviewed at the end of each quarter.
TESTS and QUIZZES
Students will be assessed on skills listed in the grading section weekly. Approximately every two weeks there will be a unit test, and students will be told what specific skills will be assessed on the test so they can effectively prepare. Daily review of vocabulary, doing practice activities in class well, actively participating in class, and doing nightly homework are the best way to prepare for quizzes and tests.
RETAKES
On occasion a student may need to re-take a quiz or test. Retakes will be offered to students who:
- Consistently complete daily homework (or have maintained the A/B average)
- Actively participate in class activities
- Complete written and oral individual class activities
- Come in for extra help to clear up any questions
**Students should use good study habits to prepare well for the tests.
TAKE NOTES and CLEAR UP QUESTIONS
Notes are valuable learning tools. Take notes and ask questions if something isn’t clear. If you think of a question later, write it down and be sure to ask the next day. No question is a silly question. Chances are someone else has the very same question. You might write the question instead of ask it in class, and send it by e-mail or turn it in to the homework box on the teacher’s desk.
ABSENCES and LATE WORK
In the case of an absence, speak to the teacher as soon as possible to make arrangements to complete the work. Unless a prior arrangement has been made, the missing work needs to be turned in to the teacher no later than two days after the day of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to talk to the teacher to find out what work they missed.
¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español!