Course Outline, Description, & Expectations

SPANISH I

 

Nicole Morrow

nmorrow@ycds.org

 

TEXT:           ¡Buen viaje!    Textbook

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

Ø      The class will focus on the three aspects of learning Spanish.  These aspects are writing, speaking, and hearing.  Equal emphasis will be placed on all three with the understanding that each student has different learning styles and abilities. 

 

MATERIALS (Necessary for each day which class meets.):

 

  1. Textbook                                            4.  Red pen or pencil for grading homework
  2. Assignment book                               5.  Spanish binder
  3. Pen (blue or black) or pencil             6.  Note card box with vocabulary note cards

 

EXPECTATIONS:

 

Ø      Quizzes & Tests:  The students will have a test or quiz on alternating weeks.  Quizzes will be announced one or two days in advance, and tests will be announced one WEEK in advance.  “Pop” quizzes are not part of the curriculum.    All material on the evaluation, as well as the format, will be written on the board and will be posted on my YCDS website.    It is the student’s responsibility to copy that information into his/her assignment notebook or in the notes section of the Spanish folder.  Each test or quiz will need to be signed by the parent or guardian. 

 

Ø      Homework:  Homework will be assigned most nights of the week, unless there is a major holiday or event that evening.  In addition to the written work, it is strongly advised that the student review his/her notes each day.  Assignments will be posted daily on my YCDS website. 

 

Ø      Assignment notebooks:  The last five to ten minutes of each class period are devoted to assigning and explaining homework.  The students are responsible for copying it from a dedicated homework board.

 

Ø      Organization:  Each student has been given a 1” plastic binder in which to keep all work related to the class.  The binder has been divided into four separate sections:  tarea=homework, examenes=tests/quizzes, apuntes=notes, and verbos=verbs. 

 

Ø      Notebook checks:  There will be GRADED notebook checks throughout the year.  The grade will be based on the following:  1)  All papers in the correct sections. 2) All papers with the correct HEADING in SPANISH.  3)  Work arranged chronologically.  The most recent work is to be in the front of each section and the oldest at the back.  4)  Is all work included in the binder?

Ø       

Ø      EXAMS:  All students are required to take the Spanish mid and end-of-year exams.  For the eighth through twelfth grade students it will be worth ten percent (10%) of the semester grade.  For seventh grade students, the exam will count as a regular test grade.

 

Ø      Grade scale: 

A 

=

93  – 100

C

=

73  --   76

A-

=

90  --   92

C+

=

77  --   79

B+

=

87  --   89

C-

=

70  --   72

B

=

83  --   86

D+

=

67  --   69

B-

=

80  --   82

D

=

63  --   66

 

 

 

F

=

Below 62 (failing)

 

Ø      Grading rubric: 

Homework

40%

Class participation, preparedness & organization

10%

Tests

20%

Getting tests & quizzes signed 

 2%

Quizzes

18%

Exam 

10%

 

Ø      Late work policy: 

o       If a student is unable to attend class, he/she must do his/her best to contact me by e-mail or another student by e-mail or by phone.  It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to take tests, quizzes, and hand in homework.  If the absence is known in advance, please ask me at least two days in advance for the work.

o        For each day (that class meets) that an assignment is overdue, one letter grade is deducted from the grade on that homework.  If work is not completed by the due date, the student will be required to do the late work during tutorial period, study hall or after school that same day.

o       If a student did not complete or understand an assignment, he/she needs to tell me as soon as possible.

 

Ø      Extra credit:  Extra credit projects are not given, because a student should be trying to do his/her best each day. 

 

Ø      Extra help:  I am available most afternoons from 3:00-4:00 for extra help and/or during some tutorial periods.  There is a calendar in the hall outside of my classroom which lists the afternoons that I am free to meet with students.

 

 

¡VIVA EL ESPAÑOL!  Have a wonderful year!

I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the above guidelines.

__________________________________________ (Student’s signature)

I have read and discussed the above guidelines with my son/daughter.

__________________________________________ (Parent’s/Guardian’s signature)