¡Bienvenidos al Español!

Español III

Español IIIH

Señora Carnahan

Phone: (610) 298-8661

Email: carnahant@nwlehighsd.org

 Goals:

1. Each student will acquire more developed vocabulary and master more grammatical structures in Spanish.
2. Each student will be able to communicate more verbally in Spanish.
3. Each student will develop more advanced reading skills in Spanish.
4. Each student will develop his or her listening skills.
5. Each student will continue studying the various cultures and people of the Spanish-speaking world.

Honors:

Spanish III and III Honors learn the same basic curriculum (see below). However, the Honors students will have different assessments and assignments may be tiered toward higher expectations. Reading materials for the Honors students will vary. 

 Materials:

You are required to have a binder for your Spanish materials. I recommend that you use dividers to organize your papers into sections for vocabulary, notes, assignments and culture. A 1” or 1 ½ “ binder is appropriate.

 When you come to class you are expected to bring your binder with plenty of blank paper, a pen or pencil and your laptop.

 Classroom Conduct:

 For us to accomplish the goals of improving your Spanish skills, I ask that you respect each other and me.

 If your actions disrupt the class, interfering with your own or your classmates’ learning, one or more of the following will occur: a personal conference, a phone call to your parents, a detention and/or an office referral.

 No eating is allowed in the classroom. Clear beverages in clear containers are allowed. Please do not perform personal grooming in class. Keep your cell phone put away; if you use it during class, you may be subject to disciplinary action.

 You are expected to abide by the school's dress code. You can refer to the dress code in the Parent/Student Handbook

 Class time is to be used for Spanish work only. There is always something to work on. If you are doing work for another class in Spanish, I may confiscate that work.

 Grading Policy:

Your grade in Spanish will be determined by the following:

60% Assessments: tests, quizzes and performances.

20% Assignments: Homework, compositions, computer assignments and reports .

20% Activities: class work, projects, speeches, songs, demonstrations, dialogues, compositions and other activities.

 Final Exam:

A final exam will be given to all students at the conclusion of this course. It is valued at 20% of your total grade.

 Homework:

Expect homework 1-3 times a week. Always complete homework to the best of your ability, referring to notes and vocabulary and verb charts. If you do it right the first time, it will save you study time for quizzes and tests. Just as you practice in order to play sports, homework is a form of practice to use the language in more meaningful contexts.

 Homework will generally be checked at the beginning of class. If it is not completed at that time, you will not receive full credit. For typical assignments, you will receive five points for. If you have not completed the assignment, you will receive a 0.   If you have completed part of the assignment you will receive partial credit. If you turn in the homework late, you will receive ½ credit. We typically review these assignments in class. You are expected to make corrections as we review them, as this is part of the learning process.

 Some homework assignments will be longer and will be graded, such as compositions and answering questions. These will be graded from 10-15 points. If you turn these assignments in late, the grade will be reduced by 10% by each day it is late. If it is over five school days late, it will not be accepted.

 Assessments:

You will have a number of assessments in various forms during the semester. They will range from quizzes on discrete grammar points, tests on units and projects. You may have pop quizzes, so always be prepared!

 Activities:

Generally completed in class, these might be dialogues, skits, answering questions and/or reading activities.

 Absences:

If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to find out the work that you missed. Check Canvas (Modules) to find out what we did in class during your absence. In addition, check Assignments for homework assignments (note that the homework may or may not be attached).

If there was homework due on the day of your absence, you are required to turn it in. Put it in the black basked at the back of the room on your first day back.

If homework is assigned on the day that your are out, it is due the day following the day of your return. Again, put it in the basket at the back on the room.

If you are absent and miss a quiz or test, but were in class the day the quiz or test was assigned, you are expected to make up the quiz or test your first day back to class.

If you were not in class the day the quiz or test was announced, we will arrange a day for you to make up the quiz or test. You will generally be required to make up quizzes and tests in the Learning Lab during FLEX.

If you are absent for an extended period of time, we will make up a schedule for you to complete assignments you may have missed during your absence. Make sure that you check the web page in the case of any extended absence if possible.

Technology:

You are expected to bring your laptop to class every day. I will use the Portal and your school Gmail account to communicate with you. Please check the Portal on a weekly basis to ensure that your grade is accurate and so that you know what your grade is in class. I also sometimes use the Portal to give feedback on assignments. In addition, check your school Gmail account so that you will receive important communications. I frequently write emails to students about missed assignments and give make-up opportunities. You will miss these opportunities if you do not check your Gmail account.

Portal- As stated above, you are expected to check the Portal on a regular basis. You should know what your grade is and you should also be attentive in case I make mistakes. Once a grade is entered, you will have one week to point out an error in your grade. If there is a discrepancy, please put a note in the bin at the back of the room asking me to check it out, or put the paper in question in the bin at the back of the room with a note on it.

Your laptop is to be used for educational purposes. When I assign online work, you are expected to complete that work. It is not time for you to check your grades, your email or other tasks that are not considered part of the assignment. Remember that you are subject to the district's technology policy during school hours and you risk losing the privilege of having access to technology during class if you abuse it.

Cheating:

I consider the following actions to be cheating (not all-inclusive):

1. using an on-line translator
2. copying homework from another student
3. giving your homework from another student to copy from
4. telling students what is on the assessment (in the same period or the next period)
5. having answers written down or accessible through technology during a quiz or test

If you are found to be cheating, you will receive a 0 for the assignment or assessment in question.  In addition, you may be required to complete the assignment again and will receive 50% of the grade that you would have otherwise been entitled to.

Assignments in class are designed to help you learn or to use the Spanish you have learned. If you do not put forth the effort to do so, you are not only cheating on the assignment, but you are cheating yourself.

Extra help:

If you are struggling in Spanish, please get help sooner rather than later. One of the signs of a strong student is recognizing when to get help - there is not shame in it. There are tutors available through the Guidance office. In addition, I am available during Flex B and before and after school. Please see me so that we can schedule a time that will work for both of us. It is your responsibility to seek help if you need it.

Content of Spanish III

We will be using Español Santillana II as our main resource. In addition, we will have additional listening and reading activities from a number of authentic sources. Students will create and perform dialogues and practice making presentations in Spanish and answering questions in Spanish. Students will also write essays and formal and informal letters. 

This syllabus is subject to change without prior announcement to accommodate the needs of the class.

We will be learning the grammar and vocabulary structures needed to express the(spoken and written) communicative functions below:

Tell others what to do and what not to do

Be able to make recommendations

Express wishes, opinions and doubts

Express conditions for events happening

Make plans for the future

Make favorable and unfavorable comparisons

Talk more in depth about the following topics:

• food and food preparation and shopping as well as eating in restaurants
• clothing, fashion and shopping
• describing people and moods
• describing things and talking about location
• houses and items in the home
• the neighborhood
• health and personal hygiene
• travel
• school and professions
• free-time activities
• geography, weather, nature and the environment