Course Syllabus

Hempstead High School

Spanish 5-6 (level III)

Course number: WSP380

Spanish 5-6 (year 3) 2012-2013 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Kelly McGovern E-mail: kelly.mcgovern@loras.edu Room: Office Phone: N/A Office Hours: Before School 7:05-7:30am / After School 2:30 3:00 (by appointment please) Best way to reach me outside of class: stop by in the morning or send me an e-mail Course Website: N/A Prerequisite: Minimum final grade of C- in Spanish 3-4 or teacher recommendation. Course Description: This is course begins with a review of previous Spanish semesters 3-4 (year 2). We continue building in the four skill areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Grammar and vocabulary are presented through cultural situations, which allow students to discuss topics relevant to their interests. Students will compare and contrast cultures of Spanish speaking countries and their own. Classroom activities are designed to help students meet district and national standards of World Language Learning. Each unit is set in a different Spanish speaking country to excite students about the new places and new things theyre going to learn. We provide group and cooperative learning activities to help build a classroom community of Spanish speakers. Standards: We will follow the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. These standards fall under the following categories referred to as the 5 Cs. 1. Students will Communicate with others in languages other than English. 2. Students will gain knowledge of other Cultures. 3. Students will make Connections between target language learning and other disciplines. 4. Students will develop an insight into the nature of language and cultures (Comparisons). 5. Students will use the language beyond the classroom setting (Communities). Required Materials: Pen or pencil (no light colored pens as they are hard to read!) 3 ring binder (1-1 inch) with 5 dividers labeled: vocabulario, gramtica, cultura, practica/tarea/actividades, diario (please keep your binder organized!) Loose leaf paper or spiral notebook En espaol! II Textbook (provided) Assignment notebook Recommended: Spanish-English dictionary, 501 Spanish Verbs, & highlighters Timeline/Pace: Semester 1 En espaol II =Complete Units 3-4 Semester 2 En espaol II = Complete Units 5-6

Course Syllabus

Hempstead High School

Spanish 5-6 (level III)

Course number: WSP380

Policies: NO cell phones, NO calculators, NO music players, and NO headphones: Electronic devices should not be visible. See your student handbook as this is a school policy. There will be NO electronic device use in the classrooms. These devices are a disturbance and will not be tolerated. Students need to make sure devices are turned off once they enter the classroomregardless of whether or not the bell has rung. Any electronic devices being used during class without permission may be confiscated. If any electronic device is visible during a quiz or test, I can only assume you are cheating and you will receive a ZERO on the quiz/test/project/etc. 1st offense = Warning to put away. 2nd offense = Taken away for the class period and warning to take to AP office 3 or more offense = Call home to parents. Written office referral(s). The item may be taken to the AP office for your guardian to pick-up after school. PLEASE COMMUNICATE: If there is an emergency or extenuating circumstances in your life that require you to be on call, please communicate with me before class so that I can help. I understand there are certain reasons to allow one to use their phone, but I cannot help you if you do not communicate with me first and I will unfortunately assume you are simply not following the rules. Lets avoid such problems with communication. This applies to any issues that complicate your participation in class or any situations beyond your control. Bathroom / Drink Breaks: Unless I have written notification from a parent or the school nurse, bathroom and water fountain privileges will be limited. Use the restroom BEFORE coming to my class. If I do give you permission to leave, have your PLANNER ready for me to sign so you dont disrupt class. You will be asked to leave your cell phone / IPod in the classroom if you choose to use bathroom privilegesthis is due to an increasing problem of students using bathroom privileges as an excuse to use their phone. No food, drink (except water in a clear container) allowed in classroom. Performance Expectations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Attend class and arrive on time RESPECT your peers, teacher, and classroom Be prepared for each class Be ready and eager to learn Do your own work Be an active participant in class & speak in an appropriately loud voice when participating 7. Be confident in yourself 8. Follow rules, policies, and guidelines as stated in the Student Handbook a. Excessive tardiness will result in consequences as described in the Dubuque Community School District Student Behavior. Expectations and Consequences are located in Parent/Student handbook.

Course Syllabus

Hempstead High School

Spanish 5-6 (level III)

Course number: WSP380

Make-up work policy: If you know you will be absent, see me ahead of time and obtain work before you leave. You may also e-mail me from home for missed assignments. If you have an excused absence it is your responsibility to see me the day you return to school for anything you missed in your absence. Make-Up Plan for Absences Missing an exam: Students will be asked to take the exam or to set up a time with the teacher to make up the day they return from the absence. Students will be given a max of 3 days to make it up. If the exam is not made up after this point a 0 will be remain. Missing a quiz: Students will be asked to take the quiz the day they return. Students will be given a max of 1 day per day absent to make it up. After this it will be a 0. For all other work: Student will have 1 day per day absent to make up work with no penalty. For prolonged absence or extenuating circumstances special arrangements can be made with the teacher for makeup work. It is the student's responsibility to ask for missed work at an appropriate time for both of us. If they know ahead of time they will be absent for all or part of a day they should get the work ahead of time and be ready for class on the returning day. If a student is marked unexcused from class they must see the teacher before school on the next school day to find out what was missed and/or schedule any make up or no credit will be given for work missed Performance Indicators: Assessment / Grading Practice work will be accepted 1 day late for 1/2 credit For bigger assignments, your grade will drop 20% of the original points possible per day late Grades are divided into 5 categories: 1. Quizzes (15%): Vocabulary, Grammar 2. Exams / Projects (25%): Chapter and/or Unit 3. Participation (25%): Writing and Speaking 4. Practice activities / Homework (20%): (at home & in class) 5. Final Exam (15%): Comprehensive exam given both semesters

District Grading Scale Used A 93-100 B+ A90-92 B B

87-89 83-86 80-82

C+ C C-

77-79 73-76 70-72

D+ D D-

67-69 63-66 60-62

Students need a C- or better or teacher approval at the end of the year to continue on to the next level Students earning an F at the end of the semester will not be eligible to continue on to the next semester

Course Syllabus

Hempstead High School

Spanish 5-6 (level III) Extra Credit Policy:

Course number: WSP380

There will be limited amounts of extra credit options per semester. If you do not turn in your regular work, extra credit will NOT be an option to raise your grade. Only if you have completed and turned in your assigned work for the chapter, will I enter any extra credit you have completed. Extra credit must be quality work. Points are subject to change depending on difficulty of the activity. Any UNAPPROVED absences will make you ineligible for Extra Credit. Student Concerns / Help: If you are falling behind in class or need help with a certain concept(s), please see me; I will be glad to help. You may also e-mail me with any questions you have (see email and office hours above). Academic Integrity (cheating): You are permitted (and encouraged) to work with other students when completing reading assignments, group projects and activities. However, you should understand the difference between collaboration and plagiarism. When working on group activities, you are expected to make a significant contribution to the group. In all cases, you are responsible for understanding completely the ideas contained in any assignment that you submit. In order to determine whether you have adhered to this policy, I reserve the right to discuss your assignment with you prior to assigning a grade for that particular assignment. Cheating on an assignment may result in a grade of 0 for the assignment, and cheating on an exam may result in a grade of 0 for the class and loss of credit. Please speak to me if you have questions and/or concerns regarding this policy. *Plagiarism and/or cheating the will result in grave penalties. Students are not allowed to use translators (online or otherwise) to do their work for them. Work must be your own ideas and use your own knowledge of the language. Use of translators will result in a zero for the test, project, assignment, etc for ALL parties involved and may be grounds to drop student(s) from the class without credit. Classroom Misconduct & Consequences (continued)

Cheating/ dishonesty may result in other disciplinary actions. The teacher will document the incident for further reference and/or in the ranking of students for National Honors Society. Failure to follow Performance Expectations could result in the following: Seat re-assignment Reduction in Citizenship grade Parent phone call Loss of credit for class Student contract Personal meeting with student Removal from class Notification of parents of all AP intervention parties involved

Course Syllabus

Hempstead High School

Spanish 5-6 (level III)

Course number: WSP380

Academic Interventions The teacher may, but is not limited to:

Talk to the student Contact the Parent or Guardian Assign the student to the World Language Learning Center Make arrangements for the student to meet with the teacher before or after school Find extra practice on the areas of difficulty Contact the guidance counselor Develop an individual student contract

SIGNATURES
Students, as a homework assignment, please share this syllabus with your guardian(s). If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding the syllabus or class in general, please do not hesitate to call or email me. My information is listed above. You can also find my syllabus (and more) on the Hempstead High School web site. I have a Spanish Class webs site listed under World Languages.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By signing below, I signify that I have read and understand the above syllabus for Spanish 5-6 (WSP 380).

Student signature__________________________________________ Date_________

Parent/Guardian signature ____________________________________Date ________