Español I

Señor Gary Howard

gary.howard@cowetaschools.net

 

 

Syllabus

 

¡Hola! ¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español!  I am looking forward to an exciting new semester with all of you.  Spanish is not an easy language to learn and it requires a lot of discipline, study and practice!  It should be taken just as seriously as any of your core classes.  There will be a large amount of vocabulary and just as much grammar.  It is essential to the success of each student that they are studying their vocabulary at home each night.  We move quickly and generally spend no more than five to seven days on each chapter. 

 

Course Description

 

Spanish I is a study of the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.  It strives to integrate the four skills:  listening, speaking, reading and writing. By the end of this course, students will have acquired a basic command of the key vocabulary and structures necessary for personal communication, as well as an appreciation for the broad scope of the Spanish-speaking world.

 

We will be concentrating on achieving novice-mid levels in reading, writing, listening and speaking as described in the Georgia Performance Standard areas for Modern Languages Level I.  You may access these performance standards at georgiastandards.org.

 

Grading policy 

 

Tests                                                    20% of total grade

 

Quizzes                                                15% of total grade

 

Daily                                                    40% of total grade                               

(Homework, Classwork

& Participation)

 

Projects                                                10% of total grade

 

Midterm and Final Exam                       15% of total grade

 

Materials

 

*Dividers should be labeled the following way:  Tab 1 – Bellringers, Tab 2 – Notes,

Tab 3 – Verb Charts, Tab 4 – Classwork, Tab 5 – Homework

*Syllabus MUST be kept in the front of the notebook at all times.  I will look for this at every notebook check!

 

v     Markers, colored pencils, construction paper and glue sticks (Teacher supplies)

v     On a final note, in an effort to keep everyone as healthy as possible, I make available to all my students the use of hand sanitizer and tissues.  I also disinfect all desks and surfaces about once a week.

 

Text

 

McDougal Littell ¡En Español! Level 1 – Every student will be issued a textbook which they will be responsible for bringing to class everyday.  Please keep in mind that there is a $75 replacement fee if the book is lost or damaged.

 

All students will be given an accompanying workbook which should be brought to class EVERYDAY!  Replacement cost is $15.00!

 

Additional Resources

 

www.classzone.com and Take Home Tutor

 

Homework

 

Homework is very important and will be assigned nearly every night!  It helps reinforce what we are learning in class and helps to prepare you for quizzes and tests.  Students should also be devoting at least 20 minutes of study time to their vocabulary every night.  Homework should be turned ready at the bell and any homework that is completed in class will receive a zero otherwise the homework grade is 10 points.  If a student has completed half of his/her homework, it will be worth 5 points. Since homework counts for 40% of their total grade, the student whose homework is not done completely everyday is going to have his/her grade adversely affected!!!

 

I will do a periodic notebook check, where I will check to make sure that everything is where it should be.  Students are responsible for keeping their notebooks complete and neat.

 

 

Quizzes & Tests

 

Students will have one test per chapter and may have at least one quiz per chapter.  I also may choose to give a pop quiz anytime at my discretion. Tests and quizzes may be both oral and/or written, multiple choice or essay. 

 

*CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!  Anyone caught cheating on any test or quiz will receive a grade of zero and parent contact.

 

Participation

 

Class participation is essential to achieve the maximum benefits of our class. Our class is very much like a mini-family.  We all must work together to get along and have things run smoothly.  And just like in any family, we sometimes have a bad day, therefore, I believe, that everyday is a new day!  What one does with it is up to the student! 

 

Make-Up Assignments

 

  As per the school policy, students must get with me within 3 days of returning to school to make arrangements to make-up any missed assignments and/or tests.  It is the student’s responsibility to make these arrangements.  I will not track him/her down to make sure that this has been done.  After 3 days, if he/she has not made arrangements he/she will receive a zero on that assignment or test.

   Upon return to school the student should get a make-up contract, fill it out and give to me to make arrangements. 

 

Extra Credit

 

The World Languages Department does not offer extra credit.

 

Extra Help - Tutoring

 

I am available to any student for extra help on Thurdays in the afternoon.  A student must also give me prior notice so that I don’t have kids from a different level coming in as well. Any other day is by appointment only.

 

Consequences

 

Consequences for breaking any of my class rules will be handled the following way:

1st offense – warning

2nd offense (not necessarily the same offense) – detention and parent contact

3rd offense – disciplinary referral

 

*Detention will be held in the morning or afternoon. If a student does not show up to his/her detention, this will result in an automatic disciplinary referral.

*This is not necessarily set in stone.  Depending on the severity of the infraction, a disciplinary referral might be the first course of action.

 

Tardy Policy

 

Refer to the student handbook.

 

Classroom Rules and Expectations

 

 

 

*Students will be disciplined based on their number of offenses and the severity of the offense, however, punishments can range from a verbal warning to parent contact and detention to a disciplinary referral.

 

Restroom Policy

 

Students will be given passes to leave the room 4 times each 9-week period.  Once these 4 passes have been used they may only leave the room for an emergency.  Please let me know if your child has a medical reason for frequent restroom usage.

 

Student Name (Printed): _____________________________________________________________________

 

Parents:

 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have over the course of the semester.  I am available via email anytime or leave me a voicemail and I will contact you at my earliest opportunity.

 

Please review my Syllabus and Classroom Rules and Expectations with your student to make sure that you are both clear on my expectations for their behavior and for their coursework.  Then fill out the personal contact information, print your name and sign the form followed by your students printed name and signature.  This should be returned to me the next day.

 

*This is the 1st homework grade they will receive!!!!  It is either a zero or 10 so please be sure to sign it and make sure your student returns it in order to receive full credit!!!!

 

 

Parent/Guardian

Name (Printed): ______________________________________Relationship:___________________________

 

Parent/Guardian                                                                        Parent/Guardian

Home Phone #:________________________________ Cell Phone #: _________________________________

 

Parent/Guardian                                                                        Parent/Guardian

Email address: ________________________________Work Phone #:_________________________________

 

Parent/Guardian Address: ____________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Student Signature: ________________________________________________________

 

Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________________________________