Spanish+I

=CLASSROOM POLICIES FOR SPANISH I= =Miss Jennifer DeWitt= **E-mail: jdewitt@lapeerschools.org**
 * Phone: 810-667-2418**
 * 2010-2011**
 * This sheet is to be placed in the front of your notebook and remain there.**


 * PRESENT:** Your regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class. Participation is part of you grade so if you miss class frequently, this will affect your overall grade.


 * PROMPT:** You are to be in the room, in your seat before the bell rings. **Any student who is not in his/her seat when the bell rings is tardy.** Excessive tardies will have a negative effect on borderline grades.


 * PREPARED:** You must have the following materials with you every day: notebook, assignments, //__WRITING UTENSIL__//, and any other materials. Coming to class unprepared will negatively affect your participation grade. If you are consistently prepared for class, this can have a positive effect on your grade. **__Pens and pencils will NOT be available to borrow in my class__**. You are also expected to turn in any homework assignment, project, etc. on the day it is due. I will not accept late work expect in the case of an excused absence.
 * POLITE:** It is expected that you will treat others, their ideas, questions, and belongings with respect. It is also expected that during class you will not talk when the teacher is talking, listen when others are speaking, and **use self-control over your own actions** so that this class may run as smoothly as possible.
 * PARTICIPATING:** The only way to learn a foreign language is by actively practicing. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all forms of practices. The more you participate, the easier the material will be and the more likely you will be to experience success.
 * GRADING**


 * 1) All grades will be assigned and recorded as points/ percentages.
 * 2) Grades will be posted on Power School and it is your responsibility to check your grades and monitor your own progress. If you do not have access to the Internet at home, you may use the Internet before/ after school in the library. I am also willing to discuss your grades with you before or after school only.
 * 3) **Homework** is often checked for completeness at the beginning of the class period and then corrected in class. You will be allowed to receive partial credit for attempted work.
 * 4) **Participation:** During most of the class period, students need to be actively engaged in a variety of listening activities. There are several ways that you can negatively affect your participation grade: speaking English when asked to speak Spanish, not being prepared to answer questions, and a poor attitude. You may also be asked to grade yourself periodically.


 * 1) **Tests& Quizzes:** There will be a variety of quizzes, some announced and others unannounced. There will also be a test approximately once every 4-6 weeks. The tests may include: vocabulary, cultural information, reading comprehension, and writing. It is possible that there may be a speaking component as well. If you actively participate, and listen each day, you will be able to do very well with the speaking, reading, writing, and listening activities.


 * 1) **GRADING SCALE:** The following scale will be used to assign letter grades.
 * Letter Grade** ||
 * Percentage** ||
 * Range** ||
 * A || 93 || 93-100 ||
 * A- || 90 || 90-92 ||
 * B+ || 87 || 87-89 ||
 * B || 83 || 83-86 ||
 * B- || 80 || 80-82 ||
 * C+ || 77 || 77-79 ||
 * C || 73 || 73-76 ||
 * C- || 70 || 70-72 ||
 * D+ || 67 || 67-69 ||
 * D || 63 || 63-66 ||
 * D- || 60 || 60-62 ||
 * F ||  || 0-59 ||
 * F ||  || 0-59 ||

7. **Marking period grades** will be determined by the following percentages: a. Tests 40% b. Quizzes 30% c. Participation 15% d. Homework 15%


 * //* Miss DeWitt reserves the right to adjust these percentages as the need arises.//**

In courses where an exam is given, the composition of **the final term grade** shall consist of:
 * 80% teacher determined activities, including but not limited to homework, assessments, formative assessments, projects, etc.
 * 20% Trimester exam, which includes results from common assessment


 * DAILY HOMEWORK AND MAKE-UP WORK**
 * (Please read this section very carefully to avoid confusion)**


 * __LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!__**

If you are absent, you will receive ONE DAY for each day that you were absent to make up homework assignments.

It is YOUR responsibility to get all missing assignments and complete those assignments along with any other additional work when you miss class.

For tests and quizzes, you must make up a missed test or quiz immediately upon your return to school after your absence.


 * EXTRA CREDIT**

Extra credit may be offered only if a student demonstrates effort in __all other areas__ of work and still is struggling in the class.


 * ON-LINE TRANSLATORS**

All writing, revising, editing, etc. for a project or an assignment should be done in class. If a student uses an on-line translator to produce his/her work, he/she will receive a zero for the assignment. I am aware of each student’s ability and vocabulary learned; hence, it is very easy to spot work that has not been done by the student.


 * CELL PHONES**


 * If I see your cell phone out at any point during my class, I will confiscate it and you can get it from me at the end of the school day or from the office.**

LEAVING CLASS
In order to leave class to visit the drinking fountain, restroom, or locker you must have your pass card. There are no exceptions to this rule. If there are unforeseen circumstances that require you to visit one of the three places (and you don’t have your pass card), you may choose to serve a 15-minute detention **before or after school**.


 * FOOD & DRINK**

Absolutely no eating in my classroom! You may bring bottled water to class but the liquid must be clear- no pop, juice, coffee, etc. If you bring something of this nature, I will ask you to throw it away immediately.


 * PURSES/ BAGS**

All purses/ bags will be kept on the floor underneath of the student’s desk. If there is a problem with this, I will be more than happy to allow the student to keep his/ her purse/ bag on top of my filing cabinet and off of the floor.


 * INDIVIDUAL/ EXTRA HELP**

I love answering questions for students! I am also more than willing to help before and after school. I encourage you to ask questions and to come in for help if needed. I am generally available before school beginning at 6:45 a.m. I am not readily available after school unless prearranged.


 * CLASS NEEDS**

Each student needs the following by Monday, March 15th, 2010: · 1 three-ring binder at least 1 ½ or 2 inches deep, with a sturdy, hard cover. · Lined paper · 5 tabbed dividers (I will tell you what to label tabs in class) · Syllabus (should be placed in the front of your binder and kept there all year) · Signed parent/ guardian signature form

You will be graded on your completion of the class needs on Monday, March 15th, 2010. This will count as a quiz grade worth 125 points.

=COURSE SYLLABUS=

The basic materials for the class have been created by Melinda Forward. We will use her series
 * //Las aventuras en español a través de los cuentos//**, as well as other supplemental materials during the course of the year. Some things may change depending on time and unforeseen events.


 * CHAPTERS AND GRAMMAR COVERED:**

//**Bienvenidos**// -Commands -Definite Articles -Plural Nouns -Articles -Intonation -Adjectives -3rd Person Verb Forms

//**Al Mercado**// -Tener expressions -Location prepositions -Gustar (expressing likes and dislikes) -Expressing thanks -Nationalities & Adjective Agreement -Que + adjectives

//**Al café**//

-1st Person of IR + a + infinitivo
-Introduction of the "yo" form -3rd Person Plural -Asking Questions -Question Words

//**Las Estaciones y Actividades**// -Weather Expressions -3rd Person Plural -Question Words -2nd Person Questions -1st Person Responses -1st Person Verbs -Which/What? Conjugating Regular, AR, ER, and IR verbs

//**La Familia y Los Animales**// -Direct Object Pronouns -1st Person Possessive Pronouns -Similies -Prepositions "of" & "from" -Commands with "to be" -Comparative -Que + adjectives -tener_anos -Questions Review -Negative Expressions

//**__Pobre Ana__- Mini Spanish Novel**//