COURSE AND CLASSROOM PROCEDURES*

Course: Spanish 2         Text: Realidades, 1 and 2

 

The following information describes the classroom procedures and course expectations for students enrolled in this course.  Students are expected to review this information with their parents.

 1.       PREPARATION/ MATERIALS:  By the Monday of the first full week of instruction, students should have a three ring binder (1 1/2" - 2") in which they will keep all handouts given in class. While there is a textbook for this course, many times additional materials will be given in the form of worksheets and handouts.  Therefore it is imperative that the student have a binder  to neatly contain the papers that will be used in an on-going manner.  This binder  is expected to be organized at all times and is to be used exclusively for Spanish class. Students are required to bring textbooks,  handouts and writing implements to class daily.  Students will need a pen (black or blue) and a pencil in every class period. If a student comes to class without any of these materials he/she will lose 5 points from their preparation grade.  As it can be disruptive to the classroom environment, students will be not allowed  to return to their lockers in the event that any classroom materials have been forgotten.        

2.       HOMEWORK/EFFORT: Assignments are made in advance and are due on the day indicated on the assignment sheet or as presented in class. Students should use their books as a reference guide if they do not understand the homework. I also reserve the right to collect a homework assignment and count it as a quiz grade. In addition to individual homework assignments, students should review new and old class material on a DAILY basis. Quizzes are frequent, announced and unannounced.

3.       TESTS/QUIZZES: It IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO BE PRESENT ON TEST/QUIZ DAYS.  Quizzes are generally given on a daily basis and are typically over vocabulary in a translation from English to Spanish.  However, there will occasionally be unannounced quizzes in order to reinforce daily study of grammar points.  Note that all tests and quizzes are cumulative.  Thus, students are encouraged to re-study old material as they progress with the new material.  There will also be weekly mixed practice quizzes, which are a mix of old and new material.  Everything from the beginning of the year to date s able to be placed on the weekly mixed practice.  The mixed practice quizzes count 25% of the final grade, so daily review and study is a necessity. 

4.       MAKE-UP HOMEWORK: In the case of an absence, it is the student's responsibility to show the missed assignment to the teacher in order to recover the missing grade.  All homework must be made up the day after returning from absence. 

5.       MAKE-UP PROCEDURES:-- Policy for Make Up Tests and Projects

a.    If a test is missed due to an extended unanticipated absence (two or more days), the student will be given the same number of days to make up the test as days missed.

b.    A test missed due to an absence should be made up by the end of the first day upon returning to school.

c.    If a student is absent (unanticipated or anticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned 3 days or more in advance), the completed project is still due on that day. Students should make arrangements for delivery to teacher. One letter grade lower for each missed school day.

6.         ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:  Giving or receiving aid of any kind on a test, quiz, or other assignment.   Use of translators to translate anything other than isolated words is considered plagiarism and will be dealt with accordingly.  Instances of Academic Dishonesty will result in a grade of ZERO and an Academic Dishonesty Referral will be sent to the student's parents, dean and counselor.  THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED SO STUDENTS CAN EXCEL WITHOUT RESORTING TO UNSCRUPULOUS METHODS.

7.       PARTICIPATION: In-class participation, both oral and otherwise is an integral component of this course.  Student's oral grades are based on the following criteria: quality and frequency of response, pronunciation, attitude and the student's ability to speak in Spanish at his/her level of linguistic competency.  Students are expected to speak in Spanish when they are in small group or pair work.  IF A STUDENT DECIDES TO SPEAK IN ENGLISH IN A PAIRED ACTIVITY, HE OR SHE IS NEGATIVELY INFLUENCING HIS OR HER PARTNER'S ABILITY TO PRACTICE SPANISH. English will be only minimally allowed during class.  Speaking English without the instructor’s permission will negatively affect the participation grade. Students will receive additional participation points for spontaneous interaction in Spanish.  A student’s participation grade will also be affected by the quality of participation in aural, reading, and writing activities (This includes in class note-taking).

8.       GRADING:  In this course, students do not compete against each other; everyone is encouraged to do well.  There is no curving.  The grading scale is as follows:

93 - 100 = A             85-92 = B             76-84 = C             70-75 = D               Below 70 = F

          Your final grade will consist of homework (10%), classwork (10%), weekly mixed practice tests (25%) , weekly unit tests, vocabulary and grammar quiz grades (35%), and semester exams (20%).  You should expect a graded assignment to be given every day.  It can be in the form of a listening, speaking, writing, or reading comprehension assignment.  At the beginning of class you will have a quick assignment on the board.  This is to be started as soon as the bell to begin class rings.  All “bell ringers”are to remain in the BELLRINGER section of your 3-ring binder.  The binders will be checked periodically, without warning. Please keep up to date with your materials.  Also, you will be expected to do abrief oral presentation every week. The presentations can be individual or group, but mainly individual.  It could be the recitation of a poem or a presentation of your family or a skit. Plus we will have class discussions on particular topics that are of interest.  Of course we ill be speaking in Spanish. 

9.       ATTENDANCE/TARDINESS: Daily attendance is required for optimal progress.  Student whose attendance pattern negatively affects their work will be sent a progress report and a parent conference will be arranged.  Students are responsible for all work missed during their absence.  All asignments are placed on www.schoolrack.com/kmcmillan. I encourage parents to call or email me to report on their child's condition and secure assignments.  Students are also encouraged to make contact with a classmate in order to find out what work and assignments were missed during an absence. TARDINESS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  After two tardies students will be referred to the Office for disciplinary action.  WHEN THE BELL RINGS, STUDENTS ARE TO BE INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.  This does not mean coming through the door while the bell is ringing.

 10.      CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THIS CLASS.  If a student causes any disruption that inhibits the progress of the lesson, he/she will be removed and sent to the Office.  If behavior does not immediately improve, the instructor will hold a parent-teacher-counselor-assistant principal conference.  All students are expected to respect their instructors, classmates, classroom and the environment.  Students will not be permitted to eat, drink, or chew gum in class.

 11.               EXTRA HELP: It is the responsibility of the student to seek help from the instructor.  I am always happy to help students who have studied the material but who are not able to comprehend it. Extra help is available to students after school.  Students should approach me to arrange a suitable time and day. Please note that no teacher is available on Tuesdays. Students are cautioned not to wait until the day of a test to seek help because then it will be too late. If a student is demonstrating difficulty in learning Spanish, he or she may be required by the instructor to spend time after school. I typically stay afterschool for tutoring on Mondays, but I will stay any day that I am able to IF YOU ASK ME TO!

12.               CONFERENCES and CONTACT INFORMATION:  If your parent needs to meet with me, please let them know that I am available after school.  They can set up a meeting by calling the school office at 539-8900.   If a problem or question arises in which you need to contact me after school, you can email me at kmcmillan@harrison.k12.ms.us .  I regularly check my email from home and will get back with you as soon as I can.

¡Vamos a tener un semestre espectacular!

    Sinceramente,                                         

    Sra. McMillan       

*Rules and Procedures are subject to change.