Syllabus & Policies
Aug 20th, 2008 by jbojorquez
Welcome to Español 2. This course meets the World Language requirement for the California State University and University of California systems (although three years are recommended) as well as the OUSD graduation requirement starting with the Class of 2015. As with all acquisition of knowledge, daily study and practice are essential: If you never use Spanish outside of the classroom the reality is you will never learn it! To help toward that goal classes will be conducted as much as possible in Spanish itself. I will use actions, pictures, and props to help you understand. Level 1 will move at a slower pace but by Level 2 all students are assumed to be college-bound and increased academic rigor is to be expected. Your behavior and dedication need to increase as well so you will not be left behind.
TPR/Immersion/Project-Based Learning. As students advance in their language level, they need to start to capture meaning from spoken Spanish and leave the use of English behind. I will be using TPR (Total Physical Response: like the game of charades), immersion, and project-based learning to help make Spanish more meaningful. For instance, students, you will be creating and acting out situations or stories so you can acquire new vocabulary, and read, write and speak in Spanish as much as possible. The three products every marking period––visual, oral and written––will be ways to help you become familiar with Spanish and the cultures it represents.
Your job is comprehension and it isn’t easy at first. I will do all I can to scaffold––that is, give nonverbal clues––to what I am saying, just as ELD teachers do when teaching English as a Second Language. Nothing I do will work, however, unless you bring with you a willingness to listen and learn. Meet me halfway: let me know when you don’t understand, get extra help when you need it, and keep up with the homework. These are skills that will help you in college and in life,even if you never intend to use Spanish outside of the classroom. (Of course, if you think this last statement might be true, I can only assume you are moving to China soon!)
Preparation for Learning. Bring to class every day:
1) a 3-ringed binder (cuaderno) with a section for Spanish (a pocket folder might also work);
2) current assignments (including the repaso sheet) and handouts distributed in class;
3) a sharpened pencil (lapiz) and a blue or black pen (pluma o bolígrafo)
4) lined writing paper (papel.)
Optional: a paperback Spanish-English dictionary [Will be required in Spanish 3]
Grading. Your grade depends on your efforts and will be based on the following:
Marking period Semester
Written, including projects quizzes, etc. 40% Marking Period 1 30%
Participation (¡Inglés no!) 20% Marking Period 2 30%
Oral Performance 20% Marking Period 3 30%
Homework (tarea) 10% Examen Final 10%
Daily repaso 10%
Tarea and repasos will be collected every two weeks, on alternate Fridays. They should be kept in your cuaderno which will be collected once a marking period and checked for completeness. (I will try to post these and other grades as soon as I can on ABI so that you can keep track of where you stand.) No late work will be accepted without a pink slip. Extra credit is only available only to those who do the regular work but feel the need to improve their grades with additional assignments.
Grading Scale & Tests. You will be evaluated daily on your participation. The basic scale is
6 (Above expectation) 5 (At expectation) or 4 (Below expectation) on most assignments. Weekly quizzes will be frequent, cumulative, and often unannounced.
Missed tests and quizzes must be made up immediately, the next day after you return to school.
Tardy Policy. We will follow the OTHS policy on tardies except that three (3) tardies equal a lunchtime detention of 15 minutes. A missed detention equals a phone call home. Further tardieswill result in a referral to Saturday School and a conference with parent and counselor regarding whether the student is ready for the demands of a college prep at this time.
Attendance Policy: Come to class every day and be on time. If you are absent, get a ‘pink’ slip from the Attendance Office within five (5) days of your absence. OTHS policy states that six (6) unexcused absences in a Marking Period will result in an ‘F’ for the class.
Eligibility for Sports: I will not change your grade so you can be eligible for a sport but will do everything else I can to help you stay in the game. You will be expected to keep up with your workif you miss class due to games. (I am often available in my classroom at lunchtime or after school.)
Extended absences: If you know you will be out of class for an extended period (three or more days,) I can give you an alternate assignment to keep up your skills. One week notice is required.
Use of electronic devices: Cell phones, Sidekicks, iPods, etc., have no place in the classroom with the possible exception of note-taking for specific projects. You will be warned once and if used again, the device will be confiscated for the period or day. In extreme cases, it will be given to the appropriate administrator and will have to be retrieved from him or her. ¡Ojo! Neither Google Translator nor your Spanish-speaking friends are students of mine and none of ‘their’ work will count as yours.
Bathroom policy: One trip to the bathroom will be allowed per Marking Period (six weeks) except in case of emergency. Students need to learn to take care of their physical needs during their own time, not the class’.
Tarea. There will be homework every night. Write your assignment on your Registro de Tareawhich will be turned in with the homework every two (2) weeks. If you are absent, please check the assignments in the staff section of the Oakland Tech website: www.oaklandtech.com I try to have the homework for the week on the website by the end of my conference period on Mondays.
Cuaderno. You notebook will be collected, graded and returned at the end of each marking period. It needs to be neat and include all of your graded work, quizzes, tests, projects, homework, notes, and other required forms. Before the first collection date you will be give a sheet called Tabla de Contenido showing the appropriate order for the cuaderno.
Texts. Spanish students will be given the textbook En Español to take home and keep at homeas a reference and for some homework assignments. In the classroom we will use Realidades 1 or 2, a communicatively-based textbook which supports TPR, immersion, and project-based learning.
Student Responsibility. Please read over this Course Outline/Classroom Expectations sheet with your parent or guardian. Keep it in your cuaderno for the entire year because you may need to refer to it. You and your parent or guardian should sign the attached half sheet and return it to la profesora. It will also be available at section of the Oakland Tech website: www.oaklandtech.com
Note to Parents & Guardians: I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year.Without your support, I cannot be totally effective. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone with any concerns or questions you may have: jtsbojorquez@yahoo.com or 450-5400, ext. 202, usually between 10:30 and 11:40 daily (unless I am called to substitute.)