• Spanish 2 Syllabus

    2019-2020

    Higley High School

    4068 East Pecos Road

    Gilbert, AZ, 85295

    P: 480.279.7300 • F: 480.279.7305

     

    Course: HHS Spanish 2

    School Year: 2018.2019

    Instructor Name and Degrees: Mr. Jeff Taylor

    Contact Information: jeff.taylor@husd.org  

    Available: Most all days after school and during either lunch period

    Textbook: Buen Viaje, Level II

    About Mr. Taylor: I have traveled to many Spanish speaking countries in my lifetime. I lived in Ecuador for an entire two-year period where I became very fluent in the Spanish language. I love anything to do with any Spanish speaking cultures.

    In my classroom, students learn to communicate in Spanish using many interactive methods. I believe that students need as much exposure to the language as possible, so that they may acquire the language primarily through listening and reading, along with completing activities that allow them to produce language through speaking and writing.

    Course Description: This course is a continuation of Spanish I and features application of language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will learn new vocabulary and grammar to expand your usage of the language in interpersonal, interpretive and presentational situations. You will continue to explore the culture of the countries in which Spanish is spoken with a focus on Spain.

    Materials:

    Required: Single-subject notebook, loose-leaf paper, pencil or pen

    Requested Donations: Box of tissues, Clorox wipes, Hand sanitizer

    Attendance:  You are responsible to make up any missed assignments, notes, or assessments.  You will have one day per day you were gone to make up these items.  All long term assignments and tests must still be completed on time.  Attendance Policy Changes per School Board: A student will be considered absent from class if they enter the classroom more than ten minutes after the designated start time.  If the student has a valid reason to be late to class it will be an excused absence. The absence will be considered unexcused if the student is late without being excused by the school administration or the parent signing in the child late.  If you would like to receive attendance updates throughout the day, you have the option to sign up in ParentVUE.

     

    Tardies:  If you arrive late with a pass, please hand me your pass, take your seat and join in the class work.  Excessive tardies without an excused pass, will result in disciplinary action.  On your 3rd tardy to my class, you will serve after school detention (ASD).  Any further tardies will result in a referral to the administration.

    Grading:  Please track your grades on a weekly basis.  Take responsibility to attend to any missing or low grades.  Grades will be updated with an average of 2 grades per week.

    Grading Scale

    89.5 - 100 %               = A

    79.5 - 89.4 %              = B

    69.5 – 79.4%               = C

    59.5 - 69.4%               = D

    50 - 59.4%                  = F

    (Grades that are at .5 away from a higher grade will be rounded, as indicated above.)

    Your SEMESTER GRADE will be calculated as follows:

    20% - Daily Work (Classwork, Homework, Participation, Interactive Notebook)

    60% - Assessments (Quizzes, Tests, Projects, Assignments)

    20% - Final Exams (Comprehension, Speaking & Writing)

    Homework: We will spend much of our class time on speaking/listening/writing and interactive activities to practice our Spanish and to discuss cultural information.  Any classwork not completed in class will become homework with the expectation that the homework will be completed that night. Additionally, you will be expected to complete specific assigned activities outside of the classroom that give you more opportunities to learn and use Spanish.

    Participation:  Class participation and completion of practice assignments is mandatory.  You can only learn a second language by engaging in the communication and learning activities.

    Interactive Notebook: You will be required to keep a Cuaderno interactivo (single-subject notebook) for this course.  This notebook will be kept in an Interactive Notebook style and will be where you keep important notes, practices and reference information.   Make sure you keep your Cuaderno current, neat and organized, as it will be collected and graded periodically throughout the semester as part of your grade.

    Assessments:  Assessments will include a wide variety of formats, both formative and summative.  You will complete assessments as we work on vocabulary, grammar, and culture information to help us gauge how you are doing with the content.  You will also have assessments that require you to interact with others, interpret various types of information, and present in a variety of contexts.

    Retest/Redo Opportunities:  You are permitted to make up missing assignments before the end of the current unit.

    Vocabulary/grammar quizzes must be retaken before the end of the current unit, and you will receive the higher of the two scores..  

    Unit test corrections must be done within 1 week of receiving your test score back.  You may receive up to 0.5 point back per question that you correctly complete per the test correction form.

    Late Work:   Complete your work on time!  For excused absences and extenuating circumstances, you may still earn full credit.  Other reasons will cause you to lose points and earn a maximum of 80% credit, subject to teacher discretion.

    Class Outline:          

    Semester 1                                                     Semester 2

    Unit 1: La familia y la casa                             Unit 6: La niñez y el tiempo

    Unit 2: En la escuela                                       Unit 7: La salud

    Unit 3: La rutina diaria y los deberes              Unit 8: Las noticias

    Unit 4: De compras                                         Unit 9: De viaje

    Unit 5: En el restaurante                                 Unit 10: La ciudad

    General Disclaimers: Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group. The student is responsible for the information in the syllabus.  

    Electronics:  Please turn off and put away all cell phones, ear buds and electronics.  Any electronics used in class without Sr. Taylor’s prior approval will be taken to the front office per school policy.  After the 2nd offence, your parent must pick up your phone.

    Classroom Procedures:  In order to assure a pleasant and productive learning environment, please adhere to the following procedures.

    1. Upon entering the classroom, please remove any hats, spit out gum, and put away any food or drinks. You may drink only water during class time. Put cell phones away.
    2. Please minimize any need to leave the classroom during the hour. If you must leave, make sure to get permission and sign out on the clipboard.  No one will be granted permission to leave the room during the first and last 10 minutes of class.
    3. Always show respect to your classmates, teacher and classroom.
    4. Stay organized by using a planner or electronic calendar to record your assignments, due dates, and exam dates.
    5. At the end of class, make sure you have put away your textbook and any materials to the appropriate locations. Also straighten your desks and throw away any trash.

    Fire Drill:  Take your valuables, but leave everything else behind.  Stay with Sr. Taylor and make a single file line in the designated area.  Please DO NOT stray from your class to talk with friends.

    Lock Down:  Move quietly and quickly to the front wall of the room, out of sight from all windows.  DO NOT use your cell phone or electronics and make sure they are turned off!  DO NOT talk to anyone—it should be SILENT!

    Following School Policies: You are expected to follow the policies outlined in the HUSD Student Code of Conduct at all times.  When completing assignments and projects, you must follow all Acceptable Use Policies and Copyright Laws by citing your sources and avoiding any kind of plagiarism.

    Plagiarism:  Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of another as one’s own. More than four consecutive words from a source other than the writer constitute plagiarism when the source is not clearly identified in appropriate documentation format.  Plagiarism is considered cheating and you will be required to redo the assignment before or after school in the classroom.   Amount of credit available on the assignment will be at the discretion of the teacher.  (This includes the use of online translators.)

    Diversity:  All individuals have a right to an educational environment free from bias, prejudice and bigotry. As members of the Higley High School educational community, students are expected to refrain from participating in acts of harassment that are designed to demean another student’s race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, disability or sexual orientation.

    Class Behavior:

    • Use Spanish in class as much as possible
    • Treat everyone and everything with respect and there will never be any problems. Do not write on or damage school property. Do not take things that are not yours unless you have been given permission from the owner to do so. Be nice.
    • Always be honest
    • Don’t lie, don’t cheat. It is wrong.  If you are suspected of academic dishonesty, or if you are caught cheating or using an electronic device for any reason during an assessment or assessment, you will recieve a zero and parents will be notified. 
    • Always come to class prepared and always work hard. Behavioral Action Plan:  You are in high school, and I will treat you as a young adult as you take responsibility for your actions.  However, if you choose to behave in an inappropriate manner, the following consequences may result.B.   Parent contact and logical consequence (i.e. After school detention)Parent tips for student success:
    • C.   Administrative involvement (Referral)
    • A.   Private discussion.  You will explain what you did, why it was inappropriate and the steps you plan to take in order for the behavior to stop.
    • If you do this, you will succeed. Don’t waste your time or your education. When you are in class, your presence tells me you are there to learn. I expect full participation in all activities all the time. You may not sleep, read a book or work on homework from other classes unless you are done with the activity of the moment AND completely caught up in the class. You are expected to work from the start of class until the bell. Do not pack up early.
    1. Check parent portal periodically to keep up with your student grades.
    2. Look at your student’s notebook and homework calendar to see if he/she has stamps that indicate classwork and homework is being completed.
    3. Discuss concerns with your student and contact me for any reason.

    (jeff.taylor@husd.org ;  480-279-7426)

    1. Make sure your student has daily, dedicated study and homework time.
    2. Verify that your student is completing their projects and assignments.