W. H. S.  SPANISH CLASSROOM CURRICULUM, 2011-2012

COURSE OFFERINGS:

Spanish 1           Beginning high school level

Spanish 2                              Intermediate high school level; need C or better in 1

Spanish 3                              Advanced high school level; need C or better in 2

Spanish 4AP                        Intermediate university level; need B or better in 3; A.P. exam prep

Spanish 5AP                        Upper intermediate university level; A. P. exam prep

Spanish 3 for

Spanish speakers                Admittance by teacher approval only

Spanish 6                              Admittance by teacher approval only; Spanish film based class

At every level, four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) are developed in order

to increase language proficiency with emphasis on listening/speaking at the beginning level, and more reading/writing at the higher levels. Instruction is largely communicative-based, and is supported by the teaching of grammatical concepts as necessary.

*Listening skills are developed by means of tapes, CD’s, videos, DVD’s, conversations and instruction which will be given largely in the target language at the lower levels, and entirely in the target language at the upper levels.

*Speaking skills are developed with oral presentations, open conversations in the classroom, and guided and open-ended oral exercises. Students are expected to use Spanish.

*Reading skills are developed through the use of readings in the textbooks, as well as supplementary materials, short stories, tales, legends, essays, short plays, realia and Internet sites.

*Writing skills are developed through the assigning and review of nightly homework, writing of essays, compositions, journals and short stories (higher levels), and the taking of notes and keeping of a folder/binder required by all students.

Additionally, cultural awareness of the Spanish-speaking world will be studied at all levels via holiday celebrations, the study of customs, traditions, beliefs and practices, various assorted readings and films, the use of realia, the study of the histories, modern and ancient, of the regions in the Spanish-speaking world, and the discussions of events, past and present, in the Spanish-speaking world.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

Spanish 1:             En Español 1                                       Text, Workbook ($15.00-20.00)

Spanish 2:             En Español 2                                       Text, Workbook ($15.00-20.00)

Spanish 3:             En Español 3                                       Text, Workbook ($15.00-20.00)

Spanish 4AP:       A Toda Vela                                        Text, School Workbook

                                Abriendo Puertas                               2 Texts (Volumes 1 & 2) Other AP materials

Spanish 5AP:       Abriendo Puertas                               2 Texts (Volumes 1 & 2) Other AP materials

                                A.P. Selected literary works

*A.P. exam (if passed) gives students college credits or upper placement. Please see instructor for details.

Spanish 3 SP:       Selected readings from a variety of texts

Spanish 6:             Cinema for Spanish Conversation  Text     

GRADING POLICIES

Individual teachers will have differing policies how assignments, tests, projects and participation are weighted, but Spanish teachers may adhere to the following general grade scale for the assignment of letter grades:

A+       =          97% - 100%

A         =          93% - 96.9%

A-        =          90% - 92.9%

B+       =          87% - 89.9%  (Note: Some teachers may opt to round grades to the

B         =          83% - 86.9%   nearest integer; e.g. an 89.7 % might round up to 90%,

B-        =          80% - 82.9%   and thus be an A-, not a B+. Also, some teachers may

C+       =          77% - 79.9%   weight their grades.)

C         =          73% - 76.9%

C-        =          70% - 72.9%

D         =          60% - 69.9%   (With a D, course credit is given, but the student may not

                                                continue to the next level in the sequence.)

F          =          0.0% - 59.9%  (With an F, no course credit is given.)

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Each student has the right to a comfortable, safe classroom environment in which he or she can grow intellectually and personally. This can only be accomplished if everyone RESPECTS each other in this classroom. In addition, academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, is completely unacceptable and shows a lack of integrity. Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements. The consequences of academic dishonesty may include failure of the assignment, parent notification and referral to your administrator.

1. Be in your seat before the tardy bell rings or you will be marked tardy. Participation credit will be affected for late students.
2. No food or drink in class. (Exception: water) No gum chewing!
3. Keep your hands, feet and other objects to yourself.
4. Treat everyone with RESPECT!. Verbal or physical abuse or any form of harassment based on race, ethnicity, culture, gender, religion or sexual orientation are strictly forbidden and will not be tolerated.
5. Teacher dismisses class, not the bell. No lining up at the door. Participation credit will be affected for students who leave their seats early.
6. School rules will be observed in the classroom and discipline and dress code policies enforced. Continued deviation will result in referral to the SRC and parental notification.