In Español III, you are starting to feel more confident about your ability to communicate in everyday situations. You can describe people and provide personal information about yourself and others, family, home, and daily activities. You can sort out everyday situations such as ordering food, travelling, giving directions and shopping.

By the end of this year, you will be able to…..Speak. You can speak using longer sentences, even connecting them with “and, but, or, however, sometimes,

etc.” You don’t always know every word, but you can “talk around it” so that you are understood. You are able to speak in the present tense comfortably, the past tense is still challenging.Listen: You can generally follow what is being said in Spanish for a longer period of time and you notice when the speaker uses the past or future tense.Write. You can create dialogues, essays, and express your opiion in the past, present and future.Read. You can read simple passages with complete understanding, and you can get the general idea of more complex texts.By the end of this year, you should be an intermediate language student in at least

three of the four modes of communication.

All lesson plans for every class will always be posted on my wikispace: http://elmundodebirch.wikispaces.com If a student is absent, this space will provide most information needed about what has been missed, including worksheets that may be printed at home.

Supplies: 1. Novels: Esperanza; Robo en la Noche; and possibly La Guerra Sucia.2. Notebook or folder, pens or pencils, index cards, markers. 3. Flashdrive/Thumbdrive OPTIONAL: Assignments on the computer will be

frequent. A flashdrive would make this work much easier. 4. If available, cellphone, for specific academic purposes: NOT TEXTING!5. Optional: antibacterial hand cleanser donations is greatly needed and

appreciated. Also seeking carpet squares and bean bag chairs.

Grading Policy: POINT SYSTEM No grades are weighted in this class. Every assignment is worth a designated number of points. These points accumulate throughout the term.

1. Interpretive and Interpersonal Communication Assessments : 3 - 4 times per week, may be worth 5 – 30 points. This type of work will occur almost every day and some of the time will be assessed informally without you realizing it. Interpretive: student’s understanding of written and spoken language. Interpersonal: person-to-person, “two-way” communication through oral or written conversation.

2. Formal Assessments : Very seldom will a traditional test be given. Major assessment usually will be a PBT (Performance Based Task) or an IPA (Integrated Performance Assessment) which measure the successful retention and implementation of the main focus of each thematic unit. Point value will vary, but will usually range between 75 – 125 points.

sbirch@wcboe.org

Sign up for e-mail or text reminders: https://www.remind.com/ Sign up as student/parent. Class code is 7c0ca

3. Homework : will be given very sparingly. Homework will probably not be the traditional written assignment. Occasionally homework will involve a spoken assignment using the cell

phone. Each homework assignment will be at least 10 points. If homework is not available when requested, a zero is given. Unless a student has been absent from class or school there is no homework make up.

4. Participation : Daily participation is not just expected, it is an absolute requirement. Spanish in class is a crucial indicator of what is happening and being learned in class. This also includes your active, not passive, involvement in class activities,

including your ability to focus, acknowledge, and/or respond to what is happening. Your overall attitude and daily effort will be a determining factor in your final term grade. Participation will be assessed on a daily basis.

Behavior Expectations: 1. All standard classroom/school rules apply. (This includes lateness to class and the inappropriate use of

cellphones.)2. I expect that each student will demonstrate common courtesy by treating others the way each student would

like to be treated.3. A positive attitude is expected. Negative attitudes or “I can’t do this” approaches make

learning very difficult and success much less likely. This class is ALL ABOUT what YOU “CAN DO”!

Makeup Policy: YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, NOT MINE!!!!! Five school days are allowed to make up work after returning from an absence. Make up work is YOUR responsibility, not mine. Always check the wikispace for the lesson that was missed. If you have missed a quiz or

test, you must make an arrangement to make it up after school. Students do not make up work during our class period. If work is not made up after five school days, that work will be recorded as a zero. Academic Integrity: All work done in class and submitted in your name is expected to be your work. I will have zero tolerance for the copying of another students’ work, whether it is a homework assignment, a quiz, a composition, etc. If it has your name, it must be your work. Zero tolerance for cheating, plagiarizing or copying. The use of electronic translators is

acceptable when used for just a word or two; using the translator for entire sentences or paragraphs is copying. A zero will be the grade given for any work determined to be the result of cheating, plagiarizing or copying. The appropriate office referral procedures will also be followed. Just in case you weren't sure: if you cheat, there will be significant, serious consequences.

Technology: The technology letter must be signed and returned no later than Aug. 29. The permission form for the use of student photographs and names for newsletters, newspapers, and websites must also be returned no later than Aug. 29.Tutoring or Extra help: I am available to help students most days after school. I ask that you make the request for extra help the day before you intend to stay. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MARKING TERM TO ASK FOR HELP! There is NO EXTRA CREDIT in this class.

Please keep the first two pages of this packet for your records. Please complete and return the information on these last THREE papers by August 29, 2014.

Student Name _________________________________________________________________________________

**Preferred name (if different from given name) _______________________________________________________

School Year: _________________________ Grade/Homeroom _________________________

Parent e-mail _________________________________________________________________________________

Student e-mail ________________________________________________________________________________

Student interests/extra-curricular activities ___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Something that you would like me to know about you/your student (strengths, challenges, etc.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian AND STUDENT: Please complete the following information, which will also indicate that you have read the guidelines for success in Spanish III/IV.

Parent/Guardian Student

What is one thing from the course information that you anticipate enjoying or are glad that is included?

What is one thing that will be new or different?

What do you think may be challenging or what is something that you do not understand?

What do you think will be the most important factor in being successful in this class?

Please place a check if you agree with the following statements:

_______ I give my permission to have my child’s picture appear in publicity for his/her school or the Board of

Education to include television; media interviews and photography for television, newspaper or radio stories, stories

for publication in the school newsletter and in Board of Education news releases, and on the wikispace

elmundodebirch. I understand my child’s name may be used.

_______ I give my permission for my child’s picture to appear in postings on the school web site, the Board of

Education’s website and/or the wikispace elmundodebirch. I understand my child’s name will not be used without

specific permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Parent/Guardian signature and date

Student signature and dateEspañol III and IV 2014 - 2015

Name of Student ________________________________________________________

Technology in Our Classroom

Throughout the course of this school year, I encourage all parents to check my wikispacehttp://elmundodebirch.wikispaces.com frequently. This space is updated daily with current assignments and activities. You may contact me at any time via sbirch@wcboe.org Many of our assignments will involve the use of computers. Please indicate the availability of a computer in your home.

___________ Yes, we have computer access at home.

___________ No, we do not have computer access at home.

Listed below are the probable technologies that will be used in Spanish this year. Please indicate below this list if you give permission for your student to use all of them, or whether you wish to exclude some of them. If you choose to exclude some of them, please indicate which ones are to be excluded.

My wikispace, elmundodebirch.wikispaces.com Contains all class documents, directions, and daily plans. Create an individual blog with a link on the class wikispace page Create narratives and/or stories with oral and visual components using Photostory 3, PhotoPeach,

Educreations, Thinglink, BuddyPoke, etc. (Purpose: For oral and visual expression of Spanish content. Access in school. Can be accessed or downloaded for free at home.)

Cell phone (Purpose: For students to leave oral messages via Google Voice, written messages via services such as Wiffiti, participate in review games such as Kahoot. Some of these messages will be homework assignments. The cell phone will also be used on almost a daily basis as the main dictionary for students, via the Word Reference app)

TodaysMeet/Wiffiti/Pollseverywhere/Kahoot (Purpose: To provide student feedback, reactions and opinions through interactive free, private online means)

Epals (Purpose: To communicate with another student in a Spanish speaking country via e-mail. Communication will take place in school.)

Google search engine (Purpose: to search for appropriate images, text and music for use in Photo Stories, wikispaces, or PowerPoints. In school/at home)

Digital/Flip camera (Purpose: To capture images of people and text that will be posted to the wikispace. This also grants permission to post pictures of students on the wikispace)

Voice Thread/Vokis (an interactive picture posted on the wikispace; students will comment orally, through recording, or in writing, on the picture)

Edmodo an online service, accessed by individual login name and password with course content and activities; will be used extensively during the second semester in Spanish IV

Remind 101: a service that allows me to send reminders to students via cellphones

Signature of parent/guardian____________________________________________________________

Please print parent/guardian name here:__________________________________________________

__________ Yes, my student has permission to use ALL of the above technologies.

__________ No, my student does not have permission to use all of the above technologies. I wish to exclude: _____________________________________________________________________________________