¡ B i e n v e n i d o s !

Welcome to Señora Underwood’s Spanish Class @ Kalles Junior High School

Phone: (253) 841-8729        Email:   Undermj@puyallup.k12.wa.us

Website: mrsunderwood.com

Dear Parents and Students,

This course will provide ongoing and varied opportunities to develop Spanish language proficiencies. I use a standards-based curriculum that supports a meaningful integration of the five C’s: communication, communities, culture, comparisons, and connections.

In order to promote depth of understanding and contextual knowledge, we will cover chapters 1A-6B (Spanish 1) and 1A-5B (Spanish 2) in the Realidades textbook over the course of this year. We will also complete four projects (two per semester) to further expand and apply knowledge of language and culture.

Please see below for specific guidelines and expectations. I look forward to working together as we continue on the exciting journey of learning Spanish!

Sincerely,

Señora Underwood

Required Materials

At Home:

• Realidades Spanish Textbook, issued to student. Treat with care to avoid end of year fines.
• Spanish/English dictionary (for homework help). Online dictionaries are not a good substitute. You need a real paper dictionary.
• Small note cards, cut in half, used for creating flashcards for each chapter.

In Class:

• Several pens and sharpened or mechanical pencils. It’s important to have back-up supplies.
• A spiral notebook or composition book to be used for daily class work.
• A Realidades Spanish Textbook will be provided for in class use.
• A Realidades Workbook will be provided for in class and at home use.

Tutorials

I am available for tutoring M-F after school by request. Don’t forget that I am here to help you learn Spanish! Please come see me if you have any questions or if you are ever confused. You don’t want to get behind in a language class!

Assessment:

In addition to daily homework, students have one formative quiz and one summative test for each chapter. Again, two projects are assigned each semester. There will also be a cumulative mid-term verbal exam in January, and an end-of-course verbal exam that covers the whole year in June.

You will find each assignment category in the grade book directly correlates to a World Language Content Standard. The over-arching aim of this course is for each student to achieve a high level of proficiency in each of these learning targets. Thus, the feedback provided will be specific to these essential standards.

Classroom Procedures & Policies

1. Sharpen pencils and use the restroom before the bell rings.
2. By the time the bell rings, you are seated and working on your daily warm-up (“diario”). This task will be up on the whiteboard. You will have a diario every day.
3. All electronic devices, including cell phones, iPhones, game devices, etc., are prohibited. If not properly stowed away, these items will be confiscated and sent to the office.
4. Señora Underwood will dismiss the class –not the bell or the clock. Remain seated and working until I dismiss you. No one will be dismissed until the room is in order and tidy.
5. Speak Spanish in class! (If it is a word we’ve learned in Spanish, don’t say it in English!)
6. In short… Be on time. Be respectful. Be prepared. Be on task.

Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in Spanish sentences, detention, or further discipline.

How to Succeed in Spanish class

You have enrolled in a high school credit class; a grade that cannot be replaced. While this class is an elective, it is as challenging as a CORE class. It is important that you always understand that your grade in Spanish belongs to YOU. It is what YOU have achieved or earned – it’s your responsibility.  YOU (neither your parents nor I) determine the grade placed on your report card. Your grade in this class is especially important because it counts for *HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT* and will affect your GPA (grade point average) on your permanent high school records. You must take this class as seriously as you would any other academic subject.

• Be organized. Take diligent notes every day, and study them before tests and quizzes.
• Get in as much “listening time” as you can outside of class. Spanish TV, online talk radio, FM radio (99.3 or 92.1) and DVDs are great!
• Utilize any down time you may have (in the car, waiting in line, etc.) to review flashcards.
• Use the textbook support website, phschool.com, frequently to take advantage of audio files, activities, and practice tests to support each chapter. (Access code: “jck-0001” for Spanish 1, and “jdk-0001″ for Spanish 2.)

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE