SPANISH II  - (2009 – 2010)

Ms. Audra Whayland

                                                             Phone 410-674-6500

Email: awhayland@aacps.org

Website: http://members.thinkport.org/awhayland

I.                    Course Description

The changing nature of our society will place greater demands on students in the future.  In Spanish II students will become:

·         Effective in their communication with others;

·         Astute in their observation of global cultures;

·         Insightful in their evaluation of their own learning;

·         Active in their participation in the community and global marketplace.

                        Students must have successfully passed Spanish I in order to enroll in this course.

II.                  Instructional Philosophy

Students will be exposed to many different learning activities such as hands on, class discussions, project-based learning.  Students will use cooperative groups to deepen the understanding of the content. Students will use a variety of media in order to be exposed to authentic materials including the internet, United Streaming, etc.

III.               Course Standards/Goals

               - Communicate in Languages Other than English

·         Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions.

·         Students understand and interpret written and spoken language.

·         Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

- Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures

·         Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.

·         Students demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.

-    Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

·         Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.

·         Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

                      - Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

·         Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.

·         Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

                       - Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World

·         Students will use the language both within and beyond the school setting.

·         Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

IV.                Major Projects and Assignments

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

• There will be at least one (1) research activity assigned during each marking period.

INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS FOR EACH COUNTY ASSESSMENT

V.  Assessment and Grading Plan:

Evaluation:

All assignments will be graded on a point system.  Your grade will be based on your performance on quizzes/tests, homework, oral and written class participation, individual written assignments, and group and individual proficiency projects/activities.  Each project or activity will have its own point value.  The individual grading rubrics for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing have been developed by the Office of World and Classical Languages of the AACPS.

GRADE AVERAGE BREAKDOWN

First and Third Marking Period Grading Scale

Second and Fourth Marking Period Grading Scale

*Please note:  Students will take the Anne Arundel County Benchmark Assessment first and second semester.  This assessment will be 20% of the student’s overall semester grade.

Your grade for each marking period will be based on the following:

1.  Assessment –quizzes, tests, and proficiency activities.  These proficiency activities may be based on one or a combination of reading, writing, listening and speaking proficiencies.   Proficiency activities will include, but not be limited to the following skills:

·         Discuss and defend an opinion on selected topics from the personal to the abstract level orally or in writing.

·         Understand oral and written language on a variety of topics that incorporate more advanced vocabulary and structures.  Such activities will relate to and extend class topics or introduce new information.

·         Out of class research in order to explain the relationship between the perspectives, history & cultural practices of target countries.

·         End of module and end of unit projects & tests.  Tests will contain selected , brief and extended response questions

2.  Classwork – oral, written, listening, and reading activities which will build skills necessary for the above assessments.

    3.   Homework A written or study assignment is given every night.  Students should expect homework   assignments to take approximately 20 minutes.  Some of this homework will be graded on completion not accuracy, while others will be graded for accuracy or quizzed for accuracy.    Many home assignments are used as a basis for graded class activities the following class.

4.  Work habits – based on the World & Classical Languages Student Work Habits Assessment (attached)

5. General characteristics of an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” student, etc., are

·         A  (90-100%)--  exceptional achievement of course concepts, exceptional participation, written and oral work is consistently accurate and  grammatically correct.  Always turns in work on time.  Uses Spanish consistently.  Student goes above and beyond course requirements, works independently on extra assignments to enhance learning.  Always takes advantage of the Proficiency Policy.

·         B (89-80%) above average achievement of course concepts and participation, written and oral work is frequently accurate and grammatically correct.  Very frequently turns work in on time. Uses Spanish frequently. Almost always takes advantage of the Proficiency Policy.

·         C (79-70%)  average achievement of course concepts and participation, written and oral work is somewhat accurate and grammatically correct.  Frequently turns work in on time.  Uses Spanish seldom. Sometimes takes advantage of the Proficiency Policy.

·         D (69-60%)  shows minimal grasp of course concepts, skills, participates very little.  Rarely turns work in on time. Use of the English language impedes written and oral use and understanding of Spanish.  Seldom takes advantage of the Proficiency Policy.

·         E (59% or below)  fails to meet course outcomes, does not participate orally, does not complete class or home assignments, fails assessments, does not use Spanish, does not take advantage of the Proficiency Policy.

VI.   Materials Needed:

·         Text:  Avancemos 2—each student will be issued a copy of the text.  (Replacement cost for a lost textbook will be $65.31)  The textbook may be taken home and used for homework and study as each teacher will have a class set of textbooks for use in the classroom.  Students will be issued free-of-charge a workbook, Avancemos 2 Cuaderno:  práctica por niveles.  A replacement charge of $10.00 will be required if this workbook is lost. 

·         An on-line version of this text is available online at www.classzone.com

        Materials needed daily:

1.       A loose-leaf binder with dividers & notebook paper

2.       A pen or a pencil

3.       Avancemos 2 Cuaderno:  práctica por niveles (workbook)

VII.  Extra Help:  Students will have the opportunity to come to the tutoring sessions offered during the “Wildcat Hour” .  All students are invited to attend Wildcat Hour (WCH). It can also be assigned by the teacher based on unsatisfactory performance.

Students must come to help with specific questions and concerns.  This is an opportunity for re-teaching and individualized or small-group attention.  All memorizing of vocabulary and verb endings must be practiced at home. Attending WCH is a requirement for retaking an assessment.

 Students may also use www.classzone.com to practice material for each unit.  At this website, they will find flashcards, grammar review, practice quizzes, online textbook, and links to cultural websites.

VIII. Late Policy:

 Late homework : All late or incomplete homework assignments must be completed during WCH. Students must report to the teacher and complete the assignment given in the classroom.

All other assignments:  All assignments are expected to be turned in on the due date.  However, assignments that are:

·         1 day late: drop 1 letter grade from the earned grade

·         2 days late: drop 2 letter grades from the earned grade

·         3 or more days late:  cannot earn a grade higher than a 50%. 

Work handed in on time may be eligible for  revision according to the Proficiency Policy for Spanish II.

If you are absent the day before a previously announced test or quiz, you are still expected to be prepared to take the quiz or test on the scheduled day. 

IX.   Proficiency Policy—see Proficiency Policy/Arundel High School

                  When and only when a student has made a sincere attempt in the original submission of   work and the work has been turned in on the due date, he/ she may revise and resubmit an assignment for re-evaluation.  This may be done only at the teacher’s discretion.

a.                                                 Student must submit the original with highlights of changes on the revision.

b.             The teacher reserves the right to provide an alternate assignment or format.

c.              The teacher will give the due date for the resubmission.

When a student has not been successful on a test or quiz grade and at the teacher’s discretion, the student may be given the opportunity to take another test/quiz on the same material. 

a.       Student must have attended a review session during WCH prior to the original test in order to be eligible for a re-test.

b.       Student must take the new test/quiz on the date given by the teacher.

X.  Academic Integrity: 

As stated in School Board Policy Code #613, students will be expected to exhibit academic integrity with regard to all assignments…even homework.