Saint Joseph’s High School
saintjoehigh.com
Course Title Spanish III
Srta. Sniadecki
tsniadecki@saintjoehigh.com
Texts and Other Materials:
Realidades (Boyles, Met, Sayers, 2008)
Spanish-English Dictionary (recommended)
Realidades Student Practice Workbook
Notebook/binder (to store handouts/returned assignments)
Course Description:
This course is based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for World Languages, builds upon effective
strategies for Spanish language learning by encouraging the use of the language and cultural understanding for
self-directed purposes. This course encourages interpersonal communication through speaking and writing,
providing opportunities to make and respond to requests and questions in expanded contexts, participate
independently in brief conversations on familiar topics, and write cohesive passages with greater independence
and using appropriate formats. This course also emphasizes the development of reading and listening
comprehension skills, such as using contextual clues to guess meaning and comprehending longer written or oral
directions. Students will address the presentational mode by presenting prepared material on a variety of topics,
as well as reading aloud to practice appropriate pronunciation and intonation. Additionally, students will
describe the practices, products and perspectives of Spanish-speaking culture; report on basic family and social
practices of the target culture; and describe contributions from the target culture. This course further emphasizes
making connections across content areas and the application of understanding Spanish language and culture
outside of the classroom.
Course Outcomes:
COMMUNICATION: Students will be able to engage in conversations in and out of the classroom
(orally and written) using all indicative tenses, “si” clauses and the subjunctive mode.
CULTURES: Students will be able to discuss the practices, products, and perspectives (and the
interplay among the three) of several Spanish-speaking countries.
CONNECTIONS:
Students will integrate their knowledge of technology, history, geography,
government, art, music, literature, vocabulary and grammar with the study of Spanish and the culture
of the targeted Spanish-speaking cultures/nations.
COMPARISONS:
Students will be able to compare and contrast the nature of language and culture
between the Spanish-speaking world and their own.
COMMUNITIES:
Students will experience and report on the cuisine, music, art, history, from the
targeted culture. Students will be able to access Spanish language resources independently for personal
life. Students will be able to recognize the use of Spanish in the learner’s community.
Calendar:
1st Semester: Para empezar - Capítulo 4
2nd Semester: Capítulo: 5-9* (*approximate)
Course work: Various written and oral assessments will be given regularly to determine student’s acquisition
of the material presented in class. Examples: chapter tests, quizzes, dialogs and other oral presentations. Projects
such as PowerPoint presentations will be assigned each semester, dealing with Spanish-speaking countries and
cities, their cultures, etc
Course Strategies:
Success in this class will come with DAILY, DILIGENT note taking, studying the unit’s
vocabulary nightly, doing all the written and oral homework well, maintaining a daily vocabulary list of new
words encountered in class, and effective study and review before tests and quizzes as well as excellent class
participation, behavior, and attitude.
Help: Please arrange to see me if you need help. I am more than willing to meet with you whenever you have a
question, concern, or would like additional help. If you are experiencing a problem with Spanish, do not delay. It
is better to ask for help right away!
Class Rules/Expectations:
1. Respect others and their opinion and property.
2. Arrive on time, be in assigned seat when bell rings with all materials ready.
3. Listen attentively when the teacher or another student is talking.
4. Homework must be with you in class when it is due, and it will not be credited to you if late.
5. Respect your learning environment: No trash on the floor or writing on the desks or bulletin boards. No
handling of windows, blinds, fans, or technical equipment unless asked to do so.
7. Follow all school rules as outlined in the Student-Parent Handbook.
Consequences for inappropriate classroom behavior:
1. Verbal warning/name written on board
2. 30 minute p.m with teacher
3. 45 minute p.m. with teacher
4. Detention
Grade Components:
Daily work / Homework:
30% (DUE at the beginning of the class period)
Behavior / Class participation: 20%
Quizzes / Tests:
25%
Projects / Orals:
25%
* Extra credit points will be given (per teacher discretion), but should not be expected
Grading Scale:
A+
A
A-
99 – 100
95 – 98
93 – 94
B+
B
B-
91 – 92
87 – 90
85 – 86
C+
C
C-
83 – 84
79 – 82
77 – 78
D+
D
DF
75 – 76
72 – 74
70 – 71
69 and below
___________________________________________________________________________________
Course Title: Spanish III – Srta. Sniadecki
Signatures:
I have read this syllabus and I understand what the course in general is about and what it asks of both
teacher and student. I promise to do my part to achieve the goals of the course.
Teacher _____________________________________
Student _____________________________________
Parent ______________________________________
Classroom procedure explanation:
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This class will be conducted unlike the previous semester. Now, you will be asked to make more choices
and take more responsibility for your own learning. You will be required to sign a contract (learning
plan) at the beginning of each chapter. You will be expected to complete all tasks on your
contract/learning plan. Points will be lost, thus a grade deduction will occur, if you do not complete all
tasks by the end of the chapter.
Each chapter will consist of whole group, small group, and independent learning. You are expected to
participate fully in each aspect.
You will receive a calendar for each chapter. This calendar will tell you: 1) when whole group and small
group learning will take place; and 2) when the chapter final assessments are due. You should use the
calendar as a guide to help you plan your daily work. It is a vital tool for time management.
You will be expected to sign up for a variety of assessments or activities on a classroom calendar. You
are expected to be prepared for the assessment or activity on the date you chose. You will need to
discuss any changes with me as soon as you anticipate a conflict or problem.
Remember…this format is designed with YOU in mind. I am here to help facilitate YOUR learning and
help you. What you chose to do each chapter and each day is what YOU want to get out of this
class…make the most of it. With more choices and independence comes more responsibility 
Daily work:
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You are expected to work and participate during each class period.
Outside work (for other classes) or unrelated work is NOT to be done during class time.
You are expected to be an active learner. This requires time management skills, personal responsibility,
and initiative.
You will be given a PM, detention, or asked to leave the class if you cannot follow the rules or choose to
not be an active member of the learning community. An active member is one who participates, shows
respect for all materials, is helpful to others, and follows classroom procedures.
Homework:
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You will be expected to complete assignments at home if you are unable to complete your chapter work
in class.
You will be expected to work on projects or chapter assessments outside of class if needed.
There will be times that specific assignments or tasks will be assigned as homework
Beyond classroom learning:
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Each chapter will ask that you take your learning outside of the classroom. This may include watching a
movie in Spanish, watching a television show, speaking with native speakers, volunteer work where your
language knowledge is utilized, and much more! The goal is to use your language knowledge for “real
life” purposes that matter to or have significance for you (and/or your interests).
Quizzes:
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You will choose a select number of grammar concepts you would like to be quizzed on for each chapter
(unless otherwise noted). Your choice should represent your best learning and understanding.
You may choose to take each grammar concept quiz but only count a select number toward your grade.
Assessment / Projects / Chapter assessments:
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Each student will be assessed on a daily basis through a variety of in class activities that include reading,
writing, listening, and speaking.
You will demonstrate your learning and knowledge through the completion of projects that vary with
each chapter.
Quizzes and tests will be forms of assessment.
Each student will be assessed using the same final chapter assessment.
Classroom behavior expectations / point deduction explanation:
 You will receive 2 points in participation each day. You will receive 2 points if you follow the
rules and are an active member of the learning community.
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You will lose 1 point for each of the following actions:
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If you are talking out of turn or without raising your hand during whole or small group
instruction
If you are doing work for another class
If you are doing any work or action unrelated to Spanish learning
If you are being “rowdy” or “obnoxious” or physically “goofing off”
If you are “disrespectful” to another person
If you are using inappropriate language
If you damage or break classroom materials or property
You will receive an automatic 0 and/or a PM or detention for the following actions:
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If you are caught cheating or copying
If you are insubordinate
If you are being “rowdy” or “obnoxious” or “disrespectful” to another person or item (i.e.
classroom materials or property) to the point of malice or harm