Class Procedures
Señora Thompson
2015-2016
“How do I prepare for this class to experience success?”
1. Work on vocabulary every day.
Chunk it. Learn 10-15 vocabulary words each day. When learning a new list, be
sure to include the previously learned vocabulary as well.
Be sure to say the word out loud as you’re learning it.
Use it in a sentence, use it in a question. If you cannot, you have not learned it.
Flashcards: print out the pictures from Canvas. Cut and paste them onto index
cards. Write the Spanish on the other side. Avoid English.
Quizlet Create electronic flashcards on Quizlet.com
2. Take advantage of class activities. They are designed to help you learn faster. Don’t win
an Academy Award for acting like you are involved in an activity. Be engaged. It’s your
time.
3. Pay attention and be actively engaged in bellwork.
4. Do your homework. Do not copy - what is the point, really? So you can cram 60 new
words the night before a quiz/test just to forget them? Be your own best friend.
5. Speak Spanish all the time. You will not suddenly wake up and be fluent one day. You
didn’t learn English that way, did you? You have to speak it to become fluent, period. Yes,
it will be rough at first but you will notice that you will get better and better as your brain
adjusts to it. Text in Spanish. Tweet in Spanish. Talk to your family in Spanish.
6. Go to Verbling.com or use the Duolingo app.
7. Take advantage of all of the practice activities on Canvas.
Students
who
experience
success in
Spanish:










Spend time every day working with the language in some capacity.
Participate audibly in class and at home
Are engaged in the class activities
Complete assignments carefully
Practice listening and speaking outside the classroom
Listen well and pay attention
Are engaged in the bellwork activity
Demonstrate a positive attitude, enthusiasm and a willingness to try.
Volunteer with free responses in class
Ask questions when they do not understand a concept, assignment, etc…
La Clase de la Señora Thompson
Canvas
All class notes, homework, assignments, etc, will be via Canvas. You are expected to check
this site daily.
Homework
Homework generally is graded on
an EFFORT basis. Occasionally
homework will be given a letter or
number grade; other times you will
receive one of these marks:
I
Incomplete
zero
credit
Partially
proficient
C/D
partial credit
Meets
Standard
A/B
full credit
Exceeds
Standard
A+
full credit +
participation
points
Listening Activities
Listening activities are generally assigned via Canvas and are done on your time. I find this to be a
much better way for you to improve your listening skills and work with the vocabulary and grammar
in concept. Please note: not putting in the work on the listening will greatly affect your success in this
class. You may get the grade for that assignment, but you will not be able to complete the
proficiency tasks that are a large part of your grade. Don’t cheat yourself.
Classwork
Various activities that we do in class will be counted for a grade. This includes bellwork, active
participation, partner work, etc.
Performance
Quizzes and tests will still be given, but only to measure achievement. In other words, what have you
memorized?
Proficiency assessments
There will be one unit assessment per quarter. This is to show that you know how to communicate in
Spanish – listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is important to note that these are cumulative
over what you have studied in your years of Spanish. There will be three “modes” that are measured:
interpretive, interpersonal and presentational.
Interpretive: Understanding speech and writing of an authentic text (what is the gist??)
Interpersonal: Understanding and responding to others (non-rehearsed conversations)
Presentational: Delivering a written or spoken message (i.e. speech, email, essay…)
¡TRAMPA!
All basic forms of cheating apply to this class and will result in
zero credit for questioned work. Please know that using a
translation site is not only cheating, it is a form of plagiarism. It is
an automatic zero coupled with me being very disappointed in
you.
You are permitted to use regular dictionaries or
www.wordreference.com
Classroom procedures
All students will be part of a “family”. You will get a new family every quarter. Within the family, there are 4 jobs
which need to be divided. They are “I have your back”, tarea, materials and family folder.
“I have your back”
Responsible for collecting any handouts for someone who is
absent in your family. This also includes taking notes. All notes
and handouts or returned papers go in the family folder – not
kept with you. The person with this job should be reliable and
hardly ever miss school.
Tarea
Responsible for collecting the homework for your family and
turning it in to the homework bin. This job is for someone who
is good with motivating others.
Materials
Responsible for getting materials for the family: markers,
erasers, handouts, etc. This job is good for someone who is
quick and efficient.
Family folder
Every day this person checks the family folder for handouts,
returned homework, etc. This should be a person who is good
with routine.
Makeup work
Las familias
Castillo
Gutiérrez
Domínguez
López
Ramírez
Rodríguez
García
Martínez
1. Check Canvas for assignments and class notes.
2. Upon your return, get your materials from the family folder
3. Schedule any quizzes or tests that were missed.
OJO: Makeup work is your responsibility
Note: Consequences below are cumulative.
Cell phones
There is a non-negotiable “no cell phone/electronic device” rule
for this class. Please keep all electronic devices out of sight – this
means that I should not be able to see it or hear it at all.
Violation 1: verbal warning
Violation 2: student to place cell phone on my desk until
the end of the bell.
Violation 3: detention – either after school or a
Wednesday school.
Violation 4: Saturday school
More classroom procedures
1. Work on bellwork BEFORE the bell rings.
2. Do not get out of seat except during periods of
transition.
3. When you hear “Escuchen por favor” and the
countdown, please give me your attention by the time
I reach zero.
Not bringing book or
workbook to class.
Violation 1: must use a hall
pass to go get book or to borrow a
book.
Violation 2: must use a hall
pass or if no hall pass, then a lunch
detention.
Violation 3: Wednesday
school and a phone call home.
Las reglas
1. Students will be
working on bellwork
before the bell rings.
2. Students will be
prepared.
3. Students will follow
all school rules.
4. Students will respect
Sra’s right to teach and
others’ right to learn.