Español IV Syllabus
Instructor: Señora L. DiMaggio
Septiembre 2015- Junio 2016
Timely, diligent and focused completion of all assignments and consistent daily review of vocabulary and grammar are
the foundations for understanding and success in every World Language course. Students are responsible for all
information in assignments and should be aware that not all information in the homework assignments is covered during
class time. Valuable class time is used to expand upon and deepen student understanding beyond the simple foundation
provided for in the homework assignments. Use of on-line digital translation programs is not a substitute for the daily
application of required effort.
Goal: Students will experience total immersion in second language acquisition during our coursework over the year.
Thematic-based vocabulary and grammatical structures will be spiraled through and expanded upon from previous years
of language courses. Students will work to achieve fluency and become proficient in all aspects of language acquisition:
listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Textbooks and Resources:
For the entire school year each student must have the following:
-
A plastic accordion style filing folder (for an extensive amount of teacher provided resources)
A pen or pencil
A marble college ruled composition notebook
Course Outline:
As stated in the Governor Livingston High School student handbook Spanish 4 is a full year academic course worth 5
credits upon successful completion with a final average for the year of a 60% or better. As with other full year academic
courses there will be a Final Examination in June 2016.
1st semester: 4 Pre-Assessments, one in each of the four modalities (reading, writing, speaking and listening) 3 units
consisting of Spanish geography, the history of Spain, and five specific Spanish artists and their art.
Unit 1: The geography of Spain
- Spain’s location in the world
- The surrounding geographical countries, bodies of water, mountain ranges
- The geographical/ political regions of Spain
- Names and locations of major cities
- The major rivers in Spain
- The mountain ranges
- Regional products & minerals
Unit 2: The history of Spain
- The Iberians
- The Celts
- The Phoenicians
- The Greeks
- The Carthaginians
- The Punic Wars
- The Romans
- The Visogoths
-El Cid
- Moses Maimonides
- Christopher Columbus
- The Spanish Royal Family
- The Moors
- The Re-Conquest
- The Catholic Kings
1
Unit 3: Spanish Art and Artists
- El Greco
- Diego Velazquez
- Francisco Goya
- Pablo Picasso
- Salvador Dalí
2nd Semester: Literature & Language (authentic texts with contextualized grammar and vocabulary)
Chapter 1:
- Literature: El otro (The other) by Jorge Luis Borges
- Grammar: The present indicative, the preterite past tense, the passive voice with “-se”
Chapter 2:
- Literature: Un perro ha muerto by Pablo Neruda
- Grammar: The imperfect past tense, the present perfect, the pluperfect and the uses of “ser” vs. “estar”
Chapter 3:
- Literature: Historias de cronopios y de famas by Julio Cortázar
- Grammar: reflexive verbs in all tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns and double object substitution
Chapter 4:
- Literature: Nada menos que todo un hombre by Miguel de Unamuno
- Grammar: Tense distinction: use of the present subjunctive, present indicative or the infinitive; use of the present
subjunctive, the present perfect subjunctive, the present indicative or the infinitive.
Chapter 5:
- Literature: El niño al que se le murió el amigo by Ana María Matute
- Grammar: The future tense, the conditional tense, the future perfect tense, the conditional perfect; tense
distinction: use of the future, the conditional, the future perfect or the conditional perfect of a verb.
Chapter 6:
- Literature: La peste del insomnia” by Gabriel García Márquez
- Grammar: tense distinction: use of the imperfect, the preterite, the imperfect subjunctive, the pluperfect
subjunctive or the infinitive.
Grading Policy: The Total Points System is used to calculate the grade that you will earn. Here are the
categories:
1. Homework / Classwork: Due at the beginning of class, these assignments will be any classwork
that was NOT completed and turned in to the instructor during our last class session. (Point value, by
the end of the marking period, is equivalent to a test!)
2. Quizzes: Listening, Reading comprehension, Writing (open-ended) and Speaking (there will be 2 of
these each marking period= 8 quizzes per marking period.)
3. Tests: one @ the end of each unit and/ or chapter
4. Positive participation/ preparation/ productivity
o please see rubric below
o please note charts posted in our classroom
5. Journal portfolio project (a separate requirement sheet will be distributed now)
o Year long
o Do Nows
o Closures
2
CRITERIA/ REQUIREMENTS
A
B
C
D
E
F
5
ALWAYS
4
USUALLY
3
SOMETIMES
2
SELDOM
1
NEVER
Is prepared for class; is in seat and
ready to work when bell rings;
textbook, current homework and
notebook are on desk and open to
appropriate pages.
Brings appropriate materials; textbook,
recent handouts, homework and
writing instrument.
Takes notes, gives examples &
explanations, asks on-topic and
appropriate questions as needed
Performs all activities as requested,
promptly and without being prodded;
stays focused on activity, does not seek
to distract class from activity or use
books, materials or technology devices
not connected to our class.
Contributes to class by volunteering to
speak and/ or write answers during
activities and discussions
Enhances the ambiance of the class by
doing more than expected whenever
possible, by helping teacher and other
students by providing cultural
information, past experiences and by
setting a good example for others to
follow.
Google Classroom, Google Drive, gmail and Power School: Each student is required to continually check our Google
calendar & classroom for upcoming assessments and due dates. Each student is advised to monitor their grades and
missing work on PowerSchool on a weekly basis. If there is a discrepancy with a grade on PowerSchool please contact
your teacher via email; INDIVIDUAL GRADES WILL NOT be discussed during class time.
Teacher Availability: Email and ‘Office Hours’: Contact me via Google mail. (If you wish to meet with me, we will
agree upon a set day and time via email correspondence.)
Expectations: Speak to me in Spanish!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Be punctual.
Show consideration and respect for others.
Do not use profanity.
Sit in your assigned seat.
Turn off electronic devices that were not given to you by GL administration.
You will have a pen/ pencil each and every day.
Bring your class folder every day.
Restroom permissions: if you have a true emergency you may use the restroom after the day’s lesson.
You are permitted to drink from plastic bottles and/ or cans. (no glass)
No eating.
3
Absence:
In the case of an excused absence:
 Students are responsible for making up missed work.
 Students are expected to make up missed work, including tests and quizzes, on the day they return to school.
 In the event of field trips, students must make arrangements with the instructor regarding tests and quizzes before
the event.
 Students that are late to school or class will not provided with extra time for work and students that are late to
school and miss class should make be prepared to make up work that same day.
 Exceptions will be made for extended illness or other extenuating circumstances that arise.
In the case of an unexcused absence (Cutting Class):
 Students who cut class receive no credit for the day and receive a zero on missed work, including tests and
quizzes.
Late Assignments:
In general, assignments, projects, papers will drop one full letter grade (10 points) for every late day.
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy:
Cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment. Instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Assistant
Principal.
GLHS:
Act with Academic Integrity: Cheating, copying, plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas without citation),
falsifying data, on-line translators, and other unauthorized use of materials is dishonest and will not be tolerated. Most
universities will expel a student who is caught cheating. In this class we will use an honor code similar to that found in
many universities. Any major assignments, (not submitted through Turnitin.com), quizzes, or tests you turn in must
contain the following statement handwritten and signed by you at the top of the first page before it will be accepted or
graded.
“On my honor I certify that this assignment is my own work and that I have neither given nor received unauthorized
aid on this (test, exam, paper)”
On-Line translators: The use of on-line translators for large scale translation is cheating and defeats the purpose of
studying a World Language. With teacher approval, on-line translators can be used, on occasion, as a dictionary.
iPads: Students will be expected to bring their iPads to class, charged, on a daily basis. Not having your iPad is to be
unprepared for the day. Student use of iPads in the classroom is restricted to topics and materials which, per the
instructor, further the implementation of the day’s lesson. Students who are off topic with their iPads risk negatively
impacting their grade for the assignment and potentially face disciplinary consequences.
Heading requirement: All assignments must have the following heading, whether they are completed and handed in on
loose leaf paper or electronically:
Nombre
Bloque
Assignment Title
la fecha
(begin assignment here)
4
5