NORTHGATE HIGH SCHOOL
SPANISH 1 and 2- School Year 2015-16
Teacher: Mrs. Maria D. Carrera
carreram@mdusd.org
Classroom: CAFÉ CLASS
Welcome!
Hello and welcome back to school! I hope you had a great summer! I am Mrs. Carrera and I am very EXCITED to be your
teacher for Spanish 1 and 2 for the 2015-2016 school year at Northgate High School. If we join each of our strong efforts,
hearts, and minds, we can make this a great year and help to improve your Spanish skills and become a successful
student.
Learning a new language requires to study vocabulary and grammar, a lot of practice, a positive attitude, and
understanding that mistakes are natural parts of the learning process. The success of your student in my class will
depend on his/her positive attitude, study time, active class participation and how well he/she follows the class
expectations, rules, and procedures. Classroom expectations, rules, and procedures are established to ensure a positive
and respectful learning environment.
Course Description: Spanish is a college preparatory class. The rigorous curriculum provides the student with
communicative experiences in a variety of contextual settings. Students will study reading, writing, listening, speaking,
grammar, cultural attitudes, art, music, geography, and customs of the Spanish speaking world. Curriculum is aligned
with National Teaching Standards for World Languages, the World Languages Standards for California Public Schools,
and the Mount Diablo Unified School District Standards.
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Course Goals: Students will:
Be able to make sentences to express desires, ideas, needs and wants.
Apply vocabulary and phrases appropriate to the situation.
Provide opportunities to practice Spanish with peers and staff.
Use Spanish inside and outside the classroom.
Stimulate the desire to continue learning Spanish.
Learn about Spanish cultures and places.
Required Materials: Textbook and handouts, composition notebook or binder with 3 dividers. 1. Homework
(Tarea). 2.Notes/Handouts. 3. Tests/Quizzes. Bring pen, pencil, colors, highlighter, markers.
Classroom Procedures: Students can be great students when:
ENTERING: When the bells rings be seated and have your homework ready on your desk to turn in.
1. Come in quietly and sit down. Listen to directions and greet teacher at the door.
2. Read the agenda and handouts, textbook, lesson while the teacher take attendance.
3. Get out supplies: Homework, pen, pencil, paper, notebook/binder, folder.
4. Begin warm up.
5. If done, study review prior and current vocabulary and grammar.
DURING CLASS: During oral performances, the audience should remain silent, attentive and supportive.
1. Complete all assignments and turn all the assignments when due or done.
2. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Do not touch what does not belong.
3. Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
4. Stay in your seat unless you have permission to get up.
5. Keep the room clean and the school premises without harm.
EXITING : Teacher Mrs. Carrera dismisses the class, not the bell.
1. Quietly put away materials. Please do not pack your belongings before the bell rings.
2. Clean work area and straighten your desk.
3. Wait for the teacher to dismiss you, so remain quietly seated.
4. Check around seat for stray or missing items. Do not touch or grab what is not yours.
5. Say good- bye or so long.
Classroom Rules: We need to function and get along with others. Students have the right to learn and the
teacher has the right to teach. Do the right thing. Make good choices.
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1. Be respectful to People’s efforts and ideas, and their belongings. No put downs.
2. Be honest: Always tell the truth and work hard for your education.
3. Be safe: Behave appropriately to the situation. Have manners. Lower your voice.
4. Be responsible: Make sure you understand and do your work well. Turn in on time and study.
5. Be kind: Collaborate and help others. You are part of the solution, not the problem. Be polite.
Classroom Expectations: As a student, you deserve to learn in an environment that takes advantage of the best of
your abilities. In the same manner you have the responsibility to carry yourself in a way that contributes to your
school success as well as the success of your peers. To ensure that such environment is kept, the following will be
the fundamental guidelines of the Spanish class.
 1. Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings and remain until the end of class unless teacher specifies it.
 2. Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat.
 3. Be prepared. Bring your materials and completed work: homework and projects, study time.
 4. Follow directions the first time given.
 5. Only one person speaks at the time unless specified by the teacher.
Grading: Grading serves a mean to ensure that students are truly understanding the material by meeting the objectives.
(In other words, is the student actually acquiring and mastering the content?) Learning a new language is very similar to
learning math. It is sequential: a student cannot move forward without mastering the basic concepts. Grading is based
on the following:
1. Classwork, Projects and Presentations:
2. Homework: Daily and turn in next day. If time, start 5 minutes end of class.
3. Tests/Quizzes/Projections4. Final Exam: Study vocabulary, prior tests, handouts. Do study guide.
8%
8%
64%
20%
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Total grade
100%
Grades and homework are available online through Aeries and will updated regularly. Please allow time for grading and
processing. Students are expected responsibility for their own learning and progress. Students have two weeks from the
date of the appointment/test to submit evidence in writing to teacher in order to rectify the discrepancy. The following
grading scale is used:
A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
D-69-60
F 59 and Below
Grades and College: World language is an entrance requirement of both the University of California and the California
State University systems. Students must earn a minimum of a “C” grade in order for the course to count toward college
admission.
Make-ups (tests and quizzes): If absent, students must make-up tests and quizzes, the day the student returns. Student
must arrange to do this before or after school.
The following policies are set to provide the student the maximum amount of time during a lesson that is free of
distractions and interruptions. Such rules in this document are also used to inform the student and therefore serve as
a warning in case of a violation occurs. All offenses will be entered into the Student’s behavior tracker in Aeries.
Referrals: The following protocol will be followed when a student receives a referral.
 Referral will be turned in to the vice principal.
 Parents will be contacted.
 Violations will be entered to your Aeries account. This violation will entered under the discipline section.
Cell phones (and other electronics): Cell phones must be off at all times and must not be seen or heard. Cell phones
(and other electronics) must remain inside your backpack. I will assume that a student is using a cell phone whenever
he/she is handling a device in class, regardless of the time of the day (lunchtime, brunch, before or after school). There
will be no hesitation of enforcement of this rule. Since cell phones and other electronics must not be seen or heard,
charging these devices is not allowed.
Headphones/earphones: Earphones and headphones may not be visible at any time. Listening to music or any other
audio media is not allowed in class. Wearing such items anywhere on your body is not allowed.
Tardies: Class begins as the bell/buzzer rings. Students must be sitting at their assigned seat and prepared to work when
the buzzer/bell rings. Failure to be seated and prepared will constitute a tardy. Refer to Student’s handbook for
protocol. Students will have detention with vice principal if student has five tardies.
Preparedness: Please come to class prepared, every day. Bring your textbook, and your composition notebook every
day. Along with these items, you must bring pens (black or blue) to write.
Students will not be allowed to share or borrow other students’ books Failure to bring such needed supplies will result in
a zero for the activity that requires that specific item. For example, if the lesson requires the use of the textbook as a
resource, the student that did not bring his or her textbook will receive a zero for that activity.
May I go to my locker? Answer: no (please do not ask).
Use of online translations: Do not use online translators at any time. Using Google Translate, Bing Translator, or any
translator is prohibited. The use of these online tools are very obvious and apparent. The use of such site will be
considered academic dishonesty.
Backpacks: Backpacks must remain on the floor at all times. Please do not set your backpacks on top of your desk or on
your lap.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself: Horseplay and roughhousing is not allowed in class at any time. Such
behavior will result in a referral and parent conference. This behavior includes throwing objects, tripping, punching,
kicking, and pushing other students. (This includes throwing objects, from a distance, toward the trash can.)
Restroom use: Asking to go to the restroom creates a disruption of the flow of the lesson. The school gives students
time during the day to use the restroom, brunch and lunchtime are not only the times to have a snack or a meal, but are
also times to use such services. You will be given e restroom passes to use throughout the semester. You must surrender
one pass for each time you make a trip to the restroom. Use these passes wisely since you will not be allowed to go to
the restroom after you have use these. Make sure that you keep them in a safe place since they are not replaceable. If
you lose them, you lose restroom privileges. If you do not use the restroom, do not interrupt the lesson. Please wait for
a transition during the lesson and raise your hand. If you do not use these passes, you can redeem them for missing
homework assignments only. This will only be done during the last week of the semester.
Retakes and extra credit: Retaking a test, quiz, or any other assessment is not allowed. Extra credit is not given within
the Spanish department at any time.
Homework: Homework is assigned regularly and offers practice necessary for language mastery. Students are
responsible for completing homework on time. Homework must be completed before entering the classroom.
Homework must be completed before entering the classroom. Homework completed during class time, the day that it is
due, will not accepted, it is considered late.
In the case of an excused absence, students have until the next class meeting to turn in the assigned work. Work will not
be accepted after the date.
Homework is posted on my website carreram.weebly.com.
Be on task: You must pay attention and be on task at all times. Do not work on other assignments during class time.
Working on something other than the subject or the topic on hand will result on a referral.
Excused absences: Students are responsible for learning that occurs in class, including days of absence. It is
recommended that when absent, students work with a peer in order to stay current with the class. Your peer must
collect any necessary material and inform you of any due assignments. If the absence is going to extend more than one
day, it is advisable to contact the teacher. An absence is NOT an automatic excuse from a deadline.
Discussing grades: Students are welcome to discuss their own personal quarterly or semester grades before or after
school only. Unfortunately, there is no time allowed during the everyday lesson.
Class dismissal: Wait to be dismissed, the bell/buzzer does not dismiss the students. The teacher dismisses the class.
Choosing to leave before being dismissed will be considered defiance.
When dismissed by the teacher, check under your desk for trash, and straighten your desks. Please exit the classroom
politely and quietly. Students will be dismissed by rows or sections when they seem ready as teacher considers it.
Rounding off grades: Grades will not be rounded off at any point during the semester. If your grade happens to be an
89.9 or 79.9, it will not be rounded off. If you happen to be near the cut off line, work harder to prevent such
percentage.
Pop-quizzes: There will be several unannounced “pop” quizzes through the semester. There will serve to ensure that
you are keeping up with the material presented in the day’s or week’s lessons. This is supposed to encourage the
student to take detailed notes both in class and from the textbook.
Littering and defacing school property: Writing and scribbling on desks and any other school property is prohibited. This
includes textbooks. In the same manner, your working area must remain free of litter, pieces of paper and broken pens
and pencils. Your working area includes the floor as well. If you notice such activity around your sitting area inform the
teacher.
Food and drinks (chewing gum): Food and drinks are not allowed in classrooms. Please see page 24 of your handbook.
Water bottles with cap are allow, but must be kept on the floor or inside your backpack, off the furniture. Empty water
bottles must be deposited in the recycle bin.
Participate 100%: Like any other skill, practice is key to learning a language. Lack of participation during an activity will
result on a zero for that activity. Please ensure that you are participating 100% of the time during those activities.
I will constantly be checking for students participating or not. If I happen to see a student, from across the room, and the
student is not participation, the student will receive a zero for that activity. Please ensure participation at all times. (This
includes speaking activities).
Clothing and other apparel: Hats and sun glasses are not permitted in class any time, please remove such items before
coming to class. Sagging pants are not allowed, you must wear your pants above the buttocks. Shirts with inappropriate
writing are not accepted. For details see dress code policy on school’s website. It is under student section of website.
Please fill out, sign and return to your World Language Teacher.
Dear parents, please provide the following information. Thank you in advance for helping us to
better serve your child!
Student name __________________________________________ Period __________
Mother/Guardian name __________________________________________________
Home phone _______________ Work phone __________________________
Father/Guardian name____________________________________________________
Home phone ___________________ Work phone______________________________
Parents/Guardians e-mail
______________________________________________________________________________
Is there anything in particular you would like me to know about your child?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
I have read and understood Mrs. Carrera’s classroom rules, procedures, expectations, policies, and consequences that
appear on the syllabus. As a student, I agree to respect others and to follow instructions given by Mrs. Carrera. I
understand that there will be consequences for my (my student’s) actions. Also, I understand that I have (my student
has) a right to an education in an environment of order and mutual respect among students and teacher, and that my
cooperation and participation is necessary to ensure that this environment exists in the classroom.
_________________________
Parent/Guardian signature
_________________________
Student signature