Syllabus
Course: Spanish 4
Year: 2015-2016
Teacher:
Jennifer Viedma
Phone:
612-668-9576
Email:
jennifer.viedma@mpls.k12.us
Office hrs/ Before and after school. Please check with me first so I know that you are
Availability: coming.
Course Description/Overview: Spanish IV is an elective course. This course is taught in Spanish and is
designed to (1) practice and refine speaking ability with an emphasis on conversational skills; (2) teach and
practice more advanced grammar skills; (3) expose students to literary texts in Spanish; (4) further improve
reading comprehension and writing skills; (5) further increase knowledge of the culture, literature, art and music
of the countries where Spanish is spoken through reading on these subjects in Spanish. It is recommended that a
college bound student complete three to four years of the same foreign language during high school. Although
this class is not an MYP or IB course, the curriculum centers around thematic units and big ideas, with a focus
on reading culturally-relevant and level-appropriate literature.
Washburn’s course goals are also aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Minnesota and Minneapolis standards,
as well as IB objectives (standards can be located at http://worldlanguages.mpls.k12.mn.us/).
Required Materials: Paper, writing utensil, folder/binder, books purchased by student
**Students are asked to buy books because we do not have enough for all students. A purchased book is yours
to keep when the book is completed. Any student who is unable to purchase their books will be provided a copy
by Washburn.
Policies
 Attendance: Learning Spanish happens best when you are engaged in Spanish. Each class is designed
so that you will listen, speak, read and write in Spanish. To ensure you are engaged, you are required to
arrive to class on time. In order to assess our progress, pop quizzes will be frequently administered in the
first 5 minutes of class. If you are late without a pass you will not be allowed to make up these points.
 Bathroom/Hallway: Each student will be required to use their planner to leave the room. Students are
expected to use the bathroom, get a drink, refill water bottles, and visit their locker during the 5-minute
passing time. Students will be not allowed to leave during the first or last ten minutes of class time and
may only leave during work time. Don’t even ask if I’m giving new information or instructions.
 Late work: For some students, this course will move at a fast pace. Due to this, it is important to keep
up with the work in a timely manner. Any late assignments (turned in without a stamp) will receive a
grade reduction of one letter grade and no credit will be received 3 days after the due date. Extenuating
circumstances will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Washburn High School 2015-2016
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Excused absences/makeup work: Just like attendance, another way to be engaged in Spanish is to do
the work. If you are absent, it is your job to make up the work you missed. Use other students in the
class and the class website as a resource. Talk to Profe before or after school (NOT right before or
during class). A student with an excused absence on the day a task is assigned will have 3 days to
complete any missed work in order to receive full credit. Make-up quizzes and assessments will not be
administered during class.
Participation: Same as attendance and absences/makeup work, actually listening, speaking, reading
and writing Spanish is the only way you will learn Spanish. Participation is key. The expectation is that
you speak and engage in Spanish the whole class with classmates and with Profe. In order to be
successful in this class, it will be necessary to practice your Spanish outside of the classroom. There will
be many opportunities, including Concordia Language Villages, DuoLingo, etc. The more you engage in
Spanish, the more you learn Spanish!
Re-Dos and Retakes: Re-Dos and retakes are not available for summative assessments.
Extra credit: This class is graded mostly on raw ability in Spanish. Therefore, no extra credit will be
given.
School-wide Washburn Policies (see Student Handbook)
 Electronics: There are no electronics (cell phones, iPods, etc.) allowed during class unless I have
allowed it for a class assignment. According to the Washburn Student Handbook, on the first offense the
device will be confiscated and turned over to the student’s dean. It can be retrieved from the dean at the
end of the hour. Second offense, the device will be confiscated and turned over to the dean, and the
student will be able to retrieve it at the end of the day. On the third offense, the device will be
confiscated and turned over to the dean, and the child’s parent will have to come and retrieve the device.
 Plagiarism: The World Language department will not tolerate plagiarism in any form. For a general
definition of plagiarism please see the Washburn Student Handbook. Also note that the use of any online
or electronic translation device to complete an assignment is plagiarism. This is not your work. If the
teacher suspects plagiarism, you will be asked to justify your work. If you cannot justify your work
within the parameters of the World Language Department’s expectations, you will receive a 0 for the
assignment.
Course Units and Summative Assessments:
Quarter 1:
La Llorona and other
folklore La Guerra Sucia
Quarter 2:
Biancanieves y los 7
Toritos
Quarter 3:
La Guerra Sucia
Quarter 4:
Todo lo que brilla (workers’
rights in Ecuador)
Functions:
Define the reason for
folklore in all cultures
Debate cultural similarities
and differences between
the United States and Latin
America with regard to
folklore
Refine speaking skills
independently learning
about and sharing folklore
Read and analyze a novel
about La Llorona and
Functions:
Analyze the role and
history of bullfighting and
how it is seen as a form of
art
Identify the different
aspects of bullfighting
Debate animal cruelty and
rights in Spain and the
United States
Write a children’s book
about an ethical issue
Functions:
Compare and contrast
different forms of
government
Write a formal letter
utilizing a variety of
tenses
Read and analyze a
novel about the Dirty
Wars in Argentina
Functions:
Research workers’ rights in
various Latin American
countries
Discuss the imbalance of
power in many
governments
Read and analyze a novel
about workers’ rights in
Ecuador
Present on a topic of
workers’ rights
Washburn High School 2015-2016
compare and contrast it
with other folklore
Texts read:
La Llorona de Mazatlan”
and other folklore from
Latin America
Texts read:
“ Biancanieves y los 7
Toritos”
Texts read:
“ La Guerra Sucia”
Texts read:
“Todo lo que brilla”
Grading Scale and Grade Make-Up:
MYP world language classes use an 8-point rubric system in all of their assessments. These will be shared with
your child early in the school year. This will be how the students will be assessed throughout the year. The
rubric grades will then be transferred into a numerical grade on a 100% grading scale.
A 93-100
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
D+ 67-69
A- 90-92
B 83-86
C 73-76
D 63-66
B- 80-82
C- 70-72
D- 60-62
F 0-59
Summative: 80% Tests, Writing, and Speaking Assessments
Formative/Participation: 20% Exit cards, quizzes, class work, participation
Students are required to complete EVERY summative assignment given. If the student does not complete an
assignment, they will receive a (F) on their transcripts. If the student does not complete the work in 30 days, the
quarter grade will remain an F. In short, the student will fail the entire quarter if he/she doesn’t complete every
summative assignment.
Please note that any plagiarism (as defined in the policy section of this syllabus) will result in a 0 for that
assignment, with no opportunity to recuperate that credit.
Grading modifications may be made for students with IEP or 504 plans.
Washburn High School 2015-2016
Spanish IV:
Parents/Guardian:
Please sign below to verify that you have read and understood the policies of Spanish IV.
Student name:_________________________
Parent signature:__________________________ Date:_____________
What is the best way to reach you? Please provide an email and/or a phone number.
_________________________________________ ______________________________________
Additional:
I give permission for my student to be photographed in class: Yes_________ No________
I give permission for my student to watch an R-rated movie that is linked to the curriculum we are
studying.(This may not happen but just in case). Yes_________ No________
I give permission for my student to go on a “walking field trip” in which we walk to somewhere in
thecommunity for a cultural experience. Yes_________ No__________
I am interested in the following opportunities for my student:
______Concordia Language Villages Weekend (language camp)
______Hosting a foreign exchange student during the school year or summer.
Additional comments that you would like us to know about your student:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Students:
Please sign to indicate that you have read and accept what has been outlined in the syllabus.
Washburn High School 2015-2016
Signature:______________________________ Date:_______________
Washburn High School 2015-2016