This page includes the questions most frequently asked by students and
parents.
- How will I be able to contact Sra. Robinson?
- Will tutorials be offered?
- When will my papers, tests and projects be returned?
- Please explain your grading process. May I do extra credit work?
- Are there any special classroom rules of which I should be aware?
- Is this class for credit and how important is my grade?
- Will I have homework every night? How important is attendance?
- Will we be able to use a language lab?
- How can I know and keep track of my grades?
- Where can I find my assignments for each week?
- What supplies will I need for class?
- Notebook? Do I really need a notebook?
How will I be able to contact Sra. Robinson?
E-mail address: robinsok@cisdmail.com (preferred communication)
CMS phone number: (817) 949-5400 Ext. 5456
All e-mails and phone calls will be returned during the 3rd hour
conference time, planning and work period. If a phone call
occurs after 3rd period, it may not be returned until the
following school day.
E-mail is checked several times during the day. A student, who is
at home due to illness, may have a question answered within a
couple of hours.
Will tutorials be offered?
Yes. Tues.,Thurs. and Fri. mornings from 8:00-8:30.
All makeup testing will be done on Monday mornings or in Extended
Day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
When will my papers, tests and projects be returned?
Homework may be checked by student in class and he/she will have
an immediate return. If collected to be graded by teacher,
homework, as well as all tests and quizzes will normally be
returned at the next class meeting. (It is difficult to go on to
new material without knowledge of prior information, especially
in the study of a foreign language.) Projects and compositions
will be returned within two weeks.
Please explain your grading process. May I do extra credit work?
Here is the grading system for foreign languages in the CISD.
(Note the *extra credit opportunities offered, in this class, in
each of these grading categories.)
25% - Daily work (homework, mini-quizzes, lab work and
participation)
Homework is given almost every day and is expected to be
completed by the next class meeting. A "mini prueba" may be
given at times to check for mastery of the homework. Late work is
not accepted for this H.S. credit course!!!
*Extra Credit- "Pesetas" will be given for class
participation. Each one of these is worth one (1)extra point on
a daily homework grade.)
25% - Quizzes (written and oral/aural)
Normally, there are 4-8 quizzes per six weeks.
*Extra credit- A "notebook check" may replace the lowest quiz
grade each 6-weeks. (In order to be accepted for credit the
notebook must have no less than the past 6 weeks' work properly
organized, with a completed and calculated grade sheet on top of
the first divider.) At times, an extra "replacement quiz" is
given to replace the lowest quiz grade of the 6-weeks.
50% - Major tests (including aural/oral and written tests),
projects, culture work and presentations. Normally two major
tests will be given each six weeks.
*Extra credit- An "extra credit" question will be offered on
each major test. No other extra credit projects will be accepted.
Not only is late work not accepted, no quiz/test retakes or
curving will be permitted. Academic dishonesty will result in an
automatic "0" and a "U" in conduct, in accordance with the CISD
Code of Conduct.
(As of the 2006-2007 school year, grading policies are in
agreement with those of the Carroll High School foreign language
classes.)
Are there any special classroom rules of which I should be aware?
Here is a list of general classroom rules and guidelines:
1. Be ready to learn every day. Bring all materials to class.
If a student must return to his/her locker, she will be required
to use his/her personal pass. (A new personal pass is issued
every 6-weeks and may be used up to three (3) times.)
2. Throw away trash, sharpen pencils, take drink of water and
visit the rest-room BEFORE class begins.
3. Follow all school rules, as stated in the student handbook.
4. Gum, candy, snacks and drinks will not be allowed nor be
consumed in class.
5. Textbooks must be covered at all times.
6. Be responsible for your own work.
7. Be a good friend, helper, learner and team player.
8. Be sure to clean up your own work area.
9. Raise your hand if you wish to speak. Speak only when called
upon or when you have been so directed for paired or group
activities.
Consequences:
The student will receive a conduct notice, which will be signed
by parent. After two conduct notices the student will serve a
lunch or after school detention. After the 3rd, the student will
call his/her parent and make arrangements for a
parent/teacher/student conference after school.
- Disrespect toward another student or the teacher will result
in an immediate detention with a phone call home, made by the
student.
Is this class for credit and how important is my grade?
It is important to understand that your grade in Spanish belongs
to you. It is what you have achieved and earned and you will own
it!!! You (not your parents or teacher) determine the grade
placed on your report card. A grade in this class is especially
important because it is for H.S. credit and will affect your GPA
(grade point average). Your grade will also be a determining
factor as to whether or not you may be placed in a Spanish Honors
course. A credit will not be earned unless you successfully
complete the Spanish I course.
Will I have homework every night? How important is attendance?
The success of learning a foreign language demands discipline and
daily attention. You will need to plan on fifteen to twenty
minutes of review and study every day regardless of whether or
not you have written homework. For a bit of a break, we normally
will not have tests or a major project due on a Monday or
immediately after a vacation.
Absences: School policy applies here. If a student is absent
for one day, he/she will have one day to turn in the work.
Should he/she be absent for two days, he/she will be given two
days to complete the missed work or to take a missed test etc.
It should be known however, that it is extremely difficult to
make up for days missed in a foreign language class. Tutorial
sessions can be very crowded and can in no way make up for the
classroom experience missed. - Any missed tests or quizzes will
be taken on Monday mornings before school or in Extended Day.
(Extended and extra vacations are very much discouraged as every
class period offers 45 minutes of learning activities.) If a
student is out, with an illness, for more than three (3) days I
will try to call him/her at home to do some "phone tutorials."
(E-mail has been wonderful in these situations. Many students
make e-mail contact their first day out so as not to get behind
in their studies. Students do very well with this communication
tool and I am able to respond to their e-mails during my 3rd
period planning time or after school.
REMEMBER! Homework is ALWAYS posted on the "Deberes"
page of this website!!!
No excuses!!!
Will we be able to use a language lab?
We are very fortunate to have our own lab equipment in the
classroom. Students are taught how to use it properly and will
need to abide by the rules for language labs. A rules and policy
sheet for usage of the lab must be signed and returned at the
start of the school year. (There are 24 lab positions.
Unfortunately, if more students are enrolled in the class, we
may not be able to use the lab.)
How can I know and keep track of my grades?
It is very important that the student and parents register for
"Family Access" in our school office. You will be able to view
your grades and average as they are posted.
Students are given a grade sheet, at the beginning of each new 6-
weeks, on which to record and calculate all of their grades.
Having listed each grade under its proper grade category,
students will be able to calculate their current grade using the
prescribed mathematical formula. - Students are asked to keep all
of their graded papers in their notebooks, under the appropriate
divider. Therefore, they should be able to calculate their own
grade whenever they desire. (The teacher's computer gradebook is
not always in service.) Should the student need to speak to the
teacher about his/her grades he/she may do so after school or if
no one else is requiring help during morning tutorials.
Where can I find my assignments for each week?
The students are given 5 minutes during the first class meeting
of the week to copy the assignments, from a white board, into
their agendas. Having finished that task they have a few minutes
to ask questions about any of the assignments for the week. The
assignments will always remain posted in the classroom, should a
student lose his/her assignment notebook or agenda. All weekly
and extended assignments and projects will also be posted under
the "Deberes" section of this web site.
What supplies will I need for class?
I'm so glad that you asked that. In order to be a successful and
well prepared Spanish student you will need the following:
A three-ring binder (1 1/2 inch or larger) and five dividers
A yellow highlighter
A red pen
Colored map pencils
Colored markers
Black or blue pen
Two No. 2 pencils
College or wide-ruled LOOSE-LEAF notebook paper only!! (No spiral
notebook paper will be accepted.)
Glue stick
University of Chicago Spanish-English Dictionary (very important
for use at home.) Other comparable Spanish-English dictionaries
may be fine. Please check with teacher.
Notebook? Do I really need a notebook?
Yes!! It is required and a daily grade may be taken for a
notebook "check." Furthermore, presenting a properly organized
notebook may be the only way to replace your lowest quiz grade at
the end of a 6-weeks grading period.
My students have traditionally kept notebooks and have found the
grammar notes, vocabulary work, test corrections and culture
notes quite valuable in Spanish II.
Here is the proper order for the notebook:
On top of the first divider - A grade sheet for the current 6-
week grading period, information on how to create a bibliography,
study habit suggestions and a "study buddy" list.
First Divider- Diarios
Second Divider- Homework
Third Divider- Quizzes and tests
Fourth Divider- Grammar notes and vocabulary work
Fifth Divider- Culture items / "Eres tú, María?" notes
A properly organized notebook will be extremely helpful as you
advance to your next level of Spanish, especially if you are
planning on working toward AP Spanish.