|
- 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 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" will 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.
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 during the
assigned tutorial times.
(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 my 8th period OCS/conference time.
--------------------------------------
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 30 lab
positions. Unfortunately, if more students are enrolled in the class, we
will not be able to use the lab.)
--------------------------------------
How can I know and keep track of my grades?
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 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 is the only way to
replace your lowest quiz grade each 6-weeks.
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 an "honors"
course!!
|
|
