SPANISH 3

COURSE SYLLABUS

2007-2008

The mission statement of Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive environment where students strive for excellence, practice respect and contribute to society.

Integrity  ¨ Learning   ¨ Respect  ¨ Responsibility

Course: Spanish III Honors / College Prep

Student work will focus on the following NHS student expectations for learning: (expectations apply to both Honors and College Prep levels)

• Use a variety of strategies for attaining knowledge
• Use technology as a learning tool
• Choose appropriate strategies and implement a plan of action
• Compile, interpret and communicate data
• Speak, write and present clearly, accurately and effectively in a variety of modes
• Demonstrate tolerance, respect and empathy for others
• Make connections among local, state, national and global issues
• Take responsibility for their decisions and behavior       

Course expectations: (certain modifications and accommodations made for College Prep level)

• Students will attend class daily
• Students will arrive to class prepared with notebook, binder, writing utensil, text and workbook
• Students will communicate effectively and appropriately in Spanish 
• Students will listen attentively to peers, teacher and presented materials
• Students will speak Spanish as much as possible with peers and teacher
• Students will read and understand dialogues and narratives in Spanish
• Students will write language that is comprehensible and expressive
• Students will research and present various aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture
• Students will complete approximately 30 minutes of homework nightly
• Students will actively participate in class and the language lab 
• Students will interact appropriately with and show respect towards peers and teacher
• Students will demonstrate continual efforts to improve their Spanish knowledge and communication skills

Course skills/ concepts: (certain modifications and accommodations made for College Prep level)

§         Listen to and understand cultural, vocabulary and grammatical presentations

§         Take notes and keep them in an organized notebook for reference

§         Write a number of compositions, essays, poems and vignettes

• Read excerpts from authentic texts in Spanish
• Prepare and present group and individual projects
• Actively participate in class discussions

Major units:

Vacations / Travel / Weather

Lifestyles in rural and urban areas

Routine invitations

Leisure activities

Cultural events

Using formal and informal language

The Spanish role in U.S. history

Social problems in Spain and Latin America

Reporting a minor nonviolent crime

Poetry

Grammatical structures; Preterite, Imperfect, Future, Conditional, Present Subjunctive, Imperfect Subjunctive, Present Perfect and Imperative

Text and requirements/ materials:

Buen Viaje book 3

Notebook, binder, writing utensil(s) and agenda

Spanish / English dictionary

Homework policy/ major projects:

§         Students will have 30 minutes of written homework daily

§         Homework will be completed neatly

§         Students will do their own homework unless it is assigned as a group  assignment

§         Homework will be checked daily

§         One major project will be assigned each quarter

• Group projects will occasionally be assigned
• Extra credit points may be earned for linking the classroom with the Spanish speaking world; such as bringing in current news, actual artifacts and/or the lyrics of songs in Spanish and telling the class their significance
• Make up work will be completed within three (3) days of return to school unless special arrangements are made 
• with the teacher
• Failure to make up work within prescribed time allotment will result in zero credit

Grading system:

Each homework assignment, project, test, quiz, vignette, oral presentation and classroom participation and preparedness has a point value assigned to it

Grade will be based on the total points accrued from daily assignments, projects, tests, quizzes, class participation and preparation

Susan Ward/ page two/Spanish