Español I
Srta. Meerman Room 201
Phone: (231) 937-4338 Ext. 401
E-mail: [email protected]
2014
2015
¿Qué es Español I?
¡Hola y bienvenido! Hello and welcome! Get ready for some fun as we explore the Spanish
language. In this class you can expect to hear very little English, learn lots of new Spanish
vocabulary and grammar, sing songs, learn about other cultures, and practice Spanish with
classmates through dialogues, games, and projects. This is a yearlong course and you will
receive one high school foreign language credit upon completion of the course.
¿Por qué estudia español?
Did you know that Spanish is the third most commonly spoken language in the world with over
500 million speakers? The Spanish language is everywhere! We see it on signs and television,
hear it on the radio, eat the food at restaurants, and experience the culture on vacations.
Remember that learning a language is fun and you do not have to go far to practice speaking
or to participate in the many cultural celebrations held in the community.
¿Quién es la Srta. Meerman?
This is my second year teaching at Tri County High School. A little bit about me…I have a
Bachelor of Arts in teaching for Spanish and Biology from Grand Valley State University. I love
to travel and I once lived in Sevilla, Spain. In my spare time I like to read, bike, golf, try new
restaurants, hang out with family and friends, and go to the beach.
How can I be successful in Español I?
1. Be respectful
2. Bring your binder and a writing utensil
to class EVERY day!
3. Listen carefully
4. Turn in assignments on time
5. Speak Spanish
6. Volunteer often
7. Clean up after yourself
8. Try your best
9. Ask questions often
10. Flash Cards!!!!
11. Ask for help! My door is always open
Daily Procedures in Spanish Class
The beginning of the hour: We should all be ready to start class on-time every day! Be in
your seat ready to begin class when the bell rings. Save makeup work and absence questions
for the end of class. Be ready with a writing utensil and the warm up paper.
Warm Ups / Daily Writings: We will some sort of daily comprehension questions, translations
and review at the beginning of the hour.
Tardies: When the bell rings you should be in your seat and working on your warm up. If you
are called to the office or kept after class by a teacher, you must bring me a pass to avoid
being marked tardy. Arriving to class later than 10 minutes after the start is an absence.
Lecture/Discussion/Announcements: Be considerate, quiet, alert, and courteous when I
speak or when a classmate has been given permission to speak. Keep your head up and your
eyes open. If you have a discussion-related question, raise your hand. If announcements
come on over the TV or PA system, please be quiet.
Vocabulary Practice and Story Time: You are expected to participate, repeat, do gestures,
and answer questions when we discuss new vocabulary words. When we listen to stories, you
are to be an active listener and may also be asked to participate from time to time.
Reading: Comprehension of language begins with listening and reading before you will be
successful in speaking and writing. Our goal will be to cover at least one story per week with
several mini-stories that highlight students in the class. Participation involves answering
questions from the story, adding details to the story, showing interest and frequently letting the
teacher know your level of comprehension. We may also be reading novels in Spanish!
Students are expected to suggest creative ideas for a story. Negative comments will not be
allowed. Assessments (quizzes/tests) of stories may include translations, drawings, answering
questions and re-writes.
Writing: Writing will include story writing, skits, dialogues, and point of view changes. We will
be doing free writes and timed writing assignments that will reflect the students' acquisition of
the Spanish language. Writing will also include grammar exercises, translation work and other
writings assignments within the context of what we are studying.
Seatwork: Both individual and group/partner seatwork will be completed this year. You will be
notified when it is appropriate to work in groups or with someone else. Otherwise, you are
working by yourself.
Supply area: There is an area in the classroom where you will find art supplies, pencils,
scissors, etc. Please keep this area clean and organized. Thank you in advance!
Electronics: Following school policy, there will be no cell phones or electronics allowed at any
time.
1st offense: Student may pick up device after school from the office.
2nd offense: Parent may pick up device from the office.
Bags and Purses: For safety reasons, these are not allowed in the classroom, and must be
stored in your locker.
Property in the classroom (desks, supplies, counters, etc.): Keep your desk clean and
free from writing and scribbles. If you notice writing on your desk, please let me know so we
can get it clean. Also, please do not sit on, lean on, rock in, or lay on desks, the counters, or
the heater. Keep our classroom looking nice! Have pride in our school!
The end of the hour: Make sure that all supplies have been properly taken care of; desks are
in straight rows, things are picked off the floor, and that the classroom is clean and orderly. Do
not pack up early; you should continue working until the end of the hour. We won’t be
congregating at the doorway.
Hallway Pass Policy and Procedure: Per school policy, only in emergencies (at Srta.
Meerman’s discretion) are students allowed to leave the classroom. If you are allowed to leave
due to an emergency or if you are called to the office, you must sign out on the sheet on the
desk at the front of the room and take the hall pass with you. Please use the restroom between
classes and at lunch.
Before/After School Help: I am available before or after school and during lunch or advisory
to help you with missed practice/enrichment activities or with missed assessments, to provide
tutoring, or simply to lend a listening ear.
What do I do if I am absent?
You are always responsible for work that you missed during an absence. When you come
back to class, it is your responsibility to get the work/ notes/ handouts/ etc. from the absence
folder on the front desk.
Classroom Expectations
General Classroom Rules:
1. Don’t do anything that will disrupt the learning in our classroom.
2. Be respectful to yourself, others, and our materials.
3. Be prepared. Bring all of your materials.
4. Actively participate and make thoughtful contribution during class.
5. ¡Se habla español! (speak Spanish!)
Participation: I expect students to be active participants in the Spanish classroom. In order
to enhance your learning of Spanish, students are expected to gesture, act, sing, respond
and ask questions. When spoken to in Spanish, respond in Spanish (except when I ask you
to translate). When spoken to in English, respond in English.
Homework: You can expect homework assignments 2-3 times a week. Classroom time will
focus on introducing and practicing concept. It is your responsibility to practice and master
these concepts outside of class. Under NO circumstances are level I students allowed to
use electronic or internet translators. Using these devices will result in a zero on an
assignment.
Late work: Late work is accepted on the condition that the student completes all sections of
the assignment. (A late assignment will be returned not graded if any sections are left blank).
POP QUIZZES (formative assessments): There will be POP QUIZZES! Expect them to occur
at any time in the hour.
Summative Assessments: (Tests and Exam) Students will receive comprehensive exams
worth 70% of their grade. Summative assessments will cover listening, reading, writing and
speaking.
Always do your best!
I reserve the right to return any work that you submit and ask you to redo it if it is not your best
work, or if it is evident that you did not put your best effort into it.
Grading:
Grading
70% of your grade will be based on assessments.
Examples of assessments in this course are quizzes given after Srta. Meerman tells a story
that students acted out, song tests, vocabulary quizzes, and large end-of-marking period
assessments that test each of the 4 skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Assessments over the 4 skills will be graded using a proficiency rubric (a set of criteria for
grading assignments).
It is expected that you earn a minimum score of 80% on assessments. You will
complete extra practice work and retest if you do not earn 80% on the initial
assessment. In addition, you are given the opportunity to retake any assessment, with
the stipulation that the reassessment grade will always replace the original grade.
30% of your grade will be based on an enrichment grade.
Not every activity in this class will be collected and scored for a “grade,” as many things we do
are to help identify areas where further instruction and practice is necessary, and to see which
students might need additional assistance. However, anything that is not an assessment that
is scored will go under the “enrichment” category. It is expected that you complete all
enrichment activities and fully participate during class in order to help you to be successful on
assessments. Activities include but are not limited to projects, skits, stories, home fun, listening
activities, partner work, group work, games, songs, class work, and homework.
Grading Scale
A 100 – 93%
A- 92 – 90%
B+ 89 – 87%
B 86 – 83%
B- 82 – 80%
C+ 79 – 77%
C 76 – 73% D 66-63%
C- 72 – 70% D- 62-60%
D+ 69-67% E 59% & less
Assessment make-up policy:
Assessments can be made up if you have an excused absence on the day of the test/quiz.
You will need to come in during advisory or before/after school within 3 days after you return to
make it up. YOU are responsible for making arrangements with me and then remembering to
actually come in and make up the assessments! Any assessments that are not made up will
result in a zero.
Academic Dishonesty: **Cheating on assessments and any work for this class will
result in an automatic zero. Using online translators is considered cheating. Remember
that a lot more credit will be given for honest effort!
Grade Reporting: Grades will be posted on the parent and student portals at:
www.tricountyschools.com. I will also post grades in class periodically. If you or your
parents cannot access this information, please contact the high school office for assistance
I have read and I understand the above requirements (3-ring binder), grading, rules, policies and expectations of
students in Señorita Meerman’s Spanish class. Please return this packet by ___________September ______.
______________________________________________
(Student printed name)
Student signature: __________________________________ Date: _______________
______________________________________________
(Parent/guardian printed name)
Parent Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: __________________
Parent email:_____________________________________________
Parent phone #:________________________________
The best way to contact me would be by: _____________________________
Time of day:__________________
My concerns:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please email me!
[email protected]
This is a great way for you to check up on your child and receive an update.
I can also send assignments on a day your child missed an assignment.
By simply emailing me once to say hello, placing your child's name in the subject line, will help me to quickly
contact you if the occasion arises.
Thank you SO much in advance for your time!
Sincerely,
Señorita Meerman