Spanish IV
Website:
bit.ly/MrMigaCHS
Mr. Miga
[email protected]
734-744-2650 ext. 73014


MA, Spanish Philology,
2011, St. Louis University,
Madrid
BA, Spanish (K-12) and
English (6-12) Education,
2004, Calvin College
Inside the syllabus:
Course Sequence
2
Teaching Methods
2
Grading Policy
Attendance
OF
Arrive to class on time.


Come to class prepared to learn and do
your best.
Arrive to class on time, ready to help
you learn.


Participate and take risks.
Prepared with activities to assist in your
learning.

Turn work in on time.

Use Spanish in class.

Use Spanish in class.

Return work to you in a timely fashion.

Be respectful of teacher, self, others,
and property.

Be respectful of you and your learning
needs.

Go to the bathroom before class or at an
appropriate time.

Bathroom policy clearly posted in classroom.

Keep only Spanish-related materials on
your desk and headphones out of sight.

Help those who ask for help and work
to the best of their capabilities.

Cell phones will be completely out of
sight or facedown on desk.

List of consequences clearly posted in
classroom.

Complete work with your best
effort.

Grades updated online each week,
typically on Friday or Monday.

Check Student Connect frequently.

Review and reflect on course daily.
3
2
How To Succeed Tips
4
Special Needs
3
About Mr. Miga
5
All course materials are
developed using districtapproved curriculum as
well
as
state
and
national standards. Our
primary course material
is:
Long, Donna Reseigh, and
Janice Lynn Macián. De
Paseo: Curso Intermedio
De Español. 3rd ed. N.p.:
Thomson Heinle, 2006.
Print.
OF INSTRUCTOR

5
Plagiarism and
Cheating
STUDENT
Room C32
CLASS ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTS ACADEMIC & PERSONAL GROWTH
WHAT WILL I BE ABLE
DO?
Students will be able to:




TO
presentations
Discuss contemporary
social problems

Write in paragraphs with
connected sentences
Review and use material
from Spanish I, II, III

Describe vacations and
activities
Narrate in present and
past tenses


Express wishes, wants,
desires
Converse with other
Spanish-speakers

Read increasingly challenging texts in Spanish
Explain the impact of
Spanish-speakers
This syllabus is open to changes. Students will be informed of any changes to expectations.

Make brief spoken
Page 2
Spanish IV
WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO LEARN?
WHAT
Tentatively scheduled units:
Conversations: Ask and respond to questions
with teacher by speaking

Vacation and travel

Food

Social Problems

Music

Latinos in the US
TO EXPECT
ON ASSESSMENTS?
Mini-assessments: Multiple choice, fill-in-theblank, open-ended questions, matching, asking
and answering questions in writing, reading
brief passages, listening to brief passages and
responding to questions
Projects: Demonstrate ability to apply what
you have learned in real-life situations
Extra Credit: None offered
If unhappy with grade, talk with Mr. Miga about
other opportunities to demonstrate learning.
WHAT ARE WE GOING
In order to learn a language, you need
to use a language. In class, you can
expect to do a variety of activities that
may include:

Foundational activities to practice
core-skills

Talking with other students

Writing short letters and lists to
other students
TO

Playing games to practice skills

Watching short video clips in
Spanish

Listening to short sound clips in
Spanish

Reading short readings in
Spanish

DO?
Other appropriate activities to help
you learn

If you have a suggestion, let Mr.
Miga know!
“To learn a language, you must be
willing to use the language.”
WHAT IS PLAGIARISM OR CHEATING IN THE CLASS?
Cheating and/or plagiarism is the act of
stealing or copying someone else’s ideas,
words, or work and passing it off or
claiming it as your own. This is clearly
dishonest and unacceptable at Churchill
High School. Plagiarism consists of:
1. Direct quoting without giving credit to
the source.
2. Omitting quotation marks to indicate
quoted material.
3. Paraphrasing the idea(s) of others
without giving them credit.
4. Copying any work of other students.
5. Handing in work which has already
been given credit or which was done by
another.
6. Copying word for word or taking material verbatim from the internet without
proper documentation.
Students thought to have plagiarized will
be advised by the teacher that the policy
is being implemented.
The teacher who discovers cheating or
plagiarism will immediately confiscate
This syllabus is open to changes. Students will be informed of any changes to expectations.
the paper, test, or project, contact the
parent, and write a disciplinary referral
to the administrator. The particular circumstances involved in each specific
case will determine the teacher’s recommendation. Penalty could include
suspension from school, and/or withdrawal from the course with an EW.
Subsequent plagiarism or cheating in
class will result in more severe penalties
including possible failure for the semester.
Mr. Miga
Page 3
I WAS ABSENT. DID WE DO ANYTHING?


All missed work from absences
must be turned in to the teacher
following the attendance policy
guidelines.

Pick-up missed work from the
correct hour folder in the green
crate near the telephone
(assignments will have your name
on them) or email Mr. Miga to
receive digital copies of the work.
DO I HAVE
In order to learn a language,
you must use the language.
Many times, our class will be
doing an activity that helps
you learn the language.
These are not activities that
can necessarily be made up.
from a class mate.
Please note, all note
presentations are
listed on Mr. Miga’s
webpage.

See school attendance policy
for guidelines.
Assessments and
redos must be made
up AFTER SCHOOL.

Check with a classmate you trust before
you check with Mr.
Miga.

Copying class work
and formative
assessments will only
short-change yourself
of the learning.

Missed work should
be done on your own
time, not during
class.

TO
It is appropriate to copy notes
COME
TO
CLASS?
learn and try your best.
“Be present. Be
here. Be ready to
learn.”
Your attendance to class is
extremely important. You
must be present, ready to
Likewise, you must be here in
both mind and spirit. Simply
sitting in class and doing
nothing will not help you learn
the language. You must be
willing to do the activities and
games if you want to succeed
in class.
Students should be in their
seat and with homework out when the
bell rings.
Follow expectations for the use of Spanish in class.
USE SPANISH AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE IN CLASS!!
Any assignment turned in without a
name or not turned in / made up by
deadlines cannot receive credit.
HELP ME, MR. MIGA!!


Every student learns in their own
unique way. I wish to respect this,
as best as I can. Whether you have
special needs recognized by laws or
not, please alert me to your needs.
I am here to help you. I want you
to succeed. It will require work on
your part, though.
I am available for extra help after
school. Please feel free to talk with
me about setting up an
appointment.

Students requesting special needs
should talk with me in advance. I
will always do my best to
accommodate your learning styles
and needs. Advocate for yourself!

I highly recommend a binder that
is specifically designated for
Spanish class. I would use
divider tabs to label various
This syllabus is open to changes. Students will be informed of any changes to expectations.
sections (vocabulary lists,
grammar notes, culture,
homework) of the binder. You
will receive
MANY handouts
from me.
About Mr. Miga
Textbook Needs?
If you would like a physical
copy of the textbook, please
see Mr. Miga.
WHAT
ABOUT
I grew up in Livonia and gra
duated from
Stevenson High School in 20
00. I am quite
proud of my Livonia roots an
d the excellent education I received here. After
graduating college
in 2004, I lived and taught in
the Petoskey area
for two years. In 2006, I was
able to return to
Livonia and teach world langu
ages around the
district. It has been my pleasu
re to be part of
the Churchill family since 2008
.
In my spare time, I enjoy wa
tching Netflix,
reading books (always lookin
g for good
recommendations), hanging
out with friends,
and traveling. I hope to one
day own a dog.
MY GRADE?
Please visit my website to see my
grading policies.
To qualify for a redo:
Some highlights:
-Completion of action plan
SEMESTER GRADE
DISTRIBUTION
-Proof of completion of action plan
submitted prior to redo
1st card marking
40%
2nd card marking
40%
District Final Exam
20%
Homework prepares you for assessments; assessments determine your
grade.
Homework completion will still be reported in the grade book. Poor homework completion could affect citizenship grade.
Use of Spanish in class will be part of
your grade.
-All homework and class work completed and graded
-Must give teacher 2 school days notice
Redos will be offered up to ten
calendar days prior to the end of the
card marking.
Four-point grading scale:
4: Mastery (use/transfer knowledge)
3: Proficient
2: Developing proficiency
1: Minimal or no evidence
3.5-4
A
2-2.19
C+
3-3.49
A-
1.7-1.99
C
2.7-2.99
B+
1.5-1.69
C-
2.5-2.69
B
1.49-0
E
2.2-2.49
B-
During a redo, the new grade will replace the old grade, whether it is better or worse.
Four-point scale used for report cards:
Your most recent performance on a
standard will count towards your
grade.
Failure to complete assessments may
result in a grade of incomplete.
This syllabus is open to changes. Students will be informed of any changes to expectations.