John Champe High SchoolWord Languages and Cultures

DepartmentEspañol

Sra. Pollocksofia.pollock@lcps.org 703-722-2680

Course description Spanish IV through APSpanish IVStudents polish the four basic language skills. Major grammar points are reviewed and the subjunctive is completed. Different global themes are studied each quarter with relevant applications using these four basic language skills. The students’ common assessments will be parallel to the AP Exam in content and format. The common assessments as well as the curriculum will incorporate the six AP Global Themes: Global Challenges, Personal and Public Identities, Science and Technology, Families and Communities, Contemporary Life, and Beauty and Aesthetics.

Spanish VStudents will refine the four basic language skills with the aid of authentic materials. Advanced grammar structures are introduced for mastery while basic grammar points are reinforced to prepare for the Advanced Placement course. Each quarter a Spanish Speaking region is examined with a focus on history, geography, culture, literature, politics, current events, and global issues pertinent to the area. Focus will be placed on the students’ ability to understand, apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, create, and compare and contrast topics using the language. The students’ common assessments will be parallel to the AP Exam in content and format. The common assessments as well as the curriculum will incorporate the six AP Global Themes: Global Challenges, Personal and Public Identities, Science and Technology, Families and Communities, Contemporary Life, and Beauty and Aesthetics.

Spanish AP -Advanced Placement ® Spanish Language and Culture

The Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture course is holistically designed to offer students’ proficiency based rigorous college level experience to maximize their potential in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in Spanish. The following graphic displays the six global, overlapping course themes of instruction and their related sub-themes:The Loudoun County Public Schools Advanced Placement ® Spanish Language and Culture course actually begins in the FLES program (Foreign Language Elementary School), where students gradually develop the essential listening, and speaking skills. The students t hen advance to the development of reading and writing skills in the SAMS program (Spanish at the Middle School,6th grade). Embedded in culturally authentic, meaningful contexts the students continue developing their skills in the high school program beginning in 7th grade. This enables students to function at more advanced cognitive, analytical, and communicative levels as the pre-AP ® sequence begins in Level IV Honors. Students build confidence in Spanish by continually developing comprehension and comprehensibility, a rich breadth of vocabulary, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness throughout the curricula of study from the FLES program through AP. In order to connect the course with the ACTFL National Standards of Foreign Language of Learning for the 21st Century, students are expected to communicate entirely in the target language in AP ® Spanish Language and Culture as they compare and contrast Spanish-speaking cultures with their personal communities and connect their studies with other disciplines in their high school curricula.

Expectations

What does Sra. Pollock expect from me every day in class?

A. Character Education Oath: I must be a caring, fair, responsible, respectful, trustworthy citizen in the classroom at all times. I am a unique and valuable member of our team.

B. Always Be on Time or Early: I will always be on time for class or early by being in my seat before the bell rings. I am not permitted to be tardy to or absent from class for any unexcused reason.

C. NO Gum, NO Food, NO Candy, and ONLY water (if I need a beverage)…KEEP THE ROOM CLEAN!

1. If I have any gum, food, or candy in use/accessible upon entering class, I will quickly throw them in the garbage can by the door. There may be units where we study food and bring in cultural dishes, and that is the ONLY time I am allowed to eat in the classroom.

2. I am responsible for making sure my space and the entire classroom is kept clean with my classmates. I will not be permitted to leave until the entire room is ready for the next class.

D. No electronic devices are permitted in class or SHIELD at any time! Power them off! Cell phones, i-Pods, and other electronics will be confiscated by Sra. Pollock if used during class or SHIELD. All cell phones, i-Pods, and other electronics will be turned in to the main office and I may pick them up at the end of the school day.

I will not need these devices in class and do not have time for them. If I want to keep my electronic devices, I must keep them stowed away in my back pack (not my pockets) and out of sight.

E. Be Prepared to Participate: Upon being seated before the bell rings for class, I will immediately begin the daily warm-up. I will be ready to participate in class, fully prepared with all necessary materials and assignments required every day.

F. Sign-Out: Whenever I must leave class for an office-related departure or an emergency, Sra. Pollock will give me a hall pass. I must then sign out and back in on the logs in the binder closest to the entrance door. I need to visit the restroom between classes during the six minutes given…It’s the same action Sra. Pollock has to take as well! Note: JCHS policy states that students may not leave the classroom during the first 15 or last 15 minutes of class unless there is an emergency.

G. The Bell Does NOT Dismiss Me! Sra. Pollock dismisses me. The bell is her signal to say, “Adiós” when she is ready.

Daily Agenda

What are our daily activities and goals?

A. The daily agenda provides a list of activities as goals for completion for class each day. If an activity remains incomplete on any agenda, it may stay on it until it has been fulfilled for a few sessions depending upon the pacing of the course.B. Students are required to start the warm-up activity when they get to class. The warm-up is a daily activity that is graded.

C. Students who are absent from class must complete the warm-up and copy missed notes from another student on their own time…NOT upon return to the next class.D. Students should consult the appropriate classroom file boxes or VISION for any missed worksheets stemming from agendas in case of an absence.E. The daily agenda and certain classroom activities may also be found via:

1. Sra. Pollock’s VISION page 2. Sra. Pollock’s e-mail address: sofia.pollock@lcps.org for any missed assignments.

Materials

What materials are we required having at the beginning of class each day?

A. 2 inch 3-ring binder with 8 dividers.B. 150 (college-ruled) paper for class notes and daily activities (to stay in school).C. 8 sharpened pencils with erasers (to stay in school).D. Pens (Green ink AND one additional color).E. 1 Expo Dry-Erase Marker (to stay at school).F. 1 pack of index cards.G. 2 glue sticks (to stay at school).H. 1 pair of scissors (to stay at school).J. 1 pack of colored pencils (to stay at school).K. 1 Highlighter

Grading System

How will we be graded in this course?

A. The Loudoun County Public Schools Grade Scale will be used in distributing all individual and final grades during the nine-week marking periods, semester averages, and year-end averages:

Letter Grade Numeric Grade Range

A+ 98-100A 93-97A- 90-92B+ 87-89B 83-86B- 80-82C+ 77-79C 73-76C- 70-72D+ 67-69D 63-66D- 60-62F 0-59

B. Overall grades are based on the four aspects of language: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, with each aspect weighted at 25%. All graded assignments utilize the scale to the right for associations to letter grades:

1. All grades count once unless otherwise announced. 2. Quizzes will be given on an announced and unannounced basis.3. Homework will be assigned according to agenda listings. All homework assignments will be assessed in class.4. Time necessary to complete homework assignments will vary.5. Late assignments are given a maximum score of 75% and will only be accepted one class late unless related to an excused absence. (See next section)

Make-Up Policy

What if I miss class for an excused reason?

A. It is the student’s responsibility to make up work missed for any reason.B. Agendas posted in the classroom, on Sra. Pollock’s website, and via e-mail can be used to check on missed assignments.C. Be sure to get missed notes from a class mate prior to returning to class! It’s your job to stay focused on your education!D. Students have the number of days missed plus one (+1) for making up assignments stemming from excused absences. Students who make up work quickly have a higher success rate. Extended absences will be handled individually.E. Students missing for extracurricular activities or other school-approved absences are responsible to retrieve their work before that class is missed. These students will have the same due dates and responsibilities as those attending class that day.

Retake Policy

How can I improve my grade on an assessment that was not my best?

A. Students may retake one test and one quiz per quarter.B. In order to retake an assessment, students must complete and turn the re-take form (located in the classroom) the next class after receiving their grade. Students who re-take an assessment quickly after they originally take it tend to make a greater improvement than those who wait several days (or weeks) to re-take. C. Students must make an appointment with Sra. Pollock to complete test corrections before or after school or during SHIELD. Test corrections may not be completed at home. D. An alternate version of the assessment will be given to the student. The student must make an appointment with Sra. Pollock to complete the new assessment before or after school or during SHIELD. E. The new score will be averaged with the original score.

Be mindful of what you re-take! Remember, you can only re-take one quiz and one test per quarter! There is no re-take for projects or graded class activities.

Assistance/Enrichment

What if I need help beyond the classroom setting?

A. Sra. Pollock is here for you. If you need extra help, speak to Sra.Pollock before/after class or e-mail her to set up an appointment for extra help before or after school. Setting up an appointment ensures that Sra. Pollock will be available and prepared with exercises and materials to help you. Remember: if you set up an appointment for help, you are expected to attend. Please notify Sra. Pollock ASAP if you need to cancel your appointment.

Discipline

This course will be a very enjoyable one for you in many aspects, but will also require your hard work and dedication to succeed. We are a team with high expectations moving towards a common goal of learning as much as possible concerning the Spanish language and associated cultures. You will notice your skills becoming more and more proficient with the endurance required to succeed. Be confident and follow the instructions in this document carefully to provide yourself with the opportunity to achieve the best! You’ll do very well if you are disciplined and dedicate yourself!

JOHN CHAMPE HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CODE

In accordance with the JCHS Honor Code, it is important for all Knight Community members to remember to practice academic integrity. Not only are students expected to complete their own work and not give or receive unauthorized assistance on assignments (written, oral, or other), Spanish students should recognize that the use of translators (electronic or other) are not permitted. When in doubt, ask Sra. Pollock for clarification before compromising your integrity and jeopardizing your grade.

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Please sign to confirm that you have read the preceding information Parents/Guardians, please feel free to include any questions or concerns that you might have at this time regarding our Spanish class.

Student Name ______________________________________________________Student Signature___________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name ________________________________________________Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________________________________