Useful Information for Mrs.

McDonough’s Spanish 4 Class

My e-mail address: danielle.mcdonough@grinnell-k12.org

Work Phone #: (641) 236-2327

OFFICE HOURS:

This will change each trimester. Students will be informed at the beginning of the
trimester what period it would be appropriate to come and see me. My prep is time that I
use wisely to prepare for future classes as well as grade papers. If you need to see me
during that time please be sure to arrange a meeting in advance. As a new student to the
High School I know that asking for help can be scary, but it is a responsibility you may
soon find necessary. Please don't be afraid to ask for help!

GRADING SCALE:

93-100% A 83-86% B 73-76% C 63-66% D

90-92% A- 80-82% B- 70-72% C- 60-62% D-
87-89% B+ 77-79% C+ 67-69% D+ 0-59% F

Your grade in my class will be broken-up into four parts and weighted according to value
of importance. If you need this explained please feel free to ask.

1.) Homework / Daily Work 20%

2.) Quizzes 25%

3.) Tests / Projects 35%

4.) Trimester Exam 20%

EVALUATION:

Your grade in this course will be based on your progress in learning to understand, speak,
read, and write the Spanish language. Consistent daily practice is essential to achieving
comprehension. Therefore, participation during class activities and completion of
assignments will make up a large portion of the grade. If you participate in class everyday
and do all assignments, you will undoubtedly do well on projects, chapter tests, and oral
presentations. You will be assessed in the following areas:

• Interpretive Communication: Listening & Reading comprehension

• Interpersonal Communication: Conversations, Asking & answering questions,

expressing opinions, Problem-solving

• Presentational Communication: Skits, Speeches, Giving directions, Recounting

events, Writing journal entries, & Brief letters

• Knowledge of Cultural Practices & Products

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS:

• RESPECT - This is an absolute must! Being disrespectful leads to disruptiveness. If I

feel that you are being disrespectful in any way towards me or your classmates, I
will ask you to leave the classroom.

• LISTENING - While others are talking, you are to be a respectful and courteous
listener. Especially if it is the teacher talking!

• PREPAREDNESS - Come to class prepared to learn each day. Always review before
class, bring ALL of the necessary classroom materials EVERY day. Spanish -
English dictionaries are provided and used in class, but you may wish to get one
of your own

• LATE WORK POLICY - You will be expected to complete ALL homework

assignments by the assigned dates. Late work will be docked 10% every day for 4
days. After that, you will only be able to receive 50% of the total points that you
earned for that assignment. This rule also applies to tests and quizzes. Any
missing or late work that is recorded as a zero and has not been completed by
three week grade checks will remain a zero.

• TEST / QUIZ EXPECTATIONS - I will give you a study guide for every test. If you
are absent the day of a test or quiz you are expected to make it up during E-
Squared or after school. Assessments for my class will not be taken outside of my
classroom.

• ASSESSMENT - Expect to have at least one project per tri. Occasional pop quizzes,
scheduled quizzes and written exams will be given for each chapter. We will
cover one unit containing two sections every three weeks.

• EXTRA CREDIT - Extra Credit opportunities are not given. It is my belief that
students should put their focus on receiving credit. If a student is interested in
enrichment opportunities, they should see me during E-Squared.

• RETAKES - Retakes are allowed on assessments at the teacher's discretion. I will

write a note on your quiz / test indicating that you need to make revisions to the
assessment. You have 3 days after getting your quiz or test back to come in during
E-Squared to make revisions for partial credit. You must have your original quiz
or test to turn in with the retake. If you can not provide this, you will not be
allowed to redo the assessment.

• TECHNOLOGY – With the implementation of student laptops, there are many

benefits and opportunities for students to be successful. However, there are some
very real and very dangerous temptations. Students should be aware that when
and if they are assigned written Spanish work, the product is to be their own
work. Students will be tempted to plug entire paragraphs into Google Translate or
 some other translation service and then turn this work in. Please be aware that at
the first offense, students may be turned-in to the office and will receive a zero on
the assignment until it is redone. If this type of cheating happens again, the
student will be turned-in to the office and then there will be no possibility to redo
the assignment.

CONCEPTOS DE ESPAÑOL 4A

Unidad 1 Lección 1
-fill out a job application / work related vocabulary
-talk about work in an office
-ask and answer work-related questions
-use the verbs ser and estar
-use direct and indirect object pronouns
-review demonstrative adjectives
-review preterite vs. imperfect
Unidad 1 Lección 2
-talk about workplace communication
-exchange work-related e-mails
-describe the ideal employee
-use reflexive pronouns
-use verbs with prepositions
-review conditional, preterite, and present perfect tenses

Unidad 4 Lección1
-talk about family and society
-discuss relationships and social problems
-use of present subjunctive in noun and adjective clauses
-present subjunctive in adverbial clauses
-review verbs with prepositions, present progressive, future
Unidad 4 Lección 2
-talk education and finances
-express attitudes about your college and financial goals
-use present perfect subjunctive
-use imperfect subjunctive
-review direct and indirect object pronouns