¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español dos!


How can I be successful in this class?

1. Do your best to understand and speak Spanish in class. We are aiming for 80-90% Spanish speaking.
2. Work outside of class every day and try and practice Spanish in your home and at school.
3. Come prepared for class, take notes, participate, and do not distract others.
4. If you need to miss school, get caught up by getting on CANVAS, but better yet, don't miss school :)
5. Señor Austin will repsect you, you must respect yourself, your peers, and him.
6. Use the online resources to practice Spanish at home.   You do have HOMEWORK every night.   You will be spending minimum of 15 minutes practicing vocabulary, listening to Spanish, reading in Spanish, using an app (Duolingo) in Spanish etc DAILY. You will do much better on quizzes and pick up the language faster if you are studying at home. We will be keeping track of your at-home practice and it will go towards your grade.

BEHAVIOR:

Students have the right to learn in an environment as safe and free from distractions as possible. Consequently, behavior which detracts from this type of environment will not be tolerated.  Students are expected to follow the mitigation plans for COVID-19 that are established in the classroom. I know this is hard but we are in this together. The school's tardy and truancy policies will be enforced. Citizenship grades will reflect in-class behavior (including work ethic) and the tardy and truancy policies.

Consequences for making bad choices in the classroom may include, but are not limited to, conference with me, changing seats, spending time before school working in my classroom, spending time in another teacher’s classroom, parent contact, conference with a parent and me, and referral to administration.


GRADING:

The portal will be updated regularly and serve as grade and citizenship notification. Please allow extra time for updates when turning in late work. Grades will be earned according to the following scale.

Grading Scale:  
90-100% =A
80-89% =B
70-79%=C
50-69%=D
<50%=F

MATERIALS:

Students are expected to come to class everyday with:
-CHARGED Chromebook
-lined paper or notebook
-pencil or pen

*We will use the Chromebook everyday, but it is also important to have paper and something to write with to take notes. Writing things down helps you remember them.

PLUG IN EARBUDS:

YOU WILL ONLY USE your PLUG IN earbuds to watch teach approved videos in Spanish that are part of your Canvas Modules or to any other teacher instructed activity. If you don't have access to your own ear buds, I will have some available for you to use that I will sanitize each time between uses. But it would still be best to have your own to help prevent the spread of germs.

*Airpods and other wireless headphones are not allowed in any classroom. This is school-wide policy now. They must be kept out of sight and off your person.

CELL PHONE USE POLICY:

Students will not be permitted to use their cellphones in class. I understand if there is an emergency. If a student needs to be contacted for an emergent situation, please call the front office and have your student called down to use the desk phone. We will follow the school’s cell phone policy as outlined in the Sand Ridge Jr High Student’s Handbook. Phones should be OFF (not on silent or vibrate) and in the student’s bag (not on their person). If I see a student's phone, or if a phone sounds in class, this will result in a loss of class participation points and potentially a demerit in citizenship for repeated offences. In addition to the loss of daily participation points and citizenship demerits, we will be implementing the 3 Strike Policy.

1st Strike - The students’ cellphone will be confiscated and will be returned to the student at the end of the class that same day. Parents will be notified via email the day of the strike.

2nd Strike - The students’ cellphone will be confiscated and will be returned to the student at the end of that same school day. Students may collect their cell phones before 3:00 PM in our classroom. Any phones left after this time will be waiting for the student in the front office. Parents will be notified via email the day of the strike.

3rd Strike - The students’ cellphone will be confiscated and will only be returned to the students’ parent or guardian. The cellphone will be taken to the front office promptly after school for parents to pick up from a member of administration. Parents will be notified via email the day of the strike.

Any offences thereafter may result in school suspension. Strikes do not reset and are accumulated for the entire year. Please help your students be responsible for their electronic devices.

OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The 3 Strike Policy applies to all other electronic devices in class, including unauthorized use of school assigned Chromebooks. We will be using our Chromebooks in this course. It will be made clear to students when they are allowed to have their Chromebooks out of their bags. If a student is using a Chromebook for any unauthorized activity during the times we are using our Chromebooks, they will gain an additional strike and their Chromebook will be confiscated.

PERMISION:

We will be using several apps that have been approved by the district. Since most of my students are in 7th grade and they haven't turned 13  yet, I would like to get your approval to use the following apps:  Pear Deck, Near Pod, Duolingo, Gimkit, Blooket, and EdPuzzle. Also, there is much focus on culture of Latin America and Spain in my classroom. It may be necessary to show video clips or films of educational merit and of a G or PG rating. I understand that my student will be viewing video clips or films that are rated G or PG in part or whole, as part of the class curriculum. The signed receipt gives my approval for all PG video clips or films shown in Sr. Austin’s class. Also by signing this form, you agree to your student's use of the district approved apps in Canvas.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at ziaustin@wsd.net

I am a new teacher this year and I am so excited to teach you. I know learning a second language is extremely difficult, if it weren't then a whole lot more people would be bilingual, but I know you can do it. The advantages and opportunities that bilingualism will grant you are HUGE! Like job opportunities, raises and higher salaries, world travel, and so much more! If you apply yourself and do the extra work necessary you can do anything and Spanish can become a tool to help you achieve your dreams.

We are going to have so much fun in this class. Tendremos un buen año, ¡prepárense!