Course Syllabus

 Welcome to Spanish 3!  ¡Bienvenidos!

Here is some basic information on the course and what is expected from you this year.

Instructor:  Kimberly Kaufman, room 241

Contact Information: kaufmank@wellesleyps.org

Click here for your Spanish 3 Class Calendar.

Materials required for class every day:

• computer with a full charge

• headphones

• your class workbook

• a pen or pencil

• a folder or binder to file away classwork, worksheets, assessments.

How can I get help in Spanish?

• Go to the Spanish Help Lab (room 155) to get help from Sra. O'Neill - Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 ⇨ Block 1 only.

• Click on the class calendar to see when there is peer help in the Language Lab (room 155).

• Email your teacher (kaufmank@wellesleyps.org) or speak with her to make an appointment for help (block 1, @ 2:30 or during some red, blue or tan blocks).

What do I do if I am not in class?  

• Click on your class calendar to see what we did in class and make it up.

• Email or speak with your teacher to schedule a make up assessment (if you missed one).  You have two school days to make up assessments that you miss due to an excused absence.

How is my term grade computed?

25% of the term will be for Achievement Assessments (vocabulary & grammar) and homework completion.

75% of the term will be Performance Assessments (Interpretive, Presentational, Interpersonal)

Click here for the Grading Policy for Classical and Modern Languages

How is my end of year grade computed?

Term 1 = 14% of your year end grade

Term 2 = 22% of your year end grade

Term 3 = 29% of your year end grade

Term 4 = 35% of your year end grade

There is no final exam, but rather a portfolio assessment (see below).

The rationale for this increase in percentages is that what you learn in Term 1 will need to be remembered and used in Term 2, and so on, so by Term 4 you'll be required to use all the skills and information you've learned over the year.

Keep a portfolio

You should save your assessments and rubrics (essays, letters, audio recordings, video recordings, projects -> anything that is assessed and graded).  In January and in June you will have a portfolio reflection which will be your mid year and end of year assessments.  You are responsible for being able to show your progress over the year with evidence.  You will show this through written reflections and an interview with your teacher.  You may make an electronic (Google Drive) portfolio or keep papers at home and recorded items on your desktop.

What is Proficiency?  How will I learn Spanish in this class?

We will spend the year working towards proficiency.  Proficiency is the degree to which you can communicate in Spanish if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you have to speak or understand Spanish, and have had no preparation for this interaction.  For example, you don't know what the topic of conversation will be.  We will use authentic resources (videos, articles, web sites, etc.) that were created for native Spanish speakers, not for the classroom.  This will help you to be ready to go out into the world and to use your Spanish.

Rubric:  Presentational

Your grades will be computed as described in the above rubric.  Exclusive use of Spanish in class is also a large part of your grade. 

Course Themes:

Here are the the themes, essential questions and performance indicators for this year.

• Mi Casa, Mi Hogar.  [My house, my home] ¿Qué es una casa?  ¿Qué es un hogar?  ¿Cómo son las casas en otras partes del mundo?  ¿Cómo es no tener casa?  What is a home? How and where do I live?  How and where do people live in Spanish speaking countries? What are my family’s responsibilities and routines at home and how do they compare to families in Spanish speaking countries? What do I value about a home and what is it like to not have a home?

• El Medio Ambiente.  [The environment]  ¿Cómo está cambiando en el mundo?  ¿En mi comunidad?  ¿Quién tiene derecho a los recursos naturales?  I can describe what people do to help or harm the environment.  I can express my doubts and emotions about the environment.  I can describe the environmental challenges faced in other parts of the world.  I can describe the environmental challenges faced in my community.

• El Bienestar. [Health & wellbeing]  ¿Qué hago para mantenerme la salud?  ¿Cómo me ayuda mi comunidad? ¿Cómo ayudo a otros?  I can explain how to stay healthy.  I can describe how my community helps me stay mentally, physically and emotionally healthy.  I can say how I will change my lifestyle to be healthier in the future.  I can convince another person to lead a healthier life.  

• El Arte y la Música. [Art & Music]  ¿Qué es el arte?  ¿Quién decide si algo es arte?  ¿Cómo decidimos?  ¿Cómo disfrutamos del arte y de la música?  ¿Qué papel tiene el arte y la música en nuestra sociedad?  ¿Es necesario tener arte y música en la vida?  I can describe and explain my definition of "art".  I can identify and analyze the art and artistic styles of the Mexicans Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo and the Spaniards Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.  I can identify and discuss the work of architect Antonio Gaudí.  I can identify and describe music from the Spanish speaking world such as tango, merengue, salsa, mariachi and flamenco.  I can describe how I and others enjoy art.