Course Syllabus

 

Español 3 H/ACP

Señora Holcombe | Room #240 | holcombea@wellesleyps.org

Office Hours: Block A by appointment or after school by appointment. 

 

Our course goals:

Speaking: Engage in and maintain conversations on all different topics with the goal of getting your idea across.

Reading/Listening: Understanding the main idea of readings, videos and audios and finding some of the smaller details.

Writing: Write about different topics using personal experiences and opinions and connected sentences.

Cultural Awareness: Show an understanding for the Spanish speaking world including its people, what they do and what they value.

 

Course Topics:

Unit 1: What's the purpose of a house?

  • Parts of the house in the US vs in Peru
  • What people in the US and Spain did in their houses during quarantine
  • Homelessness in the US and in Argentina

Unit 2: How can I make a difference in the world?

  • Environmental problems facing the US and South America
  • Creative environmental solutions in the world

Unit 3: What does it mean to live a healthy life?

  • Healthy and unhealthy habits in the US and in the Spanish speaking world
  • Diets, exercise, school schedules and stress in the US and in the Spanish speaking world
  • The role of mental health in the US and in the Spanish speaking world

Expectations:

#1 Phones go in the Phone Parking Station before class begins.

#2 Arrive on time. If you are going to be late, make sure you bring a pass from the office/nurse/another teacher. 

#3 Every day make sure you bring the following:

  • charged laptop
  • our course packet
  • a pen/pencil
  • headphones/earbuds
  • folder or binder to organize your materials. 

#4 Speak in Spanish. Our goal is to be 90% or more in Spanish. This becomes easier over time.

#5 Prepare for assessments. You will always get a rubric with a set of expectations. We will go over it in class and make sure you are really prepared.

#6 Get the help you need. You are always welcome to write drafts, ask me questions, do a practice assessment or anything to get extra help. My goal is for you to do well in this class! There are times for extra help during the school day posted below. 

#7 Make up missed material. If you miss class, be sure to check Canvas to make up any assignments or material, and contact your teacher with questions. 

#8 Be respectful of your classmates and teacher at all times.

 

Grading:

90% Performance Assessments: These are tasks where you actually use the language

Examples could include:

  • Interpretive Reading/Listening (reading an article/watching a video and answering questions)
  • Interpersonal Speaking (a conversation with a small group)
  • Presentational Writing/Speaking (writing an essay/making a short presentation)

10% Achievement Assessments: These are tasks where you show what you know about the language

Examples could include:

  • Vocabulary quizzes
  • Grammar check ins
  • Participation rubrics
  • Homework checks

 

On a performance assessment students can receive one of these grades:

Grade of A or A- means you show consistent evidence of leveling up with more advanced language

Grade of B or B- means you thoroughly meet the targeted standard

Grade of C or C- means you are approaching the targeted standard

Grade of D or D- means you are showing partial ability or incomplete work and should redo the assignment at a later date  

 

Term Weighting:

We believe that learning a language is cumulative. With that in mind, the department policy states that each term is worth a different percentage of the final grade. The first term is worth the least and the fourth term is worth the most. This is meant to help you show growth as the year goes on. The term weights are as follows:

Term 1: 12%

Term 2: 19%

Term 3: 26%

Term 4: 31%

FE: 12%

 

Honors and Advanced College Placement differences:

In this Spanish 3 classroom, some students are registered for Spanish 3 Honors and others are registered for Spanish 3 ACP.  Here is what you will notice:

  • All students will use the same workbook, receive the same instruction and participate in the same classroom activities.
  • For all performance assessments, if a student Meets the Standard, this is calculated as a B for Honors and as an A for ACP.  In order for an Honors student to score an A, they need to Level Up on the rubric.  All rubrics can be found in your class workbook.
  • There may be some differentiation between Honors and ACP on Achievement Quizzes and assignments.
  • Your decision to stay in Honors or move into ACP must be decided and communicated to your School Counselor by October 15.

 

Extra Help:

1. You can make an appointment with me for extra help during A block or after school.

2. Drop in times in the language lab are available as well on this schedule:

Room 155 - Block A

Day 1

Day 3

Day 5

Day 6

French and Spanish 

Spanish and French

Spanish

Spanish

Ms. Laborde-Casterot

Mr. Travers

Ms. DiPietro

Ms. Kaufman

 

What can I do in this drop in lab? (no appointment is necessary - just drop in!)

  • get help preparing for any type of assessment   
  • get help with classwork or homework    
  • hang out and practice speaking in the language you're studying   
  • review past assignments