Welcome to 7^th & 8^th grade Spanish with Mr. Hargis –Bienvenidos a la clase de español con Señor Hargis

Learning Spanish:

My goals are to help you :
1) learn as much Spanish as possible without being overwhelmed
2) learn strategies for acquiring another language
3) learn that the world is bigger than you think it is now
4) be prepared for whatever language class you have next year

In order to accomplish these goals, we will be practicing in several different ways, such as reading, writing, speaking, listening, practicing vocabulary and grammar, and doing projects based on real world experiences.

Every one of you can learn Spanish. The best habit you can develop is to ask a specific question whenever you don’t understand something. Ask this question to anyone who knows more Spanish than you do. There is more than one person in the classroom (or in your life) who can teach you Spanish. Help each other out, and get help from others.

Spanish is a cumulative subject. That means that the topics you learn now will reappear for the rest of your Spanish career. To illustrate this idea, let’s think about math class. In math, you still need to remember how to add and subtract when you do the more complicated problems. Similarly, in Spanish, you need to remember all the easy stuff while you’re learning how to do the harder stuff. This means that you must ask questions whenever you don’t understand.

You understand a concept well enough when you can teach it to someone else. Use this idea as a gauge for whether you know a topic well enough or whether you need to continue to practice and to ask questions.

There are three strategies you’ll need for learning Spanish.
1) Vocabulary - Figure out what method works for you (i.e. flash cards, writing each word several times, drawing pictures & labeling them).
2) Conjugating – This word is a fancy way of saying “change the ending on the verb so it matches with the subject.” Figure out what word to start with (called the “infinitive”), what letters to remove, and what letters to add. Use www.conjuguemos.com to practice.
3) Putting sentences together – You can’t translate word for word from English, so you’ll gradually figure out the patterns that Spanish has. Keep your sentences simple in the meantime.

I love the Spanish language and Spanish & Hispanic culture. I understand that people have strengths in different areas, and that your areas of strength may not include Spanish. My brother and sister and best friends only speak a little bit of Spanish, but they have talents in other areas that I don’t. You may be more similar to my brother and sister and friends than to me, so when I help you, I’ll try to use whichever methods will help you most. I’ll also use what you already know about Spanish and help you add to it.

To learn another language, you will have two types of teachers: a native speaker and a non-native speaker. The non-native speaker can identify with you and can how to learn the grammar. A native speaker is a great teacher when you’re more advanced because that teacher knows intuitively what sounds right and has perfect pronunciation. In this class, you’ll get some of each type of teacher. I’m a non-native speaker, but I did live in Spain for three years, and my wife is from there, so I feel like I’m almost a native. I’m hoping to bring in friends of mine that are native Spanish speakers as guest speakers as well. We’re also looking into using Rosetta Stone software, which offers hands-on practice with native speakers of different countries. Please look at the demo at www.rosettastone.com and let me know what you think about it.

Classroom Guidelines:

Here are several ideas we all need to keep in mind in order to have a great year together.

Respect: Please practice the following idea – Respect people. Respect property. Respect the learning process. Respect people means that you treat others how you want to be treated. For example, be polite to others, even if they may not be your favorite people. In class, when someone is addressing the group (whether it be a teacher or a student), recognize that that’s not a good time to talk to the person next to you. Respect property means that you are careful with anything that does not belong to you and that you ask permission before touching another student’s belongings. Respect the learning process means that students and teachers are patient, courteous, and helpful to students who are practicing something they haven’t yet mastered.

Beginning of Class: When it’s time for Spanish, please line up outside the door. When you are invited in, unload all materials you need for the class from your backpack and hang it up on a hook. When all hooks are taken, place backpacks on the floor directly in front of those on hooks. Get all your materials; returning to your backpack is disruptive. Then, please find your assigned seat, put your homework on your desk, and begin bell work.

Bell Work: Bell work is a short task on the board that you’ll complete in your bell work notebook. It will be worth 2 points per class period. After we go over the task, you’ll put your bell work notebook back for me to review. I may review several bell work assignments at once, so don’t panic if you don’t get points or a response before your next Spanish class.

Seats: Please sit in your assigned seats so that I can learn your names quickly and take roll. If you are not in your seat, you will be marked tardy in IC. We’ll change the seating chart later this year.

Dress Code: One of the teachers’ jobs is to enforce the school’s dress code. If you are not following the dress code, you will receive a dress code violation slip. Please don’t be angry with a teacher or aide who gives you the dress code violation slip; they’re just doing their job. By the way, part of the contract your parents signed when they enrolled you at the school says that you will follow the dress code whenever you are in the school building. If you get a dress code violation slip, just change what you do so that you don’t get more.

Pens/Pencils: For each class, please bring two different writing implements because sometimes we will practice something and do the corrections in a different color. This way, I can differentiate between what you were able to do on your own and what you did after corrections. I do not have extra pens or pencils, so if you are without, then you need to ask a friend. It’s moments like these where the respect you’ve given your classmates can pay off because if you’ve been respectful to them, they are more likely to lend you a pen. There is also no pencil sharpener in the room, so if you’re the type of person who needs to have a razor sharp point at all times, then bring your own handheld sharpener to use.

Bathroom: When you need to use the bathroom, put your hand on your head so that I know you need to use the restroom. Once I recognize your hand on your head, take the bathroom pass and go. There is no need to ask permission because asking me disrupts what we’re doing in class. If the pass is gone, then you need to wait until the person with it returns. Please choose an appropriate time to get the bathroom pass. For example, when I’m explaining what’s on a quiz, that’s not a good time to leave.

Water: You may have a closed water bottle on the floor where I will not kick it, or you may use the bathroom pass to use the drinking fountain. Drinks other than water are not allowed in the classroom.

Gum: Chewing gum is not permitted at school unless you have a note from your orthodontist. The Middle School teachers have agreed that the consequence for chewing gum in the school building is one detention.

Group Work: You will be working in groups often, and the groups will rarely be the same. Working well in groups is a skill you’ll need in the future, such as when you have a job and have to cooperate with colleagues. We’re going to practice developing that skill here.

Planners: Bring your planner each day because you’ll write your assignments in your planner each class.

Homework: There will be something for you to prepare, practice, or study each class day. If you do your homework, you will probably get at least a C- in the class even if you fail every quiz. Please get in the habit of completing all assignments on time because it will pay off in all your classes for as long as you are a student.

Headings on Assignments: On assignments that are turned in, please write your first name, last name, and class period (i.e. – 2^nd period). If this information is not on your assignments, I may unintentionally give your points to someone else.

Late Work: I will follow the school’s policies for late work. Assignments are due at the beginning of Spanish class on their due date. If you turn in an assignment up to 1 day late, then you receive half credit for the assignment. If you turn it in 2 or more days late, you do not get any points.

Make Up Work: If you are absent, you are responsible for getting your assignments and finding out what you missed. Check your planner, the Hargis page on the school’s website, and ask several reliable classmates. If you learn that I gave out a handout while you were absent, please ask for it at a time when I’m not occupied with several other tasks.

No Name Folder: There is a “no name” folder on the bookshelf. If there is an assignment that doesn’t have a name on it, I will put it in this folder. Check this folder if you do not receive credit for an assignment that you think you turned in.

Dismissal: During the last few minutes of class, we’ll recap what we did and we’ll talk about future classes. I’ll give you time to pack up, and I’ll dismiss the class at the appropriate time. I’ve known how to tell time for twice as long as you’ve been alive, so there is no need to tell me what time it is.

Grades: Your grade is based on how many points you earn (the numerator) divided by how many total points possible (the denominator). Different assignments are worth different amounts of points, and there will be about 300 points per quarter. You may check your grade for each task in Infinite Campus. If you feel I have made a mistake, please let me know (politely), and we will find a solution to the problem. Wow, look at all these opportunities you have to practice being respectful…

Communication with me: Please feel free to email me. My school email is hargisd@academycharter.org, which is also on the school’s website. My home email is donphargis@msn.com. I check my home email almost every day, and I check my school email on school days. Whenever I get an email from you, I will reply. If you do not get a reply, then that means that I didn’t receive the email. Phone calls are not good because I’m always teaching and can’t stop class to talk to you or a parent.

Class times:
7^th grade - Spanish on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Academic Assistance on Tuesday & Thursday
8^th grade - Spanish every day except Wednesday & Academic Assistance on Wednesday

During class: During non-instructional times, you may get what you need in the classroom without bothering other students. This includes getting Kleenex, sharpening pencil, getting paper, books or other supplies. Students are expected to stay on task at all times. There will be a daily agenda to refer to so that you know exactly what you are responsible for doing. If I call your name to come back to my desk, please come immediately, and when we finish, you can return to what you were doing. And lastly, always respect other’s things! Please do not touch things that are not yours, including anything on or around my desk. Violators will be prosecuted.

End of class: We do not have bells in middle school, therefore please allow me to be the one to tell you when you can begin getting your things ready for the end of class. Before being dismissed, I expect the room to be as you found it. I want all books neatly put away (facing the same way) and all papers and other materials removed from the floor.

Other important information: Passes to leave the room are required no matter where you are going. Please see me if you need to leave for any reason besides to go to the restroom or get a drink. Also, classroom phones are never to be used by a student. They are strictly for staff use. Cell phones should never be visible or audible during class time. Lastly, passing periods are two minutes, which is enough time to get a drink and use the bathroom and get in line outside your classroom.

Academic Assistance: On the days when you do not have Spanish class, you will still come to the Spanish classroom for Academic Assistance or Second Step. During AA, you can work on your assignments from any class. I can help you with questions you have about any subject. If you think you don’t have any assignments to work on, check your planner or work on an assignment that’s due later. If you do not work on homework, then bring a book to read.

Second Step: Second Step meets during Academic Assistance time about once a month. The school counselor has activities to do with you that help with skills and techniques to help you to interact as best as possible with others this year and in the future. You will not be able to work on homework during Second Step, but you will be given a schedule that says when you have Second Step and when you have Academic Assistance.

Types of Assignments:

Bellwork: 2 points per class
Homework: 5 points per assignment
Experiencia Projects: 10 points per month. There is a different topic each month, and they are due at the end of each month. Please see the additional handout or the school’s website for an explanation.
Writing Assignments: 5 points for 1^st draft, 5 points for 2^nd draft (because they’re homework assignments) and 10-15 points for the final draft. There will be 2-3 writing assignments per quarter. Please see the additional handout or the school’s website for an explanation.
Quizzes: There will be a quiz every 1-2 weeks. Each quiz will be on one topic, so it should be easy to prepare for it and to show off what you have learned. Quizzes will be 25-50 points each. Since you and your classmates know different amounts of Spanish, there will be an easy version and a harder version of most quizzes. You’ll take whichever one is the appropriate level for you, and you’ll know ahead of time how to prepare for it.
Extra Credit: There will be extra credit opportunities throughout the year, and they can really add up if you choose to take advantage of them. The most predictable extra credit will be getting additional Experiencia Project points. You may get 15 extra credit points each quarter. You may also get 1 point of extra credit for each quiz that you have signed by a parent/guardian. Yet another extra credit opportunity is after you’re done reading this handout, if you email me telling me 1) what part of this handout was most appreciated and/or 2) what part of this handout can be improved, I’ll add 1 point to your 1^st quarter grade.

High School sneak preview:

When you start high school, you can take another language, or you’ll take Spanish 1, 1a, 1b, or 2. What level I’ll recommend for you to be in depends on how much Spanish you learn in Middle School.

Here’s a chart that shows the two most typical high school scenarios.

	9^th	10^th	11^th	12^th
Start high school in Level 1	Spanish 1	Spanish 2	Spanish 3	Spanish 4 (possible SAT II)
Start high school in Level 2	Spanish 2	Spanish 3	Spanish 4 (possible SAT II)	Spanish 5 (AP test & possible college credit)

12^th grade Spanish might be optional

I was just like you when I was learning Spanish. I had my first Spanish class in 9th grade, and I just kept at it, each year adding more bits of knowledge to what I already knew. I continued studying Spanish in college and eventually studied in Madrid, Spain while working on a second bachelor’s degree.

In Middle School at ACS, we work on topics in a typical Spanish 1 course. Some students will know these concepts well enough to be placed in Spanish 2 as 9^th graders, but don’t assume that the duration of time that you’ve taken Spanish will guarantee a Spanish 2 placement. It depends on whether you have mastered the necessary topics. I will not recommend you for a course that will be too hard for you because I want you to succeed, not to be overwhelmed. Keep in mind that in 9^th grade you will have many other classes and activities that will require your energy. If you are placed in Spanish 1 for 9^th grade, the first few months of that class should be easy for you, but then it will get harder as you practice topics that you haven’t seen in Middle School.

Typical Spanish 1 course: basic conversation, pronunciation, a lot of vocabulary, conjugating verbs in 4 tenses (present, easy future, progressive, and 1 of the past tenses), start to master the patterns of how sentences are put together correctly

Typical Spanish 2 course: mastery of all of the above, 9 more tenses, read short stories in Spanish. This course is grammar intensive.

Typical Spanish 3 course: mastery of all of the above, start to read short novels and poetry in Spanish. At this level, your Spanish class starts to become more of a literature course than a grammar course.

Typical Spanish 4 course: mastery of all of the above, class is done all in Spanish, read novels in Spanish, possibly take the SAT II test.

Typical Spanish 5 course: mastery of all of the above, class is done all in Spanish, possibly take a Spanish AP test for possible college credit.

Bueno, eso es todo. Buena suerte a todos los alumnos de ACS este año y que aprendáis mucho.