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Contact Information:
Susan Bonner
Maestra de espanol, Portable 4
Phone:  361-4372 ext. 6891
Email:     susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org

Introduction                  
Welcome to my Homepage. This site is designed to give you some background information about myself as well as to help students and parents in my Spanish and Social Studies classes. I have a B.A. in political science and a minor in Spanish from my undergraduate work. I have travelled extensively throughout Europe and Central America. In addition,  I have a law degree  from the University of Washington and a Masters in Education degree from Western Washington University. I practiced law for seven years before getting my teaching certificate. This is my fifth year at Shorewood High School where I am currently teaching Spanish 1. 


Schedule: 
I am a part-time teacher and am here on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. My schedule on those days is 7:30-1:00. I am usually here later than that as well.

I am also available before school, during STAR or at other times by appointment. Please feel free to contact me at any time to schedule an appointment. Email is the quickest way to reach me to talk about any concerns or questions you have. My email address is susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org. I do often check my email even on the days I am not working.

Homework and Grades
This site also allows you to  view daily homework assignments (under the "Events" tab), test dates, and to check  grades. Shoreline School District is in the process of changing their grading system. You will soon receive log-in information and a password in the mail. Once you have that, you will be able to access on-line grades at http://dashboard.shorelineschools.org/ShorelineStudents.  Please feel free to  contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Syllabus: This is the course syllabus for the semester:   

Spanish 1

Espanol 1 Syllabus
    Shorewood High School 2009-2010
    Profesora Bonner (susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org)
   
WELCOME to a brand new year!  In this class we will be covering a broad spectrum of content.  In order to make this a fantastic learning experience for you and your classmates, here are some of the expectations and things you will need to know for the school year.

Course Description
Spanish 1 is a year-long course designed to introduce students to the study of Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Students will develop beginning skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking the Spanish language. In addition, students will study various aspects of Hispanic culture. The class will focus on building basic vocabulary for everyday use, understanding elementary spoken and written Spanish, practicing basic speaking skills, and examining different aspects of Hispanic culture.

Course Objectives
The goals for this course include:
•    Developing basic reading and writing skills in the Spanish language
•    Developing an understanding of basic spoken Spanish
•    Developing basic speaking skills
•    Building grammar skills and Spanish vocabulary
•    Fostering an appreciation of different cultures

Required Student Materials
The materials listed below are necessary for you to participate in class. You are expected to have these materials in class every day.
•    Textbook: Gahala, Estella, Patricia Carlin, Audrey Heining-Boynton, Ricardo Otheguy, and Barbara Rupert. Avancemos! Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2007.
•    Composition notebook used only for Spanish
•    Pen or pencil
•    Class binder: to store handouts and all returned work. You are required to keep all returned work until the end of the year. If I have forgotten to record an assignment, you must be able to show it to me to receive credit.
•    Spanish dictionary (Larousse is a good brand)
•    Laptop (unless you have opted out)

Grading Procedures
Final grades are based on a standard scale:
        B+    87 – 89    C+    77 – 79%    D+    67 - 69
A     93 – 100%    B    83 – 86    C    73 - 76    D    60 – 66
A-    90 – 92     B-    80 – 82    C-    70 - 72    F    59 and below

Points throughout the semester will be calculated as follows:

     Participacion/trabajo dentro de la clase  Participation/Classwork        30%
Students will be given a maximum of 10 participation points per week based on the combination of oral participation and cooperation. See the back page of this course description for a delineation of participation grades.
     Examenes/Pruebas    Tests/Quizzes                      25%
Students will be frequently assessed through quizzes and tests. These will include both oral and written assessments of language acquisition skills focusing on comprehension, fluency, grammar, and use of vocabulary.

Cuadernos   Notebooks                            15%
Each student must keep a composition notebook, which they will bring to class daily.  This class is designed to build on itself and it is imperative that students keep their notebooks organized and take notes during class. Student notebooks will be periodically collected for a grade.

Tarea/Proyectos   Homework/Projects                    30%
Students should expect to have written homework assignments daily.  Work does not need to be done perfectly, as errors are a normal part of the learning process. Nevertheless, all written work should be done and done with care, practicing the grammar we are studying.  Incomplete work is not accepted. 

During the course of the year we will work toward the completion of some projects. Projects and presentations will afford students the opportunity to practice and refine the grammatical points being studied and to express themselves creativity. Some projects will include group work.

Informes Culturales       Cultural Reports
Part of learning another language is learning about the cultures where that language is spoken. We will be learning about the origins of Spanish, where it is spoken and about different cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. Students will complete two culture credits per semester.  In order to complete these culture credits, students will need to explore aspects of Hispanic culture by attending events related to the Hispanic world.  A variety of options will be discussed in class including: visiting Spanish-speaking establishments, listening to Spanish radio, viewing Spanish television, or cooking an authentic dish from a Spanish-speaking country.

Late Work
Students are expected to hand in all work on time at the beginning of class on the due date.  Assignments turned in at the end of class are considered late.  With few exceptions, late work is NOT accepted. The only exception to this is if you have an excused absence. In that case, you have the number of days you were absent to make up the work. Assignments with a long-standing due date such as scheduled presentations, culture credits and major projects are due on the established day–no exceptions (even if you are absent).  The instructor may ask that some assignments be handed in electronically.

Portfolios
In accordance with Shorewood High School policy and in order to complete graduation requirements associated with the Culminating Exhibition, students will be required to put one assignment per semester in their Portfolio in the Career Center.  This may include projects, poems, cultural reports, essays, tests or quizzes.  We may occasionally go as a class to the Career Center to put projects in Portfolios but students are also expected to go on their own to submit work.  The verification form must be completed and turned in each semester to receive credit for submitting Portfolio entries.

Plagiarism
The World Language department expects students will abide by Shoreline District policy #3302 regarding Ethics and Honesty and policy #3300 regarding Student Conduct and Corrective Actions for Misconduct.  Consequences for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd offenses are in the Student Handbook found on the Shorewood website.

Academic dishonesty includes forgery, plagiarism and cheating.  The World Language department reminds students that the use of translators (human or electronic) constitutes plagiarism. 

Attendance
Your attendance is your responsibility.  When you are gone for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to check the Daily Class Record book kept in class, which details what was covered in class and what each day’s assignment is.  You can get copies of missed homework in the file folders behind the notebook. You can also look on my website to find out the homework for the day you missed, ask your classmates for information or see me before school or during lunch. It is your responsibility to complete and turn in missed class work and homework.  For each day you have an excused absence you are allowed one class period to turn in homework and class work for normal credit.  Participation points earned during a role-play or presentation cannot normally be made up.  Work missed during unexcused absences (including exams or in-class work) cannot be made up and will receive a zero. Test and quizzes must be made up within one day of your return.

Tardies
 Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings both at the beginning and at the end of class. The first five to ten minutes of class is a silent time when the students will independently complete the warm-up activity. These few minutes allow me to take roll and take care of any class business. I expect your complete cooperation. If students choose to talk during this time, they will be marked tardy. You can clear a tardy by coming in for ten minutes during STAR periods or before school to assist me with certain jobs.  Making up tardies either during STAR or before or after the school day must be arranged in advance with the teacher.

Electronics policy
All music equipment, cell phones, pagers must be off and out of sight during class.  I will give you ONE verbal warning and on your next offense, I will “hold” onto it for you for at least 24 hours.  You should only have your laptop out during appropriate times and then only be using it for class work.

Communication
The address for my website is:  http://learn.shorelineschools.org/shorewood/sbonner/index.php.
Information on the class, including homework (under the “Events” tab) and grades, can be found here. Grades are updated approximately once a week. Your password to access your grade is your student ID number preceded by enough zeros to make 8 digits. I am a part-time teacher, teaching three days a week: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  The best way to reach me is by email at susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to a great year with all of you!

Participation Points

10/10     Student speaks Spanish most of the time and only uses English after asking for permission to do so.  It is evident that this student is trying to learn and improve.  Student is creative with the language, uses new vocabulary in conversation and participates frequently.  Student shows respect for the teacher and other students.  Student arrives on time, is prepared for class and behaves appropriately, giving 100% attention to learning.  Electronic devices are shut off and put away during class without any reminders and student understands and respects correct and on-task use of laptops in class.
       
9/10    Student speaks Spanish frequently, but occasionally has to be reminded to speak only Spanish during class.  Student participates daily and shows respect for the teacher and others. Student behaves appropriately, arrives on time, is prepared with materials and pays attention.  Student does not use electronic devices during class and is on-task when laptops are used.

8/10    Student participates, but only when directly called upon. Often chooses to speak in English.  Student behaves appropriately, but sometimes arrives late and unprepared for learning and without all materials. Student is occasionally off-task or working on other assignments and may have to be reminded about the use of electronic devices during class.

7/10    Student participates, but not voluntarily, and speaks English during oral activities. Talks to classmates during lesson or quiet time, and needs to be reminded to stay on task. Student sometimes comes late and/or chooses to be off-task, and has to be asked to turn off and put away electronic devices during class.  Student violates the correct, on-task use of laptops in class.
     
6/10    Student is often off-task, behaves inappropriately and is somewhat inconsiderate and disrespectful to the teacher and/or other students. Student makes very little effort to speak Spanish and does not participate voluntarily nor when called upon to do so.
Student arrives late, is unprepared and inattentive. Student works on other subjects or writes notes during class and appears to be uninterested in improving.  Student violates correct use of laptops as a learning tool in class and disregards policies on the use of  electronic devices in class.

















Please have you and your parent sign the contract below to indicate that you have read the syllabus. Return the signed contract to me for points.
___________________________________________________________________________________






CONTRACT

Student Name (Print):

____________________________________________     Period: ___

“I have read through and understand the policies and procedures stated in the course
expectations and will try to the best of my abilities to fulfill them.  Should I fail to do so at any time, I accept the consequences for any action that go against the stated policies.”

Student Signature: ___________________________________     Date: 


“I have read through and understand the procedures and policies outlined for this classroom, and support the learning environment set up in this classroom.”

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________    Date: 

Name (Print):_______________________________________________________    

Daytime Phone Number(s):  ______________________________________________ 

Email Address (please print neatly):