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Rebeca Viquez » Spanish Expectations

Spanish Expectations

This year, Decatur is excited to implement the Skyline Spanish World Language Program for our K-8 Spanish courses. This program utilizes modern materials aligned with national teaching standards, addressing the diverse needs of all students effectively.

Our Spanish curriculum follows the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards and focuses on the following key areas:

  1. Communication:
    • Interpersonal Communication: Students will practice speaking and writing in Spanish to share ideas, feelings, and opinions.
    • Interpretive Communication: Students will develop skills to understand and analyze Spanish-language materials they hear, read, and view.
    • Presentational Communication: Students will learn to present information clearly in Spanish, using various tools and adapting their message for different audiences.
  2. Cultures:
    • Relating Cultural Practices to Perspectives: Students will explore how cultural practices reflect and shape people's perspectives.
    • Relating Cultural Artifacts to Perspectives: Students will examine cultural artifacts, such as art and traditions, and understand how these reflect cultural values and beliefs.
  3. Connections:
    • Making Connections: Students will link Spanish with other subjects and use the language to gain information and new perspectives.
    • Acquiring Information and Diverse Perspectives: Students will access and evaluate information from Spanish-speaking cultures to broaden their understanding.
  4. Comparisons:
    • Language Comparisons: Students will compare Spanish with their own language to gain insights into how languages function.
    • Cultural Comparisons: Students will compare Spanish-speaking cultures with their own to deepen their understanding of different cultural perspectives.

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and engaging Spanish education that helps students communicate effectively, understand cultural contexts, and connect their language learning with broader academic and cultural experiences.

What to Expect:

  • Flexible Learning: Each lesson is designed to be adaptable, offering various ways to learn and providing extra activities and support for students who need it.
  • Universal Support: We use strategies such as mini-lessons, practice activities, engaging group work, and clear teacher guidance to help all students succeed.
 

Expectations:

In our Spanish classes, we uphold high standards to ensure a productive and enriching learning experience. Here’s what we expect from our students:

  1. Encouragement and Presence: We encourage students to embrace challenges with a positive attitude. Active participation and support for one another contribute to a collaborative and respectful learning environment.
  2. Active Learning: Students should engage fully in the learning process, using all their senses—hearing, seeing, speaking, and physical involvement—to participate meaningfully in class activities and discussions.
  3. Embracing Mistakes: Mistakes are viewed as essential to the learning process. They offer valuable opportunities for growth and improvement, helping students deepen their understanding and enhance their language skills.
  4. Daily Practice: Starting in third grade, students are encouraged to set aside a small amount of time each day to review class material and practice Spanish. Regular practice is crucial for reinforcing learning and identifying areas that need attention.

 

Grades 3-8:

To support academic success, students in grades 3 through 8 must maintain organized notebooks and folders. These materials should be brought to every Spanish class to ensure active participation and proper record-keeping. Students are also responsible for taking their notebooks home to review and practice vocabulary units regularly.

For optimal progress, students should dedicate the following amount of time each day to Spanish classwork, vocabulary review, and practice:

  • 3rd Grade: 5-10 minutes
  • 4th Grade: 10-15 minutes
  • 5th Grade: 15-20 minutes
  • 6th-8th Grade: 20-30 minutes

Consistent practice and review are essential for achieving language proficiency. The increased time commitment for 7th and 8th graders reflects the greater complexity of the material and the need for deeper engagement.

Grades K-2:

For students in grades K-2, I will model organizational skills and manage their folders within the classroom. This approach introduces younger students to the importance of organization in a supportive and structured environment.

By following these organizational practices and dedicating time to daily review, students will be well-prepared to advance in their Spanish studies and achieve their learning objectives.

Seeking Help: A Key to Success

If students have questions or need assistance with their Spanish assignments, they are encouraged to seek help. They should feel comfortable reaching out to me or their classmates. Seeking assistance is a constructive way to address challenges and enhance their learning experience. By actively seeking help, students contribute to a positive and collaborative learning environment, build confidence, and reinforce their engagement with the material.

Communication

I will provide regular updates through this website, including highlights of classroom activities and important notices.

For any questions or concerns, please contact me at [email protected]. While responses may take up to 48 hours, I will strive to address inquiries as promptly as possible. Junior high students are also encouraged to email me directly with their questions and concerns, allowing for more streamlined communication and greater student involvement in their educational experience.

 

In our Spanish classes, grading is based on the following components:

  • 40% Classwork:
    • Active Participation: Students are expected to engage fully in all activities with their best effort.
    • Respect and Preparation: Students should respect classroom space, equipment, and peers. They must come prepared with their Spanish notebooks, folders, and any other required materials in order to fully engage in class.
  • 60% Assessments:
    • Regular, Low-Stakes Assessments: Frequent checks for understanding during lessons.
    • Formal Assessments: At the end of each lesson and unit, students will take more formal assessments to evaluate their grasp of the material.
    • Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA): Each unit concludes with an IPA that assesses students’ skills in understanding, speaking, and presenting in Spanish. These assessments also help track progress over multiple units.

Absences:

  • Classwork:
    • K-5th Grades: When a student is absent, they will be marked “Excused (Exc.)” for missed classwork. Due to the interactive practices in Spanish class, such as speaking, audio listening, and group activities, missed classwork cannot be made up. We will do our best to help students catch up with projects during future classes, but individual lessons for missed classwork are not feasible.
  • Assessments:
    • K-5th Grades: If a student misses an assessment, the teacher will reach out to arrange a makeup session, which will occur during the student’s next Spanish class.
    • 6th-8th Grades: Students must email their teacher to schedule a makeup for any missed assessments and have up to two weeks to complete them. If a student scores below 70% on an assessment and wishes to retake it, the teacher will provide next steps. Missing assessments will be initially recorded as 50% in the gradebook, with a comment indicating the absence. Students have two weeks to make up the assessment; after this period, if the assessment is not completed, the grade remains 50%. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for a retake.
  • Field Trips:
    • Assessment Component: Field trips include assessments that cannot be made up. There are no options to opt out of field trips, assessments, or performances.

These policies ensure that all students are assessed fairly and have clear guidelines for making up missed work. Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping students succeed in their Spanish studies.

To prioritize classroom learning and language proficiency, homework will not be a primary component of our Spanish program. Instead, students in grades 3-8 are expected to take their Spanish notebooks home and regularly review and practice vocabulary. Proficiency will be developed during class time, with additional support provided as needed.

For guidance on the amount of time students should spend on Spanish practice at home, please refer to the "Organization and Its Importance" section. This section outlines the recommended daily practice times for different grade levels.

By focusing on in-class activities and consistent practice at home, students will build a strong foundation in Spanish. Thank you for supporting your child's language learning journey.