K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Course
Information

Welcome to Mrs. Heatons Exploratory German online class! It is intended for students grades 3-6 and is an
entirely online course. This is an introductory course with no prior knowledge of German needed to enjoy
learning with us.
You can access our learning management system for The Language Academy at www.lifelongjoy.weebly.com.
We will be using mostly online resources and embedded activities. However, you may also refer to our textbook
Komm mit! Holt German Level 1, which should be requested from your local Educational Service District before
the first day of class. This will be helpful in our exploration of German.
Office hours: Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Please do not hesitate to call during office hours or e-mail at any time. I will respond promptly to ensure that
your questions get answered and you can move forward with your language adventure!

Lokey-Vega (2014)

K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Teacher
Communication

E-mail me any time of day at heatont@lifelongjoy.com. I will respond within

24 hours Monday through Friday. Also, you may call or text me at 541-728-XX25 if you have any questions. Please
only call during the office hours of 9 a.m. 5 p.m.

Course
Description

This course is designed to be an eight week introduction to German. Students in grades 3-6 who choose this course
as an enrichment opportunity will learn basic German words and phrases. Students will learn to read, understand
through listening, speak, and write greetings/goodbyes, introductions, colors, numbers, and days of the week.
It is my desire that the students learn their own language better through the study of German as well!

Research demonstrates that as students come to understand how language works through their learning of a
second or third language,
their understanding of and attention to language conventions and functions expands and has an impact on
applications in their first language. (ACTFL.org, 2012, accessed February 13, 2015)

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K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Learning
Outcomes

Topics by Week

1. The learner will be able to (TLWBAT) identify greetings and goodbyes with 95% accuracy while listening to
dialogue in German.
2. TLWBAT match numbers they hear in German from 0-10 with the numeral with 95% accuracy as shown by
an online matching quiz.
3. TLWBAT recite the numbers from 0-10 orally to teacher with 100% accuracy.
4. TLWBAT understand basic classroom commands and demonstrate his/her ability to follow commands with
100% accuracy through an online Skype interaction between student and teacher.
5. TLWBAT give an oral presentation in which he/she demonstrates understanding of greeting, introductions,
and goodbyes with fewer than 4 pronunciation errors. (Aligns with ACTFL standards for learning a language
and ELA Common Core Standards ACTFL.org, Presentational Communication standard 1.3) **Note: This
may be in the form of a dialogue the student has written and memorized or they may choose to interview and
be interviewed by the teacher in a role play set up.
6. TLWBATscore 90% or better on a cumulative online quiz which demonstrates his/her ability to match German
basic phrases to English equivalents.
7. TLWBAT say the German alphabet with 95% accuracy in pronunciation of sounds.
8. TLWBAT recite the the days of the week in German orally to teacher with 100% accuracy.
9. When shown a picture of a color on an online interactive quiz, TLWBAT click and drag the color name in
German with 100% accuracy.

Lokey-Vega (2014)

Week 1 -- Greetings, goodbyes, and introductions

Week 2 -- German alphabet and numbers 0-10
Week 3 Days of the week, calendar
Week 4 Review / Ask and respond to how you are doing
Week 5 Introduce self and others.
Week 6 Describe how they are doing. / Colors.
Week 7 Asking and answering questions, What is your name? and How old are you? Begin
dialogue writing or preparing for instructor interview.
Week 8 Dialogue practice and presentation. / End of course online quiz.

K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Expectations of
Student
Participation

Student
Communication
Expectations

Students are expected to do the following:

1. Login three days a week to complete the weeks objectives.
2. Complete weekly quizzes and submit to Mrs. Heaton online.
3. Write your original response to the forum question/s for the week.
4. Upload all assignments including videos on time to the dropbox. See course calendar for due dates and
assignments.
5. Arrive at scheduled interview on time and prepared.
1. Students are expected to be punctual in turning in assignments and prepared for weekly instructor interaction
whether via forum postings or online interviews/dialogues.
2. Students will ask for help when needed via forums in interacting with other students or by communicating via
e-mail or phone call to the instructor.
3. Students will respect the rights of other students to learn.
4. Students will be kind and respectful in peer interaction online.
5. Students will give the class his/her best effort by completing all work.
6. Students will be positive and kind in weekly forum interactions.

Late Work Policy

Late work will not be accepted because it is critical to keep up with the pacing of the course. Each week builds upon
the previous week. Students will have the natural consequence of being unable to complete the final dialogue
project if all weekly work is not finished. If an assignment cannot be submitted on time due to illness or technical
difficulties, please discuss this over the phone with Mrs. Heaton.

Grading Policy

All assignments carry equal weight. Assignments include quizzes, forum posts, practice pages, and a final oral
project worth 20% of your grade.
The Grading Scale is as follows for The Language Academy:
90%-100% A
80%-89% B
70%-79% C
69% and lower will require intervention

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K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Assessments

Academic
Honesty

Assessment quizzes will be given after each objective has been taught. This will include a minimum of 1 quiz per
week. Students will be required to engage in discussion forums 3 days out of the week.
Students will also be required to post a video demonstrating that they can master whatever skill was covered for that
week.
Quizzes will be graded automatically as they are taken online.
Students must demonstrate their ability in discussion forums to use the language they are learning. (See scoring
rubric at lifelongjoy.weebly.com.)
Videos on weekly topics will also be scored via a rubric found at lifelongjoy.weebly.com
Final project assessment will also be scored with a rubric.

Lokey-Vega (2014)

Coursework must be completed independently without help from the Learning Coach.
Please notify Mrs. Heaton when you have used outside help for an assignment and what kind of assistance
was needed.
If the student cheats, he or she will be warned once. If repeated offenses occur, the student will not be
allowed to complete the course. No credit will be given.
Any resources or research that students use must be cited. Failure to do so is plagiarism and will result in a
failing grade on the assignment. The consequence for repeated plagiarism will be failure of the course.
Written work is basic for this introduction to language course and, therefore, will be similar in content from
student to student. Because writing is an important piece in learning a language, students must hand write
and scan their work to ensure that it is their own creation.

K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Acceptable Use
Policy

The Language Academys network is intended for educational purposes. The Acceptable
Use Policy can be found at http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/informationtechnology/4862.htm
Please note the main portions of this policy:
1. What you do online will be monitored.
2. Access to online content via the network may be restricted in accordance with district safety policies.
3. Students are expected to be just as respectful to teacher and other students online as they are offline.
4. School equipment should be treated with care.
5. The Language Academy cannot be held accountable for any harm or damages that result from use of
school technologies.
(Used ideas from Lokey-Vega & Cameron, 2015).
Noncompliance will result in suspension from this course and a failing grade.

Student Right to
Privacy

At The Language Academy we respect your right to privacy. We abide by the rules for the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) which can be found at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
1. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by
the school.
2. Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be
inaccurate or misleading.
3. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any
information from a student's education record.
4. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone
number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance.

(Lokey-Vega & Cameron, 2015).

If you have questions about student privacy rights, please contact Mrs. Heaton.

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K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Technology
Requirements

The following technology tools are required for participation in this course:
1. A computer with high-speed internet connection
2. Web-cam
3. Digital camera
4. Keyboard, mouse, speakers
5. Skype account
If you have a technical problem that cannot be solved by yourself or your learning coach, contact Mrs. Heaton.

Copyright
Statement

This course is managed and owned by Mrs. Heaton, however, the Holt-Rinehart textbooks are owned by Holt,
Rinehart, and Winston. Course and course materials are not to be copied, edited, or redistributed for any purpose. If
you have questions regarding materials created by Mrs. Heaton, you may request details at
heatont@lifelongjoy.com.

Students with
Disabilities

At The Language Academy, we will make our best effort to serve and make accommodations for students with
disabilities as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 04). Under the IDEA, Free
Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is defined as an educational program that is individualized to a specific child,
designed to meet that child's unique needs, provides access to the general curriculum, meets the grade-level
standards established by the state, and from which the child receives educational benefit. (Lokey-Vega &
Cameron, 2015).
For more information about rights of students with disabilities, see www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor65310
Please contact Mrs. Heaton if you have any concerns regarding accommodations for your learner.

*This document pairs with Designing a Syllabus for an Online Unit of Instruction (Peer Evaluation Checklist)
by Lokey-Vega (2014).

Lokey-Vega (2014)