Ranney School Seora Bonney

Espaol IV hbonney@ranneyschool.org
Honors Classroom: 134
2017-2018

Course Description

In Spanish IV Honors, the students further perfect their proficiency and skills in four
areas of language: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Activities will encourage
students to utilize their abilities to further enhance their proficiency in all areas.
Students will read and analyze poetry and short stories in the target language. They will
also have the opportunity to express themselves verbally in class and through written
assignments on relevant topics.

The Abriendo Paso text, (Lectura) uses reading and literature in general to improve
students skills (e.g. the analysis of literature in Spanish). The Una vez ms is an
independent grammar tool for improving each students language foundation and
communication. This program is specifically designed for high school students at level IV
or AP.

Content/Topics

Spanish IV Honors is designed to immerse students in the language and culture of the
Spanish-speaking world. They will have the opportunity to use and perfect the listening,
speaking, reading and writing skills acquired in previous Spanish courses to
communicate with the teacher and their peers in the target language. The topics to be
covered in this class include (but are not limited to) these objectives:

Generosity in El Dcimo, by Emilia Pardo Bazn

Art and reality in Continuidad de los Parques, by Julio Cortzar
The precarious life in Cajas de Cartn, by Francisco Jimnez
A futuristic world in Nosotros, no, by Jos Bernardo Adolph
Egotism, despotism and greed in Jaque mate en dos jugadas, by Isaac
Aisemberg
Relationships in Lo que sucedi a un mancebo que se cas con una muchacha
muy rebelde by Don Juan Manuel
Hatred, love and humor in Cartas de amor traicionada, by Isabel Allende
Poetry by Pablo Neruda, Gustavo Bcquer, Antonio Machado, Sor Juana Ins de
la Cruz, Federico Garca Lorca, Jos Mart, y Rubn Daro
Cultura: los mayas de hoy,el arte de Fernando Botero, la vida y el arte de
Velzquez, Cusco, y Toledo
Narration and description in all tenses and modes
Extemporaneous speaking on various topics in the Interpersonal Mode and in the
Presentational Mode, using a variety of technologies and 21 st century tools.
 Pre-Advanced Placement preparation in the Interpretive mode (reading and
listening), and in comparison and synthesis in both formal and informal writing

Required Materials/Texts

Abriendo Paso (Lectura), by Jos Daz, Mara Nadal and Stephen Collins
Una vez ms by James H. Couch, Rebecca D. McCann, Carmel Rodrguez-Walter,
and ngel Rubio-Maroto
Spanish-English/ English-Spanish dictionary (to be used at home)
Notebook, three-ring binder with paper, or notes on your laptop
Laptop
Pen/pencil (blue or black only, please)

Rules

Speak in Spanish as much as possible.

Be respectful, courteous, and polite. Respect not only the teacher, but also your fellow
classmates. Do not interrupt or put down people who are speaking. Do not socialize
during class time.

Be on time. You should be in your seat and have all materials ready when class begins.

Be prepared. Always bring your laptop, textbook, notebook, homework, and something
to write with every day.

Listen to and follow instructions the first time they are given.

Observe my classroom procedures and all rules in the Student Handbook.

Grading Policy

Your grades will be calculated as follows:

Homework 15%
Class participation/preparation 15%
Quizzes/Oral presentations 35%
Tests/Projects/Essays 35%

Homework

Homework will be posted weekly on the Ranney School website. Homework must be
done on time. If homework is assigned online it should be completed before 8am to
receive full credit. Journal entries and other written work needs to be printed out and
handed in on the day it is due. Email attachments will not be accepted unless it is a
requirement of the project. Incomplete or poorly done assignments will receive a 0.
Your homework is a means to practice what we have learned that day and review
previous lessons. . If a student does not hand in his/her homework on the day that it is
due, s/he will receive a zero on that assignment. However, a student has the
opportunity to earn a 50 on that assignment if s/he submits it at a later date. In World
Languages, we use homework as a means to practice what we learned in class that day.
Students will use what we practice throughout the course; therefore, we encourage
homework completion to reinforce and master the language.

Laptops

Laptops will be used often in class. They should be charged and ready for use. If we
are not actively using a program or taking notes on the laptop, it should be closed. If
there is a problem with your laptop, you should be prepared to take notes in a notebook
and/or work with another student in the class on a program. You will not be allowed to
use class time to get your laptop fixed.

Quizzes

Students will be quizzed often to check their understanding of vocabulary and grammar,
as well as to assess their reading, writing, speaking, listening skills, and cultural
knowledge. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced.

Tests

Tests will be announced at least one week in advance. Tests will reflect students ability
to comprehend and apply the content of the chapter, including vocabulary, grammar,
and cultural knowledge. Projects and essays will also receive a test grade.

Participation/Class work

Participation in all activities is required. There are no optional activities. You will be
graded each day on your effort to participate. Class work needs to be completed in
class; if you are absent you do not get a grade for that days work. (This does not equal
a zero.)

Projects and Essays

You will be assigned a project at least once a quarter and will be assigned a test grade.
Projects allow students to use their acquired knowledge of the quarter to use the
language in a creative way. Essays require students to reflect upon the grammar
structures, vocabulary expressions and connect them cohesively in a critical and creative
manner. Essays will be given a quiz grade. Projects and essays that are not handed in
on the day that they are due will be penalized ten points for every day that it is late.
For example: if a project or essay is due on Tuesday and they hand it in on Wednesday
the highest possible grade they could receive would be a 90. If a project or essay is due
on Friday and is not handed in until Monday, it will receive a 20 point deduction.
Students are welcome to email projects and essays to teachers in order to avoid the full
penalty for the weekend. If the project is a presentation, the full weekend penalty
would be given.

Online Grade book

Grades will be updated on a weekly basis. If you have questions about a grade, please
come and see or email the teacher immediately.

Taxi Magazine/ Spanish Honor Society

For any student interested in being considered for an Honor Society in World
Languages, you are required to submit to Taxi, the language magazine. You must have
your submission edited by your teacher at least one week before the due date (please
make an appointment with your teacher ahead of time). After you have met with your
teacher, make corrections before sending the final copy via email to your teacher and to
Madame Daly. Taxi submissions are worth 5 extra credit points on a quiz and you are
allowed to submit up to three per school year (no more than one per quarter).

NOTE: In order to qualify for an Honor Society, a student needs to have a grade of 90
or above, each quarter individually (not accumulative), beginning the 4 quarter of the
previous year and quarters 1-3 of the year they plan on applying.

Extra Credit for Field Trips

Extra credit points are earned. Any field trip outside of the school will be rewarded with
10 extra credit points, after the field trip and once you have submitted a paragraph of
your experience, written in the target language. These points will be split between two
tests 5-point split (this includes projects which fall under the category of tests).

National Spanish Exam

The National Spanish Exam will be taken by all students in Honor classes.

Absences

If you are absent (excused) the makeup work should be completed the day after you
return. If the work is not turned in on time, it will be given a grade of 0. The word
Absent should be written on the top of assignments so they will not be considered late
assignments. Any quizzes or tests missed need to be re-scheduled with immediately
upon your return. Your daily presence in class is important for academic growth. Please
refer to the revised attendance policy in the Student Handbook for further information.

If you need extra help

If you are having any issues or difficulties in the course, please speak with or email me
as soon as possible. I am available after school for extra help or by appointment during
the day.

Cheating/Plagiarism

To plagiarize, according to Websters II New College Dictionary, is to steal and use (the
ideas or writings of another) as ones own or to take passages or ideas from another
and use them as ones own (841).Cheating or plagiarizing will not be tolerated on ANY
assignment. If you use an electronic or online translator or ask another Spanish speaker
to translate that is also considered cheating. All projects/papers must contain a
bibliography and proper citations from other works. Journal entries are personal and
should be taken from your own life or imaginings. Homework is not a collaborative
effort. If a student copies anothers work BOTH the student who copies and the
student who loans their paper to be copied will receive will be reported to the
administration.