8 VO. GRADO Español I

W HAT ARE WE DOING ? Second part of Spanish I Successfully completing Spanish this year will enable your child to be placed in Spanish II in high school. He/she receives 1 credit and their 8 th grade final average transfer into their GPA Criteria for HS placement: ►Diocesan HS: 77% or better in Placement Test; 7 th /8 th grade final grades; teacher recommendation ►Public HS: Most want to see a B/A average ►Private HS: Have their own criteria

W HAT ARE WE DOING ? Some public high schools (most notably Briarwoods) have begun placing our students at level III. If your child has been strong in Spanish for the past two years and is ready for a challenge freshman year, go for it! If in doubt, ask me. Be aware that depending upon the high school diploma your child is seeking/college choices, he/she may have to go above and beyond level IV. Be aware also, that if you skip level II you do not receive credit for the level skipped.

W HAT ARE WE DOING ? In May all 8 th graders will take the Diocesan Foreign Language Placement Test – only Diocesan High Schools look at the results but all students take it so that we may better evaluate our program at St. Theresa

N EW THIS YEAR Students are setting language goals using ACTFL’s (American Council for Teaching of Foreign Languages) proficiency levels / This is not a grading system – it allows students to think about what they are able to do and what they need to master in order to progress to the next level. After a quick speaking self-assessment, many of our students feel they are at the intermediate low level!!

RESOURCES Key resource is my.hrw.com – your child has username and password Contains flashcards, self-check quizzes, games, leveled practices, etc., to help students learn and practice vocabulary and grammar Webpage – has link to online textbook and additional resources (not password protected)

C HROMEBOOKS /T EXTBOOK This year we will continue to use online textbook. Chromebooks are needed for class – it is book and notebook!! “Paperless” work is posted and submitted via Google Classroom – if you need a demo of how Google drive works, let me know. Your child’s Chromebook should not be a “black hole.” You should ask your child to show you how he/she is using it.

G RADING 35% tests 25% quizzes and 20% homework →1 day late receives only 75% credit →2 days late no credit given (0) →Completion grade: 10+ points 20% Participation

G RADING / H OMEWORK Homework is assigned at least once a week Oral proficiency – please encourage your child to practice the language as much as possible Each student is assigned a conversation partner to allow him/her to practice with someone at about the same level Individual conversations are not graded but the overall effort is part of the participation grade – I use a daily oral participation evaluation card to help students stay on track

E XPECTATIONS Spanish must be used in class as much as possible – my personal target is 90% Self-sufficiency: encourage your child to take responsibility for own successes/failures If student does not understand something, I expect your child to come see me ASAP! Do not wait until test to tell me you really did not understand.

A BOUT MYSELF Born in Spain; raised in Puerto Rico Product of Catholic schools through college Began teaching Spanish about 12 years ago I have two adult children; both graduated from St. Theresa