ESPAÑOL

Dear middle school students and parents,

Welcome to Spanish class! My name is Teresa Valderas.  This is my fourth year at LCA.  My husband Sean and I have two beautiful kids; Ian that it is entering 1^st grade and Cora that will be a 6^th grader both here at LCA.  I am a native Spanish speaker and have lived in the United States since 1995.  While in my home country of Spain, I attended the University of Seville where I earned my Spanish teaching certificate. After moving to the United States, I earned a Bachelors Degree at Cameron University with concentrations in Education and Spanish.  In addition, I earned a Masters Degree of Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  I also have a Texas teaching certificate for Secondary Spanish.  I am currently pursuing my second Masters degree in Spanish at UNT.

Class Description

For 6^th grade students we will start our “Spanish Is Fun 1” curriculum and for students in 7^th and 8^th grade we will continue with it as they started last year.  This curriculum offers an introductory program that makes language acquisition natural, personalized, enjoyable, and rewarding experience.   This book is designed to help students obtain a desirable level of proficiency throughout their mille school years in four basic skills- speaking, listening, reading and writing.  This is all developed through simple materials in visually focus topical context that students can easily relate to their own experiences.  Students will answer easy questions that require them to speak about their daily lives, express their opinions and supply real information.

In addition to the textbook students will be using a Cuaderno de Ejercicios (workbook) that will provide them with additional written practices. Also to supplement the new curriculum we will be using the audio program to develop their listening skills.

Grading

           -Test and projects                                                        50% x 2

           -Quizzes, daily grades and oral participation               50%

Supplies

            Students will need clean notebook paper and a Spanish folder to keep all class notes, vocabulary lists and handouts. The teacher will provide them with a small notebook to prevent missing notes.   They will also need pencil and eraser. 

            It is very important the students use their planner to keep up with their assignments as with Spanish class they will be many changes throughout the week depending on students’ performance.

Class Expectation

-Come to class prepared everyday.

-Adhere to classroom and school rules, policies, and procedures.

-Be respectful when the teacher or another student with permission is speaking.

-Follow all directions the first time they are given.

-Be responsible for your conduct; do not indulge in conduct that prevents the teacher from teaching or the class from learning.

Late Work Policy

Homework and class work missed due to absences are to be returned to the teacher in the same amount of school days that were missed.  Tests must be taken in the same time frame.  Assignments that receive a failing grade are corrected at the teacher’s discretion and will not receive a grade higher than 70 percent.

Spanish homework is not graded as mistakes are expected, so they will have a completion check for very homework assignment and for all test signed by a parent. A grade of 100 will be given every 3 weeks if all assignments are turned in.  Points will be taken off for every missing assignment.

Discipline Policy

            The discipline policy will be the standard LCA Policy.

An overview of what’s going on in Spanish class will be posted on my SchoolNotes page which you can access from the home page on the LCA website: www.lakelandchristianacademy.org.

 Please note that this will be a tentative weekly schedule as many changes will occur depending on students’ performance.

Learning Spanish is an exciting adventure, which will prepare the students for the upcoming high school years and more.  With all of our hard work and active participation, the students will learn the basis of a beautiful and widely used language.  I am very excited and happy to be part of a three-way partnership of student-parent-teacher. 

Thank you for being a part of our Spanish class.  I am looking forward to working with you all.

God Bless,

Teresa Valderas