It’s hard to believe that the 1st quarter has already come to an end. I have enjoyed it so much.

I’m so proud of my 7th Grade Class. They have come such a long way and learned so much in this short amount of time.

They began knowing very little if any Spanish. Now they know the Spanish alphabet. They can count to 39. They have learned the days of the week, months and seasons of the year. They know how to tell time in Spanish. They can even carry on a short conversation. The students can also recite several prayers in Spanish.

We’ve also done some study of Mexican and Spanish culture. We had fun learning about the Mexican holiday “El Dia de los Muertos” or Day of the Dead.

The 2nd quarter promises to be just as exciting. We will continue learning numbers to 100. We will learn how to talk about our birthdays and Saint’s Days. Learning how to describe people and things is also on our list of things to do.

Our cultural lessons will take us to Puerto Rico where we will learn about the rich history of the Puerto Rican people and their customs. We will also learn how Hispanics around the world celebrate Christmas.


The 8th Grade has been spending much of this 1st quarter reviewing what they learned last year in Spanish I. We’ve made sure that they remember how to tell time, how to make introductions, talk about our likes and dislikes and have short conversations.
Our project this quarter was an “All About Me” paper, in which they described themselves in Spanish complete with a picture. We displayed their projects in the hallway. Judging from the traffic by the board, the other students enjoyed it as well.

We have learned three prayers in Spanish and will most likely share at least one of them with you in an upcoming program. We also had fun learning about the Mexican Holiday “El Dia de los Muertos”.

In the 2nd quarter, we will quickly finish our review of last year and begin a new book. We will be doing lots of conversational work as well. I will introduce the students to a new verb tense and we will begin to talk about things that happened in the past tense.
A trip to a Spanish/Mexican restaurant is also in the plan. And since Christmas is coming up, we will be talking about customs and traditions in the Hispanic culture.

I will keep you posted on all of these exciting events and also the date of our restaurant field trip. I look forward to a great 2nd quarter. Gracias!

Spanish Course Description
The goal of the 7th and 8th grade Spanish classes is to complete the equivalent of the first year of high school Spanish (Spanish 1). Students will begin to have a basic understanding of reading, writing, speaking and listening in Spanish in areas such as grammar, literature and culture. Students will be able to hold a basic conversation in Spanish and read and write simple paragraphs.

Classroom Rules and Expectations
You will be learning about many different peoples and cultures. Please strive to keep an open mind about your world neighbors and their lifestyles. Closed minds are not accepted!

I expect every student to put forth their maximum effort on all assignments. Students must TRY each and every question on homework and class work. Students will prove that they have tried each question by writing something LOGICAL.
Active participation is ESSENTIAL in order to succeed in this or any language class. Many opportunities will be given to participate in class. Whether it is answering a question, asking a question, listening in class or working with a partner, I will be watching at all times to determine those who participate and those who don’t. Participation points will help students achieve the next highest grade.

When spoken to in Spanish, respond in Spanish. If spoken to in English, you may choose to respond in English. ALWAYS write in Spanish, unless otherwise told!

Grades
Grades will be weighted as follows:
   • Tests, Projects 50%
   • Binders 25%
   • Assignments, Participation 15%
   • Quizzes 10%


Tests & Quizzes
Tests and quizzes will be announced ahead of time. Please ask me for help in advance if you are unsure of anything that is going to be on a test or quiz.

Projects
Projects are usually culturally oriented and each student is expected to put forth his or her best effort. Guidelines for each project will be distributed ahead of time terms of what I will expect.


Binders
Each student will be expected to keep an organized Spanish binder. Binders will be checked at the end of each grading quarter. Student will receive binder criteria and grading rubrics.

Assignments
Students are expected to complete all assignments by the due date. If a student has a missing assignment, they may make up the missing assignment and turn it in the next school day to receive half credit.

Homework Policy
Homework assignments will always be posted on the board by the end of class. Please check the board for homework before leaving the classroom. We will go over homework the following day in class. Those who do not complete their homework will have points deducted from the assignments portion of their grade.

Classroom Management
I will determine on an individual basis whether I will allow students to leave the classroom (for drinks, bathroom, etc.). I reserve the right to deny such requests. Please let me know within the first week of school if you have any special needs such as needing to sit close to the front, etc.

   •  Absences and Makeup Work – If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to see ME about missed work.
   •  Always have your textbook, workbook, binder, pen or pencil with you so that you may fully participate in class.

Communication
I want every student to be successful in Spanish. I will do everything possible to help you succeed. I want and need to know if you are having a problem in my class!

Contact Information
Students and parents can contact me by e-mail at lmnolorenz@gmail.com or by leaving a telephone message at the school office. I will try my best to return your call or e-mail within 24 hours.