Course Syllabus: Spanish II

Rich Lane
Email: richardson.lane@ccboe.net
Phone: (706) 833-0508
Description: This course is designed to draw and expand on the language
foundation established in Spanish I, with more challenging vocabulary and numerous
complex grammatical structures, to further build towards fluency in the Spanish
language. Some of the topics covered this year include speaking about things using the
different types of past tense, talking about possibilities, and talking about events in the
future. I will be implementing the flipped-classroom model of teaching with all of my
Spanish classes; more specific information will be provided on this topic in a separate
handout, but suffice it to say that students will be much more intellectually and -yes!even physically involved in the classroom, since it will be more practice-oriented and
focused on what they can create, not what they can regurgitate.
Course Materials: - Textbook: Avancemos! Level 1
-Pencil or pen
- A separate notebook for Spanish (3-ring binder)
Suggestions: - Pocket Spanish-English Dictionary
- Highlighter
- Index Cards
Grading Policy: Grade percentage distribution is as follows:
-Tests and Quizzes: 50%
-Classwork / Projects: 35%
- Homework / Daily grades: 15%
*NOTE: I do not believe in giving students zeroes. A failed attempt is precisely
that, whether the numerical grade assigned to it is a 55 or a 5. I will not give my students
below a 60% on any assignment, and I will give them ample opportunities to make up
for any assignments that they complete 0% of. If they do not even attempt an
assignment, there is clearly a problem that must be addressed before we can move
forward academically. I do fully intend to address such issues to the very best of my
ability as an educator before I assign a failing grade with finality.
Classroom Rules: During class students are expected to observe all rules as
outlined in the Evans High School Student Handbook; however within the walls of my
classroom there are three rules in particular that I desire my students to grasp and
actuate each day. These rules, which will be posted in my classroom, are as follows, in
the form of I will statements (these will be posted in Spanish and English on the wall
of my room):
1. I will be prompt and prepared for class every day.
2. I will follow the directions of the teacher.

3. I will respect myself and others at all times, in terms of their person, property,
and ideas.
Consequences: Students are also expected to observe school-wide rules such as no
food or drink in classrooms, and dress code rules. Should these rules be broken in any
fashion, the consequences are as follows, in order of number of offenses:
1. Warning : Student will receive a verbal or nonverbal warning from me.
2. Think Time : Student will be temporarily sent elsewhere for ten
minutes of Think Time, during which they will complete a form that
requires them to consider the causes and consequences of their actions,
which must be signed by the parent and then turned in to me the
following day.
3. Parent Phone Call : I will contact the parent or guardian of the student
by phone before end of day to discuss the students problem behavior.
4. Disciplinary Referral : A disciplinary referral will be submitted to the
office by me; the office will then undertake disciplinary measures as
they see fit regarding the student.
NOTE: I reserve the right to bypass steps in the above process as I see
fit, depending on the severity of an infraction.
BYOT : Columbia County has instituted a Bring Your Own Technology policy in
numerous schools including Evans High, in which students are encouraged to bring
smart devices such as smartphones or tablets to school to use in the classroom for
various learning-enhancing technologies and apps. On specific days we will be using
technology in this way to engage ourselves in the learning in unique and interesting
ways. In order for students to participate in these types of activities they and their
guardian will be required to fill out the Districts Responsible Use form, as well as a
Responsible Tech Use form of my own design, to make them accountable for using their
smart devices responsibly in the classroom, at the specific times which will be
designated by me. Students will be prohibited from using their devices in any way in my
classroom until both forms are returned to me.
As a teacher of a foreign language, I plan to promote a classroom environment in
which we strive as a class to speak as much Spanish as possible while still
comprehending the material during time, and minimize the amount of English spoken
each day during class time. I will do everything in my power to ensure that students are
equipped to strive toward such a goal alongside their peers; though I in turn expect
them, as returning Spanish students with a foundation of some sort in the language, to
stretch themselves out of their linguistic comfort zones, so to speak, to reach new levels
of speaking ability in my class.