Welcome to success! This is more than a perky slogan for Spanish. Students in this class will be successful! Each day the student will experience language acquisition, and the learning will be evident. It will be a great year!

What's the Difference? Here at CHS, I will be using a method of second language acquisition called the "Total Physical Response with Storytelling" method (TPRS). With this approach, the student acquires a foreign language much as we do our own native language: by listening before speaking, and learning vocabulary and grammar by example and usage. It is an exciting way to give students the GIFT of fluency. The consensus among students who have studied with this approach is that this is an effective way to learn to speak a language.

Differences You'll Notice! Even at home you'll quickly notice some differences from previous experiences with language learning. Students will have different kinds of homework, assigned less frequently at the lower levels,and usually there is no textbook involved. Instead the focus will be on actual learning that takes place in the classroom, and homework when assigned will represent reinforcement of those activities in class. That's why we can expect "success" in the language classroom: the skills are taught until the students know the material, and the only precondition is that the student be present and focused, and that s/he participate in the activities. A lot of responsibility is put on the individual learner.

Teaching is for long-term memory and fluency, and so tests and assessments will be natural steps toward the mastery students will acquire in class. Many tests and quizzes will not be announced beforehand. This avoids training students to "cram" the night before, an effective"short-term" memory tool but not our target in language study. Yet students who have participated will be well prepared for the evaluation.

Required Materials for Class: Please plan to be prepared for each class meeting! You should have in class with you each day your pens/pencils, a 3-ring binder in which you will organize notes, exercises, quizzes and stories. etc. Your 3-ring binder IS your book! Also, you will need 6 dividers for your binder. Each week you will be given a weekly calendar on which to keep class minutes--what was covered in class, homework for the next day etc. At the end of a long day, we sometimes "forget" things and this will serve as a handy reminder. Your 3-ring binder will be your textbook for this year! The material, if properly organized, will help you review for tests and quizzes. It is important for you to keep all of your papers in this binder. IT MUST BE A 3 RING BINDER and not a folder. From time to time I will have a �notebook check� which will count as a test grade. I will also ask that you acquire several phone numbers of classmates so that if you "forget" the assignment, you can call one of your amigos! PLEASE UNDERSTAND that it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed on ANY day that you may be absent! If you must be out of the classroom, FIND OUT WHAT YOU MISSED BEFORE you return!! If you must be out of the classroom due to a school related activity (i.e. sports, band, student council, field trip), you must get the work AHEAD OF TIME AND TURN IT IN before you leave for the activity. If the work is turned in after the due date, it WILL BE counted as a ZERO! I will also post homework online. However, there may be times when the server is down and I , too, cannot access it to post. So, do not rely on that entirely. The url for my website is http://www.geocities.com/kbulger If worse comes to worse, you can always call me at home. NO EXCUSES FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT THE HOMEWORK IS OR WHAT WE DID IN CLASS!!!! It is YOUR responsibility !!!

GRADES: Grades will be based on daily participation (10%) and preparation, homework (25%), quizzes (25%), and tests (40%). It is important that you participate in class. We may not always have a written assignment, but you should review your work on a daily basis on your own time outside of the classroom. All work must be completed on arrival to the classroom--not finishing it before class!!!!! Assigned work done outside the classroom will be worth at least 10 points. Sometimes I may ask you to get a parent signature for reviewing your homework with your parent. Incomplete work will be worth 0. Any work turned in after it is due will receive a grade of 0 (exception: excused absences.) Total points will be converted to a letter grade based on this scale: 98-100=A+, 94-97% = A, 90-93% = A-,87-89% = B+, 84-86 = B, 80-83% = B-, 77-79% = C+, 74-76% = C, 70-73% = C-, 67-69% = D+, 64-66%= D, 60-63% =D-.

GRADES WILL BE ONLINE!!! You will be given a key and ID in order to access your grades. Check your grades online at https://mygradebook.com Parents, be sure to include your email address if you would like to have access to your student�s progress online.

TESTS AND QUIZZES: Many of the quizzes and some tests will be unannounced. However major unit/chapter tests will always be announced and posted well in advance. If you have an excused absence before the day of the test or quiz, you WILL be required to take the test/quiz with the rest of the class. If you are absent on the day of the test ,you will be tested upon your return. In case of long illness or prearranged absence from school, other arrangements can be arranged. If you need to be away from class for a school/class sponsored activity (sports, student council, band etc.) it is YOUR responsibility to get the work BEFORE the day of your absence. If you fail to get the work , you will receive 0 for the work missed. VIP is the time that you should use for making up your tests and quizzes.

CONDUCT: I expect each of you to behave like ladies and gentlemen in class. In order to create a good atmosphere conducive to learning (which is why you are here . . . ), I will not allow you to disrupt class. Detentions will be given for persistent disruptions and tardies. I also ask each of you to respect the property of the classroom. Above all, please respect your fellow classmates. All policies in the CHS handbook will be enforced. All students should be prepared to work and be in their seats when the bell sounds. Anyone not in his/her seat will be marked tardy.

NO GUM or FOOD will be allowed in the classroom. Gum has damaged clothing and furniture in the classroom! After sufficient warnings, I will assign detention!

TALKING among yourselves, unless it is part of a class activity, will not be permitted. Work from other classes will not be done in this class. Work done from other classes in this class will become my possession and will NOT be returned. CHEATING of any kind will not be tolerated. No credit will be given for your not of your own. Both the "cheater" and the "cheatee" will lose credit for the work. Please do not copy work from other students!

PROGRESS REPORTS will be sent to your parents/guardians periodically to indicate to them how your are progressing in class. Such reports shall not be limited to those with poor grades. Positive reports will be sent as well.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS: Although I do not intend to be absent often, there will be occasions when I will not be in class. Please treat the substitute with respect. Detention will be given to any student who is referred to me by the substitute.

MAJOR PROJECTS will be assigned during the school year. Much of the work will be done outside of classroom and on your own. These projects will count as test grades. Due dates for the projects will be announced well in advance. Work turned in beyond the due date will result in a grade of zero.

Classes will be conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Please be sure to ask questions if you do not understand anything. I encourage questions! This year is going to be magnifico! Parents, feel free to contact me at anytime if you have any questions!