About me |
I am a native speaker from Cuba. I grew up in South Florida, then moved to Tampa to complete my BA in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida. I transitioned to teaching in 2004 and in 2009 I received my National Board Teacher Certification in Spanish.
I am very happy to be a language instructor, and have very high expectations for all of my students. Learning another language is hard work, but it can (and should) be fun. I do my best to provide a variety of learning experiences for my students to accommodate their different and unique learning styles. In class, while most written work, quizzes, and tests are done individually, students are often given the opportunity to work with partners in small groups. They will perform brief conversations with their classmates, as well as with me. The expectation is that the target language is used inside and outside the classroom.
Please note that while Spanish is an elective, it is also an academic course. Therefore, some students may experience difficulties at times. Students' success is important to me and I will be happy to provide additional assistance to any student who experiences such difficulties after school (by appointment). Spanish National Honor Society students may also be available to provide tutoring at lunch. Please contact me for more information. Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I am sure that we will have a great year!
School website: http://www.seminole-hs.pinellas.k12.fl.us/ |
Message |
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Sra. Gonzalez-Wright’s CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT & PROCEDURES
The classroom rules and expectation are:
• Be on time to class; be in your seat when the bell rings, and have all necessary course materials ready to go (Binder, paper, pencil or pen). The class tardy policy will be strictly enforced.
• Always be respectful of school property, faculty, and other students.
• Inappropriate language (in any language) will not be tolerated.
• Grooming, combing hair, applying makeup, eating or drinking (except water), and gum chewing are also unacceptable in class.
• Participate! Pay attention in class and don’t be afraid to try or make mistakes!
• If you would like to speak or ask a question during class, raise your hand until called upon. Please do not shout out in class.
• Always do your own work. Cheating and plagiarizing will not be tolerated. Offending students will be penalized according to the Student Code of Conduct. During group activities, in which students will work together to complete a common task, do your share of the work. Do not use on-line translators. They are ineffective and I can always tell when one has been used and you could lose points on the assignment.
• Keep all class notes, handouts, and graded assignments (homework, quizzes, etc) in your notebook. Grades will be calculated using a computer. In the event of an error (a completed assignments doesn’t get marked) it will be easier to get things straightened out.
• Class ends when I dismiss you after the bell rings! Please do not begin to pack up your things until the bell rings, unless I tell you to do otherwise.
• Cellphones, I-Pad & I-Pods: May NOT be used in class UNLESS Sra. Gonzalez-Wright SPECIFICALLY asks students to use it for an ASSIGNMENT for class. ALL other times, please turn OFF and put away from sight including ear buds. Do not use your phone to see what time it is, ask Sra. Gonzalez-Wright or wear a watch. PARENTS, IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR CHILD DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT CALL ON THEIR CELLPHONE. CALL THE FRONT OFFICE (547-7536) AND LEAVE THEM A MESSAGE. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, THE OFFICE WILL SEND FOR THEM RIGHT AWAY. Students with electronics without permission during class will be asked to surrender them and can pick them up at the main office at the end of the day.
• Have a positive attitude! Have fun! Study!
Students and parents are informed of the classroom rules by:
My class syllabus, which is online BY LEVEL: http://www.quia.com/profiles/egonzalezwright
At the beginning of the school year, I send home a parent / student signature sheet. I ask that students and parents read the rules / expectations, and then sign the sheet to acknowledge that they have read / understood them. In addition, I also review these rules with the students, extensively the first couple of weeks, and then I reinforce them.
The positive rewards for following the classroom rules are:
• The intrinsic reward of doing the right thing, and being a responsible person
• Verbal praise to student
• Positive e-mail / note home to parent(s)
• Games and cultural experiences may also be used as rewards and incentives.
The consequences for breaking the classroom rules may include (any combination of) the following:
• First offense: Verbal warning
• Second time: Detention -afterschool and e-mail home
• Third time: Call / e-mail home
• Fourth time: Referral to Guidance Counselor / Assistant Principal
** As stated in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, certain behavior (ex/ violence or threatening language) will result in an immediate referral.
The classroom management interventions I use are:
• Direct communication with student (address problem one-on-one)
• Redirect
• Seat change
The types of discipline problems I handle in my classroom are:
• Talking when not supposed to
• Silly behavior (childish pleasantries)
• Passing notes
• Throwing objects
• Non-major profanity
• Eating/drinking during class
The types of discipline problems I refer to administrators are (Generally):
• OUT of dress code
• Use of electronic devices - at inappropriate time
• Skipping class
• Profanity (usually, the really bad kind)
• Extreme disruptions and insubordination
• Destruction of school / other students’ property
Hall passes:
To use restroom:
1) Ask permission (always) in SPANISH.
2) Sign out with name and time on clipboard by the side table.
3) Take blue hall pass from the clip on the board and fill out the back with your information.
4) Go to the restroom / fountain across the hall. Upon returning, put pass back on clip and write the time you returned on the sign-out sheet.
Note: Students should see me directly for passes to go to other destinations other than the bathroom or fountain. These passes will be written individually, by me, on a case-by-case basis. Note: no hall passes of any kind will be given out the first or last 10 minutes of class, unless in case of emergency.
Procedure for turning in assignments:
- All HW work is picked up during the first 2 minutes of class starting by Sra. Gonzalez or her TA—make sure you include name, class period, date and assignment header to avoid losing points.
- All CLASS work is to be submitted in the lavender trays—which are labeled by class period, putting in WRONG tray can result in loss of points for the assignment.
- Makeup work for all classes is to be turned in to the BLACK trays next to the lavender trays (all classes together). MAKE sure you label the assignment, include date you were absent and date turning in.
- Note: Papers that are turned in to the wrong bin will not be graded. Rather, they will be placed in the “graded papers” basket—where students will have to dig them out and resubmit them in the proper place. These papers will be subject to late penalties. This latter procedure will also be the case for papers that are turned in with no name. In either case, upon resubmission, they will only get as high as ½ credit. NO EXCEPTIONS.
ABSENCES:
- It is the student’s responsibility to go to the class website to check for missed work (including: Para empezar (bell work), Clase (Class work), and Tarea (homework).
- Unexcused absences will drop assignments by 1 letter grade as noted on the Student Code of Conduct.
GRADING: Grades will be determined by calculating the TOTAL percentage of POINTS earned from all the grading categories applicable to the class: participation, class assignments, homework, projects/exams, and resources/Cornell notes.
Grading Categories: (Note some categories do not apply to all classes)
Participation: (ALL classes) Expectation of using the target language every day, great way to boost your grade, will be graded weekly.
Class assignments: (ALL Classes) Work done in class- bell work, essays, discussions, debates, etc.
Homework: (ALL Classes) Check QUIA class website daily for posted work. Sometimes the grade will be a quality grade based on accuracy, other times it will be a completion grade. No excuses!
Projects/Exams: (ALL Classes) Project/Research-based assignments may be individual or group. Let your creativity and collaboration shine!
Resources: (for AP SPA LANG & SPA 5) Every week students will turn in a sheet with Spanish resources that are both audio and written.
Focused Notes/Cornell Notes: (ALL Classes) Expectation is that students keep a binder with all their notes (at times two-column notes may be assigned). To be used for studying, during class and other activities.
Standard Grading Scale: 89.5 - 100 = A; 79.5 - 89.4 = B; 69.5 - 79.4 = C; 59.5 - 69.4 = D; Below 59.5 = F
Note about grades:
Students and parents are expected to check Portal (Focus) regularly to monitor grades / student progress (including at the half-way point of each term for progress reports).
IMPORTANT: Please go to the SPECIFIC SPANISH level page to view the Course Information/Syllabus
TARDY POLICY:
- Once the tardy bell rings, all classrooms doors will be closed. Students late to class will enter class with as little interruption as possible, and take their seat.
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Periods 1-7
Tardies 1-2 – WARNINGS DOCUMENTED
Tardies 3* – DETENTION and call home/email
Student will receive an afterschool detention written by the teachers
Tardy 4 –referral
Student will be sent to their grade level office and the AP will assign them consequence. |
My links |
Expresate 3 Online Activities
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| Word Reference Dictionary
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| Colby Edu Spanish Activities
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| Prensa Escrita - NEWS from around the world
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| CNN Español
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| Audio Lingua - Authentic Audios
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| Study Verb Conjugations - Games
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| Practice Conjugating Verbs
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| Sr. Jordan Grammar Videos -EXCELLENT resource
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| Duo Lingo
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| TED Talk C Dwerk Growth Mindset
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