Notes to Parents...
Throughout the year, Mr. Dwyer will post notes for parents to answer some common questions. Browse by date (in reverse chronological order) below.
How We Learn (10/17/2012)
We finally took our first formal grammar quiz (U1L1G1). This is often a wake-up call for students who have been just going through the motions for the last couple weeks. Here is a summary of the activities leading up to this quiz (you can view these activities in detail using the 7th Grade link above):
If your child did poorly on the quiz, please review with him or her their answers (and the correct answers) on www.edmodo.com. Then discuss the above activities so that he/she will know how to approach this class in the future.
- 10/4 - Students watched a video lesson explaining Subject Pronouns and Ser, and worked in groups on Level A activities in @hometutor to check for understanding.
- 10/5 to 10/10 - We practiced speaking and writing with these structures (i.e., Billy es de Aurora.) and students worked on Level B and C activities in @hometutor. Homework was given from their workbooks, and students were informed that in class on 10/11 they would have to complete level B and C activities from @hometutor (and to practice at home if needed).
- 10/11 - students had the entire period to complete levels B and C for a 10 point grade (graded for accuracy). Homework was to study for the quiz tomorrow.
- 10/12 - Students took a 12 question quiz using www.edmodo.com (mostly multiple choice, students can see their results immediately following the quiz). These questions were nearly verbatim from the @hometutor activities. Students that did well (8 or above) were allowed to work ahead for next week. Students that did poorly met with Mr. Dwyer in a small group setting to practice further and were given another homework assignment from @hometutor.
- 10/17 - All students were invited to take a retake of the quiz; the two grades would be averaged together.
If your child did poorly on the quiz, please review with him or her their answers (and the correct answers) on www.edmodo.com. Then discuss the above activities so that he/she will know how to approach this class in the future.
Is this the same as Spanish 1 at the high school? (9/1/2012)
The middle school Spanish class is equivalent to Spanish 1 at the high school. We use the exact same book and go over the same curriculum. The difference is that in the middle school we take TWO YEARS to complete the same curriculum that is completed in one year at the high school. This allows us to take more time to practice and learn the concepts. A student that successfully completed 7th and 8th grade Spanish will have the opportunity to start with Spanish 2 as a freshman. Among other things, this will allow him or her to take AP Spanish 4 as a Junior if so desired.