Mr. Donch

      Spanish is the language of nineteen American countries!  It is also spoken in one of every seven American households. Since our country has embraced the Global market phenomena, it is a priority for every child to become familiar with other languages and cultures.

   BIENVENIDOS A MURRAY JUNIOR HIGH ! Spanish is offered as an elective at our school.  It is a three trimester curriculum served at  two levels. Profesor David Donch teaches all the level One classes and profesora Jean Manrique is the Spanish Two instructor. Señora Manrique also teaches a level two Spanish Challenge class. Based on superior performance in Spanish One, twenty-five beginning students are nominated each spring for inclusion in the Challenge class for the following year.  

  Mr. Donch's credentials:

1961-65 : Cretin High School 

1965-69: University of Mn. BA in Geography/Spanish 

1969-72 : Peace Corps volunteer to Venezuela    

1973-82: English teacher at Liceo Juan Bta. Dalla Costa, a Venezuelan Public high School.    

1987-2008: Spanish instruction at Murray Jr.

1978-81: Instituto de Mejoramiento Profesional, Caracas, Venezuela.  

2000 :  Saint Mary's University, Masters in Education   

Spanish is the language we speak at home.  My wife Silvia and I  reside at 1792 Duluth Street in Maplewood, Mn. Pueden visitarnos en casa!                                      

************************* STRATEGIES*****************************

   As the introductory teacher for Spanish, I realize that 1) all students should be able to learn to understand, speak, read and write another language. 2) The introductory curriculum should be simple, yet cover the essential skills for language expression. In Spanish I we want to learn Spanish without unnecessary frills. By focusing on basic expressions and descriptions, there's time for other fun activities such as language games, skits, cultural input from teacher, students and beyond.

   All students need a quick, direct way for learning to speak and write in Spanish. Using contents taken from En Español, I have created a series of visual lessons that describe people and items, name them, state what they have, want, where they are, etc. These visuals greatly eliminate the need to translate vocabularies. I believe that translation-based language teaching is unnatural and non flowing. It is a main reason why language learners in America often are unable to speak another language even after years of study.

   Our Level-one students are given drawings with Spanish descriptions. Students read along with their picture worksheet and  learn to anticipate responses, in Spanish, for each visual. They are given a free Cd which contains all basic responses for the Spanish lessons  to be studied during the year.  Highly useful vocabularies are driven by several high frequency verbs. Because language learning is a continuum and these same contents will be revisited as eighth graders in Spanish II. More vocabularies and structures will be added so that exiting eighth graders can continue with success into Spanish two in High School. More importantly, your child will be able to communicate basic needs in Spanish while still in Spanish One.

 Parent, listen to track One on the cd with your child. Have him/her teach you what's being learned! These same lessons are being introduced and drilled in the classroom. Our CD work is ongoing homework throughout the school year. Ten or fifteen minutes of focused review, several times each week, are required study. To allow for follow-up on student progress , students will test on Video.  

(una cosa más ! -- if you already speak Spanish, your oral test will be written ! You, the Spanish speaker are expected to perfect your reading and writing in this level one classroom. Spanish speaking children who somehow end up in the level one class will be asked to listen to and write the words for popular Spanish songs from past years. These songs will then be used for our mainstream Spanish One students children to read and sing along. )

HOW IT WORKS:

   As we go from one lesson to another, past lesson contents will be "snow-balled" as new ones enter onto the classroom scene. First, we will learn basic classroom expressions. We will describe people and things. Then, we will learn to identify more objects and people. We will describe these. We will state what people have, want, say, are doing, etc. This is called spiraling the curriculum and is essential for integrating the Spanish we study..  ( Too much? Don't panic... The process is spread out over several weeks and from lesson to lesson).

   The integration of lesson contents takes place in the classroom. With visual prompts, students will learn to write entire paragraphs about a subject."Look, there is a house. The house has two windows and a door. At the door is a man. His name is Mr. Sanchez. He has a cup of coffee in his hand. He says "hello" to us. etc."

By the end of trimester one, students will write two pages of Spanish about a drawing that each will make and color. Students will take ownership of their learning and be able to show off what they've learned. Parents should encourage their Spanish learners to show off what's being learned !

  Our Spanish CD contains twenty five tracks of useful expressions, verbs and vocabularies. Learning these will give each student the necessary resources to speak and write lots of basic Spanish !  After learning how to put together our Spanish, we will make use of EN ESPAÑOL, our adopted text that contains a wide assortment of useful Spanish. This book becomes the primary focus for our Level Two curriculum and Ms Jean Manrique's classes.

GRADES:

 -STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO WORK ON THEIR CD EVERY WEEK both for new content and to review.

-weekly oral tests will be given during trimester 1 to help students to speak Spanish. Points will be given and included as grades. Check your parent portal for updates !

what to expect for trimester One:

 materials: 

1.  Bring 2 sharpened pencils to every class

2.a  pocket, Spanish/English dictionary is recommended as a resource for
    each student.

for trimester 1 :

WHAT WE WILL STUDY  (trimester 1)

All students will acquire basic Spanish speaking abilities concerning:

1. the ability to utter 20 classroom Spanish expressions which will be used to learn Spanish through Spanish.

(hola/adios/buenos dias/buenas tardes/aqui estoy /aqui esta.. mira/escucha/toma/dame/ven/vete/escribe/dibuja/dime/ sientate/gracias/de nada/ permiso/ repite por favor )

= 20 points for being able to gesture and state these expressions as learned through teacher+peer interaction..

   CD practice is central to completion of trimester One classwork. It structures the students' oral practice so that each can use understandable spoken Spanish when presenting in front of "Gertrude" (our video camera)

2  track 2 (ser and descriptive adjectives : 50 points.

3 track 3 color statements (20 points)

4  track 4 vocabulario de cosas importantes 50 points

5 track  5 el verbo tener w/statements ; 20 points

6 track 6 : expressions that use tener : 25 points

7 track 7 : querer statements : 20 points

8 track 8  statements w/ "hay" 20 points

Although the focus of our first evaluations is oral discourse, the above lessons will be practiced in class with written worksheets. Students will learn to write  Spanish as they fill in each worksheet. Spiraled contents will enable students to write/talk basic Spanish. After several track lessons have been acquired, others will be explored to allow for new Spanish expression.

9. Our trimester One will finish with a two page written description of a multi-item drawing that each student will make.   value : 100 points.

During trimester I, student feedback and practice will be monitored weekly for
additional credit.

Extra credit for students?

I believe that students who need extra credit should focus on retesting to raise a poor showing on a prior evaluation . The new test score can be averaged with the original evaluation.(This is not an option for those who merely want to elevate  a good grade of "B" or better ) Students are expected to plan ahead and to prepare for upcoming tests. Have your student show off what's been learned. Practice makes perfect
Once tested, review past contents for mastery learning ! Buena suerte y arriba !

Our Murray curve  for grades includes:            

                                   92-97.9 %=A .... 90-91.9% % = A-

                                   82-87.9% = B     80-81.9% = B-

                                   72-77.9% = C     70-71.9%= C-

                                  62-67.9%=D        60-61.9%= D-

                                  below 60% = N    

   note: students who were absent are expected to do additional CD work at home. Cd/picture lesson review for mastery is essential for keeping up with this our expanding curriculum. Our goal is to become proficient at speaking/writing basic Spanish in a present tense context.

classroom rules:

 1. All students, and teacher will stand and greet each other in Spanish at beginning of each class. Do not take your education for granted !

2. Students will be observably cooperative with peers and teacher.

3. Stay in your assigned seat and respect others. 

4. Stay on task (keep daily notes and raise hand daily to participate)

5.  No gum nor "non-authorized"  treats.

Conformity with the above will result in  better grades and acceptance by peers and teacher. Failure to comply may result in removal from class to ISS (detention). Parents will be notified by phone/email when there are major glitches in a student's progress, both with academics and for conduct.

in addition:

  6. Please bring 2 sharpened pencils to each class! A small Spanish/English dictionary also can provide comfort when confronting new vocabularies,

PROBLEM ?  e-mail me at:    ddonch@spps.org

" gracias por todo amigos, y hasta pronto "   --- prof. David M. Donch