Dayci Chivukula

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

THEMATICALLY ORGANIZED ASSESSMENT

SPANISH

TOA Title: Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

Theme: School Life

Level: Intermediate-Low

TOA Overview:

You and your family moved to Spain a year ago because your father was offered an interesting position there.
Your parents have enrolled you in a Spanish school in order to improve your language skills. You are having a
good time and have made friends with your Spanish classmates.

While skimming through Okapi, a Spanish magazine for young people, you come across a letter from Andrea,
who is upset about how things are going at home and at school. Since it appears to you that her problem is
similar to the problem of one of your friends, you would like to share the letter with him. First, you check your
understanding of Andreas problem. Then, you exchange information about your own school experience this
year with your friend. Finally, you devise a plan to help your friend improve his grades and to convince his
parents to reinstate his privileges.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

Task Title: Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

Theme: School Life

Level: Intermediate-Low Focus Age Group: 11 - 14

National Standard Goals: Communication Comparison Culture

Communicative Mode: Interpretive

Time Frame: 40 minutes

Description of Task:
While skimming through Okapi, a Spanish magazine for young people, an article catches your eye. Its a
letter from Andrea, who is upset about her father and how things are going at home. It appears that her problem
is similar to the problem of one of your friends. You read the article carefully.

Materials Needed: Andreas letter, interpretive task worksheet and rubric

Teacher Notes: After completing this interpretive task, groups of 3 or 4 students can exchange ideas about how
they answered the questions. Each group will choose a presenter to share their answers with the class.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

Intermediate-Low Interpretive Rubric

Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

EXCEEDS MEETS DOES NOT MEET

EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS

Can I identify the I identify Andreas I identify Andreas I have difficulty

main idea? main problem main problem identifying
discussed in text. discussed in text. Andreass problem.
(Main Idea)

Can I understand I understand most of I understand some I understand few of

supporting the reasons for her of the reasons for the details she
details? problem. her problem. mentions in the
article.
(Comprehension)
I infer the meaning of I infer the meaning I infer the meaning
most cognates and of some cognates of few cognates and
Can I infer word families. and word families. word families.
meaning?
I derive the meaning of I do not derive the I do not derive the
(Interpretation) a few new words from meaning of new meaning of new
context. words from words from context.
context.
I infer the authors
intent.

My answers My answers My answers do not

demonstrate some demonstrate little demonstrate cultural
cultural awareness. cultural awareness. awareness.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

Interpretive Task Comprehension

Intermediate Level

While skimming through Okapi, a Spanish magazine for young people, an article catches your eye. Its a
letter from Andrea, who appears to be very upset about her father and how things are going at home. It appears
that her problem is similar to the problem of one of your friends. You read the article carefully.

I. What is the main problem Andrea is facing?

II. You have written down some information as you read the letter but after a second reading, you realize that
some of the information may be incorrect because it doesnt support what you now believe to be Andreas
main problem. To stay focused you decide to circle each detail that supports your understanding. In
addition, you will write in Spanish the part of the letter that supports the mentioned detail.

A. Her father tells her to start doing her homework as soon as she gets home.

B. When she shows him her grades, he thinks that she didnt do a good job.

_____________________________________________________________________

C. Her mother agrees with her father.

____________________________________________________________________

D. He is usually in a bad mood he comes home.

____________________________________________________________________

E. She has very bad grades in school.

_____________________________________________________________________

F. According to Andrea, the way her father thinks about school work is the way most people do.

____________________________________________________________________

G. She tries to convince him that she studies hard.

___________________________________________________________________

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

H. He doesnt mind if she spends lots of time with her friends.

____________________________________________________________________

III. After checking for understanding, you have a pretty good idea about the content of the article. However,
there are still some words you dont know and you will try to guess before you check with one of your
Spanish speaking friends. Circle the answer that best corresponds to the highlighted expression.

se trata: _______________________________________________

manera _______________________________________________
tus deberes _______________________________________________

puntuacin _______________________________________________

IV.
Based on Andreas complaint, you advise her in Spanish on how to handle her problem. You describe
your parents or guardians and compare them to Andreas father.
________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

Task Title: Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

Theme: School Life

Level: Intermediate-Low Focus Age Group: 11 - 14

National Standard Goals: Communication Comparisons

Communicative Mode: Interpersonal

Time Frame: 40 minutes

Description of Task:
Your friends parents are not happy with some of his grades. They restrict his extracurricular and social
activities. He can no longer IM friends, go out on weekends or participate in clubs or sports. He is very
frustrated. The two of you compare your weekly schedules and the way in which you manage your classes,
extracurricular activities, and social life. You try to give him advice, but he is not convinced that he can manage
everything successfully.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org
Intermediate-Low Interpersonal Rubric
Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

EXCEEDS MEETS EXPECTATIONS DOES NOT MEET

EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS
How well do I I express my own ideas I express my own ideas by I use some simple
communicate? by using strings of using simple sentences and sentences, but mostly
sentences. some strings of sentences. express my ideas with
(Text Type) words, and memorized
phrases.
How well am I I am consistently My teacher understands me I am understood with
understood? understood by my but my classmates have occasional difficulty. I
teacher and by my difficulty understanding sometimes have to repeat
(Comprehensibility) classmates. everything I say. what I say and use gestures
to express my ideas.
How well do I My responses are logical Some of my responses do not My responses are
understand? and usually correspond answer my partners occasionally logical and on
with my partners questions. topic.
(Comprehension) comments and
questions.
What kind of I use a wide range of I use a range of vocabulary I use basic vocabulary and
vocabulary do I vocabulary appropriate that accomplishes the task. resort to English when I am
use? to the topic most of the However, occasionally I may unable to communicate my
time. use the wrong word or message.
(Language Use & expression.
Vocabulary)

How well do I keep I ask and answer I maintain a simple I respond to basic, direct
the conversation questions to maintain the conversation by asking some questions, and ask simple
going? conversation and to questions, but I dont ask for questions.
clarify. At times, I clarification.
(Communication paraphrase to make
Strategies) myself understood.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

How well do I I generally demonstrate I occasionally demonstrate I do not demonstrate an

demonstrate cultural awareness of cultural awareness of cultural awareness of cultural
understanding? appropriateness. appropriateness appropriateness.

(Cultural Awareness)

Task Title: Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

Theme: School Life

Level: Intermediate-Low Focus Age Group: 11 - 14

National Standard Goals: Communication

Communicative Mode: Presentational

Time Frame: 40 minutes

Description of Task:
To convince your friend that he can manage his school work and other responsibilities and still have a social
life, you devise a weekly schedule for him and write an agreement that he might give to his parents for the
reinstatement of his privileges. You highlight the changes he will make showing a better balance between his
academic and social life.

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org

Intermediate-Low Presentational Rubric

Qu debo hacer para sacar buenas notas y divertirme ms?

EXCEEDS MEETS DOES NOT MEET

EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS
How well do I I create with the I create with language by I use simple sentences,
communicate? language by using using simple sentences and isolated words, and
strings of sentences and some strings of sentences memorized phrases with
(Text Type & Language am generally accurate. and am occasionally accuracy.
Control ) accurate.
What kind of I use a wide range of I use a range of vocabulary I use basic vocabulary and
vocabulary do I vocabulary appropriate that accomplishes the task. resort to English when I am
use? to the topic most of the However, occasionally I unable to communicate my
time. may use the wrong word or message.
(Vocabulary Use) expression.

How well am I I am generally I am generally understood I am understood with

understood? understood by those by those accustomed to the occasional difficulty by
unaccustomed speaking/writing of those accustomed to the
(Comprehensibility) to the speaking/writing language learners. speaking/writing of
of language learners. language learners.
How well do I capture I make good choices of I make some good choices I use mostly gestures or
and maintain my phrases, images, and of phrases, images, and visuals to maintain
audiences attention? content to maintain the content to maintain the audiences attention. I use
attention of the attention of the audience. some phrases, but my
(Impact) audience. vocabulary conveys very
basic information.
How organized and I organize my I organize my presentation I focus mostly on the
fluent is my presentation in a logical in a logical manner. I completion of the task; I
presentation? manner. I speak/write pause a few times, pay little attention to the
with fluency. disrupting the flow. organization and flow of
(Communication my presentation.
Strategies)

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 Dayci Chivukula
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
dayci.chivukula@ww-p.org
How well do I I generally demonstrate I occasionally demonstrate I do not demonstrate an
demonstrate cultural awareness of cultural awareness of cultural awareness of cultural
understanding? appropriateness. appropriateness appropriateness.

(Cultural Awareness)