Spanish I Syllabus

2012/2013
Ms. Curl
Rm #46
(423) 775-7821
curlm@rheacounty.org
August 2012
Dear Students, Parents and/or Guardians,
Hola! y bienvenidos a la clase de espanol! Hello, and welcome to Spanish class! I am
very excited to begin a new school year and look forward to teaching you/your child
about Spanish culture, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
The benefits of learning a foreign language are many. According to the American
Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, learning a foreign language correlates
with a students:

and:

intellectual growth
development of reading abilities
increased ability to hypothesize in science
improved understanding of his/her native language.
higher academic achievement on standardized tests, including the ACT and SAT
gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not
have the chance to know.
opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate
people from other countries.
gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.
increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a
real asset.

Grading Distribution, Scale, and Policy

Homework
Classroom activities
Participation
Quizzes
Exams
Projects

10%
10%
20%
15%
25%
20%

93 - 100
85 - 92
77 - 84
70 - 76
Below 70

A
B
C
D
F

Homework
As you can see, daily activities, including participation and homework, will make up 40%
of your/your childs grade. Successful language development depends upon frequent

interaction with the language. To that end, short homework assignments that reinforce
the days lesson will be assigned two to four times a week. They will be graded for
completion. Physically it is very easy for a student to copy another students homework
assignment and thus earn a 100% for that homework completion grade. Obviously this
is discouraged as it will significantly impact learning resulting in much lower quiz and
exam scores. It is also unethical, and any student found copying another students work
will receive a 0 for the assignment and will be referred to the office.
Classroom Activities
Classroom activities will be taken up at times and graded for completion and/or accuracy.
Participation
Since learning a foreign language can be intimidating causing many students to appear
uncooperative when they are only feeling insecure, every student will begin each quarter
with a 100% participation grade. Students will keep their 100% participation score by
following the three basic rules of the classroom: courtesy, effort, preparation (see
below). As previously mentioned, learning a foreign language can be intimidating!
Therefore, everybody will be courteous to each other; effort will be graded as trying to
the very best of ones ability; and preparation will include bringing to class all materials
(see below) and being prepared to work.
Quizzes
There will be roughly four scheduled quizzes per chapter section: vocabulary recognition,
vocabulary production, and two grammar topics. There will also be pop quizzes from
time to time.
Exams
All exams will be scheduled and will test the material worked on in class, given for
homework, and tested on in quizzes.
Projects
There will be two to four projects per quarter. These will include written and oral
presentations and various cultural research projects.
Make-up Policy
If time allows, make-up work will be discussed at the end of class the day the student
returns. If time does not allow, then the student must come and see me during lunch to
discuss what is due and when. Please note that each student will have a detailed
syllabus for each chapter and can keep up with class work/homework while they are
away.
As many days as a student is absent will be the number of days they will have to turn in
make-up work. Work that was due the day of the absence will be due the day the student
returns. Work will be accepted late but 10 points will be deducted per day.

Classroom expectations
Courtesy Everybody will be courteous to each other.
Effort Everybody will try to the very best of their ability.
Preparation Everybody will come to class with all materials, prepared to learn and
participate.
Class Materials
Provided: textbook, workbook
Bring: 3 ring binder with loose-leaf paper, tab dividers, blue or black ink pen and/or
pencil, highlighter
*Please note this syllabus is subject to revisions throughout the year. Any changes will be made clear to
students.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Parents and/or Guardians,

Please keep the syllabus so you will have my email address and school phone number.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. I will give your child their own copy of
the syllabus for them to keep in their binders.
I have read Ms. Curls Spanish I syllabus ______________________________________
(parents signature)

What is the best way to contact you? Phone [ ] _______________________________

Email [ ] _______________________________
Does your child have any needs I should be aware of? (for example: allergies, low blood
sugar, asthma)
________________________________________________________________________
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