Syllabus: Spanish 1 & 2                                                                           Email: amedina@fusdk12.net  

Álvaro Medina, M.A.                                                                                           Phone: 510-656-7211 Ext #28054

Walters Middle School 2025-2026                                                                            Room 54           

COURSE DESCRIPTION

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome Back to School!

I’m so excited to start another school year with you! This will be my 11th year here at Walters Middle School, and I truly love what I do. My greatest passions are spending time with my family, gardening, and, of course, teaching Spanish. I do my best to keep up with the latest research and methods in language learning so my students can have the best experience possible.

Relax — you are in good hands! In this year-long course, we will focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. You’ll learn not only the language, but also explore the rich cultures of Spanish-speaking countries through film, pictures, music, technology, art, and engaging classroom activities. We’ll use a variety of approaches — including visual and hands-on learning — so that everyone can succeed and have fun along the way.

I look forward to an exciting year of learning and discovery together.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to enable the student to communicate using simple grammatical structures acquired through  basic vocabulary in Spanish. This communication will be developed and enhanced through comprehensible inputs, checks, small group cooperative learning, independent practices, and presentations. Emphasis on basic first-level grammar, vocabulary and oral expression is intended to lay the foundation for continuing study of Spanish. In addition, this course will be aimed at helping students foster an appreciation of the differences and similarities between American and Spanish speaking cultures.

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Be present and an active participant on a daily basis.

• Turn in all homework and assignments on time. Turn in all work to receive full credit. 

• Complete all written, speaking, reading and listening assessments.

• Stay organized; keep all materials in a separate notebook and a 2 pocket folder for Spanish class.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Textbook: Senderos 2, Vista Higher Learning 2, 2023 (Provided)

Workbook: Senderos 2, Vista Higher Learning, 2023 (Provided)

Walters school agenda notebook (Provided)

sharpened pencils/ mechanical pencils

2 to 3 notebooks (70-100 pages each) 

Small hand held pencil sharpener with case for shavings

1-2 pocket folder

blue/black ball point pens

scissors

1 glue sticks 

Personal tissue/kleenex box/packet 

highlighters (2 + colors)

CLASSROOM RULES

Learning a world language involves a great deal of risk-taking, therefore, it is vital to collectively cultivate and maintain a comfortable environment where everyone is able to share willingly. In order to achieve this and maximize students learning, students are expected to:

Show respect:

• Be courteous and respectful to your teacher, classmates, visitors and others’ property.

Make good decisions:

• Be in your seat when the bell rings.

• Participate on a daily basis. 

• No food, drinks, or gum allowed in class.

Solve Problems:

• 
  Take care of personal business before class.

Appropriate consequences will be given according to the progressive discipline policy outlined in the Walters student agenda notebook.

BATHROOM POLICY:

Students are allowed to use the bathroom as needed, but there are a few important guidelines to follow:

• One student at a time may leave the classroom to use the bathroom.
  
  

• Please ask for permission at an appropriate time—not during direct instruction unless it is an emergency or there is a medical condition.
  
  

• Students are expected to return within 5 minutes. Longer times may result in follow-up with a parent or administrator.
  
  

• Frequent or prolonged bathroom use may require a conversation to make sure everything is okay and to help students stay on track with classwork.
  
  

• Abuse of bathroom privileges (wandering the halls, socializing, or not returning promptly) may result in loss of the privilege or a referral.
  
  

Please take care of personal needs during breaks whenever possible. This helps protect our limited class time and ensures everyone has a fair opportunity to learn.

EVALUATION

Aeries and Google Classroom are available to provide information about student grades and assignments. All grades will be based on a total accumulation of points in each category:

Homework

Classwork

Oral Presentations/ Participation

Projects/ Written Assignments

Quizzes & Tests

 The standard grading scale is:

A = 90-100% 

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = 59% & Below

PARTICIPATION / ABSENCES

Daily participation and attendance is required and expected.

• It is each student’s responsibility to communicate with me for make-up work upon return from an excused absence. You will be held responsible for all information discussed in class.

• A student with an EXCUSED absence will have as many days to make up work as they were absent. 

• Extended Absences and Language Learning

• I understand that students may occasionally need to miss class due to extended travel, family emergencies, illness, or injury. While some absences are unavoidable and out of a student's control, it is important to recognize the impact that time away from class has on language acquisition.

• As we learned during the pandemic, distance learning is not an effective substitute for in-person instruction—especially in world language courses. Spanish is a skill-based subject that requires consistent attendance, active participation, and daily practice.

• Whether an absence is due to a family trip, a medical appointment, or personal reasons, missing instructional time will affect a student’s language development and ultimately their grade. Unlike content-based classes, language learning depends heavily on classroom interaction, speaking opportunities, listening practice, and real-time feedback.

• Please plan ahead and understand that in this class, even short absences may cause a student to fall behind. Students new to Spanish need regular exposure and reinforcement in order to be successful.

ROUTINE ASSIGNMENTS

• Warm Up:  In class assignment completed in the first 5 minutes of the period.  Students copy the agenda from the board and are given a review exercise to complete that must be kept in their Spanish notebook. 

• Daily Homework:  Homework assignments given in class on a daily basis. Must be turned in at the beginning of the period and kept in a Spanish workbook, notebook, or folder, depending on the homework assignment.  The teacher checks homework completion by “stamping” each assignment. Homework is an important part of reinforcing what we learn in class. To receive credit, assignments must be completed thoughtfully, follow the given directions, and show genuine effort. Assignments that are incomplete, off-topic, clearly rushed, or include made-up or irrelevant content will not receive credit. If a student submits work that does not meet the expectations, a zero may be assigned with the opportunity to revise only at the teacher’s discretion.
  Students are encouraged to reach out if they are having difficulty with the material—honest effort is always better than turning in something insincere.

• Journal:  Journal writing assignments completed in class.  Writing will progress from English to Spanish.  Must be kept in a Spanish notebook. 

• Oral Presentations: Students will prepare and make oral presentations regularly. Students will receive their own grades (based on vocabulary, accuracy, pronunciation and fluency) whether they are presented individually, in pairs or small groups.

• Projects: Students will have semester projects and others as assigned. Detailed descriptions and requirements will be given in class. In order to receive a grade, students must follow ALL steps as outlined by the teacher.

• Quizzes & Exams: Students will generally have a quiz every other week on a rotating schedule (one week they will be given a quiz followed by a chapter test usually in 4 weeks). Corrected quizzes are generally returned to students, while tests are kept in class, in Vista or are saved in Google Classroom. All tests and quizzes are always reviewed in class with students.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please feel free to contact me via email (above) and include your child’s name and class period.  For individual meetings please make arrangements with me in advance as my schedule varies week to week due to meetings and other obligations. 

Let’s have a great second year!  It is my hope you will have a gratifying learning experience in my classroom.  Your active engagement and thoughtful contributions to class activities and discussions will greatly enhance your chances for success and college readiness.

                                                                                                                                                                  Sr. Medina

 Portrait photograph of Pablo Picasso in front of his painting The Aficionado (Kunstmuseum Basel) at Villa les Clochettes, Sorgues, France, summer 1912

Parent and Student Acknowledgement Confirmation   

Students and parents: Please complete, cut the dotted line and return the attached confirmation form.              - Señor Medina