SPANISH INTRO 8 SYLLABUS

Northwest Middle School • 2026–2027 • Semester Course • 50 Minutes Daily

Mr. Leonardo Sánchez-Palomino  |  Room A-120  |  (864) 355-6936
lsanchezpalomino@greenville.k12.sc.us  |  sites.google.com/greenvilleschools.us/lsanchez/home

Dear Parent or Guardian

Your child will strengthen familiar Spanish and use it with greater independence, detail, and confidence. Spanish Intro 8 serves as a bridge to Spanish 1 and emphasizes purposeful communication and problem solving.

About the Teacher

My name is Leonardo Sánchez-Palomino, and I am from Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. I began teaching in 2005 and have taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in Colombia, Virginia, and South Carolina. My teaching philosophy is based on love, empathy, high expectations, and the belief that every student can grow.

Course Description

Spanish Intro 8 is a semester course that prepares students for Spanish 1. Students interpret short texts, sustain simple conversations, and create connected messages while describing school spaces, important people and professions, and travel experiences. Grammar is practiced as a tool for meaningful communication.

Spanish will be used as much as possible, with visuals, modeling, gestures, word banks, and sentence frames that make meaning understandable. Pacing may be adjusted for the school calendar and student needs.

Course Goals

• Understand the topic and familiar details in short spoken and written texts.

• Exchange information, ask follow-up questions, and clarify meaning.

• Present connected information with details, reasons, and simple comparisons.

• Use Spanish respectfully in school, personal, professional, and travel situations.

Course Outline

The outline below is a guide. Adjustments may be made when needed.

• Course Launch: Performance and Proficiency (5 days): Class routines, Novice High goals, baseline activities, and a personal growth plan.

• Unit 1: Let’s Get Started (12 days): School locations and functions, classroom needs, descriptions, prepositions, directions, greetings, and a school tour.

• Unit 2: All About Me (24 days): Important people, friends, teachers, coaches, professions, biographical information, traits, age, and preferences.

• Unit 3: Oh, the Places We’ll Go! (45 days): Destinations, geography, weather, clothing, transportation, directions, tourist activities, forms, customs, and itineraries.

• Semester Closure (4 days): Review, reassessment when approved, portfolio conference, and preparation for Spanish 1.

Major Learning Tasks

• Short listening and reading activities

• Partner conversations and role-plays

• Speaking and writing presentations

• Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) and unit projects

Materials

There is no single textbook. Students must keep an organized composition notebook because lessons regularly review and reuse earlier language.

• Charged Chromebook every day

• Composition notebook used only for Spanish (not spiral-bound)

• Index cards/notecards, loose-leaf paper, and pencil or pen

Grades

Grades are recorded in PowerSchool and reflect what students understand and can communicate.

Minor Assessments (8) 50% IPA components, quizzes, classwork, participation, and homework when assigned.

Major Assessments (3) 50% IPAs, tests, projects, presentations, and notebook checks.

Grading Scale:  A 90–100  |  B 80–89  |  C 70–79  |  D 60–69  |  F 50 or below

Classroom Expectations

• RESPECT yourself, classmates, the teacher, languages, and cultures.

• Take RESPONSIBILITY: arrive on time, bring materials, charge the Chromebook, study, and complete assignments.

• PARTICIPATE in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cooperative activities.

• Use Spanish willingly, take appropriate risks, and learn from mistakes.

• Follow all school expectations for cell phones and electronic/listening devices.

School Policies

Make-Up Work: All current policies regarding make-up work, missing assignments, reassessments/redos, late work, and related academic procedures can be found in the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjwARa1q1XHGZ6WSw7WWRcNrVbkZcNUmGFIKmbpeLnY/edit?usp=sharing

Re-do Work: All current policies regarding make-up work, missing assignments, reassessments/redos, late work, and related academic procedures can be found in the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjwARa1q1XHGZ6WSw7WWRcNrVbkZcNUmGFIKmbpeLnY/edit?usp=sharing

Late Work: All current policies regarding make-up work, missing assignments, reassessments/redos, late work, and related academic procedures can be found in the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjwARa1q1XHGZ6WSw7WWRcNrVbkZcNUmGFIKmbpeLnY/edit?usp=sharing

Attendance and Tardiness: Northwest Middle School attendance and tardy policies will be followed. Students should arrive on time and begin the posted bellringer promptly.

Communication and Partnership

If you have questions or information that may help your child succeed, please contact me. Email is generally the fastest method. I believe learning is a partnership among students, families, and teachers, and together we can help every student make meaningful progress.

All students can grow when they participate, persevere, use feedback, and believe improvement is possible.

Classroom Rules:

Have RESPECT

-for yourself, for your classmates, for the teacher

Take RESPONSIBILITY

-arrive on time, come prepared, study, and complete all assignments

PARTICIPATE

-in all activities

¡HABLA ESPAÑOL!

ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES!

No i-pods or other electronic/listening devices

If you have any questions, concerns, advice, etc. please do not hesitate to contact me.  I think e-mail is the best way lsanchezpalomino@greenville.k12.sc.us  but you can call me before or after school. (864)-355-6936.

As a parent and an educator, I firmly believe that the learning experience is a partnership between students, teachers and parents.  Together we can help them succeed.

I think ¨All students can succeed, if they really want to, if they are willing to work and if they think positively. ¨

Leonardo Sanchez-Palomino (864) 355-6936 

 lsanchezpalomino@greenville.k12.sc.us