Williams Field High School Spanish I Course Syllabus and Management Procedures
Instructor Name and Degrees: Sra. Rebecca Rodriquez, BA Spanish/M.Ed Secondary Ed
Contact Information: Phone: (480)279-8000 Email: Rebecca.rodriquez@husd.org
Please note that my last name is spelled with a Q and not a G when emailing. 
Office Hours: Mon, Thurs from 3:10-3:40 PM, Tues from 3:10-4:15 PM and “B” lunch by appointment.
Textbook: Buen viaje, Glencoe Spanish 1
Course Description: The objective of this class is to help master basic communication skills in Spanish.
We will engage in Speaking, Reading, Listening, and Writing activities in order to gain proficiency in
Spanish. We will complete tasks and projects that help you build skills to communicate in a variety of
real-life contexts. In addition, we will be exploring the cultural aspects of many of the Spanish speaking
countries.
Course Competencies (Semester 1):
● Ch. 1, Un amigo o una amiga: identify and/ describe people and things, ask and say where
someone is from, basic greetings, dates
● Ch. 2, Alumnos y cursos: Describe people and things, talk about more than one person or thing,
discuss school and opinions of it, tell time, tell when things happen
● Ch. 3, Las compras para la escuela: identify and describe school supplies, identify and describe
clothing, shop for clothes and school supplies, state color and size preferences, speak to people
formally and informally
● Ch. 4, En la escuela: talk about going to school, talk about school activities, greet people and
ask how they feel, describe where people go, state where and others are
● Ch. 5, En el café: order food and drink, identify food, shop for food, talk about activities
Course Competencies (Semester 2):
● Ch. 6, La familia y su casa: talk about family, describe home, tell age and find out age, tell what
you have to do, tell what you are going to do, state possession, families in Spanish speaking
countries
● Ch. 7, Deportes de equipo: talk about sports and activities, state what you want, prefer and
begin to do, talk about people’s activities, express interests and sports in the Hispanic world
● Ch. 8, La salud y el medico: explain minor illnesses, describe feelings, describe things, state
location and origin, express what happens to you and others
● Ch. 11, En viaje en el avión: talk about the airport and a plane trip, state what is happening
now, express things and people you know, air travel in South America
● Ch. 9-10, Verano y el invierno, diversiones culturales: describe weather, sports, past events,
resorts, places you go in spare time, watching movies
State standards of emphasis:
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2FL-R1: Greet people, make small talk and close conversations
6FL-R1: Recognize that words are borrowed from one language by another
4FL-R4: Identify parts of the world where the target language is spoken
1FL-R3: Comprehend short conversations/stories on familiar topics
1FL-R4: Identify people and objects based on oral and written descriptions
6FL-E3: Recognize there are linguistic and cultural concepts that in exist in one language and not
another
Attendance and Tardies: Students are responsible for making up any missed work if you are absent for
any reason. The student will have as many days to make up work missed as the number of days of
absenceBeing tardy to class, will result in ASD (after school detention), per school policy.
Grading: Students’ final grades will be determined by the following percentage scale:
A = 90+%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = 59% and below
Your grades are calculated by the following category weights.
Practice and Participation: 20% (class & homework, participation, practice, speaking points)
Unit Assessments: 60% (quizzes, tests, projects…content understanding)
Final Exam: 20%
Please check Synergy to verify your grades periodically. Keep all of your work until you can see that it was
entered correctly. If there is an error, come see me to have it corrected.
Late Work/Homework Policies: In each unit or chapter, students are expected to complete all
homework and class assignments. Check the teacher page calendar for what assignments and practice
must be completed. You will get full credit for all homework and classwork assignments as long as they
are satisfactorily completed by the end of the unit. After that, work will be accepted up until a “drop
dead date” at the end of the semester (TBD), but for half credit. If assigned homework is not completed
by the beginning of class, the student will be assigned ASD. Homework will only be signed off on at the
beginning of class.
ASD: Timeliness and preparedness are vital to ensuring student academic success. To this end, ASD is an
intervention designed to encourage and reinforce student academic success. Throughout the day,
students may be assigned ASD by their teachers for the following reasons: tardy, missing homework, and
unpreparedness for class. Students assigned ASD will serve it the following day to provide for parent
notification. ASD begins at 2:10 PM and ends at 3:10PM.
Testing and retakes: We will have multiple assessments per unit – quizzes, presentations and actual
tests (writing, speaking and unit exams). There will be no retakes of quizzes. They will serve as a
snapshot of how you are doing in the chapter. For unit tests (speaking, writing, unit exams) though,
retakes not only are possible, but they are required if you score less than a 70%. We will not accept
poor performance and will do all we can to ensure student learning.
If the student scores less than 70% on any test, he/she will receive a zero in the gradebook. A “0.1” will
be entered and the student will have 2 weeks to make up all missing work from the unit (worth half
credit after unit is over) and the necessary test reflection and retake the test during the teacher’s office
hours. If you do not do so, parental contact will occur and, if student still does not complete the work
and retake the test, administration will be notified.
If the student scores less than 70% on the retake, a “0.2” will be entered as the score and the student
will have another two weeks to retake it again. If within that time frame the student does not retake the
test, parents and administration will be notified.
The score you get on the second retake (your third attempt overall) will be entered in the gradebook, no
matter the grade.
We insist that students perform well and persevere until successful. That is why it is required to take a
test up to 3 times.
If the student scores at least a 70%, he/she may retake the unit test during the teacher’s office hours no
more than twice up until the semester’s “drop dead” day if the student is not missing any work from the
unit. All unit work must be completed before any retakes are allowed. The retake grade will be entered
into the gradebook.
To be successful in the class and get the desired grade, it is crucial to understand that the grade is a
reflection of what the student can understand, say, and write in Spanish, in addition to other
information related to the Spanish-Speaking world. ANYONE can learn Spanish, do your best and ask
questions. ANYONE can get an A in Spanish!
When you come into class: Students are expected to have paper and a writing tool each day. Come to
class ready to learn. Complete the “Calentamiento” activity (bell work). Upon receiving the homework
calendar back from the teacher, write the “tarea” (homework for the next day) on the homework
calendar. The “tarea” will be posted on the side board under SPA I.
Spanish speaking points: Many days in class we will have activities that involve Spanish interaction,
either writing or speaking with a partner, using ONLY SPANISH. It is possible to get 10 “Spanish points”
those days. Speaking English will cause the student to lose 5 points each time. It is purely effort. When
the student speak and practices Spanish, he/she will receive the speaking points.
Food and drink: There will be NO food at all and no beverages other than water in the classroom except
when the teacher has made special exceptions. Students seen with food or a drink after the beginning of
class will be told to throw the food or drink in the trash.
Leaving class: The expectation is that personal business is conducted on personal time (bathroom and
such). Students should take advantage of passing periods and lunch time for that. Each student will
have a limited amount of passes to use over the course of the semester.
Electronic devices: There are to be NO phones or any electronic music or gaming devices used while it is
class time, unless permission is given. They will be confiscated according to school policy.
Class Behavior and Classroom Rules:
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Use Spanish in class: No one has ever learned Spanish by speaking English.
Always show respect: Students will respect themselves, and all those around them.
Choice/Responsibility: Students will strive to make positive choices, and they will accept
responsibility for the consequences that follow. For example, cheating on a test will result in a
zero on the test with no chance to retake.
o When completing assignments and projects, you must follow all
Acceptable Use Policies and Copyright Laws by citing your sources and
avoiding any kind of plagiarism.
Safety: Students will constantly maintain the safety of all, while in the classroom and hallways.
(Diversity Statement)
● All individuals have a right to an educational environment free from bias, prejudice and bigotry.
As members of the Williams Field High School educational community, students are expected to
refrain from participating in acts of harassment that are designed to demean another student’s
race, gender, ethnicity, religious preference, disability or sexual orientation.
BEHAVIOR ACTON PLAN
If you do not follow these rules, any of the following may occur:
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Informal conversation between student and teacher
Discussion with parent and teacher
Removal from class setting
Involvement of school administration
Should the safety or wellbeing of another student or students be involved, administration will be
involved immediately.
At-home tips for student success:
1. Check ParentVUE and Teacher Page calendar often to see what is being done daily.
2. Look at your student’s homework calendar to see if he/she has teacher’s initials that indicate
homework is being completed.
3. Expect the student to print his/her grade from the student portal and have you sign it when told
to do so by the teacher.
4. Discuss concerns with your student and contact me for any reason.
(rebecca.rodriquez@husd.org, 480-279-8000…email preferred)
5. Make sure the student has daily, dedicated study and homework time.
Online Synergy gradebook:
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Parents can access their child’s grades and assignments by going to the school’s website and
clicking on ParentVue/StudentVue on the quick links bar (right side of the page). Teachers may
include digital documents, classroom assignments, points and percentages, and individual
feedback and comments. Students’ information is only accessible by using an individualized
password assigned by the school. Parents may contact office personnel/counselor for their
child’s password at 480-279-8000.
Requested Class Materials:
Student: Pencil, pen, paper, notebook, personal whiteboard marker.
For Teacher: I always appreciate donations of the following materials.
Whiteboard markers,
A ream of paper for student copies
Tissue
Bandages
Markers
Other school supplies
Spanish I Student Information Sheet
TO BE SIGNED AND RETURNED:
Student Name: _____________________________________________________
(Last Name, First Name)
Spanish Class Period: _____ Hour
Parents/Guardians Printed Name: ____________________________________
Phone: (___)___-____
Email: ___________________@_________________
Parents/Guardians Printed Name: ____________________________________
Phone: (___)___-____
Email: ___________________@_________________
Parents/Guardians Printed Name: ____________________________________
Phone: (___)___-____
Email: ___________________@_________________
Parents/Guardians Printed Name: ____________________________________
Phone: (___)___-____
Email: ___________________@_________________
I have read the class expectations for Sra. Rodriquez’s Spanish class and
understand that I must take responsibility for my own academic success, as well
as my classroom behavior.
Student Signature: ___________________________________Date:___/___/___
I have read and discussed with my student the class expectations for Sra.
Rodriquez’s Spanish Class.
Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________Date:___/___/___
Contact Log
Date: Time: Person:
Reason:
Result: