Español 1
BGHS Fall 2014
Sra. Hutchings
Programa de estudios
Course Objectives: Students will develop and build upon communicative skills that will allow
them to read, write, speak, and listen in the Spanish language. Additionally, students will
explore some of the cultures found in the Spanish-speaking world.
Course Standards: A copy of the Virginia Spanish Standards of Learning can be found at the
following web site:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/foreign_language/index.shtml
These standards focus on:
 person-to-person communication
 listening and reading for understanding
 oral and written presentation
 cultural perspectives, practices, and products
 making connections through language
 cultural and linguistic comparisons
 communications across communities
Required Materials: Students will arrive to class every day with the following items.
Lacking these items may cause a deduction in the participation grade.
 Realidades 1 textbook (provided)
 Realidades 1 workbook (provided)
 Three-ring binder
 Composition notebook (for bell work)
 Pencil / blue or black pen
 Spanish-English Dictionary (recommended)
Grading Practices: Grades will be weighted as follows:
 Tests and Projects
40%
o Projects will be worth ¾ of a test grade
 Quizzes
40%
 Other
20%
o Participation, Class Work, Homework
Grading Scale: At the end of each marking period letter grades will be assigned to final
percentages as follows:
A+= 98-100
A= 92-97
A - = 90-91
B+ = 88-89
B= 82-87
B - =80-81
C+= 78-79
C= 72-77
C - =70-71
D+= 68-69
D=62-67
D - =60-61
F = 50-59
Notification: In terms of grades, parents will receive formal notification of the student’s
progress roughly half-way through the marking period with a progress report and at the
end of each marking period with a report card. However, at any point throughout the
course parents and students are encouraged to contact me with any questions or
concerns regarding grades.
Curriculum: As stated by the Augusta County guidelines, our goal is to cover the first five
chapters of the textbook. Please contact me if you would like a more detailed curriculum.
Grade Components: The graded components of the class are:
Tests and Projects: Several tests will be given during each marking period. At times, a
project/presentation will be assigned in place of or in addition to a test. Once graded and
returned, test corrections will be required. Students will be awarded half credit back for
every answer they correct. Students are encouraged to use their notes and / or book.
Mr. López and I are also available to help students with test corrections. However,
students may not work with other students on their test corrections.
Quizzes and Retakes: Quizzes will be given regularly each week. They will be in the
form of written, listening, and speaking quizzes, and may be announced or
unannounced. Students will have the opportunity to retake three quizzes per six weeks,
provided that they come in for extra help before retaking the quiz. Only quizzes from the
current marking period will be accessible. In other words, once the six weeks has ended,
students will not be allowed to retake quizzes from that marking period.
Participation and Class Work: Students must actively participate in class. This
participation will include behaving appropriately, bringing required materials daily, paying
attention, taking notes, completing class work, and speaking in Spanish. This
assessment will be based on the instructor’s observations through the course of the
class period. A vital part of this process involves students keeping all notes, handouts,
worksheets, quizzes, and tests in chronological order in their 3-ring binders.
Homework: All homework assignments must be completed as they will be graded
randomly throughout the marking period for completeness and correctness.
Late Work: Work not completed and turned in on time will be dropped a letter grade for
the day it is late. After that, the work will not be accepted and it becomes a zero.
Students with an excused absence will have three days to turn in the work they missed
without penalty.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will be built into existing tests, quizzes, and activities
throughout the marking period.
Tardiness, Absences and Make-up Policy: Students must arrive to class on time and must do
everything reasonable to attend class. Work that is missed due to an absence must be made up
as soon as possible or within 3 school days of returning to school. It is the responsibility of the
student to see Sra. Hutchings on the first day returning to school so as to promptly make up
work. Passes to activity block must be obtained in advance. When possible, students are asked
to email or give other advance notice to Sra. Hutchings regarding absences.
Character and Class Rules: All students must show respect towards themselves, each other,
and the instructor. Additionally, cheating on any test, quiz, or assignment will not be tolerated
and will result in a zero grade on that item as well as a referral to the administration. The use of
any online translator (including google translator) will be considered cheating. Students
may use paper dictionaries or the dictionary section of www.wordreference.com.
For the parent(s)/guardian(s):
Sra. Hutchings’ fall schedule (Room 32):
1st block: Spanish 2
2nd block: Planning / office / locker room
3rd block: Spanish 2
4th block: Spanish 1
Sra. Hutchings’ contact information:
Email (preferred):
Phone:
lpearson@augusta.k12.va.us
Please direct calls through BGHS
Final Notes:

Please read, sign, and return the following behavior contract.
If your child is in danger of failing, or if I notice a substantial down-swing in performance, I will
do my best to let you know. However, please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any
concerns. It is much easier for me to simply reply and give you the information you might need. I
will try to respond within 48 hours. I look forward to meeting and speaking with you within the
first few weeks of the semester.
---------------------------------------cut here and keep the top portion------------------------------------------To the parent/guardian of ________________________________________:
printed name of student
Please sign and return this portion of the syllabus with which you and your child acknowledge
that you have read and understand your child’s responsibilities and expectations for Spanish 1
for the fall 2014 semester.
_______________________________
signature of parent/guardian
_______________________________
signature of student
_______________________________
_______________________________
printed name of parent(s)/guardian(s)
Please fill out the following and place a check next to your preferred method(s) of
communication:
□
email _____________________________________________________________
□
phone (h) ____________________ (number) ___________________ (times)
□
phone (c) ____________________ (number) ___________________ (times)
□
phone (w) ____________________ (number) ___________________ (times)