📘 Course Description
This advanced Spanish course is designed to strengthen students’ literacy and fluency skills through reading, writing, grammar instruction, and cultural analysis. Our anchor text, Cajas de cartón by Francisco Jiménez, offers a powerful foundation for building vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking while exploring meaningful cultural themes. This course also serves as preparation for the STAMP test and future AP Spanish coursework.
🎯 Course Objectives
- Study and take notes on grammar during Monday morning remote sessions
- Read and discuss Cajas de cartón in Spanish during in-person Wednesday and Friday classes
- Submit weekly written responses and reflections through Google Classroom
📚 Required Materials
- Cajas de cartón by Francisco Jiménez (provided)
- Google Classroom access
- Notebook for grammar notes, vocabulary, and in-class activities
- Pencil or pen for in-person sessions
📊 Grading Policy
While this course does not assign traditional grades, participation will be monitored. Continued enrollment depends on the following:
- Regular attendance
- Active participation and Spanish use in class
- Completion of weekly assignments
📏 Class Policies & Expectations
- Spanish Only Days: Wednesdays and Fridays will be conducted entirely in Spanish.
- Preparation: Students should come prepared with their book, notebook, and having caught up on any missed reading.
- Weekly Assignments: One writing assignment per week will be posted in Google Classroom and is due each Wednesday.
- Participation: Consistent engagement is required. Students who do not participate or arrive unprepared may be asked to withdraw from the class after communication with families.
🧠 Course Content
Instruction and discussion will support:
- Preterite and imperfect tenses
- Indicative vs. subjunctive moods
- Verb and subject agreement
- Sequence of tenses
- Number and gender agreement
- Prepositions and transitions in writing
Students will develop the ability to:
- Organize writing logically with cohesive transitions
- Express ideas fluently with appropriate and varied vocabulary
- Use textual evidence to support interpretations and opinions
- Compare themes, cultures, and experiences across texts and real-world contexts
🌎 Learning Outcomes
- Use reading to build vocabulary, grammar awareness, and cultural understanding
- Improve oral fluency through structured discussion and personal reflection
- Strengthen listening skills by engaging with peers in Spanish
- Build interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication skills
- Develop writing that demonstrates clarity, cohesion, and cultural insight