Editable Syllabus for Spanish 1, 2, 3 & 4

What to put in a Spanish syllabus?

When most secondary Spanish teachers are creating a syllabus, it is a little different from what you would put in a Spanish syllabus for college. Most middle and high school Spanish teachers I know include some of the following in their syllabus

• Contact information
• Grading – standards-based grading or weighted categories
• What you need for class – supplies needed
• An overview of the curriculum
• Goals of class – for a language class that often means learning targets & proficiency level
• Basic expectations 

Syllabus vs. Curriculum

At the high school or middle school level, a syllabus often includes the items listed above. A syllabus is a basic outline that is shared with students and parents of what you need, what to expect, and what is expected of you during the course

While, the curriculum usually refers to the texts, books, materials, etc that will be covered during the course, as well as an overview of each lesson that will be taught in the course. In most cases, it is not necessary to share an in-depth curriculum at the high school level in a syllabus. This post will focus on syllabus not curriculum, but if you want to learn more about curriculum planning, check out these blog posts.

• Create a CI Curriculum for Spanish 1-4
• Mis Clases Locas Curriculum for Spanish 1-4
• French Comprehensible Input Curriculum

Syllabus vs. Course Outline

At the college level, a college Spanish syllabus was actually more of what I would call a course outline. The first part included the syllabus with contact information, expectations, and grading. Then the next couple of pages were actually a course outline.

The course outline for classes in college typically included the topic for every single in-person class. The outline detailed what was to be read in advance, the topic of the class, if there was an exam, and what was to be completed after the class.

Why a 1 Page Editable Syllabus for Spanish Class?

Over my career, depending on the year, I have taught grades Spanish grades 7-12. I hate to break it to you, but (most) middle and high school students do not care at all about your syllabus. If it is more than one page, they will for sure not read it all. They want to be able to skim for what is important to them. This means the very few who do care, only really want to know the following:

• How will I be graded? (grading info)
• What is expected of me? (expectations)
• What do I need for class? (supplies)
• What are we doing in this class? (Curriculum)

So since I originally posted this blog post in 2015, I have used variations of my 1-page syllabus. Instead of just a boring block of text on a page, this kind of syllabus is more visually appealing and allows you to skim for what you care about.

That year everyone was making fancy infographic syllabi and sharing them on social media. I even started one on Pictochart. My little guy (who was 1 at the time!) woke up interrupting my train of thought. Then, I decided for a variety of reasons that instead I wanted to make one that I could edit, adapt and reuse. Here was my original syllabus for the first year at a new school that was created in Pages. (I actually hate red, but it was the school color).

Editable Syllabus for Spanish 1

Language proficiency is such a new and novel idea for level 1 Spanish students. I think it is important that any Spanish 1 syllabus, for sure includes proficiency levels, modes of communication, as well as learning targets. I also always start with Proficiency Puzzle during my 1st Week of Spanish Class Unit 1. This makes sure that students have a solid foundation of what proficiency is. Use this ready-to-go Proficiency Puzzle resource to better explain as a part of week 1 stations.

Also, for the last many years, I taught at a school that used Standard Based Grading, so this was important to include on the syllabus as well. Also, supplies, expectations, absent procedures, contact information, and a basic curriculum overview are all helpful to include. I do also send home the same Parent Newsletter to all of my students that gives more information about myself, a video permission form, language acquisition, and a contract for students and parents to sign. That signature does require that they have read the class syllabus as well.

Editable Syllabus Spanish 2, 3, 4

Spanish class syllabus was originally posted on Mis Clases Locas by Allison Wienhold on 7.30.15 & most recently updated 8.14.23