Spanish

Horizons recognizes that Spanish is becoming an increasingly vital language both locally and globally. Our school is the only BVSD school that offers courses in Spanish for all K-5 students. Additionally, all 6th - 8th graders may take up to three full years of Spanish. This emphasis on second-language learning reflects Horizons’ commitment to helping students appreciate cultural diversity and become contributing world citizens. Eight graders are invited to test into High School Spanish, Level 3.

Spanish at Middle School

The middle school Spanish program at Horizons is a natural continuation of the Spanish program started at the elementary level.  We believe it is important that all students attempt the study of a foreign language at some point in their middle school career.  We believe that the study of the Spanish language in particular is an important skill to have as a global member of society.  With this belief in mind, we have a Spanish program that runs kindergarten through 8th grade.  Spanish at the elementary level focuses on exposure to the Spanish language through songs, games, and interactive activities.

In middle school, there is a shift from learning through exposure to the acquisition of the Spanish language through activities involving reading, writing, speaking, listening, and studying the culture of the Spanish speaking world.  Spanish classes are offered Monday through Thursday for an hour each day as part of our intensive blocks running the entire academic year.  In elementary school, students participate in Spanish language instruction for the equivalent of one quarter of the school year.

Spanish in middle school is taught in ability groupings based on a student's mastery of one level of Spanish instruction before beginning another.  It is important to note that our Spanish classes at Horizons are high school level Spanish classes. We work in close contact with the high school in Boulder Valley School District to make sure our curriculum is standardized as such.  Students who successfully complete Spanish 2 as 8th graders (or higher levels as certain bilingual Horizons students have over the years) may elect to enter high school at the Spanish 3 level of study.  It is also important to note, that we believe it is critical for students to truly master one level of Spanish before moving on to the next level of study.  We encourage those students who may benefit from repeating a level in order to master it, to do so now while they are in middle school. 

Spanish 1: This is the beginning level of Spanish study in the Horizons middle school.  Students work on developing mastery of essential vocabulary necessary to conduct simple conversations in the present tense verb forms through a variety of activities, practice, and assessment.

Spanish 1B/2A: This level of Spanish instruction builds on Spanish 1 core concepts and increases the developing of grammatical concepts to include the present progressive (gerund) form as well as the simple past tense (preterit) form of both regular and irregular verbs.  This instruction occurs through the use of activities, practice, reading of Spanish literature, and assessments.

Spanish 2:  This level of Spanish instruction builds on the previous two levels offered at Horizons increasing development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish.  Specific grammatical concepts developed through this course include the past imperfect and the subjunctive verb forms. This instruction occurs through the use of activities, practice, reading of Spanish literature, and assessments.

At all levels of Spanish middle school instruction, daily independent practice (i.e. homework) is an essential component to a student's success.  Since not all students have an authentic native Spanish environment in which to practice daily outside of the school setting, it is necessary to be committed to this independent practice.

We are fortunate to have a team of middle school level Spanish teachers who have been at Horizons for a number of years.  Pat Smalley teaches the two Spanish 1 classes, Lynn Pence teaches one class at the 1B/2A level, and Sylvia Padrón-Schneider teaches one class of 1B/2A and the Spanish 2 class. We are fortunate to have a native Spanish speaker, Sylvia, on staff to help our students particularly in the year before entering high school.