Spanish

Kindergarten 

The focus on acquiring Spanish is at the very basic level, although children are expected immediately to produce the language.  Our once a week 20 minute class is on learning some of the same basics the children are learning in English in order to provide a solid foundation for development.  We begin with the alphabet, learning how the letters sound in order to enable the children to pronounce (and ultimately read and write) the Spanish language. The curriculum includes greetings, introduction to the calendar and numbers, days of the week, months, seasons and activities.  Much is done through picture recognition.

Grade 1

The approach this year is to provide students the ability to engage in very basic conversations in Spanish.  Students are expected to practice pronunciation in order to refine their speaking skills.  First Graders will occasionally work in groups, although much of their language practice is done with the teacher, or with a partner.  We will cover greetings, feelings, weather and seasons, numbers, colors, clothing, activities and sports.  We incorporate both picture with words.

Grade 2

Since these children are able to read, this level of Spanish focuses on word recognition as well as pronunciation.  Children see words and pictures while learning.  Listening, writing, and speaking activities are common.  Paired work is promoted.  Realistic situations are provided.  Material covered includes greetings, description of self and others, classes, activities, sports, weather, weekend activities, house and family.

Grade 3

The Third Grade curriculum includes cultural greetings, introductions, and exchanges at the very basic level.  Students learn to talk about how they feel, what they are like, as well as what they look like.  They master seasons and describe weather.  Moreover, students are able to discuss various clothing options based on weather, sports and/or pastimes.  The students explore family vocabulary and discuss cultural differences and similarities.  Finally, students complete the year by learning about features inside and outside of a house.  Culturally, we discover how homes may vary in Spanish speaking countries.  Grammatically, Third Graders begin to learn how to conjugate various verbs including SER, ESTAR and TENER.

Grade 4

After completing a summer review packet, Fourth Graders begin the year learning about their classroom.  They master location descriptions of items relevant to their daily classroom.  They are able to discuss the different subjects they study.  The students explore a typical town and the stores and services it offers.  They learn to listen to and give directions.  The students have conversations in a pharmacy, bank, clothing store, and restaurant.  Culturally, they learn about how schedules, foods, and other elements of a town can be the same and/or different.  Grammatically, Fourth Graders review SER, ESTAR and TENER.  They are introduced to regular –AR and –ER verbs and learn the verb IR.

Grade 5

After completing a summer review packet, Fifth Graders focus on real life experiences and conversations that can take place in a store, airport, bus, or train station.  They learn how to read schedules, tell time and count money.  They master vocabulary related to visiting a city, how to check into a hotel, visit a museum, go to a restaurant, as well as activities they might do while on vacation.  Culturally, they learn elements that relate to all of these topics.  Finally, Fifth Graders study various Spanish and Mexican artists including Rivera, Kahlo, Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Picasso, Miro, Dali and Gaudi.  Grammatically, these students master –AR, -ER and –IR verbs both in writing and in speaking.

Grade 6

This is the first year that Spanish is offered in our middle school language experience, in lieu of French, although this particular class of students began learning Spanish in the Third Grade.  They are ready to use a textbook with accompanying workbook.  The Paso a paso level 1 textbook is a tool that provides students with an approach to developing their Spanish at a level that is appropriate.  We begin a review of the past several years, but quickly advance into being able to talk about things happening now, in the future, and in the immediate past.  They learn how to give advice and commands, all the while adding to their vocabulary bank.  Cultural topics are also explored.