¡Bienvenidos!
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
Charlemagne
What We are Working on this Week: May 17-21, 2010
Pre-K: The Pre-K classes enjoyed learning even more about transportation this week! They focused on learning the words for car (coche), train (tren), bus (autobus), and plane (avion). They also reviewed calendar vocabulary and practiced counting in Spanish from 1-20!
This week all Primary Grades will contiue to review what they learned throughout the school year. The students will participate in several games to test their knowledge. The Kindergarteners and First Graders will wrap up our unit on Animals and Habitats before we move on to Food. The Second Graders will begin reviewing the unit on Parts of the Body as well as Clothing.
The middle and upper grades will continue to review the Aztec, Inca, and Maya Civilizations. Next we will begin reviewing the unit on Transportation.
What We are Working on this Week: May 10-15, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes loved learning transportation vocabulary this week! We learned the words for car (coche), train (tren), airplane (avion) and bus (autobus). They also enjoyed singing The Wheels on the Bus in English and Spanish.
Pre-K: This week in Spanish, the Pre-K classes continued learning about transportation! They loved singing The Wheels on the Bus in both Spanish and English. We also played the game Luz Rojo, Luz Verde (Red Light, Green Light) to practice this vocabulary.
This week all Primary Grades will begin to wrap up the school year! We will spend the next several weeks reviewing material from the entire year. The students will participate in several games to test their knowledge. The younger grades will start this week by playing “Memory” and “Hangman” to review units on Animals and Habitats.
The middle and upper grades will have a great time competing in a Relay Race as they review units on the Aztec, Inca, and Maya Civilizations of Mexico and South America. Be sure to check the “Weekly Grammar” for some of the key vocabulary we will use to review.
What We are Working on this Week: May 3-7, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Prepper and Preppers classes explored Mexican culture and tradition this week by celebrating the holiday Cinco de Mayo! To learn the history behind this Mexican holiday, we read the story Celebramos Cinco de Mayo. They enjoyed tasting a special snack of chips, salsa, and guacamole on Wednesday and had a great time listening to mariachi music.
Pre-K: This week in Spanish, the Pre-K classes enjoyed learning about the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo! To learn the history behind this holiday, we read the story Celebramos Cinco de Mayo. We celebrated on Wednesday by having a fiesta, complete with traditional Mexican food! The Pre-K students were able to try chips, salsa, and homemade guacamole for a special snack.
This week all Primary Grades will continue to explore Mexico. We will discuss the cultural importance of Cinco de Mayo as we discuss what to look foward to at a traditional “Fiesta”. All grades will review vocabulary from last week, which can be found on the “Weekly Grammar” page.
What We are Working on this Week: April 26-30, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: In Spanish this week, the Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes began exploring the country of Mexico! We decorated Mexican flags, found Mexico on a map, and discussed traditional Mexican food. We also listened to mariachi music and talked about the different instruments used in mariachi bands. We practiced playing the trumpet, guitar, and violin! Towards the end of the week we began discussing the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, which we will celebrate next week.
Pre-K: This week Pre-K will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will find Mexico on the Map and have a great time dancing to some Mariachi Music.
Kindergarten: This week the students will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will find Mexico on the Map and have a great time dancing to some Mariachi Music and reviewing traditional Mexican food.
First Grade: This week the students will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will review traditional Mexican food and learn why this is such an important holiday for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
Second Grade: This week the students will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will review traditional Mexican food as well as other customs. We will also learn why this is such an important holiday for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
Third Grade: This week the students will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will review traditional Mexican food as well as other customs. We will also learn why this is such an important holiday for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the students will begin a new unit on Mexican culture to prepare for Cinco de Mayo! We will review traditional Mexican food as well as other customs. We will also learn why this is such an important holiday for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
What We are Working on this Week: April 19-23, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: In Spanish this week, the Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes finished their insect unit! We colored our favorite insects and used these to make a chart. We also practiced counting the legs of each insect in Spanish! We also played a game matching ladybugs with the same number of spots.
Pre-K: This week Pre-K will work on finishing our Insect unit. The students will play “Memory” to test the vocabulary that they remember.
Kindergarten: This week the Kindergarteners will continue to study animals. They will play one of their favorite games, ¿Quién tiene?, where they will get to hold on to some of their favorite animal toys.
First Grade: This week the students will continue to study Food. They will have a great time talking about some their favorites, then grouping food into the correct meal-time.
Second Grade: This week the students will continue to study Clothing. We will continue to work on describing different clothing and using parts of the body to place the correct article of clothing on the proper body part.
Third Grade: This week the students will work on a new unit about Transportation. They look foward to reading several books aloud to their classmates and, discussing personal experience with Airplanes, Boats, and Cars.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the Fourth and Fifth Graders will continue to study Transportation. They look foward to sharing what kinds of vacations they have taken, and what mode of Transportation they used.
What We are Working on this Week: April 12-16, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: This week Pre-Preppers and Prepper classes continued learning about insects! They reviewed this vocabulary by dividing insects into 3 categories: those that crawl, hop, or fly. They also had fun counting the legs of each insect in Spanish! Towards the end of the week, we read the story La Oruga Muy Hambrienta (The Very Hungry Caterpillar). This book was a great way to review food vocabulary, insect vocabulary, and days of the week!
Pre-K: This week Pre-K will continue to explore insects. The students will review the vocabulary from last week by participating in “Directed Drawing”. Also this week, the students will have a blast flying and hopping like some of their favorite creepy crawlies!
Kindergarten: This week the Kindergarteners look foward to beginning a new unit on Animals. They look foward to playing memory to review several of the basic animals and habitats.
First Grade: This week the students will finish their unit on animals. Next, they will begin a unit on Food. They will have a great time playing “Hangman” to review the basic vocabualry.
Second Grade: This week the Second Graders will have a great time starting a new unit on Clothing. This will be a great unit to also review the material on Parts of the Body that they just finished.
Third Grade: After making their Bar Graph, the students are ready to finish up their unit on Food. They will have a blast playing “Flyswatter” to review all the material from this unit.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the Fourth and Fifth Graders will begin a new unit on Transportation. First, we will play “Hangman” to review old vocabulary and to see what the students remember from the last time we studied this unit.
What We are Working on this Week: April 5-9
View the April Pronunciation Guide!
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: In Spanish this week, the Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes loved learning about insects! They enjoyed singing La Cucaracha (The Cockroach) and La Itsi Bitsi Arana (The Itsy Bitsy Spider). We also made a graph of our favorite insects!
Pre-K: The Pre-K classes explored the world of insects this week! This week Pre-K will read “La oruga muy hambrienta” (The Very Hungry Caterpillar”). This will help to review food items
Kindergarten: This week the students will review all Home vocabulary. They look foward to playing several games such as Hangman and Memory to review.
First Grade: This week the students will continue to study animals. In particular we will work on using new vocabulary to distinguish between animals that fly versus animals that swim. They cannot wait to make their own jellyfish using ribbon and styrofoam bowls.
Second Grade: This week the students look foward to creating some silly people to help expand on our parts of the body vocabulary. Also this week, the students will have a blast playing “Telephone”, they always end up with some silly words!
Third Grade: This week Third Grade continue to study food. We have reviewed breakfast, lunch, and dinner and now the students are ready to move on to making a bar graph. They will practice asking their classmates about some of their favorite food to create a bar graph at the end of this week.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the students look foward to creating some silly people. This will help to expand on our parts of the body vocabulary as the students will have the chance to describe their drawings to the rest of the class .
What We are Working on this Week: March 29- April 2
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes began a new unit on insects this week! We used felt-board pieces to practice saying the name of each insect. We also learned two new songs: La Cucaracha (The Cockroach) and La Itsi Bitsi Arana (The Itsy Bitsy Spider).
Pre-K: The Pre-K classes explored the world of insects this week! They were fascinated to learn about spiders (aranas), ladybugs (mariquitas), butterflies (mariposas) and even cockroaches (cucarachas). We used felt-board pieces to practice saying the name of each insect, and each student had a chance to tell about their favorite insect.
What We are Working on this Week: March 22-26, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes reviewed the vocabulary from our c lothing unit this week! We also focused on learning different weather vocabulary. The Pre-School classes drew pictures to represent sunny (soleado) or rainy (lloviendo).
Pre-K: This week in Spanish, the Pre-K students continued learning all clothing! We drew pictures to review the clothing we wear when it is hot or cold outside. The Pre-K classes have also done a great job completeing their interviews! Towards the end of every class, I choose three students to answer various questions in Spanish. Sample questions include: What is your name? What is the weather like outside? What month is it? What color is your shirt? This is a great way to practice Spanish in the context of conversation!
Kindergarten: This week the students continue to explore Home vocabulary. The students will be introduced to advanced vocabulary including the dishwasher, the refrigerator, and the sink.
First Grade: This week the students will continue to study animals. They look foward to reviewing some well-known animals such as the penguin and the parrot before we move on to some unique animals of South America, such as the capybara.
Second Grade: This week the students look foward to creating some silly people to help expand on our parts of the body vocabulary. Also this week, the students will have a blast playing “Telephone”, they always end up with some silly words!
Third Grade: This week Third Grade continue to study food. We have reviewed breakfast, lunch, and dinner and now the students are ready to move on to making a bar graph. They will practice asking their classmates about some of their favorite food to create a bar graph at the end of this week.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the students look foward to creating some silly people. This will help to expand on our parts of the body vocabulary as the students will have the chance to describe their drawings to the rest of the class .
What We are Working on this Week: March 15-19, 2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes continued learning about clothing this week! We reviewed the vocabulary that we had already learned, along with practicing our colors and numbers. The Pre-Prepper and Prepper classes have also been learning about the weather! Each day, they can identify whether it is sunny (soleado), cloudy (nublado), or raining (lloviendo).
Pre-K: In Spanish this week, the Pre-K classes reviewed clothing vocabulary! They enjoyed dividing into groups based on the clothes they were wearing. We also reviewed shapes by going on a “shape scavenger hunt” around our classroom! We also began conducting interviews in Spanish this week. Students were asked a series of questions in Spanish and were expected to answer entirely in Spanish! Sample questions include: What is your name? What is the weather like outside? What is your favorite color? This is a great way to practice the Spanish we have learned in a more conversational atmosphere. They did a great job!
Kindergarten: This week the students continue to explore Home vocabulary. We will review basic words and phrases before we move on to learning all about the different kinds of furniture and appliances found at home.
First Grade: This week the students will review all about the Planets in Spanish. We will continue to practice saying them in the correct order before we move on to a new unit all about animals. We will review several basic animals before we explore native species of Central and South America.
Second Grade: This week the students look foward to playing Bingo (Lo tengo) to review all the weather expressions we have covered so far. Next we will move on to a Parts of the Body Unit, where the students will love playing several games to review!
Third Grade: This week Third Grade is excited to begin a new unit on Food. We will spend the first couple of days reviewing old vocabulary as well as some short phrases.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the students look foward to beginning a new unit onParts of the Body, where the students will love playing several games to review, especially Operation!
What We are Working on this Week: March 8-12, 2010
View the March Pronunciation guide!
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: The Pre-Preppers and Preppers have really enjoying learning about the clothes we wear! We discussed what clothes we wear when it is hot or cold outside. We practiced reviewing our colors by dividing into groups based on the color of our clothes. For our cultural lesson this week, we explored the country of Spain! We learned where to find Spain on the map in our classroom.
Pre-K: In Spanish this week, the Pre-K classes continued their unit on clothing! We divided into groups based on the colors we were wearing and practiced naming each color in Spanish. We also talked about the clothing we wear when it is warm outside. Some of the vocabulary words we focused on were: shorts (pantalones cortos), t-shirt (camisa), bathing suit (traje de bano) and sunglasses (gafas del sol).
Kindergarten: This week the students will finish learning about the Presidents. This week we will focus on the White House. We will discuss the different rooms as we review rooms of a house in Spanish.
First Grade: This week the First Graders are excited to begin a new unit on the Solar System! We will begin by learning all of the planets names in Spanish. Next we will practice saying the correct order by playing a game, “Quiet ball”, where you cannot pass the ball unit you say the correct planet.
Second Grade: This week the Second Graders will finish their unit on Matter. Next, we will move on the Weather. We will review the seasons, months, and basic weather terms.
Third Grade: This week, the students will finish up their research projects on Conquistadors and Native groups of Latin America.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the Fourth and Fifth Graders will continue learning about the American Revolution. We will review the important facts that we discussed last week to help us complete the time line of important events.
What We are Working on this Week: March 1-5, 2010
View the March Pronunciation guide!
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: This week in Spanish, the Pre-Preppers and Preppers loved learning about clothes this week! They loved playing “dress-up” and naming each article of clothing in Spanish. We focused primarily on the vocabulary words for shirt (camisa), pants (pantalones), dress (vestido), and skirt (falda). We also reviewed colors by discussing the color of the clothes we were wearing.
Pre-K: The Pre-K classes continued learning all about clothing this week! We discussed the clothing you wear when it is cold outside, so we learned the vocabulary words for coat (abrigo), gloves (guantes), and scarf (bufunda). We also reviewed colors by discussing the color of the clothes we were wearing.
Kindergarten: This week Kindergarten will begin a new unit on Presidents. We will explore the presidents which appear on Mount Rushmore as well as our current President. We will also explore the White House, which will be a great time to review our Home vocabulary.
First Grade: The First Graders will finish their unit on Early Exploration this week. We will re-read “The Great Mayan Mystery” and review some of the possible causes of the disappearnce of the Maya.
Second Grade: The Second Graders will continue to study Matter. We will work on various compound sentences to help identify to which group an object belongs.
Third Grade: This week, the Third Graders continue to study European Conquistadors. They will learn about the woman who turned in her own people to a Conquistador. Also this week, we will split into groups to begin a research project.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the Fourth and Fifth Graders will begin a unit on the American Revolution. By the end of this week the children should have enough information to begin our time-line project, which will outline the most important dates of the American Revolution.
What We are Working on this Week: February 22-26,2010
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: In Spanish this week, the Pre-Preppers and Preppers completed their unit on animals! We learned several new adjectives to describe each animal and sorted animals by habitat. We also focused this week on reviewing colors and numbers and began learning new calendar vocabulary (days of the week, months of the year).
Pre-K: This week Pre-K will finish up their unit on Animals. The students look forward to playing “Animal and Habitat Memory”. Pre-K will finish up the unit by creating a great water color ocean scene.
Kindergarten: This week Kindergarten will finish their unit on the Seven Continents. We continue to study Africa, including the wildlife, famous landmarks, and weather.
First Grade: The First Graders continue to explore some of the First Europeans to travel to Latin America. Also this week, the students will further explore what happened to the Mayan Civilization. After reading “The Great Mayan Mystery”, the class will then hypothesize what they believe might have occurred to cause the sudden disappearance of the Mayans.
Second Grade: The Second Graders are beginning a new unit on Matter. The students will practice grouping pictures by form (i.e. gas, liquid, or solid) to prepare for a fun game at the end of the week.
Third Grade: This week, the Third Graders continue to study European Conquistadors. They will learn about the woman who turned in her own people to a Conquistador. Also this week, we will split into groups to begin a research project.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: This week the Fourth and Fifth Graders will begin a unit on the American Revolution. By the end of this week the children should have enough information to begin our time-line project, which will outline the most important dates of the American Revolution.
What We are Working on this Week: February 15-19
Pre-Preppers/Preppers: It sounded like a zoo in the Spanish classroom this week! The Pre-Preppers and Preppers loved learning about zoo animals and practicing the sounds that they make. We read the story Buenas Noches, Gorila (Good Night, Gorilla) and identified the zoo animals in the story. We continued to explore South America for our cultural lesson this week! We even found this continent on the BIG map in the hallway.
Pre-K: This week the students will explore ocean animals. The students are excited to make sea turtles using paper plates and construction paper.
Kindergarten: This week the Kindergarteners will explore Africa. We will discuss the terrain and wildlife as well as the native animals of this continent.
First Grade: This week the First Graders will begin a new unit on Early Exploration. We will also review the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. The students look foward to creating a map to show where each of these groups lived in Mexico, South America, and Central America.
Second Grade: This week the Second Graders will finish their unit on Simple Machines. The students cannot wait to play one of their favorite games, ”Flyswatter” to review the vocabulary from this unit.
Third Grade: This week we will begin a new unit on Conquistadors. Also this week we will review the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations as we learn what happened when European explorers arrived to their land.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: Fourth and Fifth continue to study China. We will review Chinese inventions and the Chinese Zodiac. Also this week we will discuss interesting facts about several Chinese Dynasties.