What's happening in Spanish class?

 Each day in grades EK-4,  we review the days of the week, the date, the months, the numbers 1-31, the seasons, the weather, and how we are feeling.  In September, students learn how to greet each other using Spanish.  In October, students learn how to describe all the weather conditions and seasons in Spanish.  Toward the end of October, we discuss El Dia de los Muertos and how they celebrate this holiday in Mexico.  In December, the focus is on Numbers.  Grade K focuses on #s 1-20, Grades 1+2 on #s 1-50, and Grades 3+4 on #s 1-1000.  In January, colors words in Spanish are introduced.  In February, the focus is on the Calendar, when students learn the days of the week, the months, and holidays in Spanish, as well as how to give the date and talk about when their birthdays are.  In March, students learn Clothing words.  In April, we learn the words for parts of the body, and then students can put it all together and talk about what clothing they wear on which parts of their body, in the different types of weather and on different dates!  In May and June, students learn the words for various Family members in Spanish.

Grade 5 - In September and October, students learn Food vocabulary in Spanish, as well as how to ask for specific foods in a marketplace setting using Spanish.  They also practice saying what they have vs. what they want. In November and December, students learn descriptive words and "opposites", as well as some useful commands.  In January and February, students learn how to order food in a restaurant, and can describe which foods they like and dislike, and explain why.  In March, students learn the Spanish words for animals and some descriptive adjectives so that they can talk about them in their new language.  In April, students review Body parts and Clothing, and we add advanced vocabulary to this unit.  In May, students learn the tricky concept of how to tell time in Spanish.  In June, we review Weather vocabulary and add advanced weather terms to this unit.

Grade 6 begins the year by focusing on Spain and Mexico in a geography and culture unit.  In November and December, students learn Spanish words for household objects and rooms, and learn about the different types of housing in Spanish-speaking countries.  In January and February, we begin to study the Spanish names of many animals, and also what they eat, and which biome they live in, all in Spanish!  In March, students study the Food groups and learn the words for the specific foods in each group.  In April, students learn about Professions, and we discuss the different jobs that people do around town in some Spanish cultures.  In May, the focus is on students' hobbies and pastimes, sports, and free-time activities.  In June, we study modes of Transportation and discuss useful phrases for Travel.

Grade 7 begins the year with a review of Descriptive words and Nationalities.  We begin to add more advanced adjectives to their vocabulary.  In October, students learn to describe and give their opinion of the classes that are available in school.  In November, the focus is on Family members and students create their family tree in Spanish.   In December, students learn the words for household objects and prepositions to talk about where things are located.  In January, students learn to conjugate the verb "Tener" to talk about things they have.  In February, students start to read their first novel, completely in Spanish.  In March, students learn to conjugate regular -AR verbs in the present tense.  In April and May, students read their second novel, completely in Spanish.  In June, students take a practice Final Exam, to assess their progress in the first half of Spanish One.

Grade 8 begins the year by using Spanish to talk about their mental state and physical well-being, as well as describing medical ailments during a visit to a doctor.  In October, students use Spanish to talk about traveling, taking a vacation, and all things related to the beach and a ski resort.  In December and January, students learn how to talk about events in the past using El Preterito.  In February, students read their third novel, completely in Spanish.  In March, students learn to conjugate irregular verbs in the Preterite tense (past tense).  In April, we focus on the numbers 1-1,000,000.  In May, students read their fourth novel completely in Spanish.  In June, students take a Final Exam to assess their progress in the second half of Spanish One.  This assessment helps the high school teachers place students in the appropriate level of Spanish at the high school.

Throughout the years, students in grades 5-8 will periodically view authentic Spanish episodes.  Each episode is interactive, and is part of a mystery series, and the students love them!  They also have the opportunity to use Duolingo, and Rosetta Stone.  We are very thankful to have access for each student to use these fantastic resources!