K-4 is learning the parts of the body.  They received a worksheet with a fox on it and labels indicating each part of the body in Spanish.  The children also learned Pulgarcito, a new song which teaches several important questions and responses in Spanish. Students heard a story about a mouse going to the movies.  The story had new vocabulary as well as previously learned winter terms. 

K-5 began learning a new song, which is a surprise for parents.  They also received the parts of the body worksheet, reviewed six songs in Spanish, and participated in a lesson which  I delivered entirely in Spanish. It was magical!   We sang Old MacDonald in Spanish.  Did you know that some  animals "talk" in a different manner in Spanish than they do in English? Ducks say, "qua, qua."  Our surprise song will teach you some other farm animal sounds! 

1st grade discussed medical terms including ways to express having a toothache or stomachache in Spanish.  The children received a vocabulary sheet with important terms to learn. I assigned the first ten words for study. There will NOI be a written test on the words. I will ask for responses from the children orally in class next week. 

2nd grade received the same list of important vocabulary words.  I encouraged students to study as many terms as they wanted to study.  Most students understand more than the first twenty words on the list! They took the list home for study.  I will ask for oral responses in class next week on the first ten words. 

3rd grade received an assignment which is due next week.  The project is a cultural awareness activity and can be done entirely in English.  Please assist your child with the preparation of their Spanish -speaking country if you wish.   Call me if you have any questions.  Miss Stone has some shoe boxes if your child does not have one at home.  I also brought four boxes to the classroom on Tuesday. 


4th grade has an autobiographical composition to prepare for presentation next Monday.  We did the ENTIRE paragraph in class.  The children need only copy their responses on another sheet or prepare the paragraph on the computer.  They also need a photograph or hand-drawn self-portrait cover sheet to accompany the paragraph. This project is our last major assignment before the next report cards are distributed.  It is very important that your child complete this activity.  Several students are not completing homework assignments.  I have called parents informing them of this fact.  

Thank you for your interest in our Spanish Language Program. 

                                   Miss Linda 

K-3 classes were so excited about Spanish today.  They are doing well with the days of the weeks and all colors.  The children always hear a story in Spanish.  This time it was about a penguin that did things differently from the other penguins.  We always review previously introduced songs and concepts.

$th and 6th have a homework assignment which is due next Friday, Feb. 17.  Students received a detailed sheet of instructions and we discussed what is expected of them in class.  Please contact me if you need clarification about the assignment.  It is an autobiographical paragraph which uses previously introduced vocabulary and concepts.  Please ask your child to share the assignment with you I would like you to assist with the last part of the assignment which asks the student to share their favorite quote.  The quote may be in English and could be verses from the Bible, a favorite line from a movie, story , or poem, or something you have shared with them through the years. The quote should reflect what is important to them, their values, or attitude.

    Thank you for your interest in our foreign language program.

* Students will be allowed to retake the verb test on Friday.  Some students said they did NOT study for the test. I am hoping they do prepare for the retest.

February 13. 

K-3 learned a new song about the days of the week.  They also learned a song about Pulgarcito, Little Thumb.  This activity is used to introduce basic Spanish language constructions to young second language learners.  In this case, children are learning the expression, "Donde estas?" "Where are you?"  The response they are learning is: "Aqui estoy ."  "Here I am." One group also heard the story, "A Gus le cae un diente."  "Gus loses a tooth."  In Spanish, a little mouse rewards the child for a lost tooth placed under their pillow. 

Grades 5 and 6 took their verb test.  Grade 5 will be allowed to retake the test on the verb "tener."  Although it was on the list, they did not spend as much time studying the verb with me in class as the sixth graders did.  

Sixth grade received the magazine, "Que tal?" to read at home.  There are really fun educational activities in the magazine. I am hoping students will try to complete some of them.  We also did an oral language test on terms and vocabulary learned in class on Wednesday.  This is a semi-surprise for you, so I don't want to spoil it.  You should be receiving something from your son or daughter tomorrow which they made in class.  
   Happy Valentine's Day.  Feliz Dia del Amor y Amistad. 
                                                   Miss Linda 

Dear Parents, 
  I am sorry this post is so late!  I normally post on Monday or Tuesday morning the latest, but I was working on a special activity with our sixth graders which required time and careful preparation.  Since there are no classes on Monday, your child will have plenty of time to complete the homework before we meet again in two weeks. 

K-4 and K-5  Students are really learning how to count in Spanish.  K-4 can count to 30 and K-5 can count to 50.   Students learned how  to give you a special message on Valentine's Day in Spanish.  I wish we had more time to work on it!  They are planning to say, "Te quiero, Mama" and "Te quiero, Papa."  "I love you."  Students heard several stories in Spanish. They  really understand almost everything I read to them.  Production follows the development of listening skills, aural skills."  I would say most students are well into the production stage now. 

1st and 2nd grades finished their physical description project in Spanish.  Please ask them to share it with you on Valentine's Day.  There is a verbal message that accompanies the gift you will receive.  I would love to have you share that with me.   1st grade has an assignment I gave to Miss Connie.  I am confident that students will complete the assignment and be ready to show it to me in two weeks.  We do not have school next Monday, which is the day I work with your children.  

Grades 3 did an activity about zoo animals in Spanish.  I gave them two sheets to complete and use to create sentences in Spanish about things they like to do and things they don't like to do. I asked them to also write sentences expressing activities others like and don't like to do.  This is a follow-up activity I am using to reinforce expressing likes and dislikes in Spanish. Please contact me if you need clarification. My phone number is 601-428-1704. I requested a minimum of twenty sentences.  Students said their wanted to write many more!  Fantastic. I know some students  will do so. 

Grade 4 presented their zoo dialogues.They did a great job.    They have two activity sheets to use to help them create sentences telling activities they like to do and don't like to do.  I also would like them to write sentences telling what others like to do and don't like to do.  It is a follow-up activity. They need to write a minimum of twenty sentences.  Of course, they may write as many as they like.  Since we do not have class next week, I am sure some fourth graders will write more than the required twenty. 
                     Happy Valentine's Day.  In Spanish, we also say, "Feliz Dia de la Amistad."  "Happy Friendship Day."  
                                                      Miss Linda 
                             

Friday, February 7

K-3 spent most of the period learning parts of the body.  We also did some counting in Spanish a few new colors, and expressing age.   I am so pleased that the children have learned the words to many of our songs in Spanish.  I introduced Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in Spanish today.  Estrellita, Brillaras.  

Grade 5 presented their dialogues.  Students did a great job on the activity.  Homework is to study the verbs ser and estar for another quiz next week.  I love working with our fifth graders.  They work very well in collaborative learning groups.  I also admire their willingness to express their opinions about activities we do in class. One student made a very useful suggestion  about the next test's format which helps me to determine how well students are grasping the concepts presented in class.  I really really like that! 

Grade 6 also presented their dialogues and took a test on the verb ser.  Homework is to study the verb tener for a test next Friday.  I also suggested that students compose sentences with the present tense of tener.  Sentences are not assigned, but I encouraged students to write them in order to gain mastery of subject-verb agreement of tener.  I am hoping some students will bring some of their sentences on Friday. Our sixth graders are amazing students.  Their desire to learn and go above and beyond the assignment makes teaching fun!  Thank you, Parents, for your interest and cooperation in our foreign language program!  

                              Atentamente, 
                                          Srta. Linda 
       

Dear Parents,
         K-4 had a fun-filled, activity-packed period today!  They are learning the names of farm animals in Spanish, sang all of their songs without help from me, counted to thirty, with a little help from me, reviewed parts of the body, and heard a lovely story in Spanish entitled," Te quiero," which means, "I love you."


K-5  The children counted to fifty, reviewed all songs, helped me take attendance by responding in Spanish, "No esta"  if children were absent, (this was really neat since I did not prompt them to do so), learned farm animals in Spanish, and heard a story in Spanish called, "Te quiero." I can conduct most of the class in Spanish!

Grade 1  continued their special project about physical descriptions.  I passed around a mirror which students really enjoyed. We are working on a special Valentine's gift which will include a presentation to you in Spanish when they take the project home.  This will happen next week.

Grade 2 continued their project for Valentine's Day. Students understand instructions I give in Spanish!  I am so pleased.

Grade 3 presented their dialogues.  So many students have acquired an excellent pronunciation in Spanish.  They are reading in Spanish as well.  I am so very happy that they enjoy my class.  They received a worksheet with the names of zoo animals to study for a quiz next week.  An optional assignment is to write a short dialogue about a trip to the zoo.  This is NOT required.  I am hoping students will attempt to write the dialogue using their new zoo animals vocabulary.

Grade 4  presented their dialogues about the weather. They did very well.  They need to write a dialogue about a trip to the zoo in Spanish using a worksheet they completed in class.

  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

                              Atentamente,
                                        Miss Linda