Tuesday, August 20

Dear Parents and Grandparents,  
        Yesterday was our first day of Spanish.  What a wonderful day it was!  Your children are very motivated to learn a second language.  The K-5 and first graders remembered all of the songs we learned last year in Spanish. (Well, the second verse of "Elefante" needed some review with my K-5 children), but by the end of the class everyone was making "trompas" with their hands on their noses and showing how "grande" an elephant is.  Second graders were anxious to show me how well they learned the names for foods.  I decided to add about twelve new words the first day because they were more than ready for it.  You may hear your child telling you what he or she likes and doesn't like at the dinner table in Spanish.  Please share that with me if you do.  Third and fourth graders did very well talking about food they like or dislike in Spanish.   Our next project for grades three  and four  will be the preparation of a favorite food that does not require cooking, such as sandwich or a salad.  The student will have to demonstrate and explain the process in Spanish to the rest of the class.  Samples for everyone will not be necessary.  Samples for Miss Linda may be required, however, if it is something she really likes such as a P & J sandwich! You will hear more about that project  in the next few weeks. Fifth grade suggested that I speak only Spanish during the class.  I told them that I would like to do that as we progress in our study of Spanish and one student said, " That is an excellent idea. Why don't you start today?"  Wow!   I did.
Last year my fifth graders who are now sixth graders began writing and presenting whole paragraphs about their lives.  We picked up where we left off last May.  This was not a problem with any of the students.   Their assignment was to complete a short composition about themselves and their families for next Monday. Please contact me if your child needs some assistance with the composition.  I have purchased a set of small bilingual dictionaries and placed them on the desk under the bulletin board. Please tell your child to come and borrow one if they need it to complete the assignment.  Of course, most students use the computer for translations, but the dictionaries are there just in case they want to use them.  Their project will be to research a profession and make a short oral presentation about that profession in Spanish in a few weeks.  It might be fun for them to research your professions or their grandparents' professions.  I'd like that very much.
Thank  you for your cooperation and interest in our foreign language program.  I am very excited to continue working with your child this year.  I expect great things from them and I assure you I will be working very hard to make learning a second language fun.