Lower School Spanish

Program Overview

Our Lower School Spanish program begins in Junior Kindergarten to build a strong appreciation and understanding of the Spanish language. It is based on research about second-language acquisition which provides students with opportunities to use language through meaningful, interactive experiences, enriched by culturally authentic content in a cumulative and spiraling process. In addition to the topics listed below it uses the grade level curriculum as a basis for teaching the vocabulary of the thematic units. It also includes the study of a Spanish speaking country each year.

Junior Kindergarten

The Junior Kindergarten Spanish program is an introduction to the language used by Hispanic children at that same age. Children learn to follow directions, to count, and to identify vocabulary related to themselves, their family, their pets and their surroundings. The activities include songs, games, dances, puppet shows and working with manipulatives to count, sort, and classify.

Kindergarten

The Kindergarten Spanish curriculum was designed to accommodate both new and second year students. It goes over the topics previously introduced, and builds on the students' new skills. The contents of the regular curriculum are integrated in the Spanish class, and the cultural aspects allow students to learn about Mexico.

First Grade

The first grade program builds on the student’s receptive knowledge which started in Kindergarten. In this course children start actively using Spanish for the purposes of identifying, describing, giving opinions, comparing and contrasting. Integrated with their thematic units and language experiences they will also be exposed to the written form of Spanish.

Listening: A first grader will be able to respond to commands given in Spanish.

Speaking: A first grader will be able to:

• Provide basic information about themselves and closest relatives.
• Respond and ask simple questions.
• Refer to specific dates: days, months, and year.
• Identify the 4 seasons and the weather.
• Describe their houses and pets in a simple way.
• Work individually and with a partner.

Reading and writing: A first grader will be able to:

• Identify familiar words in stories.
• Form simple phrases and sentences by using cue cards with illustrations.

Culture: A first grader will learn simple rhymes, songs, and games; listen to simple stories from Latin-America and participate in Hispanic celebrations coordinated with Art, Religion, and Music.

Second Grade

The second grade program builds on the student’s previous knowledge. In this course children receive a great deal of comprehensible input which enables them to use the language in familiar and new activities. They use Spanish for the purposes of identifying, describing, giving opinions, comparing and contrasting. Integrated with their thematic units and language experiences they will also start to read and form sentences in Spanish.

Listening: A second grader will be able to respond to more complex commands and instructions given in Spanish.

Speaking: A second grader will be able to:

• Use a growing number of words and phrases in thematic topics.
• Respond with more than one word; in phrases or sentences.
• Ask and respond to a growing number of questions including most of the "wh" questions.
• Use simple commands.
• Work with partners and small groups.

Reading and writing: A second grader will be able to:

• Read familiar sentences.
• Form phrases and sentences by using cue cards with illustrations, and substitute them with words.

Culture: A second grader will learn rhymes, songs, and games; listen to simple stories from Latin-America and participate in Hispanic celebrations coordinated with Art, Religion, and Music. They will also practice simple mapping skills in the context of Spanish-speaking countries.

Third Grade

The third grade program builds on the student’s previous knowledge. In this course, children continue to receive a great deal of comprehensible input which enables them to use the language in more sophisticated activities. They use Spanish for the purposes of identifying, describing, giving opinions, comparing, contrasting, and communicating common situations at school and home. Integrated with their thematic units and language experiences they read, form sentences, and start writing paragraphs in Spanish.

Listening: A third grader will be able to understand and respond to more complex commands and instructions given in Spanish.

Speaking: A third grader will be able to:

• Use a growing number of words and phrases in thematic topics.
• Use sentences in responses.
• Ask and respond to a growing number of questions including most of the "wh" questions.
• Use and give commands.
• Work with partners and small groups.

Reading and writing: A third grader will be able to:

• Read paragraphs and easy stories supported by visuals.
• Form phrases and sentences by using cue cards with written words, and with illustrations.

Culture: A third grader will continue to learn rhymes, songs, and games from Latin-America. They will read simple stories and informative texts from Latin-America, and participate in Hispanic celebrations coordinated with Art, Religion, and Music. They will also learn about traditions in Spanish-speaking countries.

Fourth Grade

The fourth grade program builds on the student’s previous knowledge. In this course, children continue to receive a great deal of comprehensible input which enables them to use the language in more sophisticated activities. They use Spanish for the purposes of identifying, describing, giving opinions, comparing, contrasting, and communicating in common situations at school and at home. Integrated with their thematic units and language experiences they read research, make simple presentations, and write paragraphs in Spanish.

Listening: A fourth grader will be able to understand and respond to more complex commands and instructions given in Spanish.

Speaking: A fourth grader will be able to:

• Use a growing number of words and phrases in thematic topics.
• Use sentences in responses.
• Ask and respond to a growing number of questions including why.
• Use and give commands.
• Work with partners and groups.

Reading: A fourth grader will be able to:

• Read paragraphs and easy stories.
• Form more sophisticated phrases and sentences by using cue cards with written words, and with illustrations.

Culture: A fourth grader will continue to learn rhymes, songs, and games from Latin-America. They will read simple stories and informative texts from Latin-America, and participate in Hispanic celebrations coordinated with Art, Religion, and Music. They will also learn about traditions and history of Spanish-speaking countries.