Students will be receiving practice grammar sheets for homework on a bi-weekly basis from now on.  These practice sheets will reinforce the grammar we are learning deductively in class.  The grammar will be fairly fast paced as most topics have already been introduced in class, and just need some more regular practice.  We will continue with our free reading and reading logs.

This week we will be learning and talking about sports.  We will be working on the verb gustar, present tense -er and -ir verbs, and indirect object pronouns.  :)

This week we will focus on verb conjugations, and personality descriptions. 

On Monday we will have free reading, reading logs, and then we will play conjugation battle ship.  On Tuesday - Thursday we will play an old gameshow using descriptions to ascertain what a hidden person looks like.  Friday we will have free reading and reading logs.  After which we will use a tutorial software to review grammar on the interactive board.

This week is the school book fair, and there are a number of books in Spanish, including el Hobbit, CS Lewis, and three of the Harry Potters.  There are also a number of easier books like Dr. Seuss and Captain Underpants.  I have placed quite a few books on my wish list in an effort to build up my classroom library. 

Don't forget!  Next week is spring break, there are no classes.  ;)

Hi everybody!  Please don't forget your baby pictures!  As a note, I will be making copies of the originals so that none are damaged.  The pictures are due before the essays so that I can have time to make the copies!

This week we will be writing and acting stories, and preparing for a vocabulary game.

There are a few things running concurrently in class now.  There is a homework assignment due next Monday - bring in a baby picutre of yourself! 

Students will continue the free reading program for five minutes two days a week.  I will also be reading stories to the class - this week we will be reading about dinosaurs. 

We are also looking at grammar and the writing process.  Students will be writing autobiographical essays and relating them to their own photographs.

Well, we're at the end of the trimester.  Friday is officially 2/3 of the way through the school year!

Please take a look at your grades and make sure there are no mistakes.  And don't forget that extra credit food is due Thursday and Friday.  There are no make-up days.  The complete instructions for the food project are at the bottom of my web page.   The school library has some great multi-cultural cookbooks if you're looking for ideas.

Did you know that 70% of our vocabulary we picked up through *reading*?  Neither did I until I attended the conference two weeks ago.  We are beginning silent reading time two times a week in class.  Students can select any of the books which I have in my library.  Books range from preschool picture books up through Harry Potter and chapter books written by native speakers.

We are also going to spend some time examinin ...

Hi everybody!

This week we are watching everybody's forecasts, and reviewing our maps.

I came back from the conference with a few ideas, so don't be surprised to see some changes in the coming weeks!  Some of the main things I learned about were how to teach and learn about other cultures in a more effective way, and how to build literacy in a second language.

Ack!  Nobody got the assignment sheet for the map project!  I am attaching the sheet to my webpage, and will have copies for all the students on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, I was out of school for most of last week.  The plans I had laid out had to be changed because of my absence. 

Monday and Tuesday of this week, therefore, we will be continuing to work on the weather reports students began last week.  Next week we will present the reports as well as the maps.

I will be out of the building on Thursday and Friday at a conference, learning how to use storytelling to develop fluency and literacy in foreign language instruction. 

There are a few important dates to keep in mind now.  There is no school next Monday, February 18.  It is President's Day.

The following week is the end of the trimester.  Extra Credit food projects are on Thursday, February 28 and Friday, February 29.  Start planning and preparing now!  (And remember to look at the requirements and guidelines again at the bottom o ...

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, we have a full five day week!

This week will continue using our community vocabulary while reviewing our grammar. 

At this time students have approximately 550 Spanish words in their active vocabulary.  They can talk about a variety of animals, activities, school and household supplies, adjectives, prepositions, places in a town, family members and food.  Students are adept at giving and receiving commands.  They are able to grammatically match adjectives to the nouns being modified.  Students are currently focusing on conjugating verbs in the present tense, and giving directions to a peer.

Hi everybody!

Just a quick reminder that this is a short week again.  There are no classes this Friday, February 1.

This week we are going to continue reviewing verb conjugations and points of grammar.  We are also going to keep recycling our previous vocabulary words while adding more food and community related words to the mix.