Spanish
“The limits of your language are the limits of your world.” -Ludwig Wittgenstein
All grades – ECH through 8th grade – study Spanish. In the younger grades, we sing, dance, role play, and incorporate drawing and coloring in our class as we lay a foundation for vocabulary development. As the students get older, greater emphasis is placed on the early phases of reading, writing, and speaking in Spanish as we continue to incorporate activities such as singing and role play. We use interactive notebooks as both a springboard for activities as well as a resource for vocabulary growth and development. We incorporate the use of technology in the form of the Smartboard, iPads, and videos created by the likes of Calico Spanish and Rockalingua. We sing songs that correspond to the units we are learning, capitalizing on the fact that music is a research-based method to reinforce learning. We play games such as Bingo and “Who has?” to increase vocab mastery. Students use whisper phones individually and in small group settings to both practice pronunciation as well as to build comprehension of the spoken language. We do a minimal amount of worksheets and rather focus on authentic and meaningful ways to practice vocabulary through skits, comics, foldables, and other means of practicing vocabulary beyond rote memorization.
In middle school, students move to the “Realidades” textbook to master grammar, verb conjugation, and other skills pertinent to the Spanish language as well as to continue their vocabulary growth. We do whole group, small group, and individual activities that focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We use the Realidades Smartboard program as well as games to reinforce skills and vocabulary. At this level, students have homework, classwork, quizzes, and tests to assist them in developing their skills and assessing their growth. Across all grades, emphasis is placed on acquiring vocabulary, and in the upper grades, learning vocabulary is the key to success in Spanish class.
