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Read about our Elementary Language program and the benefits of early language learning☺

The course description and responsibility statement is attached for your reference ☺.
= = = The National Standards 5 C’s for Foreign Language Learning =

ACTFL’s National Standards for World Language 1996 21st Century Skills/Recipe for Success

C ommunication = = C ultures = = C onnections = = C omparisons = = C ommunities



= Bloom's Taxonomy For Higher Thinking Skills = [|Bloom's Taxonomy Iowa State University]

[|Bloom's Taxonomy]



= 8 Multiple Intelligences = (remember to develop all…not just one or two strengths- Gardner)

1.) Verbal/Linguistic 2.) Logical/Mathematical 3.) Visual/Spatial 4.) Bodily/Kinesthetic 5.) Musical/Rhythmic 6.) Interpersonal 7.) Intrapersonal 8.) Naturalist = ACTFL World Language 21st Century Skills- A Visual Introduction =

This short video will help you understand the 11 skill areas teachers consider and utilize when designing and planning lessons and units. media type="youtube" key="CXurDF0IbuQ" width="425" height="350"

= Learning a new language can have its challenges! =

A Guide To Success In Spanish

 * Daily review and practice! Don’t wait until the day of a quiz or test! Review every day!


 * Flash cards! These are a great way to reinforce vocabulary and are easily carried everywhere. Review them when you have a few minutes each day. You can do it before dinner or bedtime, and even in the car as you’re going to after school activities!


 * Study buddy! Make sure you have the name and telephone number of a friend in the class. Call them for homework assignments when you are absent from class. Practice Spanish on the phone asking each other questions!


 * Bring all of your materials to class! Text, workbook, notes, pencil! These are important tools for success!! __This is a challenge when classes only meet every other day, but it is critical that you are prepared.__ Tape a note in your house where you will see it as you leave in the morning; mark your Spanish days on your calendar! Being prepared is crucial!!


 * __Never be afraid to ask a question!__ This is a completely different language you are learning! If you have a question, chances are there are other students who have the same question. Raise your hand and ask!!!


 * Extra help! The world language teachers have provided an extra help schedule to help any student who is struggling. Please take advantage and use this time. It doesn’t have to be with your particular teacher! (schedule on back of sheet)


 * Share the Spanish language with your family and friends! Practice with older or younger brothers and sisters! Label things in your house! Tell your parents what you have learned! You may be surprised to hear what they remember!

> > How To Learn A Foreign Language v **__Be organized__**You will need a loose-leaf notebook for Spanish. You will keep class notes, homework, tests, and other materials in this notebook. Bring it to class every day. You may want to make flashcards to help you study your new vocabulary.
 * Watch Spanish television, listen to Spanish radio stations, and view a DVD movie in Spanish for fun! Spanish is all around us, and you have wonderful opportunities to develop your listening skills!

v **__Keep up with your work on a daily basis__**Language, like math builds on previously learned material. Each lesson assumes that you have learned earlier lessons, and you will not be able to learn new material until you have established the base in more elementary structure. Learning a language requires daily work, lots of drill, and plenty of practice. This year we are aiming for greater fluency.

v **__Pay attention in class__** Be a part of class. Follow the discussion and exercises carefully, listen to others, be ready to respond when it is your turn. ASK QUESTIONS when you don’t understand. Remember that it really is my job to help you make sense out of this stuff so that if I have not explained something clearly to YOU, you have every right to ask me to go over material again.

v **__Pay attention to details__**Foreign accents are full of little things like accents, spelling changes, and strange new combinations of letters. Do not fool yourself to think details are not important. THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT!!! (Just ask me how important!)

v **__Accept the language on its own terms__**Languages are very different from one another. Accept that difference, remembering to be “open-minded” and not, as Americans are stereotypically accused of being, ethnocentric.

v **__Listen and imitate__**Use the language you are learning. Listen to the teacher, the native speaker, and imitate. Put English sounds aside.

v **__Memorize__**You can’t avoid it; its part of language learning. There are very specific ways to memorize, and we will discuss some of them in class.

v **__Study out loud__**Not shout out loud, but move your lips as you work on Spanish. Language is spoken first, and even people who can’t read can talk, so read out loud. The reinforcement is fantastic. It means that your mouth and ears will be providing your eyes/brain/memory with extra support. If the assignment is one that you have written and are correcting, your ears will pick up errors that your eyes have missed. This also keeps you awake when you begin to fade!

v **__Correct old papers__**Keep your old tests and homework papers. Correct the mistakes you made. It is very important to reinforce correct answers.

v **__Review__**No matter how well you know something today, you will still need to review. This is one activity you can do with another person, as the two or three of you drill each other on material you have learned in class.

v **__Use all your senses__**It is not enough to just look at your book. Copy parts of the lesson, outline the chapter, write notes in the margin, listen to others, and study aloud.

v **__Learn from your assignment__**Language often requires “busy work”, it’s the nature of the beast! However, don’t go through the motions of filling up the page just to say you “did your homework”. Open your book; the homework is supposed to support what was learned in class. Please…don’t tell me you didn’t understand your homework if you didn’t go back to the text and your class notes.

v **__Let’s speak Spanish__**When we’re speaking, let’s forget about all the possible errors and work for understanding ourselves in another language.

febrero 2011 4a edición

**Noticias y más…** Queridos Padres, It is a pleasure to welcome all the students back from the Thanksgiving Holiday and long weekend. I want to wish all of you and your families a very Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year. In addition, I want to take this opportunity to share with you some of the «Español 6» and «Español 7» classes many accomplishments from this past fall.

Spanish 6:**//Grammatically speaking//**…the students are able to express the Spanish alphabet, the numbers 1 to 100, daily greetings and departures (both formal and informal), name all the Spanish speaking countries and their capitals, as well as identify their location, and name or identify some famous Hispanics (singers, actors, authors, etc.). Students are able to express the subject pronouns in Spanish, tell time, convert “international time” to “our” twelve hour time, conjugate or use the forms of the two verbs “to be” or «ser» and «estar» in Spanish, and know some of the specific differences between each of their uses, and finally reviewed a lot of beginning vocabulary pertinent to both the textbook and the curriculum…**//and in the cultural field//** students are able to describe some to the traditions surrounding the Mexican holiday «Día de los muertos» and the meaning the celebration has to it’s people. The «Pan de muerto» baking contest was a great culinary success…60 out of 154 students participated! Students learned about the meaning and history behind the 300 B.C. Peruvian craft «Ojos de Dios», a bit about the importance and popularity of cycling in Spain (and throughout Europe), the Spanish novel «Don Quijote» and it’s author, and the movie, and finally a multi-cultural perspective of holiday traditions in Europe. **//Successful fall writing project//** completed was the 3 part “country project”, and soon to be completed in class «Un espejo acerca de mí».

Spanish 7: **//Grammatically speaking//** the entire first quarter and the early few weeks of the second quarter were spent completeting a thorough review of «En sus marcas A» or the sixth grade book and curriculum, a review which equates to two and a half chapters of the «En sus marcas B»…the students are able to use the verb «tener» in five different grammatical constructions, use the verbs “to be” or «ser» and «estar» for their appropriate uses, express time, describe themselves and others, use the verb «gustar» to espress likes and dislikes, conjugate verbs in all three verb groups «-ar», «-er», and «-ir», express where they or others are going and how they will get there, ask and understand questions, conjugate nine irregular verbs, know the meaning and use of fifty “regular verbs”, know how to conjugate “stem-changing” verbs or “boot verbs”, know how to express an “exclamation” in Spanish, and finally reviewed a lot of vocabulary… **//and in the cultural field//** students studied characteristics of the Ancient Mexican Civilization of the Mayan Indians (the three major cities, their calendar, numerical system, animals as symbolism, sports, foods, and archeological sites), as well as touched upon the Ancient Aztec Civilization and their contributions to modern Mexico. Students are able to describe some to the traditions surrounding the Mexican holiday «Día de los muertos» and the meaning the celebration has to its people. The «Pan de muerto» baking contest was a great culinary success…60 out of 154 students participated! Students learned about the meaning and history behind the 300 B.C. Peruvian craft «Ojos de Dios», a bit about the importance and popularity of cycling in Spain (and throughout Europe), the Spanish novel «Don Quijote» and it’s author, and the movie, and finally a multi-cultural perspective of holiday traditions in Europe. Just before the holiday vacation we will learn about some of the characteristics and contributions of Venezuela. Following Venezuela, we will tour three other South American countries. **//Successful fall writing projects//** completed were «Mi mascota», «Dos poemas», «Una tarjeta postal», and soon to be completed «Retrato de mi familia y yo», and «Poema de forma libre». In addition students studied, memorized, and recited poems by a range of well known latinamerican poets.

I am excited about the months to come, the language to be studied and acquired levels of proficiency, the winter and spring performance based assessments / projects, the many cultural explorations and intercultural competencies yet to be made and discovered, and much more. I want to remind both parents and students that my extra-help is after school from 2:35 pm to 3:30 pm in my classroom by appointment. In addition, I am available most days during lunch/recess by appointment. Please feel free to contact me at 291-1414 ext. 5751. Finally, I want to remind you that daily homework may be found on the TeacherWeb at [|http://TeacherWeb.com/CT/Weston/Murano/].

__How well do you know your Spanish trivia?__ ¡Hasta pronto! Sinceramente,
 * 1) What American actor starred in the classical Spanish movie «El Cid el campeador» (as el Cid)? What famous Italian actress played the role of his wife?
 * 2) How many Spanish-speaking countries are there?
 * 3) How many letters are there in the Spanish alphabet?
 * 4) How many verb tenses are there in Spanish?
 * 5) Who is the author of the famous Spanish novel «Don Quijote de la Mancha»?

Señorita Murano

After reading, please sign and return to teacher. Thank you. Student’s full name

(Please print) Student’s Signature Parent’s signature Trivia answers: 1.) Charlton Heston/Sofia Loren 2.) 21 3.) 30 4.) 21 5.) Miguel de Saavedra Cervantes