Dec. 12

Hola Familias - the highlight of this week was the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe!. A beautifully Spanish enriched story of the mother of Jesus appearing to an Aztec named Juan Diego and asking for a church to be built was re-enacted by some of the children. The children also enjoyed traditional sweetbread and hot Mexican chocolate - just like the children in Mexico celebrate on the 12th of December!

La tarea/Homework: Please have the children continue to listen to their CD - they'll get a new one soon! Have them practice speaking and or singing in Spanish! They can practice greetings. colors. body parts, animals, clothing and count everything they see!

Dec. 5

Hola familias - the children enjoyed meeting their new friend - a snowman! They all became snowmen and danced to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot". The children also drew a snowman of their own and went over pertinent and review vocabulary.
Reading is key in language learning, if you can't read to your child in Spanish, visit the Santa Cruz Public Library website, it offers kid books to be read on your computer! The Central Library also has an excellent collection of bilingual books and books with audio acccompaniments! All levels included. Tools are out there, let's use them!

LA TAREA/Homework: LISTEN TO THE CD!!!!!Review old songs,and handouts. Practice speaking Spanish! Make a game of counting and saying the colors of everything you see! Greet each other in Spanish! Sing together!

REMINDERS: Could the children please eat, drink and go to the bathroom before class?

NOTE: Would families feel comfortable with Christmas music and a song about Mary(Jesus' mother) on our next CD? If not, I can easily eliminate those songs. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'm currently thinking I'll eliminate the prayer about Mary.

December 5th, in pictures

Wednesday Nov. 28

Hola Familias!
It was a bittersweet class, in that we said goodbye and gave hugs to our fall "friends"! We'll be introducing winter "friends" starting next week! We did a big review of vocabulary learned up to this point by playing Simon Says and Telephone!

LA TAREA/Homework: LISTEN TO THE CD!!!!!Review old songs,an handouts. Practice speaking Spanish!

REMINDERS: Could the children please eat, drink and go to the bathroom before class?

NOTE: Would families feel comfortable with Christmas music and a song about Mary(Jesus' mother) on our next CD? If not, I can easily eliminate those songs. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'm currently thinking I'll eliminate the prayer about Mary, but tell

Nov. 14

Hola Familias - we had so much fun acting out the story of my great-great-great-great-grandparents from Spain and El Salvador! It was an exceptional day, as the pictures will show, the kids enacted the beautiful story with an indian princess, and a Spaniard, and love and happiness. The kids also worked on body parts and colors, reviewed some songs, learned Thanksgiving songs and made Thanksgiving cards. They also enjoyed speaking Spanish to each other!

LA TAREA/Homework: LISTEN TO THE CD!!!!!Review old songs, learn El Chocolate, Esta Tierra es Tu Tierra and THANKSGIVING SONGS and practice speaking Spanish!

REMINDERS: Could the children please eat, drink and go to the bathroom before class?

NOTE: Would families feel comfortable with Christmas music and a song about Mary(Jesus' mother) on our next CD? If not, I can easily eliminate those songs. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'm currently thinking I'll eliminate the prayer about Mary, but tell the story of her appearance in Mexico. Would the Christmas songs be okay?

November 14th in pictures!

Wednesday Nov. 7

Hola - We had a wonderful time celebrating El Dia de los Muertos! Muchas gracias for providing pictures for the altar! We sang a song about making Mexican chocolate. The children had a special ceremony around the altar, with candles and pictures, and then, everybody went outside to taste "el Pan de los Muertos" with a cup of hot Mexican chocolate!
We also sang "This Land is Your Land", waved American flags and decorated cards to give to a veteran!

LA TAREA/Homework: Review old songs, learn El Chocolate, Esta Tierra es Tu Tierra and Thanksgiving songs and practice speaking Spanish!

REMINDERS: Could the children please eat, drink and go to the bathroom before class?

NOTE: Would families feel comfortable with Christmas music and a song about Mary(Jesus' mother) on our next CD? If not, I can easily eliminate those songs. 

El Día de los Muertos in pictures!

Halloween Photos!!!!!!!!!

Halloween Photos!!!!!!!!!!!

HALLOWEEN!

Hola Familias - the children enjoyed dramatizing the poem of The Five Little Pumpkins - pictures are coming soon! They then illustrated the poem, sang and danced a number of halloween songs, and played halloween-themed games! The children also spoke to each other in Spanish saying, "Me gusta Halloween!" - I like Halloween! We then played with Halloween-themed puppets and concluded with a review game, during which they were given the opportunity to review all the vocabulary they've learned so far.

TAREA/Homework: Listen to CD, bring in a photo for a mini-celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, and speak Spanish (they will earn a sticker each week for speaking Spanish and listening to their CD)

REMINDERS: Please have children eat, drink and go to the bathroom before class.  The children will receive new booklets and CDs in the winter and spring 

Wednesday Oct. 24

Hola Familias! The children enjoyed a Halloween theme - complete with songs, puppets, pumpkins,  stuffed animals, songs, and games! They enjoyed a felt story of The Five Little Pumpkins - which a number of the children will dramatize next week!

HOMEWORK/TAREA: Please have the children learn The Five Little Pumpkins vocabulary and story, in order to be ready to act it out or more fully enjoy it as part of the audience. Learn all the Halloween-themed songs and the illustrated sheet with Halloween vocabulary.

Explain to the children the tradition of honoring loved ones who have died - as described in the handout sent home with the Halloween/Dias de los Muertos theme. OPTION: Bring a copied picture of a loved one who has died on NOV. 7.

REMINDERS: Please have the children eat, drink and go to the bathroom before going to class.

Fun Halloween Photos!

October 17

Hola Familias - what fun we had beginning our preparations for Halloween! Senor Fabricio created an amazing face of a witch - so the children could learn Spanish facial features from the song "La Cara de una Bruja". They also began learning a pumpkin song - "La Calabaza".We're also continuing to review greetings, colors, clothing, pets and seasons. The children enjoyed playing Red Light, Green Light and Duck, Duck, Goose!

LA TAREA/Homework: Review old songs, learn halloween songs and practice speaking Spanish!

REMINDERS: Could the children please eat and go to the bathroom before class?

NOTE: Would families feel comfortable celebrating Los Dias de los Muertos? Familes would bring in pictures of deceased loved ones the Wednesday after Halloween - Nov. 7

Oct 10

Hola Familias - my puppet friends and I were happy to be back!  We reviewed basic Spanish and presented a "pet" theme by introducing my former and current pets via stuffed animals, games(one game also reviews opposites) and songs! We also began going over Halloween vocabulary!

LA TAREA/HOMEWORK: Listen to and go over CD and music booklet -  especially pet and Halloween vocabulary!  

NOTE: I was thinking of creating a small Dias de los Muertos altar - traditionally this would include a cross, saints  and a Lady of Guadalupe - what do you think? The official dates are Nov. 1 and 2.

Oct. 3, 2012

Hola Familias -
Please check Senor Fabricio's blog in the "Chicos" category. I didn't teach class yesterday because I didn't want to give your children a horrible cold that I currently have! I look forward to seeing your wonderful children next week!

HOMEWORK/TAREA: Please go over the music booklet and CD!

REMINDER: Could the children please go to the bathroom before attending Spanish class?
Muchas gracias - Senora Tinetti

Sept 26, 2012

Hola Familias,
     Our last class wrapped-up Mexican Independence Day, which included a dramatization of the story symbolized on the Mexican flag! We also went over greetings, colors and clothes. The children are learning the clothing song and dance(to the tune of Head, Shoulder, knees and toes) and were introduced to a traditional magic elephant song and dance!

HOMEWORK/TAREA: Please practice basic greetings (song #1), colors(#13), clothing(#19) and the Los Eefantes song (#12).

Reminders: Please bring their binders with pockets. Please sign in and out of class.

Learning while having much fun !!

Class of September 19, 2012

Hola Familias - Spanish has begun!!!

Senor Fabricio and I are so excited! We will be team-teaching the class!
It was wonderful to see old and new faces in our class!  Class began with a review of the rules and how to earn stars.  The children earn stars on the board by respecting Spanish-class rules, speaking Spanish in and outside of Spanish class and listening to their CD.

Today's class focused on Mexican Independence Day - yes that's right - its on the 16th of September - not El Cinco de Mayo! We sang, cheered, colored, played with baby snakes, waved Mexican flags, heard the story of the Mexican flag and shared a delicious Mexican birthday cake!

HOMEWORK/Tarea: Listen to the CD, become familiar with the music book and practice speaking Spanish!

REMINDERS: Bring a three ring binder with pockets! Sign-in and out of class!

Thank you for investing in your child's Spanish education and trusting us with your children - they are truly such a joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 4

Hola familias! Spanish class began with a review of  basic Spanish vocabulary. They went on to learn about farm animals. The final segment of class celebrated our last day of the year! The fiesta began with delicious items brought by various students and their familias - muchas gracias! Senor Jacobo then prepared and manned a brightly colored star pinata with treats and a bouncy ball for each child! At the very end we sang "Adios Amigos" - good bye friends and Senor Jacobo! He will be in college next year! 

HOMEWORK/TAREA: 1. Learn the farm vocabulary  2. Continue listening to the CD and learning the songbook/worksheets vocabulary, phrases and lyrics  3. Practice, practice, practice!

REMINDERS:  Consider registering for next year!!!!

I have truly enjoyed teaching your children! Thank you for entrusting me with them and thank you for investing in their Spanish education! Cindy Tinetti  

May 25

Hola familias - we began Spanish class with a review of basic vocabulary - greetings. seasons, numbers, colors and clothing - utilizing the felt board, puppets, stuffed animals, singing and dancing.  The children also practiced reciting their age, "Yo tengo__________anos." We went over wild animal and Aesop's "The Lion and the Mouse" vocabulary via face masks, puppets, stuffed animals, American Sign Language and their handouts. The students re-enacted Aesop's fable with great flare!!!!  Class ended with the opposites game which included the hiding of a stuffed lion! 

Next class: we'll move from wild animals to farm animals and end with an imaginary trip on an airplane to Mexico for a mini fiesta with a pinata!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tarea/Homework: 1.  Practice basic vocabulary each day, please include "Si, por favor" and "No gracias". 2. Pracitce reciting, "Yo tengo_________anos." 3. Learn and or review vocabulary handouts. 4. Memorize the song,"La pinata". Become familiar with the songs "De Colores" and "La Granja".     5. Bring a snack or beverage for our last class FIESTA (this is optional).  

Reminders: Please have the children bring their binders to and from class. It would be great if the children could go to the bathroom before class. A great big thank you to the moms who have helped set-up and put away the desks, unfortunately (or fortunately!)  parents may not move desks due to potential liability issues.

    

May 20

Hola familias - we enjoyed dramatizing, " Super Loro y Super Vaca: Los Super Heroes de la Tierra"! This skit was about a little boy & girl who desperately needed the help of super heroes for their organic needs.  We also reviewed greetings. seasons, numbers, clothing, opposites and colors. The children dialogued, danced and were introduced to wild animal vocabulary as well as pertinent vocabulary for their new puppet show - "Raton Ramon y el Rey Leon," - the fable of the lion and the mouse, which I presented via puppets (the children will act this out next week).

Next week we will also begin preparing for our end of the year fiesta on the 31st of May!  

Homework/Tarea: Continue reviewing sheets, songbook and cd - especially #11 La pinata.  Place particular emphasis upon fable and wild animal vocabulary.  A fun way of learning the vocabulary is for the children to become your teacher and for you to be a challenging student.  Continue speaking simple Spanish with them utilizing the basic Spanish they are learning in Spanish class in a lighthearted way.  On the 31st of May the children will take an imaginary journey in an airplane to Mexico where they will enjoy a pinata! Anyone wishing to send in a healthy tropical snack or beverage for the fiesta is welcome (but not required) to do so!

Reminders: Please have the children bring their bindrs/folders to and from Spanish class.

Muchas gracias amigos - Cindy Tinetti   

May 10

What a joy it is to teach your children!!! They are so engaged and so much fun! We celebrated El Cinco de Mayo - which many Americans believe is Mexican Independence Day - IT IS NOT!!! Mexican Independence Day is the 16th of September.  El CInco de Mayo commemorates a battle in Puebla  in 1862 where the Mexican army beat the French Army  - even though they were outnumbered 2-1 and The French were better equipped and had supeior training. In the U.S. El Cinco de Mayo is primarily celebrated as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.  We briefly went over this history and celebrated by dancing La Raspa (The Mexican Hat Dance), playing Spanish Show and Tell and sharing delicious and interesting treats! 

This celebration generated the following vocabulary: 1. Que viva Mexico - Long live Mexico 2. Un  pancho - "     " 3. Una blusa bonita  - a pretty blouse  4. Una falda bonita - a pretty skirt  5. Un collar bonito - a pretty necklace  6. Una bolsa especial - a special bag   7. Nopalitos ricos - tasty cactus       8. Galletas ricas - tasty cookies/crackers   9. Uvas ricas - tasy grapes

HOMEWORK: Please review the historical and cultural significance of El CInco de Mayo.  Have the children become familiar with the above vocabulary - we'll play a review game next week.  Children who forgot their Show and Tell items may bring them next week (they may only share things from Spanish-speaking regions).  Take every opportunity to practice speaking Spanish and listen to the cd.     

May 4

Hola Familias - We reviewed greeting, number, and color songs and danced the clothing song. The total physical response method was incorporated by enriching the songs with American Sign Language. We also played a "Hide and Seek" game with Carla Conejita - the bunny - utilizing a variety of opposites vocabulary, found on the handout with the the picture of the bunny and entitled Esconder y Encontrar con Carla Conejita (Hide and Find with Carla Conejita).  The children also enjoyed an Earth Day themed puppet show - which they'll act out next week. We also began preparing for our mini Cinco de Mayo Fiesta by dancing La Raspa (The Mexican Hat Dance) with sombreros.

HOMEWORK: Speak Spanish! Continue listening to cd and referring to music booklet as needed. For the families who are able to read in Spanish, please read/dramatize the puppet show script that was sent home -the vocab. sheet which was sent home the previous week will assist with comprehension.  The older children may also copy the sentences on the back side. Children have the option of bringing a Spanish item for show and tell or a healthy small snack to share - we have thirteen students. MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS - Cindy Tinetti

Reminders: 1. Please check in and out  2. Please bring binder and contents to and from class.

4/27/12

Hola Familias - We began class with the greeting song (which is in your child's music booklet in their binder/folder and on the cd). The children sang a number song as well. We also sang and signed the color song which includes all primary colors plus pink, gold and silver and played a color game. We danced the clothing song using American Sign Language as well. An Earth Day theme was presented - which included new vocabulary and two songs, which are all on a two-sided sheet, which your child took home.

HOMEWORK: 1. Continue listening to cd   2. Practice speaking Spanish - ie greetings, clothing, colors, numbers, and Earth Day vocab. They need to be familiar with this vocab. in order to understand the puppet show/skit next week!  

REMINDERS: Please:  1.Check your child/ren in and out of class  2. Be sure to bring binder/folder and all its contents to and from each class. Muchas gracias - Cindy Tinietti

April 12

Spanish class was a blast! Now that we have 13 students we qualify for a paid aid! My son - Senor Jacobo has joined us! I have spoken Spanish to him since the day he was born and he has studied Spanish as well. We played Simon Dice (Simon Says), He danced and sang and impersonated Cesar Chavez with a huge sombrero, which kept falling off - the children laughed their heads off!  A number of children also re-enacted a simplified version of the life of Cesar Chavez.

I'm leaving for Israel so we'll have a sub. She'll have the children playing Spanish number bingo and  an activity with colors! If she has time she'll go over the Spanish alphabet as well!

Homework: Continue to review songs already covered.Please add#4 De Colores, #5 El Alfabeto,  and #8 Feliz Cumpleanos. Please learn  #17 La Mariposa for when I return the following week - we'll honor Earth Day - with some daincing - new vocabulary and an engaging puppet show!    

REMINDERS: Continue to bring binders to and from class, and review their content

Mar. 28

Hola familias - we are having so much fun in Spanish class! We're continuing our review of numbers, colors and clothing. They heard and participated in the story of Cesar Chavez in honor of his birthday March 31. They also received and studied illustrated vocabulary, based upon his story. We did the Cesar Chavez clothing dance and learned the  traditional Mexican Hat Dance (La Raspa) with sombreros!


After spring break, I will choose some students to act out The Cesar Chavez Story and we will hopefully have time for the bunny game.


Homework/Tarea:1.  Learn song #'s 1, 13, 18, 19 and 21 (keep learning more songs if you have already mastered these) .2. Review handouts and music book     3. Practice speaking Spanish  4. Read Spanish children's literature/Listen with books on tape

Feliz pascua y muchas gracias - Cindy Tinetti

March 23

Having a small and exceptional class is so valuable and fun! We went over numbers, colors and clothes. We played clothing bingo and a hide and seek the bunny opposites game.

Homework/tarea: Please learn song #1 Buenos Dias, #13 La Ropa and #21 Adios Amigos. Practice speaking Spanish and listening to the Spanish cd in general. Stickers will be given for doing various aspects of the homework.

Reminders:1. Bring binder and all its contents to and from every class.  2. Music books are particularly important.

I'm looking forward to our next class - I'll introduce the story of Cesar Chavez (and we'll celebrate his birthday) which they will act out the following week!
Hasta pronto
Cindy Tinetti

March 14

What a joy to teach your children ... I told my son that you have enchanting children!
First, I introduced my puppet assistants - Juan Pablo and Senor Loro. Then we learned three songs and made St. Patrick's Day cards.

Homework is optional but very valuable :

LEARN SONG #1 BUENOS DIAS, #13 LA ROPA, #21 ADIOS AMIGOS, AND PRACTICE SPEAKING ANY WORDS YOU CAN!

REMINDERS:
- bring binders to all classes.
- Sign in and out through the School office. Get a sticker with childrens' names on them.
- Music books must be returned every week for regular use.
Thank you !

I can't wait to see you next week!!!!!  Muchas gracias - Cindy Tinetti