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.