Febrero, 2009

 

La Clase de Español

 

Dear Parents,

 

¡Feliz día de san valentine!  Happy Valentine’s Day!  The semester ended with a bang!  I was very proud of how hard the students worked.  These Onekama students are amazing!!  Second semester welcomes a new group of Middle Schoolers to the Spanish classroom.  I am very fortunate to be able to teach another equally wonderful bunch this semester.

 

6th grade:  This is such a smart class!  They have really started this semester with a bang!  We have explored the meaning of Spanish with a internet scavenger hunt and montaje (collage).  The students are currently learning the Spanish alphabet.  Each morning we recite the alphabet using kinesthetic motions for each syllable.  They are also creating an alphabet picture/word book.  Mid February they will get their first set of flash cards to learn the vocabulary of things in a classroom, subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, etc) and articles of speech (a and the).  By the end of the month the students will start learning how say introductions, greet and farewells in Spanish.

 

7th grade:  What a lovely bunch of students!  They started the semester with such delight and good humor…I love it!  Our first set of vocabulary words revolved around things found in a house.  They became architects/designers for the day and created a poster of their dream house, labeling each item in Spanish.  If only real architects/designers could see their work!  We are also working on the articles of speech (a and the) and the verb ir (to go).  Their first test is Tuesday, Feb. 10 and I know they will shine!  The rest of the month will focus on introductions, greetings and farewells and will include some fun skits.

 

8th grade:  I am thrilled to have this group in my class.  Every day is filled with fun and excitement!  The semester started with review vocabulary on introductions, greetings, farewells and question words.  In partners, they wrote a script about a person with amnesia who is lost and a person who eventually helps him/her find the truth.  Such creativity was shown by the students!  We will continue to work with question words until their first test on Thursday, February 12.  Our next unit (Things in the city) will be the largest of the semester.  In this unit, the students will learn not only useful vocabulary, but also how to give and receive directions, commands, as well as conjugating verbs.

 

Spanish I: We began the semester with Unit 4 which focuses on the family, professions, emotions and the present progressive.  The students can relate to this topic and seem to be having fun using the new vocabulary!  They are all working exceptionally hard and it shows!  The first vocabulary quiz is Tuesday, February 10.  Please encourage your child to use their flash cards at home as it would help him/her tremendously in class.

 

Spanish II:  The second year Spanish students have just started Unit 3 which continues teaching about the preterit (past) tense of irregular verbs and commands.  Today they began writing a play by play of a sports event.  They are so talented!  At the end of the month, the class will create commercials based on Spanish products.  I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

 

Some of the Michigan Standards taught during this month:

Middle School:

1.1.N.SL.a: Use the target language with culturally appropriate gestures in everyday social situations such as greeting, leave taking or introductions.

1.1.N.SL.c: Recognize and use appropriate register/honorifics in a limited number of simple social situations such as greetings, leave-takings and introductions.

1.1.N.RW.a: Use the target language in email messages, text messages, blogs, webpages, letters, and notes to greet, take leave, or make introductions.

1.2.N.L.a: Demonstrate understanding of oral classroom language in the target language including directions, commands, and requests.

 

High School:

1.2.M.L.b: Understand interpersonal communications, spoken messages, and group discussions in the target language on familiar topics related to family, school, and community.

3.2.M.a: Use audio, visual, and/or print materials available only in the target language to acquire information.

2.2.N.F.a: Describe the products needed to carry out daily routines and meet basic needs within a community, region, or culture in which the language is spoken (housing, stores, foods, transportation, health care, public services).

3.1.M.a: Acquire new content knowledge about familiar topics through the target language.

 

I am available to help your child before/after school, during seminar and lunch if s/he would like any extra help.  Feel free to contact me at nkolehmainen@manistee.org if you have any concerns. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Mrs. Naomi PM Kolehmainen

www.onekama.k12.mi.us