1st Grade: September 6, 2017

We began class this week by singing a few songs together and talking about the weather in Spanish.

After that, we began learning some words for our first unit all about farm animals.  We spent a lot of time speaking only in Spanish and practicing those words.

Ask your student:

• What was the animal you talked about in Spanish?  Do you remember what that animal says in Spanish?  (We learned the words for frog--rana--and in Spanish a frog says "croc, croc."  We also learned about a special from from Puerto Rico, the coquí.)

Vocabulary:
Words in bold are new this week, others are review.

• Weather
• hace sol - it's sunny
• Animals/Actions/Colors
• la rana - the frog
• salta - he/she jumps
• verde - green 
• grande - big
• pequeño - small

Homework:
Note:  In first grade, most of our Spanish homework consists of watching short videos or songs to reinforce the vocabulary we learn in class.

• Watch this video to practice our weather vocabulary words.

Kindergarten: September 6, 2017

This week, we started our first unit in class!  Over the next few weeks, we'll be learning the names for various body parts as we play games and sing songs.  We learned a few new words, and we finished class by playing a game to review the words.

Ask your student:

• What are two songs you sang in Spanish class today?  (We sang several "routine" songs:  "Walking to the Circle," "Sit Like a Pretzel," and "Hello, Class."  We also sang "Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"--which is actually "Head and Shoulders, Legs, and Feet" in Spanish.  Finally, we sang "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish to end class.)

Vocabulary:
Words in bold are new this week, others are review.

• la cabeza - the head
• los hombros - the shoulders
• las piernas - the legs
• los pies - the feet
• tiene - he/she has
• se levanta - he/she stands up
• se sienta - he/she sits down
• rápidamente - quickly
• lentamente - slowly

Homework:
Note:  In Kindergarten, most of our Spanish homework consists of watching short videos or songs to reinforce the vocabulary we learn in class.

• Sing along with this "Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies" Video!  There are a few new words in there that we'll be learning over the next few weeks!  (YouTube Link if video here isn't working)

5th and 6th Grade: August 30, 2017

Today in class, we talked about what students can expect this year.  We also spent some time talking about our (HC)2 first semester them verse (2 Cor 13:11).  Finally, we began watching a short film to learn/review some important and common vocabulary in Spanish.

Ask your student:

• What is your Quia username and password?  (Quia is a website that we will be using this year for completing assignments.  Students received their usernames and passwords today in class.  If your student has misplaced the card with the information, please feel free to email me and I can send you the information.)

Today's vocabulary:

• hay - there is/there are
• un cerdo - a pig
• galletas - cookies
• un problema - a problem

Homework:

• Don't forget to wear amarillo (yellow) next week in honor of Carter.  We will be attending the Holland Christian opening convocation first thing in the morning.  I'll see you early--at 8:20--and we'll walk to the High School together as a class.
• This first week, we have one assignment, which means an opportunity to earn "pegatinas" (stickers!)  Remember, at the end of the year, you'll be able to trade your stickers in for prizes!
• Practice Assignment on Quia (worth 2 pegatinas/stickers)

4th Grade: August 30, 2017

Today in class, we talked about what students can expect this year.  We also spent some time talking about cognates.

Ask your student:

• What is a cognate?  Why are they important?  (Cognates are words that look and/or sound the same in Spanish and English.  They are important because they can help us to understand more.)
• What is your Quia username and password?  (Quia is a website that we will be using this year for completing assignments.  Students received their usernames and passwords today in class.  If your student has misplaced the card with the information, please feel free to email me and I can send you the information.)

Today's vocabulary:

• Cognates:  Words that look and/or sound the same in Spanish and English.  Do you recognize any of these?  
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Homework:

• Remember to wear amarillo (yellow) next week.
• This first week, we have two assignments, which means two opportunities to earn "pegatinas" (stickers!)  Remember, at the end of the year, you'll be able to trade your stickers in for prizes!
• Practice Assignment on Quia (worth 2 pegatinas/stickers)
• Complete THIS assignment about cognates on Quia.  Have your username and password handy!  (This assignment is worth 2 stickers.  Please email me if you misplace your username and/or password)

2nd and 3rd Grade: August 30, 2017

Today in Spanish class, we focused on learning one very important word...hay.  We played a fun game to practice the word "hay" while reviewing color vocabulary.

Ask your student:

• What does "hay" mean in Spanish?  (Hay means "there is or there are".  Since the letter "h" is always silent in Spanish, it sounds more like "aye!")

This week's vocabulary:

• hay - there is, there are

Homework:

• Remember to wear amarillo (yellow) next week.
• Occasionally, we will use the website, Quia, for practice activities.  This week, play this short game to practice the word "hay."  CLICK HERE  
• A few notes about Quia...
• If the game is not loading for you, it may be because you don't have the most up to date version of Adobe Flash.  If you get a message that the game can not load, you can click on "HTML Version."  The graphics aren't as fancy, but the content is the same.
• Our older (4th-6th Grade) students each have a unique Quia username and password...one of your older siblings/children may have that.  However, for 2nd and 3rd grade, students do NOT need to log in to play Quia games.  Just follow the link and begin the game.  

1st Grade: August 30, 2017

We had a first week of Spanish class!  Each week, we will start class by talking about the weather in Spanish.  This week, we focused on learning the phrases "hace sol" (it's sunny) and "hace calor" (it's hot).

Ask your student:

• If Señora Brouwer says "Oh, alumnos" what do you say back?  ("Oh alumnos" means "Oh, students."  Students reply by saying, "Sí, maestra" which means "Yes, teacher.")
• What does "hace sol" mean?  (Hace sol means it's sunny.)

This week's vocabulary:

• Weather
• hace sol - it's sunny
• hace calor - it's hot

Homework:

• Remember to wear amarillo (yellow) next week!
• Watch this video to practice more weather vocabulary words.

Kindergarten: August 30, 2017

Today in Spanish class, we started learning a few basic words and procedures in Spanish class.  We also practiced a few basic greeting questions.

Ask your student:

• What does "como pretzel" mean?  (It means that you sit like a pretzel, or "criss cross applesauce.")
• Who is Pedro?  (He's a little mouse who helps to translate what Señora Brouwer says into English)
• What song do you sing at the end of Spanish class?  (Each week, we'll finish class by singing "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish.)

This week's vocabulary:

• ¿Cómo te llamas? - What's your name?
• ¿Cómo estás?  - How are you?
• se levanta - he/she stands up
• se sienta - he/she sits down
• rápidamente - quickly
• lentamente - slowly

Homework

• Occasionally, I will post links to videos, songs, or other resources that we use in class for you to watch with your student over the week. 
• Remember to wear  amarillo (yellow) next week!

5th and 6th Grade: April 26, 2017

Today in class, students were able to use stickers they had earned in class to buy small prizes.

We also played Toma Todo, a traditional Mexican game.  The spinning tops we used in class were from Mexico, but you can follow THESE DIRECTIONS to make your own version of the game to play at home!

Vocabulary:

• pon - put
• toma - take
• todos - all, everyone
• todo - everything
• toma todo - take it all
• todos ponen - everyone put one in

Have a great summer!  ¡Qué disfruten el verano!

4th Grade: April 26, 2017

Today in class, students were able to use stickers they had earned in class to buy small prizes.

We also played Toma Todo, a traditional Mexican game.  The spinning tops we used in class were from Mexico, but you can follow THESE DIRECTIONS to make your own version of the game to play at home!

Vocabulary:

• pon - put
• toma - take
• todos - all, everyone
• todo - everything
• toma todo - take it all
• todos ponen - everyone put one in

Have a great summer!  ¡Qué disfruten el verano!

2nd and 3rd Grade: April 26, 2017

Today in class, we got together with the two older classes and played a big game of Toma Todo, a traditional Mexican game.  The spinning tops we used in class were from Mexico, but you can follow THESE DIRECTIONS to make your own version of the game to play at home!

Vocabulary:

• pon - put
• toma - take
• todos - all, everyone
• todo - everything
• toma todo - take it all
• todos ponen - everyone put one in

Have a great summer!  ¡Qué disfruten el verano!

1st Grade: April 26, 2017

Today in Spanish class, we celebrated the end of the year together with some of our favorite activities, including the "Chocolate" jump.

Have a great summer!  ¡Qué disfruten el verano!

Kindergarten: April 26, 2017

Today in class, we used a plain sheet of paper and turned it into a book!  In the book, we drew pictures to remember some of the things we learned about in Spanish class this year.  Ask your student show the book to you.  There are a few blank pages at the end that students can fill in with their own pictures of Spanish class this year.

Have a great summer!  ¡Qué disfruten el verano!