Spanish

Toddler Community

(16 months through 3 years old)

Toddler Community (16 months through 3 years old)

The opportunity to participate in Spanish is offered to the toddlers three to four afternoons each week. During this time, the Spanish teacher comes into the room to sing songs, name objects, and speaks exclusively in Spanish to the toddlers. The toddlers are curious about Spanish board books, and they enjoy using maracas and other simple instruments during the music time.

Children’s House

(3 years old – Kindergarten year)

Spanish instruction for Children’s House is offered to interested students within the flow of the Montessori work cycle, focusing on basic vocabulary, such as greetings, colors, shapes, numbers, and animals. We even use Montessori materials and add Spanish vocabulary to what we already know in English. Children listen to Spanish stories, learning American Sign Language with their Spanish vocabulary to support memorization. Spanish is also integrated into the lunch period, focusing on food vocabulary, such as fruits and vegetables. After eating lunch, we sing Spanish songs, many with matching actions and ASL. Through informal, authentic interactions between the teacher and children, holiday celebrations and cultural topics are also addressed.

Elementary

(1st through 6th Grade)

The emphasis on the Elementary I (1st through 3rd) level is on developing listening, pronunciation and early reading and writing skills.  By Elementary II (4th through 6th), the students are exploring grammatical concepts and reading and writing longer pieces.  Use of songs, poems and the geography and history of Spanish-speaking Latin and South America are part of each week’s work in Spanish.

Short articles from Spanish texts

Pronunciation and listening skills

Basic vocabulary

Simple verbs and beginning conjugations

Parts of speech

Poem and fable recitation

Construct and read simple sentences and stories

Geography of Spanish –speaking countries

Holidays and other celebrations

Noun-adjective agreement

Idioms

Ties with American history

Middle School

(7th and 8th Grade)

At the Middle School level, students work on formal Spanish grammar, covering in two years the equivalent of a first-year high-school curriculum. Using the technique of comprehensible input in context, students are exposed to real-life language, learning to “fill in the gaps” when new words and structures that they may not immediately understand are presented in new contexts. The content of every lesson is later reinforced through spelling activities, grammar exercises, and bigger projects, such as essay writing on Spanish-speaking films, oral presentations of Hispanic culture and traditions, and role play. The program for the 2022-2023 year also includes  a four-day immersive experience at Concordia Language Villages, in Bemidji, MN.