On-line resource

I just wanted to pass along this great on-line resource for vocabulary pronunciation practice.  Please check this out if you would like to hear and practice saying many of the vocabulary words we learn here in class.

http://www.languageguide.org/spanish-mexico/

Learn another language

Please read this article below, it demonstrates why learning another language is so important for your child's future.  Even if they don't go on to study Spanish, learning a second language now will help them learn the one they want to study later.

Why learning another language is so valuable

The benefits of learning a second language

I've just run across this great article highlighting some of the benefits of learning a second language.  For your reading pleasure.
http://dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=39638

Welcome to Grange Hall, 2nd grade style

Second graders have been learning about the School Community so far this year.  They have reviewed the words for the people in school and they have learned the different resource classes in Spanish and all of the rooms in the school in Spanish.  Now they would like to welcome you all to our beautiful little school with a short video introducing you to the school in Spanish.  

I hope it's understandable.  It's hard to get so many children to say the same thing at the same time.  But it was fun touring the school and saying the words in Spanish.  Your children are a joy to work with every day.  Thank you for the opportunity to teach them!

Bienvenidos a Español

Welcome back to Spanish!  I am so happy to begin a new school year.  As usual it has started off so fast that I can barely keep up.  There are many new faces and so many returning students.  I'm so excited every time the students tell me they practice at home or have learned new words.

As we do every year, the kindergarteners come twice a week sharing their resource time with Music.  This helps them immensely with learning the basics so quickly.  They are mastering our basic greetings, the colors and numbers to 5.  They are learning our routine songs quickly and are even saying some of the words of the calendar.

First graders are building on all they learned last year and are adding many new words for the school.  Right now we are talking about school supplies like crayons, pencils, glue, scissors and backpacks.  We will learn the places in school and review the people in school as well.

Second graders are beginning learning about the school and we are learning about how school is in Argentina.  We are also starting a year long chart of the temperatures in Buenos Aires, Argentina and here in Chesterfield County.  It should be interesting once we get into deep winter to see how the weather continues in Argentina.

Third graders are getting used to an entirely different Spanish class as we are now mostly working at the tables.  They have notebooks to keep up with and to keep all of their materials in.  We are doing our butterflies for symbolic migration now and will start with telling time soon.  After that we will learn about the Mayas, Incas and Aztecs.  That is always a fun unit with so many fun things to do in class.

Fourth graders are beginning to learn about the continents and oceans as part of their unit where will will talk about travel, immigration and colonization.  They are also learning how to answer basic questions like:  What is your name? and How old are you?

Fifth graders are learning about Great People.  We will talk about some great Hispanic Americans and they will learn to describe people.  We have started by filling out passports and are moving onto descriptions next.

I hope to be able to update more often this school year.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  michelle_melara@ccpsnet.net

Hasta luego...

A few more pictures from International Week

I just wanted to share a couple more shots I took during International week.  The visitors we have keep getting more and more interesting.

Tia's friend visited to tell us about Puerto Rico and shared with us all about the coqui frog and the Vejigante masks.

Olivia's and Cecilia's mom Mika taught us all about the Japanese art of origami, the three writing styles and how to use chopsticks.

Here are a couple of students practicing using the chopsticks by transferring Cheerios from one bowl to another.

And on Friday we had Sombrero Day and some students came with some fabulous sombreros.

I thank all of the parents, friends and family members who participated by visiting their children's Spanish class during the week.  Your support of International week supports the language programs throughout the county by encouraging students to think about what languages to study when they get to middle and high school.  It also shows them a world beyond their own neighborhood.

Gracias, danke, merci, obrigado, 谢谢, ありがとう, mulțumesc, σας ευχαριστώ, thank you!

International Week

International week has been a huge success so far.  On Monday we showcased all of the languages the fabulous Grange Hall teachers have learned.  On Wednesday many students wore t-shirts with another language on them and on Friday we will have Sombrero day.  All week long we've had very interesting visitors who shared about their home countries.  We've learned about Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and Mexico.  We are still waiting to hear from more visitors to other classes this week.

The above photo is of Mr. Dawson telling the class all about the fascinating and sometimes scary life in El Salvador.

One class in particular was very enthusiastic about having another language on their t-shirts.  Here are a few of the easiest to make out.  Notice how many languages they incorporated.

 Some fabulous school spirit!

 Cecilia didn't even need a translator for her t-shirt.  She knows how to write Best Friends in Japanese.

 Mrs McDonald's second grade class.

 And one student showed off a t-shirt from her parent's country:  Kenya.

Thank you so much to all of my visitors and students for supporting International Week!