Collins Elementary

Click here to view my weekly lesson plans for Colins Elementary Spanish: Lesson Plans

Elementary Spanish for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade

For the 50 minutes a week students are exposed to choral repetition, question and answer of learned phrases, acting out verbs and nouns usin "muscle memory", songs, videos, and dance.

It is important for parents to practice with students what they have learned in class. The substance of what has been taught will be on the weekly plan calendar for Señor Axe. This training at home will enhance long term retention. Likewise, to take advantage of the best years to learn foreign language (prior to 8th grade), parents can assist their student through internet activities found on this site. Available on the market are also picture books loaded with vocabulary and common usage phrases. Studies show that 10 minutes of practice just prior to bedtime is better than an hour any other time.

NOTE TO PARENTS: To reinforce use of courtesy words of "Thank you" and "You're welcome", a commercially purchased Mexican cookie (similar to an animal cracker) is given to the students. Emphasis is given to the classroom teacher to insure that a water break is given soon thereafter to wash sugar off of the teeth of the child. Please make clear to the school or classroom teacher whether this cookie is appropriate to any allergy or dietary considerations.

The "cookie conversation" goes as follows:

Teacher: I have a cookie for you. Yo tengo una galleta para ti. (yoh tane goh oo nah guy yate tah pah rah tee)

Student: For me? ¿Para mi? (pah rah mee)

Teacher: Yes, for you. Sí, para ti. (see pah rah tee)

Student: Thank you! ¡Gracias! (grah see ahs)

Teacher: You're welcome! ¡De nada! (day nah dah)

ADDITIONAL NOTICE: The weekly format begins with the US and Oklahoma pledges of allegiance in Spanish. Its purpose it to associate an already learned and practiced set of words but more importantly practice the pronunciation and rhythm of the language and to emphasize the existence of words that are the same in Spanish as they are in English, such as "nación" and "indivisible" (een dee vee seé blay). Students are expected to stand at attention and face the flags and respect is expected to be shown. Parents, of course, may, for whatever reason, request their student not to perform this part of the exercise, though it would be polite to stand with the rest of the students.

1st HOUR: each 3rd grade classroom, one 50 minute session per week

2nd HOUR: each 4th grade classroom, one 50 minute session per week

3rd HOUR: each 5th grade class, one 50 minute session per week

A "sampler" program will seek to acquaint the student with Spanish language pronunciation, vocabulary, phrases, and songs.

"Muscle memory" and games will be used to give the student a long term possession of what is taught.

Homework will not be assigned and assessment will be based on participation.

The following format is anticipated:

Pronunciation: Choral response of the US and Oklahoma flag salute in Spanish

(this includes intro to words that are the same in Spanish as they are in English)

Listening comprehension: basic commands of turn right and left and step forward and backward, walk in place, etc.

Numbers: one through 15 and tens, through 100, and 100's through 1000.

Verbs (in infinitive form) : through "muscle memory" acting out the action of the verb

example: beber leche- to drink milk (act out "drinking" and "milk"ing a cow)

Basic phrases: ¿Cómo estás tú? (koh-moh ace tahs two) (How are you?) Yo estoy bien. (yoh ace toy bee ane) ( I am well.)

¿Cómo te llamas? (koh moh tay yah mahs) (How are you called?)

Me llamo David. (may yah moh) I call myself David.

¿Cuántos años tienes? (koo ahn tose ahn yose tee ane ace) How many years do you have?

Yo tengo ocho años. (yo tane goh oh cho ahn yose) I have 8 years. (I'm 8 years old.)

¿Qué quieres tú? (kay key air ace two) What do you want?

Yo quiero una galleta. (yoh key air roh oo nah guy yate tah) I want a cookie.