In fourth grade, we "level up" our Spanish skills, working towards a Novice Mid to Novice High speaking level. Building on what we’ve learned in previous years, we start making deeper connections. For instance, we explore fractions in Spanish and discover how they relate to telling time. Our vocabulary grows as we learn about family members, using characters from Encanto to guide us. We also dive into maps and capitals, strengthening our focus on geography. By the end of the year, we’ll know all 21 Spanish-speaking countries and their capitals. Our "persona especial" (special person) interviews grow more complex, offering a chance to practice speaking skills at a higher level. We also introduce fun, authentic Spanish games like la pirinola. This year, we focus on Mexico and Chile, linking these countries to the two chapter books we read: Esmeralda, la tortuguita marina (Esmeralda, the Little Sea Turtle) and Paco, el pinguino perdido (Paco, the Lost Penguin) (see descriptions below). Along the way, we’ll explore sea turtles and penguins to better understand the stories. We’ll also dive into learning about different parts of a house, and maybe even design our own dream home. And that’s just the beginning—there’s so much more to discover! To see how the FLES curriculum connects to the classroom, check out the details below. 

At the heart of our FLES Spanish program is a strong commitment to literacy-based language learning. Grounded in the research of language acquisition expert Stephen Krashen, we believe that compelling, comprehensible input—especially through reading—is one of the most powerful tools for language development. Reading provides students with repeated exposure to vocabulary, grammatical structures, and cultural context in a meaningful and memorable way. By engaging with rich and age-appropriate texts, students build both confidence and fluency as they internalize language naturally. This is why our curriculum includes carefully chosen chapter books and stories that support both linguistic growth and cultural understanding.

The FLES Spanish program is designed to teach students practical, usable language, which is always a top priority. At the same time, we aim to make meaningful connections to classroom content when it aligns with students’ linguistic levels. Our goal is to support classroom teachers while still ensuring that students are acquiring real, functional Spanish. To do this, the FLES educators at Chickering and Pine Hill have carefully reviewed the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for each grade level and identified areas where we can authentically reinforce and enrich content. The Google Document linked below is regularly updated to reflect curriculum shifts and evolving student needs—because, well… kids!