IR Deutsch 

In this course, students will begin their exploration of the German language, focusing on communication, culture, comparisons  and connections, as aligned with state and national standards. 

Here you can access students' classrooms, assignments and more, stay connected. 

class expectations 

Indien River Middle School                Indien River High School

• IRMS Period 1  🥨                        - IRHS Period  8🥨

• IRMS Period 2  🥨                        - IRHS Period  9 🥨

• IRMS Period 4  🥨

• IRMS Period 5  🥨

• class project:                                      

Laternen   Weihnachtskerzen    Our dream house

• class Newspaper 

Frau Garofalo German Klasse - Newsletter

December 2025 🌲

This year was a very successful and enjoyable year of learning. Students made great progress in developing their language skills through meaningful practice, hands-on activities, and cultural exploration. We began the year by introducing ourselves and learning how to talk about our families, friends, and pets. Students practiced using numbers to talk about age, birthdays, and dates. We discussed free-time activities and hobbies, as well as how to talk about the weather and seasons. Throughout the school year, students learned important classroom vocabulary, school items, classes, schedules, and how to talk about teachers and school time.

Cultural learning was an essential part of our program. Students explored German traditions such as Oktoberfest, St. Martin’s Day, St. Nikolaus Day, and Christmas. For Oktoberfest, we learned about traditional food, music, and customs. During St. Martin's Day, students learned about lanterns, songs, and the story behind the celebration. For St. Nikolaus Day, students built traditional St. Nikolaus boots and learned about the custom of leaving boots out to be filled with treats. During the Christmas season, students explored German holiday traditions, songs, and customs that make this time of year special.

We highly support many of the learning methods used throughout the year. One of them indicates that writing by hand, rather than using a keyboard, enhances learning and memory. Studies show that brain connectivity patterns during handwriting are more elaborate and play a crucial role in memory formation and the encoding of new information. The careful forming of letters during handwriting—requiring precise hand movements and sensory engagement—significantly contributes to these brain connections and supports deeper learning. For this reason, keep incorporating handwriting regularly and use our google material for practice.

To continue learning during the holiday break, students are encouraged to keep practicing the language by listening to music, watching videos, reading simple stories, or reviewing vocabulary for a few minutes each day. Writing by hand, even briefly short words, can help reinforce learning. Speaking with friends or family can also support continued practice. Most importantly, enjoy the winter season, take time to rest, and return refreshed and ready to continue learning in the new year.

November 2025

We celebrated a Martinstag with a German Klub.

Martinstag, St. Martin's Day, for generations of children in Austria, Germany and Switzerland celebrates brightening dark winter evenings. In Laternenumzügen, lantern processions, often led by Sankt Martin on his horse, handmade lanterns carried aloft and singing songs they've learned by heart. "Ich geh mit meiner Laterne".

Cutting a cloak in half St. Martin shares it with those in need, helps those who are sick and those who are hungry. A generous man brings hope through the light. 

Sharing, looking out for each other, saying thank you. 

Our students organized a beautiful event in collaboration with Middle and High School in the German Klub. More images on our google classroom.

September 2025

Hello from Frau Garofalo’s German Klasse! 🇩🇪

Welcome back, liebe Eltern and students! We hope you all had a fantastic summer filled with fun and relaxation. As we gear up for an exciting new school year, Frau Garofalo’s German Klasse is buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. Let’s dive into what’s been happening and what’s coming up next!

Last Week: Getting Ready for a Great Year! 🌞📚

Last week was all about summer vacation memories and lots of preparation! Frau Garofalo spent time training and planning to make sure this year’s German class is the best yet. We’re setting the stage for a year full of learning, fun, and cultural discovery.

Letzte Woche: Vorbereitung auf ein großartiges Jahr! 🌞📚 Letzte Woche drehte sich alles um Sommerferienerinnerungen und viele Vorbereitungen! Frau Garofalo hat Trainings absolviert und geplant, damit der Deutschunterricht dieses Jahr großartig wird. Wir bereiten uns auf ein Jahr voller Lernen, Spaß und kultureller Entdeckungen vor.

Next Week: Getting to Know Each Other and Saying Hallo! 👋

Next week, we’ll focus on building our classroom community. Students will get to know each other, learn about classroom expectations and school procedures, and start practicing basic German greetings. They’ll also have the chance to introduce themselves in German — a perfect way to start speaking the language right away!

Nächste Woche: Kennenlernen und Hallo sagen! 👋 Nächste Woche konzentrieren wir uns darauf, unsere Klassengemeinschaft aufzubauen. Die Schüler lernen sich kennen, erfahren die Klassenregeln und Schulabläufe und üben erste deutsche Begrüßungen. Außerdem stellen sie sich auf Deutsch vor – ein toller Start, um die Sprache gleich anzuwenden!

Things to Remember: Stay Curious and Ready! 📝✨

• Encourage your child to practice their German greetings at home!

• Remind them to bring their enthusiasm and questions to class every day.

• Keep an eye out for upcoming newsletters with fun activities and important dates.

Dinge zum Merken: Bleiben Sie neugierig und bereit! 📝✨

• Ermutigen Sie Ihr Kind, die deutschen Begrüßungen zu Hause zu üben!

• Erinnern Sie sie daran, jeden Tag mit Begeisterung und Fragen zum Unterricht zu kommen.

• Achten Sie auf kommende Newsletter mit spannenden Aktivitäten und wichtigen Terminen.

Auf Wiedersehen for Now! 🌟

We’re off to a fantastic start and can’t wait to see all the wonderful progress our students will make. Danke for your support — together, we’ll make this year voller Erfolg und Spaß (full of success and fun)! Stay tuned for more updates!

Bis bald und alles Gute!