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con Señora McRae 2026-2027
Welcome to Parents & Introduction:
¡Saludos! Greetings!
I hope that you and your family had a wonderful summer. I love teaching, and I’m so excited to kick off a new school year! Because I haven’t yet met many of you, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Michelle McRae, and this is my ninth year at GHS! This year, I’ll be teaching Spanish 2 and supporting our new Spanish 1 teacher! I also sponsor our school’s Craft Club, which meets daily during Blue & White time, as well as the Thrive Club, which holds monthly meetings both on and off site. (Focused on healthy living and coping skills, this is our local chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions.) In addition to these regularly scheduled activities, I host free bi-annual Clothing Swaps for our GHS Girls AND Guys, and coordinate a World Geography Contest each Spring. Finally, I have organized an end-of-year Field Trip to the Nashville Zoo on the LAST day of each of the last three school years. So much fun! Can you tell that I love our students?! I DO! 🤍Whether your child is new to GHS or new to my classroom, please let me know if there is ANY way I can help your child THRIVE!🤍 ~ karla.mcrae@smithcoedu.net
About Me:
Originally from Nashville, my husband and I moved to Smith County in 2012. Although I am not a native Spanish speaker, I have a long history with the language. In 1994, I traveled to Mexico for the first time and fell in love with the country and people that had captured my father’s heart thirty years before. I was 16 years old and utterly enchanted! After studying German in high school, I decided to attend Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, where I completed my Major in Human Studies and a Minor in Spanish. I have since traveled extensively in Mexico and Guatemala. I love the language and culture and hope to share the joy of Spanish with your sons and daughters. In 2021, I completed my Master’s degree at Tennessee Tech in Curriculum & Instruction. After working in dozens of nonprofit and faith-based settings, I have found that I love teaching high school! Of all the many things I have done in the professional sphere, spending time with our students and having the opportunity to inspire and encourage them is by FAR the most fulfilling.
Philosophy:
Language has the power to open hearts and open doors! Learning a second language will help your students learn to think and communicate creatively, strengthen their mental stamina, expand their vocabulary and worldview, and help build their confidence. Research also shows strong links between the study of foreign language and better performance on standardized tests. Proficiency in a second language, which can be acheived with further study and practice may also help your child to get better (and better-paying) jobs. In the end, learning to think clearly, logically, and at length has universal benefits, regardless of whether your child pursues long-term study of Spanish.
The KEY, however, is to make sure the students USE the language and can enjoy it! Although we will certainly study grammar, my emphases will be enhanced communication skills, translation, and cultural appreciation. Your students will have many opportunities to practice in a supportive environment in my class. In addition to many face-to-face activities to improve communication, your student will also complete some work online using a classroom set of chromebooks. Your student will therefore be asked to join the Google Classroom for their particular class, which you can find in the links below.
Class Overview:
The essential goal of the second year of Spanish study is to further develop skills and confidence in the four domains of language proficiency:
Receptive skills, or "input"
listening
reading
And productive skills, or "output"
speaking
writing
and to help them to better understand the diverse cultures of native speakers in the Spanish-speaking world, spanning twenty countries and four continents. In studying the language, perspectives, and practices of other cultures, we gain valuable insight into our own!
The delightful women of one of my many Mayan host families in Guatemala. All but the youngest had woven their own traditional blouses, called huipiles! 🩷 In addition to Spanish, they also spoke their own language, called "Mam."
Sample Topics for Spanish 2
Virtually any topic of interest to our students can be used to teach Spanish language and grammar!
Each year, students help generate the vocabulary that they learn and the topics that we use for study.
How are you REALLY?! Checking on and supporting friends
Culinary Traditions: At the intersection of geography and culture
Hobbies & Pastimes: Seasonal Traditions at GHS & around the world
Describing the friends, family, and pets that we love most
Self-care, daily routines & preparing for special occasions
Household chores, yard work & preparing for guests & celebrations
The Body, Health, & Seeking Medical Care
Talking about the Future: Travel & Vacay!
and so much more!
Tennessee's Educational Standards for Modern Languages
Curious about the Standards for Spanish classes in Tennessee?
The current standards for Modern Languages, such as Spanish, French, German, and Italian, can be found in the pdf below, beginning on page 21. When reviewing the standards, it is helpful to know that the objective for second year students is to reach a Low Intermediate Level in each of the described areas.
The 5 Cs for World Readiness
Helpful Websites: While we don't use a textbook for Spanish at GHS, you can connect easily with classroom materials and assignments by visiting your child's Google Classroom. You can also click on the "Daily Summaries" tab at the top of this page to learn more about what we have been doing in class.
Google Classroom Links WILL BE ADDED SHORTLY!
They have been created, but I just realized that the links I know how to share are for inviting students, not parents and guardians! Thanks for your patience! ~ Mrs. McRae😊
1A:
3A:
1B:
2B:
3B:
4B:
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