Spanish

jump to 2nd, 3rd, 4-5th, Middle School

Kindergarten and First Grade

Spanish classes begin with the Total Physical Response method of teaching a second language in the same sequence in which children learn their native language. The method is based on stressing comprehension before production. Class time is devoted to the students’ responses to Spanish instructions or commands. Understanding is shown by the performance of the appropriate actions. When the children feel ready, they begin to speak.

Skills that are introduced and developed in kindergarten and first grade encourage the students to:

LISTENING
• Listen to simple Spanish instructions and follow the instructions.

SPEAKING
• Recall basic vocabulary words and the words to Spanish songs.

READING
• Read the vocabulary words or simple sentences based on introduced vocabulary.

WRITING
• Write single words in Spanish.

GRAMMAR
• Apply basic grammar rules in speaking, such as the use of singular and plural nouns.

Second Grade

The goals of the Spanish program are to expand listening, reading, comprehension, speaking, and writing skills. Vocabulary used includes basic greetings, calendar words, numbers through 100, colors, and names of objects and people at home and at school. Activities, projects, songs, and games reinforce the basic skills of understanding.

Skills that are introduced and developed in second grade encourage the students to:

LISTENING
• Follow multi-step directions in Spanish.

SPEAKING
• Communicate by using isolated words and some memorized sentences.

READING
• Read a sentence in Spanish.

WRITING
• Write short sentences in Spanish.

GRAMMAR
• Given sentences in which verbs change, notice how the verb needs to change.

Third Grade

In the Spanish program, students develop their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary, grammatical structures, and Hispanic cultures. Students participate in a variety of activities such as listening activities, writing projects, reading stories, interviewing peers, practicing dialogue, playing games, acting out skits, and singing songs. Third grade students begin a more structured approach to Spanish with written and oral quizzes to test
vocabulary acquisition.

Skills that are introduced and developed in third grade encourage the students to:

LISTENING
• Show comprehension of novel sentences that build on previous knowledge.

SPEAKING
• Begin to speak full sentences in Spanish.

READING
• Read and understand novel sentences that build on previous knowledge.

WRITING
• Write complete sentences in Spanish.

GRAMMAR
• Demonstrate appropriate use of basic grammar.

back to K-3 Curriculum

Grades 4 and 5

The goal of the Spanish program at Seattle Country Day is to develop students’ communication skills while progressively deepening their understanding of grammar and culture. Arecursive approach to Spanish language instruction allows students to develop both the skills necessary for listening, speaking, reading and writing Spanish and a greater appreciation for language in general. The major focus at this level is the enhancement of oral languange skills.

Skills that are introduced and developed in fourth and fifth grade encourage the students to:

LISTENING
• Comprehend simple dialogues in videos and tapes.
• Understand basic commands and follow multi-step directions.
• Understand one and two-paragraph texts read aloud.
• Follow classroom-related instructions in Spanish.

SPEAKING
• Meet and greet others in Spanish, responding to greetings, introductions, leave-takings and courtesy words
appropriately for the time of day and relationship (fellow student, adult).
• Recite sequences such as alphabet, days of the week, months, seasons and numbers up to 1000.
• Speak Spanish in complete sentences.
• Ask and answer questions coherently in Spanish.
• Use a wide variety of Spanish vocabulary.
• Present short plays and skits.
• Present an original production (i.e. TV commercial, ad, skit, song) using known vocabulary and grammatical structures.

READING
• Read aloud with correct Spanish pronunciation.
• Read simple sentences, paragraphs, and dialogue texts in Spanish.
• Read familiar illustrated stories and poems (i.e. fairy tales, stories from Dr. Seuss).

WRITING
• Take dictations of familiar phrases and sentences using appropriate punctuation and capitalization.
• Translate sentences and short paragraphs from Spanish to English or English to Spanish (orally or in writing).

GRAMMAR
• Use pronouns, adjectives, and articles with appropriate gender agreement in speaking and writing.
• Manipulate the present tense forms of regular verbs ending in –ar, –er, and –ir.
• Manipulate the present tense forms of irregular verbs ending in –estar, –ir, –ser.

back to 4-5 Curriculum

Grades 6, 7, and 8

This curriculum is focused on vocabulary building and the beginning of more in-depth and complex grammar study. The main focus of the course is on helping the students acquire speaking, listening, comprehension, reading, and writing. They participate in frequent small group and paired conversations on various topics related to daily life, read short pieces from
various sources, and write about personal interests.

Skills that are developed in Middle School encourage the students to:

LISTENING
• Comprehend simple dialogues in videos and tapes.
• Understand basic commands and follow multi-step directions.
• Understand one and two-paragraph texts read aloud.
• Understand the main ideas of presentations by native speakers.

SPEAKING
• Meet and greet others in Spanish.
• Ask for and provide personal information in Spanish.
• Speak about daily routines and family in Spanish.
• Ask for and follow directions.
• Present impromptu and prepared speeches on topics related to daily life.
• Participate in small group and paired discussions.
• Communicate in a variety of real-life situations, requiring sustained conversation in Spanish.

READING
• Read more complex sentences and stories of two or three paragraphs.
• Read aloud Spanish poetry using correct intonation.
• Read aloud with correct Spanish pronunciation.
• Read one-page articles with comprehension.
• Read aloud with correct pronunciation.

WRITING
• Translate sentences and short paragraphs from Spanish to English.
• Write simple sentences and two-paragraph compositions.
• Write two and three paragraph compositions.
• Take dictations of sentences and short texts.

GRAMMAR
• Learn the past and future tenses of regular verbs ending in –ar, -er, and –ir.
• Learn present tense conjugations of regular and irregular verbs.

back to Middle School Curriculum