Story time and juegos to review....

Hola padres! The end of the year is looming before us and I have had a fun time reviewing with the Kinders this week. We started off with rereading some of our favorite Spanish books that we had read at the beginning of the year. It was fun to see how much they remembered. 

After that, I played a few games that helped them review some vocabulary. First we played a game where I had one brave volunteer come up to the front of the class, hold out their hands and close their eyes. I then gently placed a classroom object in their hands and they had to guess the word in Spanish. They had such fun with this and did a great job remembering el borrador, el lapiz, el libro y las tijeras. This is definitely a game that I will use again! 

In order to review our formas, or shapes, I had each Kinder take out eight crayons. After reviewing the shape vocabulary, I called out a shape and each student was to form that shape on their desk with their crayons. No drawing on the desks of course and they did a great job demonstrating that they had command of the shape vocabulary. 

Lastly, we played a tapping game where they had to listen carefully to see how many times I tapped on a desk and then tell me that number out loud in Spanish. They really enjoyed this and you could tell they were really counting in their heads. 

Next week I hope to continue with these review games, but also incorporate our clothing, parts of the body and house vocabulary. We'll see what creativity is around the corner! Have a wonderful weekend!

Adios, 
Sra. Hamilton

Cinco de Mayo

Hola padres! Another week has flown by and I have had so much fun with your scholars learning about Cinco de Mayo! After our circle time when we sang our days of the week song and recited our seasons poem, I read a short story about the history of this holiday and why it is so celebrated throughout the Hispanic community. Please ask them about the details of this holiday. They did such an amazing job of remembering what the holiday was all about. 
In order to help them understand a bit about Cinco de Mayo, we colored in a picture of the Mexican flag and also colored in a map of Mexico. 
Of course, there are many celebrations taking place this weekend. Here are a few links in case you are interested in checking some of them out:
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/events/articles/20130502cinco-de-mayo-festival-phoenix.html

http://phoenix.about.com/od/events/a/cincodemayo.htm

I hope to be able to attend at least one this weekend and will let you know how it goes. I hope you are all able to celebrate a bit on your own!

Sincerely,
Sra. Hamilton

circle time, number review and more review

Hola padres! Happy viernes! Another week has gone by and I have started a bit of a circle time at the beginning of class where we sing songs and talk about the days of the week. This week, we sang about classroom objects to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell" and we also sang about the days of the week with a train themed song. After the days of the week song, we have been practicing saying "today is...." "yesterday was...." and tomorrow is....." I also reintroduced the seasons and reviewed a short poem with each class that briefly describes each season. It is my hope that these songs and poems will come back to them when they are searching for the right vocabulary. 

I have also brought back some number review. The worksheets the students are bringing home may seem a bit elementary, but they are practicing coming up with the numbers without counting on their fingers and they are also practicing writing. I hope to find some fun games to round out our number review in the next couple of weeks.

Our Cinco de Mayo study will begin first thing next week and I hope to give the kids a solid understanding of what the day means for Mexico and its citizens.  We will continue with our circle time and review during this time. Thank you all so much and have a wonderful weekend!

Adios, 
Sra. Hamilton

Review, review, review!

Hola padres! I'm so sorry that I did not write an update last week! I think between AIMS, field day and a half day on Friday, I was thrown off my schedule! Anyway, here is what we did last week:

I went back a little on the curriculum and picked up the unit on classroom objects. I know I have used this vocabulary with the Kinders throughout the year, but I'm not quite sure if I ever formally taught them the vocabulary. A worksheet with six vocabulary words was sent home and I encouraged the scholars to review them with you at home. They can help you with how to pronounce them if you are not sure. Have them teach you! This is a great way for them to learn themselves. We also worked some on our numbers. I hope to continue number review until the end of the year. 

This week, while continuing our study of classroom object vocabulary, I plan on returning to the calendar and reviewing our days of the week, months and seasons. Hopefully, this will become more familiar for them as I know the concept of time is hard for them to grasp. Towards the end of the week and beginning of next, we will also begin our study into Cinco de Mayo and why it is so significant. Be sure to ask your scholar why! Their answers might surprise you! 

Have a wonderful week!
Sra. Hamilton

Mi libro de la comida

Hola padres! I want to let you know how very proud I am of the Kinders this week! I handed them a tough assignment and they didn't think twice about it and completed it! I photocopied "Mi libro de la comida" or "My Book About Food" and had them fill it out. Each page related to a meal or group of food that we've studied and each page was completely blank with only a few lines at the bottom. We discussed each meal and decided which three foods we would write and draw onto the page. First I had them write all the words, then we drew them. The Kinders listened fabulously and for the most part were able to complete each page before moving onto the next. I told them that when they started Kindergarten, they would have never been able to do that, but that now they could do it so effortlessly. What a fun week to see their growth. I hope you enjoy their books as much as I have enjoyed making them with them. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sra. Hamilton

El desayuno, el almuerzo, la merienda, la cena and a matching game!

Feliz viernes, padres! We made it through another week! This week we concentrated more on the meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner and worked on placing our food vocabulary into each meal. The students worked on their colors as they colored their worksheets and we also played a number game to refresh our number vocabulary. 

The most fun part of our week was spent on a matching game that had the scholars working hard on remembering their verduras y frutas, but also worked on their sportsmanship and teamwork skills as we rooted for both teams. 

Next week, I hope to begin filling out our book about food, meal by meal and continue to introduce more food vocabulary. Wish me luck as their are so many words to learn! I know the kids will do well as their enthusiasm never wanes. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sra. Hamilton

La comida y Paletas Betty

Hola padres! What an exciting second week of the quarter! The Kinders worked really hard this week on solidifying their comida vocabulary by playing more musical frutas y verduras (fruits and vegetables) and by taking their first ever Spanish quiz! It was so fun to walk them through that first endeavor. They did a great job listening to the words and watching me as I pronounced and pointed to each word and picture on the quiz. 

This latter part of the week we began talking about the four different meals that are typically eaten throughout the day: el desayuno, el almuerzo, la merienda y la cena and about which fruits are typically eaten at each meal. We will continue reinforcing this vocabulary in future lessons. One activity I'd like to do with them is making a plate of food using the food ads from grocery stores and restaurants that are found in the newspaper. I was wondering if you parents would be willing to send some of those ads in for us to use. I have a few, but am not sure I can collect enough on my own for each students in both classes to create their own plates. If you could just have your scholar bring them into school and give them either to their teachers or to myself I would greatly appreciate it. Gracias! 

Since we are in the fourth quarter, I would also like to start reviewing topics that I feel the Kinders could use some repetition in. So, I hope to spend a few minutes each week playing games or reviewing lessons that we have already done, but that the kids found particularly fun or that I feel really got them thinking as to how to use the Spanish they have learned. I'm excited to see what they remember!

One last note. I was able to visit a great establishment this weekend that I feel would be a great way for the scholars to experience a bit of Mexican culture. If you haven't been, I would highly recommend Paletas Betty. Paletas are Mexican popsicles made with real chunks of fruit. Unfortunately, the closest one to us is in Tempe right down the street from Sun Devil Stadium. I believe there is another one in Chandler. However, if you are ever in that area, I would highly recommend going. The flavor combinations were truly reminiscent of Mexico. I had pina y chile (pineapple and chili pepper) and my daughter had chocolate with some great cinnamon and other spices. There was also the classic strawberry,  a refreshing coconut and delectable blueberry lavendar combinations. It was the perfect refreshment after our hike up "A" mountain.  Let me know what you think! Have a wonderful week! 

Sra. Hamilton

Welcome back!

Welcome back from break, padres! This is the time of the school year where the rubber really hits the road and we make our last efforts in finishing the school year. I was so excited to see the bright shining faces of the kinders! 
We have had a really great week beginning our unit on food or "la comida". We learned the names of common fruits and vegetables with the help our our friend, el loro Tico Tango. If you get the chance, ask your scholar what it was that Tico Tango did when he got hungry and how he resolved the situation. We also took a survey to see what fruits were most popular in each class and played a version of musical chairs using our fruit and vegetable vocabulary. We will continue our study of "la comida" in the weeks to come. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sra. Hamilton

La Oruga Muy Hambrienta

Hola padres! This week I was privileged to introduce La Oruga Muy Hambrienta or The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Of course, most of the students were familiar with this very popular children's book, but it was new to them in Spanish. What this allowed me to do was introduce to them how to say that they were hungry in Spanish. As they worked on their very cute caterpillar craft, I went around the classroom asking them ?la oruga tiene hambre? as I rubbed my belly indicating that I was asking them if their caterpillar was hungry. They did a good job of saying, "Si, tiene hambre."

Another way I tried to emphasize this concept was asking them at lunch as they walked by with their hot lunches, ?tienes hambre tu? again rubbing my belly indicating to them that I was asking them if they were hungry. I hope to actually step into their classrooms next week during their lunch to drill them all on if they are hungry or not. Hopefully, this will work out and they will more fully understand the concept of how they feel around lunch time.

All for now!
Adios,
Sra. Hamilton

Escucha, teléfono y orejas grandes

      Happy Friday, padres! We have had a fun week of learning a new command, "escucha" or "oye" which means "listen". We started by reading a book entitled Oye al desierto which had us listening to the different sounds in the desert. 
     We then played a fun game of teléfono or telephone which had us trying very hard to escucha to see if we could get the phrase right all the way around the circle. Sometimes we succeeded and sometimes we didn't, but it was fun nonetheless. 
     Lastly, I had the kids do a fun activity that would help them escuchar. We made big ears that were stapled to pipe cleaner that they could wear over their heads to help them to better escuchar. It was a  fun craft that really solidified the command for them. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Thank you again for sharing your child with me. They always make me laugh and keep me smiling. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sra. Hamilton

Salta, ranita, salta!

Hola padres! What a fun week in Kinder Spanish! Your children learned the command, "salta" which means "jump". In order to reinforce this, we made little frogs that jump. I reminded the children that they way they make the frog jump was to say, "salta, ranita, salta!" They had such fun with this and really grasped the concept. I am so excited that they learn so quickly. 

I am also very pleased to report that the children are doing an incredible job of asking to use the bathroom in Spanish. Mostly all of them remember to ask in Spanish and those that need a bit of a reminder get lots of help from their classmates. I have even been told that they ask to use the bathroom in Spanish even when they are not in Spanish class. This is so wonderful! Anytime they practice helps them greatly. 

This is all I have for now. I hope you all have a wonderfully long weekend and I look forward to teaching more commands next week! 

Adios, 
Sra. Hamilton

LA CASA

Hola padres! Wow, what a week! Your children and I have been busy learning about the parts of the house. I have an adorable little coloring book that we have been working on diligently that shows us the different parts of the house: la puerta, el techo, la pared, la ventana, el piso, la chiminea, las escaleras, etc. Unfortunately, the book has taken us a little longer to complete than I had anticipated, so I have collected them all and we will finish them at a later date when we are in need of a quick review. 

In the next week or so, we will be focusing on some simple commands as well as having the children learn how to express the feeling of being hungry and providing information about what they see and what they are able to do. I look forward to helping them learn these concepts. 

I also wanted to share with you about a way I have tried to make Spanish more real to my children. I'm sure you have all heard of the programs that allow you to sponsor children across the world that are in need of basic needs as well as an education. Through Compassion International my family and I sponsor a little boy in Ecuador. I made sure that the child we were given lived in Central or South America so that we would be able to write to the child in Spanish. I have been able to share with my children a little about where he lives as well as the fact that he speaks the same language we do. The letters we write to him are in Spanish and the kids have expressed an interest in visiting him one day. I'm not sure if that will ever happen but I am glad that they are learning and growing with a small boy who lives far away but who shares a common language with them. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I look forward seeing your children next week! 

Adios,
Sra. Hamilton

More opposites!

Hola padres! I am so excited to report that the kids are solidly learning their Spanish survival phrases. It is so  amazing to see them asking to go to the bathroom in Spanish with very little prompting or help from me or their classmates. They are doing an amazing job!

We continued with opposites this week. The scholars learned "arriba, abajo, izquierda, derecha, lleno y vacio." We had fun practicing each one with body movements that I hope will help solidify the meanings in their heads.  It was so fun when one student from each class recognized that "arriba" is also the name of a nearby restaurant. Their sharp little minds are always working!

The next few classes will find us working on a few commands as well as having the children learning how to provide information about what they see, do and want. We'll see how this goes! Have a wonderful weekend!

Adios,
Sra. Hamilton

Opposites and Read Conmigo

Hola padres! This week we concentrated on reviewing and solidifying our Spanish survival phrases. The kids are really catching on and I am excited to see them come alive with their pronunciation. We will continue to practice these phrases for a few minutes at the start of each class. 

We also began our study of opposites. This week we learned "big" and "little" or "grande" y "chiquito". I read a book aloud to the kids that talked about this concept and had them each tell me something that was either "grande" o "chiquito" in order to be excused to their seat. We will continue with other opposites in the weeks to come. 

I also wanted to let you know about a neat bilingual book program that I have become a part of. It is called Read Conmigo (Read with me) and information can be found at www.readconmigo.org  This is a program that provides free bilingual children's books to families that are interested. All you need to do is sign up. The books are fairly lengthy so they might be a little long for Kindergarteners, but they are a neat place to start. If you sign up, let me know what you think. Have a wonderful weekend!

Adios,
Sra. Hamilton

Review and Spanish Survival Expressions

Hola padres! Happy New Year! It is so good to be back! I hope you all had a restful break and an exciting time with those cute Kinder projects. It was so wonderful to see the children's faces last Friday and feel their excitement as they came in with all the hard work they had done. What a great way to start the semester!

I was very sorry to be gone two days this week, but I had three children of my own at home with fevers as the flu bug attacked our household in full force. Thankfully, we are all on the mend and I was able to be back on Wednesday. I concentrated this week on some review of colors and la naturaleza or nature with a fun game of Bingo. 

 The most exciting part of the week was the introduction of the Spanish Survival Expressions that will help us step up our game in Kinder Spanish this semester. I have chosen five short phrases that I am hoping the children can master to communicate with in Spanish class. These phrases include, "may I use the bathroom?", "more slowly please", "I have a question", "I don't understand" and "please repeat". I have laminated cards with pictures that match each of these phrases and the written phrase is on the back. At the beginning of class, I put these cards up on the board with magnets. When the children want to express their requests during class, they can raise their hand and use the phrase in Spanish or they can come up to the board, point to the appropriate card and receive help from myself or their classmates to let me know what they need. I am hoping this will serve two purposes: one, that they may begin to speak in Spanish themselves in class and two, that this will limit their trips to the bathroom since in order to use the bathroom, they will have to use the phrase in Spanish "?puedo ir al bano por favor?". Since Spanish is only thirty minutes long every other day, it would be great for them to use that time to their greatest advantage as much as possible. So far, there are a handful of kids who have mastered the phrase and I am so excited! I am hoping this will excite their classmates to follow suit. By the end of the semester, I hope they all will be able to ask to use the bathroom without any assistance. We will surely put lots of practice in and urge each other on. 

Again, it is great to be back and I look forward to teaching your children Spanish! 
Sra. Hamilton