March 6 - 10, 2017

Good afternoon,

I just found out that we will not be having specials on Friday, due to Field Day, so I will have to make some adjustments.  That's what I get for trying to be organized and planning too far ahead.  :)

3rd grade:  We worked more on telling time on Monday by adding in the time of the day.  We also practiced more with differences with Spanish punctuation.

Thursday 3/9 - review Unit 3 (WB pages 42-43 due)

Monday 3/13 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 45-46 due)

Thursday 3/16 - no class due to the opera

4th grade:  Today we will go over our last verb for this Unit, Jugar, and review Unit 3.  We will still have our test on Tuesday, March 14, since that is our last day of class for the quarter.

Tuesday 3/7 - the verb jugar and Unit 3 review (WB p 43 due)
Friday 3/10 - no class, field day

Tuesday 3/14 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 44-46 due)

5th grade:  Today we went over several verbs and vocabulary words.  I changed their homework to a few pages out of their textbook packet copies.  Next Tuesday, 3/14, we will go over a couple more concepts, work on our work book pages, and also review for the test on Friday, 3/17.  Again, if your student will be absent that day, please let me know in advance so we can make alternate arrangements.  

Friday 3/10 - no class, field day
Tuesday 3/14 - finish up and review Unit 3 (TB pages 98-101)

Friday 3/17 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 45-46 due)

Febrary 27-March3, 2017

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope we have a restful weekend planned.  :)

3rd grade:  This week, along with our vocabulary words and grammar, we learned about Spanish punctuation for different types of sentences.  We also studied several cognates (words that look and sound alike in both languages), and began learning how to say the time in Spanish.  WB pages 33-34, 36-39, and 41 should be completed by this point.  They have also had four worksheets so far this quarter (calendar activities, jugar practice, vocab crossword, and time).

Monday 3/6 - complete Unit 3 (time worksheet due)

Thursday 3/9 - review Unit 3 (WB pages 42-43 due)

Monday 3/13 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 45-46 due)

Thursday 3/16 - no class due to the opera

4th grade:  This week we began learning about different cultural events and how to read information given on a webpage.  We also learned a new verb, venir, which means "to come," and how to conjugate it.  The students should have finished workbook pages 33-43 by next Tuesday.  Next Friday, Mrs. Olsen needs to work with the 5th graders in the morning before Field Day, so 4th grade WILL have Spanish class that morning.

Friday 3/3 - the verb venir (WB p 42 due)

Tuesday 3/7 - the verb jugar (WB p 43 due)

Friday 3/10 - Unit 3 review (WB p 44 due)

Tuesday 3/14 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 45-46 due)

5th grade:  This week we did a little math in Spanish class by looking at money and averages.  They know how much I love teaching math, so it was fun to incorporate the two.  We also studied the question words in Spanish.  The students should have workbook pages 33-39 completed by next Tuesday.  

Friday 3/3 - question words and new vocab (WB p 38 due)

Tuesday 3/7 - learning to talk about different enjoyable activities (WB p 39 due)

Friday 3/10 - no class, field day

Tuesday 3/14 - the verbs ir and venir and talking about friends and classes (WB p 40 and 43 due)

Friday 3/17 - Unit 3 test (WB pages 45-46 due)

Since I am switching with Mrs. Olsen next Friday for field day (5th grade will have music instead of Spanish next Friday morning),  I wanted to make sure they had enough time to learn the material needed for the Unit 3 test, but that means I am going to have to administer it the 1/2 day Friday before Spring Break.  If your child is going to be absent that day, please let me know ahead of time, so that they can take the exam on Wednesday or Thursday.  If, for some reason, the student is unable to take the exam before Spring Break, their Q3 grade will reflect as an incomplete.  It's nothing to be worried about, it just means that they will need to take the exam after Spring Break, and I will adjust their grade accordingly.  Please let me know if you have any questions, and have a wonderful weekend!

February 21-24, 2017

I hope everyone had a wonderful Presidents' Day weekend, even with the rain.  :)

3rd grade:  We have continued learning about how to say that we enjoy doing many different activities.  On Thursday, we will learn more about punctuation that is unique to the Spanish language, and we will also discuss cognates.  Cognates are words that look and sound similar in both languages.  An example that we discuss often is chocolate.  :)  It's spelled the same in both languages, it's just pronounced differently.  In this section of Unit 3, we have already reviewed the cognates: trompeta, fútbol, béisbol, intivo, guitarra, difícil, clase, escuela, and many more!  The third graders should have workbook pages 33-39 done at this point in the quarter.

4th grade:  We have finished up talking about places we go and activities we participate in while on vacation.  On Friday we will begin our last section of Unit 3, by introducing different events that we enjoy attending.  The fourth graders should have workbook pages 33-40 completed already, and 41 was assigned for homework today.

5th grade:  We have completed our review of time and school schedules.  On Friday and today, we talked about the letters j and g, and went over what sounds they make, and when they make them.  It was fun learning a Spanish tongue twister with those letters and sounds.  They have the opportunity to memorize the tongue twister and say it for me to earn an extra credit point on their next exam.  The fifth graders should have workbook pages 33-36 completed so far, and I assigned page 37 as homework today.

Have a great week!

February 13-17, 2017

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a restful weekend and are ready for another great week.  I have been dealing with this awful illness that's been going around.  Both my kids have it, and I have it.  Also, my 9 month old nephew was admitted to the hospital with a mass in his stomach on Thursday, so I apologize that I have been away from school here and there, and haven't been updating as much as I would like.

In all grade levels, we are working diligently on Unit 3, and I'm hoping to be finished with it by the end of February.  We will have a Unit test, and I will let you know the dates for that as soon as I get the rest of Unit 3 mapped out.  I had to do some reteaching when I got back from maternity leave last year, and we only got through Unit 3.  I am really excited that we will be done with it so early in the year, and will be able to move on to Unit 4 and possibly Unit 5!

HOMEWORK:

• 3rd grade was assigned workbook page 39 on Thursday.  At this point, they should have all workbook pages 33-39 completed.  
• 4th grade was assigned workbook page 40 on Tuesday.  I was not there on Friday, so they had a few extra days to complete it.  I will be checking it tomorrow.  They should have all workbook pages 33-40 completed so far.
• 5th grade was assigned an assignment out of the textbook on Tuesday (I copied the pages for them).  I was not there on Friday, so they had a few extra days to complete it.  I will be checking it tomorrow.  I will double check their workbook pages when I am back at school, but I believe they should have pages 33-36 completed so far.

On an unrelated note, in addition to teaching 3-5 Spanish and 4th grade Math, I am also our Extracurricular Director.  (many hats!)  :)  Alongside Mrs. Fawcett, I love being able to offer our educators their stipends for sponsoring our before, during, after school, and early release Wednesday activities for our students.  In addition to this, your generosity helps us keep the cost of those clubs down.  In learning more about the extracurricular activities at others Archways, many of their teacher led clubs and study clubs cost families between $50 and $80 per quarter. Our teacher led clubs and Study Club cost only $20 per quarter!  This is just one of the many areas in which our Tax Credits are able to make a huge difference in our Archway Chandler community.  If you have not donated yet, would you please consider it?  It's a dollar for dollar tax credit, so it's basically a no cost donation.  :)  Also, would you please also consider asking around your neighborhood, church, work, gym, etc, to see if anyone else would like to take advantage of this opportunity to not only lower their tax bill, but also do some good in the lives of our students and teachers.  The link to donate or share is below.  

https://www.greatheartsonline.com/trans/archwaychandler_tc.html

Thank you so much, and have a wonderful week.  Please email me with any questions or concerns regarding Spanish or Extracurriculars.  

January 30-February 3, 2017

Happy Wednesday!

3rd grade:  On Monday, we reviewed numbers 0-30, and learned the similarities and differences between the Mayan calendar and our own.  We will have a short quiz on the numbers on Thursday.  It will be a five question quiz in which I say the number in Spanish, and the students write down the digits.  For example, if I say "catorce," the students would write 14 on their paper.  We will then begin talking about different cultural activities that we enjoy doing.  Workbook page 38 should also be completed by Thursday.

4th grade:  On Tuesday, we learned how to ask and answer the question, "¿Adónde vas de vacaciones?" (Where do you go on vacation?).  We also discussed different vacation locations, and enjoyed poking a little bit of fun at Sra. Barksdale's drawings (She is NO Mrs. Wuerfel!)  :)  We will delve deeper into the subject of vacations in the coming classes.  Workbook page 39 was assigned as homework, due Friday.

5th grade:  On Tuesday, we finished up learning about how to tell time in Spanish.  On Friday, we will have a small quiz.  It will be five questions.  I will say the time in Spanish, and the students will write the digits and time of day.  For example, if I were to say, "Son las tres y quince de la tarde,"  the students would write 3:15 pm on their papers.  After the quiz, we will begin a study of school schedules and compare our own schedule to schools in El Salvador.  All three classes were asked to study for the time quiz.  5B and 5C were also given a worksheet, due Friday, to assist them in studying.  5A has already completed the assignment.

Have a wonderful week and let me know if you have any questions!

January 23-27, 2017

Hello everyone, I just realized my pre-typed posts have not actually been posting, so I apologize for the lack of communication.  I will compile all the information and resources and make another post later on this week, but a quick update is below for each grade:

THIRD GRADE:

We completed our study of different hobbies and sports, and started learning about school subject and school supplies.  We will finish the week talking a bit about the Mayan culture and looking at their numbers and calendar.  Workbook page 36 is due Thursday, we will do 37 in class, and 38 will be due Monday.  Actually, pages 33-38 should all be completed by Monday.  These have all been completed in class or assigned over the last couple weeks.

FOURTH GRADE:

We have completed learning about different activities in school, and also after school activities.  The students have been assigned workbook pages 33-37 and also a weekly schedule worksheet was due today.  Workbook page 38 will be due Friday, so please be sure all pages 33-38 are complete.

FIFTH GRADE:

We have completed learning about school subjects and differences and similarities between schools here in the US and in El Salvador.  We have recently been reviewing numbers to 100 and how to tell time.  So far, the fifth graders have been assigned workbook pages 33-35 and also two worksheets.  The time worksheet is due Friday.

Let me know if you have any questions!  Have a great week. :)

January 2-6, 2017

3^rd grade – Thursday, January 5, 2017

Happy New Year!! I was so happy to see your scholars at school today, and we had a great Spanish class!  We decoded the Spanish word “Los pasatiempos,” to figure out that the actual word literally means pass (pasa) times (tiempos).  We talked about how a pasatiempo is basically an activity that we do to pass time, or in English, a hobby.  The students told me what their favorite hobbies were (Mi pasatiempo favorito es…), we learned some Spanish vocabulary, and then practiced them in some example conversations.  The notes (plus some pictures) and quizlet link are below.  There are no workbook pages for homework, but I would love for them to study these new words, phrases, and conversations.  Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!

Grade 3 – Vocab 3.1 quizlet  
Grade 3 - Vocab 3.1 notes part 1
Grade 3 - Convo 3.1 notes
Grade 3 - Convo notes pic 1
Grade 3 - Convo notes pic 2

5^th grade – Friday, January 6, 2017

Happy New Year!  The 5^th grade scholars will be completing their presentations during our regularly scheduled Spanish classes, so I will see them for the first time on Tuesday morning.  Have a great weekend!

4^th grade – Friday, January 6, 2017

Happy New Year!  Due to an assembly in the afternoon on Friday, we will have shortened Spanish classes.  We are going to glue a map of and the flag from Mexico into our spirals.  We will color and discuss both the location of Mexico and the meaning of the colors and emblem on the flag. 

            Grade 4 - Mexico Flag and map