Hola todos,
More later but just a quick update. We've been doing a lot with esqueletos (skeletons) in 4th and 5th grade, piggy-backing on the English science unit and also studying a bit about El Día de los muertos. The week of November 15 (Thursday and Friday depending on when class meets), we will have a quiz on some of the huesos (bones) en español. Students have received a study sheet. We've done several activities in class to help them review. The quiz will consist of a drawing of the esqueleto with blanks to fill in for the huesos we have been studying. They will be given a word bank to help with recall and spelling.
Here's the list of the 13 bones they need to know:
cráneo, clavícula, escápula, mandíbula, esternón, costilla, carpo, metacarpo, falanges (1), rótula, tarso, metatarso, falanges (2). If you want to help them study, ask them to share their study sheet with you and have them act out where the bones are. Then cover the words on the sheet and see if they can identify the bones by name.
Check back next week for más Noticias. As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Gracias, Sra. Deaton
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
¡Es octubre! It's October!
Hola todos,
De verdad ha llegado el otoño con los días más cortos y fresquitos. Las hojas de todo color bailan en el viento. Los pájaros y las ardillas aprovechan del buen tiempo para buscar comida. Las calabazas y las otras plantas cambian de color verde al anaranjado. Y los niños esperan con mucha anticipación el comienzo de la estación de fiestas de octubre, noviembre y diciembre. En México, las familias están preparándose para el Día de los Muertos cuando recuerdan en forma muy especial sus seres queridos que han fallecido. Vayan al Museo Nacional de Arte Méxicano para experimentar como realmente se celebra. Espero que ustedes disfruten de esta temporada tan rica en tradiciones y diversión.
Fall has truly arrived, with its shorter and cooler days. The leaves of all color dance in the wind. Birds and squirrels take advantage of the good weather to look for food. The pumpkins and other plants change from green to orange. And children wait anxiously for the beginning of the fall festival season of October, November, and December. In Mexico, families prepare for El Día de Muertos, a time to remember in a special way their loved ones who have died. Check out the exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art for a real feeling of how it is celebrated. I hope that you all enjoy this time so rich in tradition and fun.
Hispanic Heritage: Many of our classes were treated to an "in-school field trip" last Thursday. Ms. Lynn Allen, director of the D97 MultiCultural Resource Center (MCRC), sometimes called the "Coolest Room in District 97," came to teach us about Hispanic Heritage Month and to share artifacts from around the Spanish speaking world. She encouraged students to try on, try out, and touch much of what she brought: clothing, musical instruments, photographs, dolls, Día de muertos artifacts, artesanry, books, and more. We learned a lot and had great fun. We are in the process of making Spanish cards to say "gracias" to Sra. Allen for such a wonderful "trip."
WISE and Latin Dance: Latin culture and Spanish learning continue at Whittier even after the school day ends thanks to the PTO and the WISE program. This session we are very excited to offer ¡Baila! -- dance with a Latin American twist. Peruvian dancer/instructor Jessica Loyaga meets with students Mondays after school to teach dances from around Latin America, mostly in Spanish, throwing in a bit of English only when needed. I help get the class started and then Maestra Jessica and the chicas take over. They are working very hard, mastering the movements and steps. I look forward to seeing their performance at the end of the session. We are hopeful to offer this again next session and get even more students bailando. We also hope to have Maestra Jessica and su esposo Maestro Rubén come and perform for some of our classes. Watch for information about joining "Baila" in the next WISE registration.
More PTO Thanks:
¡Gracias Whittier PTO por los libros! Whittier PTO, thanks for the books!
Thanks to the generosity of the PTO back to school gift, I was able to purchase some new books for our Spanish room library. They focus primarily on social studies and science topics. We've already started using them and they are a big hit! I still have a bit more of that back to school gift funds left for something special. I'll keep you posted on how I use it. Remember that my library is always open. -- come visit and borrow a book.
Here's the list of the latest additions:
¡Agua, agua, y más agua!
De la A a la Z por Veracruz
De la A a la Z por México
De la A a la Z por Puebla
Explora América del Sur
Conoce a los Estados Unidos
The Day of the Day/ El Día de los muertos
Family Conferences:
I enjoyed having so many families visit the Spanish room during conferences. It's always a delight to talk with you and share our learning.
A Taste of Our Learning in septiembre y octubre:
In the younger grades, we have learned a new song: "Ojos, boca, dientes y naríz." It includes lots of fun movement. We can't wait to share it with you in our winter sing!
Other morsels:
MAP K-1: numbers 0-10, colors, numbers, shapes, days of the week, Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes
MAP K-2: numbers 0-10 & 10-100, Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes. With plants we talked all about the parts of plants and trees. Some of our new words are raíz, tronco, ramo, hojas, flor, fruta, semilla, brote, planta. See how many you can figure out. Wait till you see our art work!
Grades 2, 3: numbers 0-10, 10-100 by tens; Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes. We've spent lots of time on the sistema solar talking about planets in order from the Sun, whether the Sun is a planet or a star, which planets are bigger/ smaller, which have rings or moons, which are hot/cold, and more -- ALL IN ESPAÑOL! Wait till you see our art work!
4/5 Multiage: Hispanic Heritage, Spanish alphabet, sound/letter correspondence, reading and writing, math operations (subtraction, division), numbers beyond 100, cardinal directions
As always, don't forget to check out the links for more enrichment ideas and resources. Check back after conferences for some photos of our Hispanic Heritage visit with Sra. Allen and our drawings of plantas y planetas.
Watch for más noticias! Gracias por todo, Sra. Deaton
De verdad ha llegado el otoño con los días más cortos y fresquitos. Las hojas de todo color bailan en el viento. Los pájaros y las ardillas aprovechan del buen tiempo para buscar comida. Las calabazas y las otras plantas cambian de color verde al anaranjado. Y los niños esperan con mucha anticipación el comienzo de la estación de fiestas de octubre, noviembre y diciembre. En México, las familias están preparándose para el Día de los Muertos cuando recuerdan en forma muy especial sus seres queridos que han fallecido. Vayan al Museo Nacional de Arte Méxicano para experimentar como realmente se celebra. Espero que ustedes disfruten de esta temporada tan rica en tradiciones y diversión.
Fall has truly arrived, with its shorter and cooler days. The leaves of all color dance in the wind. Birds and squirrels take advantage of the good weather to look for food. The pumpkins and other plants change from green to orange. And children wait anxiously for the beginning of the fall festival season of October, November, and December. In Mexico, families prepare for El Día de Muertos, a time to remember in a special way their loved ones who have died. Check out the exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art for a real feeling of how it is celebrated. I hope that you all enjoy this time so rich in tradition and fun.
Hispanic Heritage: Many of our classes were treated to an "in-school field trip" last Thursday. Ms. Lynn Allen, director of the D97 MultiCultural Resource Center (MCRC), sometimes called the "Coolest Room in District 97," came to teach us about Hispanic Heritage Month and to share artifacts from around the Spanish speaking world. She encouraged students to try on, try out, and touch much of what she brought: clothing, musical instruments, photographs, dolls, Día de muertos artifacts, artesanry, books, and more. We learned a lot and had great fun. We are in the process of making Spanish cards to say "gracias" to Sra. Allen for such a wonderful "trip."
WISE and Latin Dance: Latin culture and Spanish learning continue at Whittier even after the school day ends thanks to the PTO and the WISE program. This session we are very excited to offer ¡Baila! -- dance with a Latin American twist. Peruvian dancer/instructor Jessica Loyaga meets with students Mondays after school to teach dances from around Latin America, mostly in Spanish, throwing in a bit of English only when needed. I help get the class started and then Maestra Jessica and the chicas take over. They are working very hard, mastering the movements and steps. I look forward to seeing their performance at the end of the session. We are hopeful to offer this again next session and get even more students bailando. We also hope to have Maestra Jessica and su esposo Maestro Rubén come and perform for some of our classes. Watch for information about joining "Baila" in the next WISE registration.
More PTO Thanks:
¡Gracias Whittier PTO por los libros! Whittier PTO, thanks for the books!
Thanks to the generosity of the PTO back to school gift, I was able to purchase some new books for our Spanish room library. They focus primarily on social studies and science topics. We've already started using them and they are a big hit! I still have a bit more of that back to school gift funds left for something special. I'll keep you posted on how I use it. Remember that my library is always open. -- come visit and borrow a book.
Here's the list of the latest additions:
¡Agua, agua, y más agua!
De la A a la Z por Veracruz
De la A a la Z por México
De la A a la Z por Puebla
Explora América del Sur
Conoce a los Estados Unidos
The Day of the Day/ El Día de los muertos
Family Conferences:
I enjoyed having so many families visit the Spanish room during conferences. It's always a delight to talk with you and share our learning.
A Taste of Our Learning in septiembre y octubre:
In the younger grades, we have learned a new song: "Ojos, boca, dientes y naríz." It includes lots of fun movement. We can't wait to share it with you in our winter sing!
Other morsels:
MAP K-1: numbers 0-10, colors, numbers, shapes, days of the week, Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes
MAP K-2: numbers 0-10 & 10-100, Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes. With plants we talked all about the parts of plants and trees. Some of our new words are raíz, tronco, ramo, hojas, flor, fruta, semilla, brote, planta. See how many you can figure out. Wait till you see our art work!
Grades 2, 3: numbers 0-10, 10-100 by tens; Hispanic Heritage, seasonal themes. We've spent lots of time on the sistema solar talking about planets in order from the Sun, whether the Sun is a planet or a star, which planets are bigger/ smaller, which have rings or moons, which are hot/cold, and more -- ALL IN ESPAÑOL! Wait till you see our art work!
4/5 Multiage: Hispanic Heritage, Spanish alphabet, sound/letter correspondence, reading and writing, math operations (subtraction, division), numbers beyond 100, cardinal directions
As always, don't forget to check out the links for more enrichment ideas and resources. Check back after conferences for some photos of our Hispanic Heritage visit with Sra. Allen and our drawings of plantas y planetas.
Watch for más noticias! Gracias por todo, Sra. Deaton
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hispanic Heritage Scavenger Hunt Assignment Grades 4/5
Hola todos,
Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing! There are lots of exciting things going on around town including special exhibits at area museums, some of which were listed in my previous post.
As part of our learning, 4th and 5th graders have been assigned this Hispanic Heritage Scavenger Hunt. It is due the week of September 27. The more "pieces" they find, the more points they earn!
Just in case their personal copy gets misplaced and so that you can have easy access it to for yourself, I am including it here. Hope you and they have fun exploring a bit of Hispanic culture.
Check back soon for more about our learning and enrichment opportunities.
Gracias y hasta pronto, Sra. D.
Hispanic Heritage (Herencia Hispana) Scavenger Hunt
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15th to October 15th. It is a time to recognize the many contributions of latinos to our lives in the United States. Challenge yourself to see how many of these items you can find and questions you can answer. To help keep track, put a check next to each number you find. Then write that number on your picture/paper etc. Keep “answers” in envelope or folder until the due date. Be sure to put your name on it!
Due Week of September 27. ¡Buena suerte (good luck) y diviértense (have fun)!
1. Two or three sentences about why Hispanic Heritage month starts on September 15
2. A signature from a Spanish-speaking person (not me!). Indicate where he/she is from.
3. A news article about a country where Spanish is the official language. Tell on which continent the country is found. Extra 5 points if article is NOT off the Internet.
4. The name of the country that won this year’s Copa Mundial/World Cup in fútbol and a picture of its flag. Extra points for names of some of its players.
5. A picture of a Spanish-speaking actor, actress, singer, musician, politician, or athlete.
6. The name of a country (besides US & Mexico) that has Spanish as one of its major languages. 2 extra points if you include a map that shows the country.
7. A picture of a dance or a musical instrument that originally came from a Spanish speaking country.
8. A picture of a fruit or vegetable that is eaten in the US but originally came from Latin America Added point if you write the name of the fruit or vegetable en español.
9. Two words used in English that come originally from Spanish. Include a drawing of the word. (YOURS!! Not from book or internet) Extra point for each additional word and drawing.
10. Two US state names that come from the Spanish language and their meanings.
11. A picture of Sonya Sotomayor. Include a note about who she is, what languages she speaks, what her family heritage is, and why she is important.
12. An advertisement, label, or packaging in Spanish. Not off the Internet
14. The name, picture, and country of origin of the newest White Sox player.
15.The name of the country that celebrates its 200th anniversary of independence (1810-2010) and the 100th (1910-2010) anniversary of its revolution.
Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing! There are lots of exciting things going on around town including special exhibits at area museums, some of which were listed in my previous post.
As part of our learning, 4th and 5th graders have been assigned this Hispanic Heritage Scavenger Hunt. It is due the week of September 27. The more "pieces" they find, the more points they earn!
Just in case their personal copy gets misplaced and so that you can have easy access it to for yourself, I am including it here. Hope you and they have fun exploring a bit of Hispanic culture.
Check back soon for more about our learning and enrichment opportunities.
Gracias y hasta pronto, Sra. D.
Hispanic Heritage (Herencia Hispana) Scavenger Hunt
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15th to October 15th. It is a time to recognize the many contributions of latinos to our lives in the United States. Challenge yourself to see how many of these items you can find and questions you can answer. To help keep track, put a check next to each number you find. Then write that number on your picture/paper etc. Keep “answers” in envelope or folder until the due date. Be sure to put your name on it!
Due Week of September 27. ¡Buena suerte (good luck) y diviértense (have fun)!
1. Two or three sentences about why Hispanic Heritage month starts on September 15
2. A signature from a Spanish-speaking person (not me!). Indicate where he/she is from.
3. A news article about a country where Spanish is the official language. Tell on which continent the country is found. Extra 5 points if article is NOT off the Internet.
4. The name of the country that won this year’s Copa Mundial/World Cup in fútbol and a picture of its flag. Extra points for names of some of its players.
5. A picture of a Spanish-speaking actor, actress, singer, musician, politician, or athlete.
6. The name of a country (besides US & Mexico) that has Spanish as one of its major languages. 2 extra points if you include a map that shows the country.
7. A picture of a dance or a musical instrument that originally came from a Spanish speaking country.
8. A picture of a fruit or vegetable that is eaten in the US but originally came from Latin America Added point if you write the name of the fruit or vegetable en español.
9. Two words used in English that come originally from Spanish. Include a drawing of the word. (YOURS!! Not from book or internet) Extra point for each additional word and drawing.
10. Two US state names that come from the Spanish language and their meanings.
11. A picture of Sonya Sotomayor. Include a note about who she is, what languages she speaks, what her family heritage is, and why she is important.
12. An advertisement, label, or packaging in Spanish. Not off the Internet
14. The name, picture, and country of origin of the newest White Sox player.
15.The name of the country that celebrates its 200th anniversary of independence (1810-2010) and the 100th (1910-2010) anniversary of its revolution.
Monday, September 13, 2010
¡Viva México! Happy 200th birthday!
Hola todos,
Chicago is gearing up for the celebration of Mexico's bicentennial of its independence from Spain. Parades took place around the area last weekend. Check out the Chicago Tribune website for some great photos.
If you want to get in on the celebration, there's still time.
Mexico and Central America celebrate their independence on 16 September. Traditionally, the Mexican festivities start the evening before with the President taking the stage in Mexico City to re-create the "Grito" (like our Declaration of Independence.)
In Chicago, Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavillion will be the site of the event.
Here's the blurb from the Chicago Tribune announcing the event:
"From 6:30 to 9:00 an artistic program will be held featuring mariachi music, a children's choir from Morelia, classical music, dance groups from Jalisco and Guanajuato, the Sones de México, a Chicago-based folkloric music group. The civic ceremony will take place from 9:00-9:30 and feature local elected officials, and the traditional "grito" or cry, for independence. Mexican actor César Costa will be the primary master of ceremonies. Cost: Free. For more information: mexico2010inchicago.com"
¡Viva, México!
Chicago is gearing up for the celebration of Mexico's bicentennial of its independence from Spain. Parades took place around the area last weekend. Check out the Chicago Tribune website for some great photos.
If you want to get in on the celebration, there's still time.
Mexico and Central America celebrate their independence on 16 September. Traditionally, the Mexican festivities start the evening before with the President taking the stage in Mexico City to re-create the "Grito" (like our Declaration of Independence.)
In Chicago, Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavillion will be the site of the event.
Here's the blurb from the Chicago Tribune announcing the event:
"From 6:30 to 9:00 an artistic program will be held featuring mariachi music, a children's choir from Morelia, classical music, dance groups from Jalisco and Guanajuato, the Sones de México, a Chicago-based folkloric music group. The civic ceremony will take place from 9:00-9:30 and feature local elected officials, and the traditional "grito" or cry, for independence. Mexican actor César Costa will be the primary master of ceremonies. Cost: Free. For more information: mexico2010inchicago.com"
¡Viva, México!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Parade on Saturday! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva Centroamérica!
Hola todos,
Just a quick note to let you know that next week marks a very important date in Mexican and Central American history. On September 16 (celebration starts on the evening of the 15th), Mexico and Central America celebrate the bicentennial -- 200th anniversary-- of their independence from Spain. We will learn more about this and about Mexico in general in class in the coming weeks.
Want to help celebrate? The downtown Mexican Independence Day parade steps off from Balbo and Columbus Drive at 11:00 this coming Saturday (tomorrow!!), September 11, 2010.
There will also be parades in the Mexican neighborhoods of Pilsen (Saturday) and Little Village (Sunday.) Check out the local papers or internet for more details. Be sure to wear your verde, blanco y rojo.
¡Viva México! ¡Viva América Central!
Keep watching this space for more excitement -- about our learning, activities around town, and enrichment opportunities.
hasta pronto y gracias por todo,
Señora Deaton
Just a quick note to let you know that next week marks a very important date in Mexican and Central American history. On September 16 (celebration starts on the evening of the 15th), Mexico and Central America celebrate the bicentennial -- 200th anniversary-- of their independence from Spain. We will learn more about this and about Mexico in general in class in the coming weeks.
Want to help celebrate? The downtown Mexican Independence Day parade steps off from Balbo and Columbus Drive at 11:00 this coming Saturday (tomorrow!!), September 11, 2010.
There will also be parades in the Mexican neighborhoods of Pilsen (Saturday) and Little Village (Sunday.) Check out the local papers or internet for more details. Be sure to wear your verde, blanco y rojo.
¡Viva México! ¡Viva América Central!
Keep watching this space for more excitement -- about our learning, activities around town, and enrichment opportunities.
hasta pronto y gracias por todo,
Señora Deaton
Monday, August 23, 2010
¡Feliz año nuevo! Happy New Year!
Hola todos,
Happy New Year! New school year, that is! Hope you had a great summer.
Just a quick note to say how excited I am to be back with the students and to have their batteries re-charged for another year of learning. I am very much looking forward to getting their Spanish channels humming and taking them even further this year. Can't wait to hear about all your summer fun.
Remember to check back soon for more info about our learning as well as for ideas for enrichment and family fun in the Chicago metro area.
Hasta pronto y gracias por todo, Sra. Deaton
Happy New Year! New school year, that is! Hope you had a great summer.
Just a quick note to say how excited I am to be back with the students and to have their batteries re-charged for another year of learning. I am very much looking forward to getting their Spanish channels humming and taking them even further this year. Can't wait to hear about all your summer fun.
Remember to check back soon for more info about our learning as well as for ideas for enrichment and family fun in the Chicago metro area.
Hasta pronto y gracias por todo, Sra. Deaton
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
¡Feliz verano!
Hola todos,
Hope you are having a great summer! I spent much of the early part of it watching the soccer Copa Mundial/World Cup on Spanish TV! I got introduced to soccer the year I lived in Mexico and it was the site of the World Cup. I've been a fan ever since. There were lots of great teams and this year Spain won! ¡Viva España! ¡Viva la Furia Roja! It was sooooo exciting to watch and a great way to practice my Spanish skills and learn new vocabulary. I almost didn't know what to do once the Copa had finished. Since then I have been doing lots of reading (mostly novels - 3 set in Japan, 1 set in China, and 1 set in Barcelona), studying Japanese, and spending time with family and friends.
Be sure to keep your Spanish channel humming by listening to music, doing easy reading, and using on-line tools, such as Mango languages through the Oak Park Public Library. Spanish- speaking culture is all around us in metropolitan Chicago, so jump in! Visit the Pilsen community for the National Museum of Mexican Art, lunch at a local restaurant, and a trip to the panadería. Visit a Mexican grocery store in Berwyn, Maywood, or Melrose Park. Participate in some of the festivals around town -- Peruvian Independence Day celebrations happen this week. Eat Cuban, Ecuadorian, or Mexican food right in our own neighborhood.
Still lots of summer left! Can't wait to hear what you've all been up to. And don't forget, if you travel to be sure to send me a post card!
Hasta pronto, Sra. D
Hope you are having a great summer! I spent much of the early part of it watching the soccer Copa Mundial/World Cup on Spanish TV! I got introduced to soccer the year I lived in Mexico and it was the site of the World Cup. I've been a fan ever since. There were lots of great teams and this year Spain won! ¡Viva España! ¡Viva la Furia Roja! It was sooooo exciting to watch and a great way to practice my Spanish skills and learn new vocabulary. I almost didn't know what to do once the Copa had finished. Since then I have been doing lots of reading (mostly novels - 3 set in Japan, 1 set in China, and 1 set in Barcelona), studying Japanese, and spending time with family and friends.
Be sure to keep your Spanish channel humming by listening to music, doing easy reading, and using on-line tools, such as Mango languages through the Oak Park Public Library. Spanish- speaking culture is all around us in metropolitan Chicago, so jump in! Visit the Pilsen community for the National Museum of Mexican Art, lunch at a local restaurant, and a trip to the panadería. Visit a Mexican grocery store in Berwyn, Maywood, or Melrose Park. Participate in some of the festivals around town -- Peruvian Independence Day celebrations happen this week. Eat Cuban, Ecuadorian, or Mexican food right in our own neighborhood.
Still lots of summer left! Can't wait to hear what you've all been up to. And don't forget, if you travel to be sure to send me a post card!
Hasta pronto, Sra. D
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Summer Language Fun with School Daze
Jump into language fun this summer with D97 School Daze.
Spanish, French, and German through storytelling, food, games, art, and more!
Sign up now! Check out the School Daze Brochure on-line for more info.
Spanish, French, and German through storytelling, food, games, art, and more!
Sign up now! Check out the School Daze Brochure on-line for more info.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Saturday May 1, 2010: Whittier Presents at Ethnic Fest & World Languages Day
Dear Families,
Please join students of Oak Park School District 97 in celebrating World Languages Day 2010, our 7th annual showcase of student language learning activities. This year World Languages Day will take place jointly with the 30th annual District 97 Ethnic Festival at Whittier School on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The Ethnic Fest parade steps off at 10 and all families are invited to join in with the Whittier group. Just look for the Whittier banner or familiar faces along the parade staging area. After the parade, the day is filled with dance, music, food, hands-on activities and more.
Whittier students in grades K, 1, & 2 will join together to sing “Somos como las flores” and “Plátanos y manzanas.” Students in Grade 3 will sing “La vuelta” and “De colores.” Students in Grades 4/5 will present an original dance, and perhaps poetry readings, and puppet shows.
When students are not presenting, you and they are encouraged to participate in other activities around the festival. It is a very exciting time!
Time & Place: Whittier will present in the small tent from about 2:30-3:30 pm. Each Whittier group will have approximately 10 -15 minutes total time. We will start with the younger students and end with the “olders.” Students should meet Sra. Deaton at the tent about 5-10 minutes before their group is set to perform. Here’s the order (times are approximate):
2:30: Grades K-2: Somos como las flores; Plátanos y manzanas
2:45: Grade 3: De colores; La vuelta
3:00: Grade 4/5: Puppet show or poetry readings (**depending on students – may not take place and dance would be earlier)
3:15: Grade 4/5: Original Dance to “America Baila”
Clothing: With the exception of the 4/5 “America Baila” dancers, students may wear whatever they like. I would ask that you/they remember that they are proudly representing Whittier School and that clothing be neat and appropriate. (Yes, if they are coming from T-ball/softball/baseball/soccer, they can stay in uniform.)
4th/5th grade “America Baila” dancers will chose their own performance outfits, most likely bright T-shirts and jeans.
The year is fast coming to an end -- the younger students started their alphabet countdown yesterday! Check back here for more news about our May learning and events and during the summer for enrichment ideas and fun family activities.
I look forward to seeing you at the festival. Gracias for all you do to support your child's language learning.
Hasta pronto y gracias por todo,
Sra. Deaton
Please join students of Oak Park School District 97 in celebrating World Languages Day 2010, our 7th annual showcase of student language learning activities. This year World Languages Day will take place jointly with the 30th annual District 97 Ethnic Festival at Whittier School on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The Ethnic Fest parade steps off at 10 and all families are invited to join in with the Whittier group. Just look for the Whittier banner or familiar faces along the parade staging area. After the parade, the day is filled with dance, music, food, hands-on activities and more.
Whittier students in grades K, 1, & 2 will join together to sing “Somos como las flores” and “Plátanos y manzanas.” Students in Grade 3 will sing “La vuelta” and “De colores.” Students in Grades 4/5 will present an original dance, and perhaps poetry readings, and puppet shows.
When students are not presenting, you and they are encouraged to participate in other activities around the festival. It is a very exciting time!
Time & Place: Whittier will present in the small tent from about 2:30-3:30 pm. Each Whittier group will have approximately 10 -15 minutes total time. We will start with the younger students and end with the “olders.” Students should meet Sra. Deaton at the tent about 5-10 minutes before their group is set to perform. Here’s the order (times are approximate):
2:30: Grades K-2: Somos como las flores; Plátanos y manzanas
2:45: Grade 3: De colores; La vuelta
3:00: Grade 4/5: Puppet show or poetry readings (**depending on students – may not take place and dance would be earlier)
3:15: Grade 4/5: Original Dance to “America Baila”
Clothing: With the exception of the 4/5 “America Baila” dancers, students may wear whatever they like. I would ask that you/they remember that they are proudly representing Whittier School and that clothing be neat and appropriate. (Yes, if they are coming from T-ball/softball/baseball/soccer, they can stay in uniform.)
4th/5th grade “America Baila” dancers will chose their own performance outfits, most likely bright T-shirts and jeans.
The year is fast coming to an end -- the younger students started their alphabet countdown yesterday! Check back here for more news about our May learning and events and during the summer for enrichment ideas and fun family activities.
I look forward to seeing you at the festival. Gracias for all you do to support your child's language learning.
Hasta pronto y gracias por todo,
Sra. Deaton
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
¡Feliz Día de San Patricio! ¡Feliz Primavera!
Hola todos,
¡Cómo vuela el tiempo! Por fin, la primavera toca la puerta. Los días son más largos y los pájaros canta a fuerzas. Los brotes de las plantas muestran sus cabecitas y el sol nos calienta más y más. Los niños felices de correr y jugar, tiran sus chaquetas por todos lados. ¡Así es la primavera!
How time flies! Finally spring is knocking at the door. The days are longer and the birds singing away. The sprouts of plants are showing their heads and the sun warms us more and more. The children happily run and play, tossing their jackets everywhere. Such is spring!
Thanks to all who helped with the Spanish games at the Whittier Fun Fair! It's so awesome that the students are exposed to additional Spanish speakers and I think the families enjoy connecting. The students really enjoy the games and come back to school Monday talking all about them! I look forward to continuing to build our network of Whittier Spanish speakers!
I apologize for not writing more frequently to keep you up on our work. We have been very busy from the start of the new year till now. In the younger grades, we worked on winter words and winter clothing for most of January. In grades 4 & 5, we wrote and performed conversational puppet shows. In February, we celebrated One Hundred Day by creating a list of 100 words (or more!) en español. We continue to build our vocabulary, understanding of the culture, and use of the language through multiple activities, music and movement, and games. In getting ready for ISATs we practiced our math facts en español. What fun!
On March 9, we welcomed special visitors from Nakano Nishi High School in Nagano, Japan. They spent the morning at Whittier, moving from class to class and working in small groups to teach our students a bit about their country, a few words, and doing an origami project with them. Ask your child what he/she did and learned. The trip to Whittier has become an annual tradition when the Japanese students who are with students at OPRF High School for two weeks come for their visit. On both sides, we gain much from sharing our time together.
Last week was especially eventful when I lost my voice from Wednesday to Friday. We had class as usual but I planned activities that the students could lead without my using my voice much. Interesting being a language teacher with no voice!! Sure brings out your creativity as a teacher! The students were very empathetic, checking on me daily to see if I had re-gained my voice. And what a great job they did with the learning! ¡Bravo!
Here's a taste of our learning in March:
K, K-1: Greetings, calendar, numbers, Spring themes
K-2: Greetings, calendar, numbers, Spring themes, Getting reading for Spring Sing
Some of our new vocabulary: flores (flowers), lluvia (rain), sol (sun), luna, (moon),tierra (earth), brisa (breeze), primavera (spring)
2, 2/3: Greetings, numbers, cardinal directions, Getting ready for Spring Sing
Some of our new vocabulary: norte (north), sur (south), este (east), oeste (west), nordeste (northeast), sudeste (southeast), nordoeste (northwest), sudoeste (southwest)
3: Greetings, numbers, cardinal directions, Getting ready for Spring Sing, Spanish alphabet with special emphasis on vowels
Spanish is such a phonetic language that if one masters the vowels, s/he's got 70+ per cent of the pronunciation!
4/5: Vocabulary building: nouns, questions, and other key words
Some of our new vocabulary: nada (nothing), algo (something), nadie (no one, nobody), alguien (someone, somebody), ¿Quíen? (Who?), ¿Qué? (What?), ¿Cuándo? (When?), ¿Dónde? (Where?), ¿Cómo? (How?), ¿Por qué? (Why?), ¿Cuántos? (How many?), ¿Cuánto? (How much?)
Looking ahead a bit:
K-2: Spring themes continued; food
2, 2/3, 3: Telling time; food
4/5: Review of time; work on adjectives and poetry; writing about ourselves
Thanks for all you do to support your child's language learning and exposure to Spanish-speaking and other cultures. The more language, the better! I look forward to hearing all about your experiences and travels -- near and far.
As always do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. Check back soon for more details on what we're up to!
Gracias por todo y hasta pronto,
Sra. Deaton
¡Cómo vuela el tiempo! Por fin, la primavera toca la puerta. Los días son más largos y los pájaros canta a fuerzas. Los brotes de las plantas muestran sus cabecitas y el sol nos calienta más y más. Los niños felices de correr y jugar, tiran sus chaquetas por todos lados. ¡Así es la primavera!
How time flies! Finally spring is knocking at the door. The days are longer and the birds singing away. The sprouts of plants are showing their heads and the sun warms us more and more. The children happily run and play, tossing their jackets everywhere. Such is spring!
Thanks to all who helped with the Spanish games at the Whittier Fun Fair! It's so awesome that the students are exposed to additional Spanish speakers and I think the families enjoy connecting. The students really enjoy the games and come back to school Monday talking all about them! I look forward to continuing to build our network of Whittier Spanish speakers!
I apologize for not writing more frequently to keep you up on our work. We have been very busy from the start of the new year till now. In the younger grades, we worked on winter words and winter clothing for most of January. In grades 4 & 5, we wrote and performed conversational puppet shows. In February, we celebrated One Hundred Day by creating a list of 100 words (or more!) en español. We continue to build our vocabulary, understanding of the culture, and use of the language through multiple activities, music and movement, and games. In getting ready for ISATs we practiced our math facts en español. What fun!
On March 9, we welcomed special visitors from Nakano Nishi High School in Nagano, Japan. They spent the morning at Whittier, moving from class to class and working in small groups to teach our students a bit about their country, a few words, and doing an origami project with them. Ask your child what he/she did and learned. The trip to Whittier has become an annual tradition when the Japanese students who are with students at OPRF High School for two weeks come for their visit. On both sides, we gain much from sharing our time together.
Last week was especially eventful when I lost my voice from Wednesday to Friday. We had class as usual but I planned activities that the students could lead without my using my voice much. Interesting being a language teacher with no voice!! Sure brings out your creativity as a teacher! The students were very empathetic, checking on me daily to see if I had re-gained my voice. And what a great job they did with the learning! ¡Bravo!
Here's a taste of our learning in March:
K, K-1: Greetings, calendar, numbers, Spring themes
K-2: Greetings, calendar, numbers, Spring themes, Getting reading for Spring Sing
Some of our new vocabulary: flores (flowers), lluvia (rain), sol (sun), luna, (moon),tierra (earth), brisa (breeze), primavera (spring)
2, 2/3: Greetings, numbers, cardinal directions, Getting ready for Spring Sing
Some of our new vocabulary: norte (north), sur (south), este (east), oeste (west), nordeste (northeast), sudeste (southeast), nordoeste (northwest), sudoeste (southwest)
3: Greetings, numbers, cardinal directions, Getting ready for Spring Sing, Spanish alphabet with special emphasis on vowels
Spanish is such a phonetic language that if one masters the vowels, s/he's got 70+ per cent of the pronunciation!
4/5: Vocabulary building: nouns, questions, and other key words
Some of our new vocabulary: nada (nothing), algo (something), nadie (no one, nobody), alguien (someone, somebody), ¿Quíen? (Who?), ¿Qué? (What?), ¿Cuándo? (When?), ¿Dónde? (Where?), ¿Cómo? (How?), ¿Por qué? (Why?), ¿Cuántos? (How many?), ¿Cuánto? (How much?)
Looking ahead a bit:
K-2: Spring themes continued; food
2, 2/3, 3: Telling time; food
4/5: Review of time; work on adjectives and poetry; writing about ourselves
Thanks for all you do to support your child's language learning and exposure to Spanish-speaking and other cultures. The more language, the better! I look forward to hearing all about your experiences and travels -- near and far.
As always do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. Check back soon for more details on what we're up to!
Gracias por todo y hasta pronto,
Sra. Deaton
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