I know that the school year is completed! Enjoy your summer my little students. However, I have a page called "Dynamic Language Immersion" and it is a preview of what is to come in the Fall. You can read all about this project on the page titled "Dynamic Language Immersion." It's going to be a great school year in the 2011-2012 year! See you in a couple of months,
Ok students,
I know that we all love a countdown- 10, 9, 8.... This week, the space shuttle will be launching and I believe they began the countdown over the weekend when the astronauts travelled from Houston to Florida...or was it Florida to Houston? In any case, our countdown until the end of the school year begins this Monday. 10 school days to go until the 27th of May- which is the last day of school. If you've learned ANYTHING about Mrs. Akoi this week, you know that the first day will be like the last- meaning, there will be NO slacking off and no excuses! We will work until the final minute and once 3:10p comes, then you may all celebrate the beginning of your summer break. So make sure you're well rested, eat a great breakfast, and be prepared to conti
I know that we all love a countdown- 10, 9, 8.... This week, the space shuttle will be launching and I believe they began the countdown over the weekend when the astronauts travelled from Houston to Florida...or was it Florida to Houston? In any case, our countdown until the end of the school year begins this Monday. 10 school days to go until the 27th of May- which is the last day of school. If you've learned ANYTHING about Mrs. Akoi this week, you know that the first day will be like the last- meaning, there will be NO slacking off and no excuses! We will work until the final minute and once 3:10p comes, then you may all celebrate the beginning of your summer break. So make sure you're well rested, eat a great breakfast, and be prepared to conti
Well, last week, May 1-7th was Teacher Appreciation Week and the week then cumulated to Mother's Day. Since I am both a teacher and a mother, I looked at the similarities between a mother and a teacher. Both look out for the interest of the children and desire that they learn new things. A teacher/mother is caring, firm when necessary, and expects the best performance from her children/students at all times. So, to all the teachers, HAPPY APPRECIATION WEEK! and to all the mothers, HAPPY MOTHER'S YEAR! No one could ever pay us enough for what we do, but the growth and achievement of the children is reward enough.
Happy May 5th! Wow, the school year is really flying by. We have a few school days left before the end of the year (16 school days, 6 hours, 22minutes, 18 seconds to be exact, but hey, who's counting?) We have learned a lot this school year- about famous Latino artists, musicians, actors, etc, as well as the various holidays celebrated (Dia de los Muertos, Dia de los tres Reyes, Hispanic Heritage Month, different Independence days, etc). Last, but not least, we have learned about the 3 different verbs (-ar, -er, -ir), irregular verbs; regular verbs; stem-changing verbs; boot verbs; vocabulary words; correct grammar for sentences, etc. It has been a wonderful year thus far, but, despite the 16 school days left, it's far from over. We have so much to learn as we move on to chapter 6A- En Mi Dormitorio. I just want to encourage you all to hang in there and finish the year strong (that's always my motto- start strong; finish strong). Here's to more learning and discovery!
So,
I've just returned from a 6 hour journey from Washington, DC. I went to town for my cousin's wedding and I tell you I'm glad I know the Spanish language. Let me backtrack. As all my students and parents know, I am pregnant and we are expecting our second child. So, a very important thing for me in this last trimester (and in every step of this pregnancy as a matter of fact) is food and sleep (and not necessarily in that order!). In any case, my cousin's wedding began late and so the reception began late. When it was time to eat, the waiters came and served a few people at my table, but then they continued on to other tables. I am not sure where the miscommunication was, but it seems like they forgot all about us. I walked myself to the kitchen area and spoke with one of the waiters (who I realized spoke Spanish) and basically explained that I (if no one else at that table) REALLY needed to eat and quickly. Soon after, I was chowing down on my meal. Mission Accomplished! Lesson of the day: It's sooooooooo great knowing another language and being able to communicate effectively. This is what I am constantly telling my students...keep learning because you will definitely use this language in the United States....and abroad if they choose to travel.
I've just returned from a 6 hour journey from Washington, DC. I went to town for my cousin's wedding and I tell you I'm glad I know the Spanish language. Let me backtrack. As all my students and parents know, I am pregnant and we are expecting our second child. So, a very important thing for me in this last trimester (and in every step of this pregnancy as a matter of fact) is food and sleep (and not necessarily in that order!). In any case, my cousin's wedding began late and so the reception began late. When it was time to eat, the waiters came and served a few people at my table, but then they continued on to other tables. I am not sure where the miscommunication was, but it seems like they forgot all about us. I walked myself to the kitchen area and spoke with one of the waiters (who I realized spoke Spanish) and basically explained that I (if no one else at that table) REALLY needed to eat and quickly. Soon after, I was chowing down on my meal. Mission Accomplished! Lesson of the day: It's sooooooooo great knowing another language and being able to communicate effectively. This is what I am constantly telling my students...keep learning because you will definitely use this language in the United States....and abroad if they choose to travel.
As I watched a youtube video on a Math class in Westerville, OH where the teachers taught the concepts of "factoring" and even "trigonometry" through popular rap songs, I recognized the power of music. After that Math lesson, the majority (over 95%) of the students passed the factoring test because they were able to recite the lyrics to the song and work out the process on their test.
Therefore, I figured that such a thing could also transfer to learning Spanish vocabulary, verb conjugations, cultural information, etc. I try to make up most of the songs (especially with my younger students in K-2), but thankfully, Pearson's Realidades has made up some "Canciones de hip hop" (Hip hop songs) on their website to assist the students with learning these concepts. My students absolutely love it! You should check it out! Here's the link! :
5B Canciones de Hip Hop
Therefore, I figured that such a thing could also transfer to learning Spanish vocabulary, verb conjugations, cultural information, etc. I try to make up most of the songs (especially with my younger students in K-2), but thankfully, Pearson's Realidades has made up some "Canciones de hip hop" (Hip hop songs) on their website to assist the students with learning these concepts. My students absolutely love it! You should check it out! Here's the link! :
5B Canciones de Hip Hop
I remember the first time that I stepped into my high school Spanish 1 class. I sat in amazement as I listened to my teacher describe the various Spanish-speaking countries and the various cultures, holidays, celebrations, etc. I look forward to my students discovering something great in the many Spanish-speaking countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Here's to celebrating the new discoveries.