27-30 de agosto

¡Hola Familias!

WOW! What a great second week of school we had together! I'm so impressed by how quickly our little kindergarteners are adapting to our classroom routines and expectations, ALL in Spanish. I have even been hearing some of them responding to questions and using words and vocabulary spontaneously. 

This week we were also blessed to attend our all-school convocation on Wednesday (picture at right), which was a big hit for our class--especially because it was many students' first time on a school bus! :)

Our Week

Bible
This week we started learning about how God created the world. We've been practicing our memory verse from Genesis 1:1, which says, "En en principio, Dios creó los cielos y la tierra." Every day the kids open a "surprise bag", which has an object to represent the day of creation we're learning about. This has been exciting for everyone! We've also been working on a creation book. Key vocabulary: luz (light), oscuridad (darkness), agua (water), tierra (land), plantas (plants), la creación (creation). 

Reading
The kids were introduced to las vocales--the vowels--this week. Here is a link to a song so you can hear the vowel names and sounds in Spanish. (Note: in the case of the vowels, the names and sounds are the same; also, vowel sounds in Spanish always make the same sound--unlike in English!) We searched for vowels in the children's names, in books, and in our vocabulary words for the week. Over the next few weeks, we will dedicate more time to each individual vowel, so it's ok if your child has not mastered all of the vowels yet.

Writing
In writing, we have been talking about las personas (people) and las cosas (things) and writing about them. The children sorted words and pictures of people and things, practiced writing the words, and wrote and drew about people and things found in their houses and in school.


Math
This week we have worked on one-to-one correspondence, counting, and the numbers 1-5 in Spanish. The children have enjoyed singing counting songs, practicing showing numbers on their fingers, and working at centers where they manipulate and count between 1 and 5 objects. It's been fun to hear students using more Spanish as they get more comfortable with the numbers in their second language!

Science
We have started talking about "Mis 5 Sentidos", or My 5 Senses. We watched this video as an introduction and have started talking about using our hands to touch. We touched some "mystery items" in socks and tried to figure out what they were, which was a lot of fun! Key vocabulary: manos (hands), tocar (touch).

Immersion Tip of the Week
One technique I use to encourage students to produce language, even when their vocabulary is limited, is called "circling". For example, I'll ask "sí-no" questions, such as: "Is this ball big?" "Is this a pencil?" Then, I'll ask "either-or" questions, such as: "Is this a Bible or a notebook?" "Is this book red or blue?" "Is the boy happy or sad?" This helps students hear more vocabulary and feel successful because they can understand and answer questions correctly. (For more great information, check out the "Myth vs. Fact" infograph on the left!)

Reading Tip of the Week
When you're reading a new book to your child this weekend, talk about the pictures you see on the title page. Ask, "What do you think this book will be about? Why do you think that?" Make predictions together. Most of all, have fun!

Important Dates to Remember
On Friday, September 14 from 5:00-7:00pm, please join us for a FREE night of fun at our HC Preschool & Kindergarten Homecoming Event! **NOTE: You must RSVP for this event by Friday, September 7th. Please send me an email letting me know how many free tickets you would like for your family. Looking forward to seeing you there! :)

Other Notes
I've been working to add more information to our blog, so be sure to check out these sections: 
*Check out Spanish Language Resources for ways you can help your child hear more Spanish at home.
*I'm still looking for more parents to help with Lunch Duty on Wednesdays. Please, if you are available, would you be willing to join our class for lunch that day? Younger siblings are more than welcome to attend, and if you are unable, feel free to invite a grandparent to come! It would help me a lot to be able to collaborate with my kindergarten team.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of the long weekend! ¡Dios les bendiga (God bless you)! 

Here are some photos from this week: