Standards for Foreign Language Learning
Communication : Communicate in Languages Other than English
Señora Edna students' complete this standard when they work writing and performing skits, putting on puppet shows, interviewing Spanish speaking students from our ELL classroom, researching topics in Spanish web-sites, giving presentations and through games.
Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
Cultures : Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures
Señora Edna students' complete this standard when we invite guests from our community to our classroom. When we celebrate many holidays from a variety of Spanish speaking countries that students researched. When we go to field trips to museums, concerts and fiestas in our and neighboring communities. When we cook different traditional foods, do artwork and crafts, watch movies, listen to music or when we read authentic magazines, articles or newspaper clips from "real" countries in Latin America, Mexico, Spain or Equatorial Guinea .
Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.
Connections: Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information
Señora Edna students' complete this standard when to name a few, we add and subtract numbers using ancient Mayan Math, or count out loud hitting a volleyball. When we learn the names of the colors painting Pre Colombian Art in conjunction with art classes. When students study about the 22 countries who speak Spanish and learn about the politics, geography, weather, and arts at the same time they are introduce to Latin America in Social Studies classes. When we combine the reading of "La Bamba" a book from Gary Sotto and Spanish words learned in our class with the music of "Los Lobos" and the singing of the students, with the short success and tragic story of Richie Valens in Reading Class. When we learn about foods, nutrition and eating habits at the same time they learn the food pyramid, portions and healthy eating and cooking in FACE.
Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.
Comparisons : Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture
Señora Edna students' complete this standard when we look at the differences and similarities of our grammar and that of the language study. When we talk about cognates and false ones. When we see how words have their own meaning from country to country even when they all speak Spanish. When we write letters about our schedules, our families and our free time to send to a school in Córdoba, Argentina. Or when we learn from our guest, from Escuela San Ramón in Rosario, how our schedules and lives are different or alike as theirs on the other side of the world.
Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.
Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.
Communities: Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home & Around the World
Señora Edna students' complete this standard, when they go to eat in restaurants where Spanish is spoken. Here the students can practice with the waiters, and other workers what they learn in class. They also can help a new ELL student from Guatemala or his parents with directions, School regulations or simply with a "Buenos días" greeting. Even when they ask for new words , so they can show of at home, or when they ask great interesting questions to any of our guest.
Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.
Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.
from the Standards for Foreign Language Learning:
Preparing for the 21st Century. 1996: 9.