Hola padres! This is one of those weeks where the schedule varies so much day by day that we end up doing all sorts of lessons as I try to keep every class even with each other and end up doing mostly review or playing games we are familiar with. Here we go:
In PE for both Kinder and first grade, we started our unit on catching and throwing which with this age group mostly ends up being trying to keep the ball from flying everywhere! I had them find partners and start by sitting down and rolling the ball back and forth, then I had them stand on their knees and bounce the ball back and forth and then stand and bounce the ball back and forth. This is more of an exercise in hand eye coordination as the balls we use are baseball size and spongy so aren't as easy to keep track of as a bigger ball might be. In any case, the scholars had fun trying to keep track of their ball and bouncing back and forth as many times as they could without the ball falling. After fall break, I plan to move outside with them which will enable us to do more catching and throwing as we'll have more room. Today I started a centipede relay game with both classes and this proved to test both their cooperation and communication skills. It is a game we will revisit in the future as they get to know each other better and since we now know how to play will hopefully be a little easier. Again, I think it will work better once we have more space and are outside.
In terms of Spanish with first grade, we did start our unit on adjectives and have had a fun time learning the vocabulary through different actions. We also read a book called "estoy demasiado grande" or "I am too big" that emphasized the adjective vocabulary. We ended class with a fun game of around the world that is a wonderful way to review all we have learned so far.
As we look to next week, our Spanish speaking country for the month of October will be Peru. I look forward to learning with the scholars about this country. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sra. Hamilton
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
More cooperative games and body part vocabulary
Hola padres! This week in Spanish we have continued our mastery of body part vocabulary. I started out with first grade playing a flyswatter game where when I called out a body part, they had to use the flyswatter and swat the body part picture first. They really had fun with this and I was able to see where we still needed to do some work. We will continue today with the same type of game but this time I will ask them to swat pictures that not only match the body part I am asking for but also the color. This should also be fun!
Kinder parents, as some of you may know, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I no longer have my half hour Spanish classes with Kinder as my time is now needed in the 3rd grade for Spanish. I am so sad to leave the adorable and lovable kindergarteners, but we are very fortunate to have covered the essential units that I need for them to know for PE: colors, body parts and numbers. I will continue to incorporate these words into class when I see them for PE and do as much as I can with them in Spanish so that they continue to learn. Please stay updated with the blog as that way you can know what we are doing and what you can do to help support them at home.
In terms of PE this week, we have been using a lot of our color vocabulary as we have used red and blue jerseys to play games with, listened for specific colors in our parachute games and used colored bean bags in a hungry crabs game today. I so enjoy to see the scholars ponder what color it is that I am calling and try to figure out what to do. They do a great job of listening.
Next week for first grade, we will move into adjectives and see how we can use them to describe different nouns. This is always a fun unit as we use different gestures and movements to help us learn the words.
In PE we will begin our unit on catching and throwing and the different body movements that make up those two concepts. We will use very soft spongy balls so no one should get hurt. I look forward to seeing out they do! Have a wonderful rest of the week and I look forward to connecting with you again next week!
Sra. Hamilton
Kinder parents, as some of you may know, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I no longer have my half hour Spanish classes with Kinder as my time is now needed in the 3rd grade for Spanish. I am so sad to leave the adorable and lovable kindergarteners, but we are very fortunate to have covered the essential units that I need for them to know for PE: colors, body parts and numbers. I will continue to incorporate these words into class when I see them for PE and do as much as I can with them in Spanish so that they continue to learn. Please stay updated with the blog as that way you can know what we are doing and what you can do to help support them at home.
In terms of PE this week, we have been using a lot of our color vocabulary as we have used red and blue jerseys to play games with, listened for specific colors in our parachute games and used colored bean bags in a hungry crabs game today. I so enjoy to see the scholars ponder what color it is that I am calling and try to figure out what to do. They do a great job of listening.
Next week for first grade, we will move into adjectives and see how we can use them to describe different nouns. This is always a fun unit as we use different gestures and movements to help us learn the words.
In PE we will begin our unit on catching and throwing and the different body movements that make up those two concepts. We will use very soft spongy balls so no one should get hurt. I look forward to seeing out they do! Have a wonderful rest of the week and I look forward to connecting with you again next week!
Sra. Hamilton
Thursday, September 11, 2014
"cabeza, hombros....", body part tag and some drawing
Hola padres! What a fun week it has been as we have been learning our body parts in Spanish. This is one unit where PE and Spanish really go together which is so exciting! In Spanish, we have been learning our body part vocabulary using flashcards and the song "cabeza, hombros, rodillas pies". Here are the words to that song in case you want to learn it along with you scholar: (sung to the tune of "head, shoulders, knees and toes")
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca y nariz
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
We so enjoy singing this in class and practicing singing quieter the faster we go. In order to reinforce this vocabulary, I played a game with the first grade. I wrote a couple of the lines of this song on the board and asked them to close their eyes. With their eyes closed, I erased a word from the song and when they opened their eyes (I had divided them into two teams), I asked them which word I had erased. Each team would get a chance to answer and I would offer a turn to the second team if the first team guessed incorrectly. Whoever answered correctly would get a chance at a super duper extra bonus point if they could tell me what the word meant in English. This is the first of many games I will play with them throughout the year and we discussed why we play games and what is expected of them in terms of sportsmanship. My first rule for games in Spanish class are that games are for learning. I told them that we could very well just repeat vocabulary using flashcards but that I find that profoundly boring for an entire classtime, although necessary for the first few minutes of the lesson. Secondly, games are for fun! If scholars end up getting upset about how their team does or if their team does not win, that then we are not having fun and we will have to stop playing games. My mantra is that there is no crying in Spanish!
In PE, I have been reinforcing our body part vocabulary with body part tag, which the scholars always enjoy. I start the music and when it stops, I call out two body parts such as "rodillas y orejas" (knees and ears). It is then their job to find a partner and connect their knee to their partner's ear. They so love this and I enjoy seeing the creativity and teamwork that goes into them accomplishing this task. This is a fun game that I will bring back periodically to practice this vocabulary and keep it fresh in their memory.
Drawing is a great way to have them practice this unit in Spanish, so with kinder this week I gave them a blank face outline and we practiced drawing in our facial parts and then drew arrows from the words to the actual part. Most of the scholars thought my drawing was creepy (I keep reminding them that I am not Mr. Hume!) but at least it kept their interest. =) Today and tomorrow, Kinder will learn the "head, shoulders, knees and toes" song and first grade will work on their listening skills as well as their number and color vocabulary while we learn to follow directions as we draw an alien. I hope they should you these lessons that we work on in Spanish class.
Lastly, in Spanish this week for Kinder, I introduced my "buen trabajo" (great job!) stamp. At the end of each class, those that have shown hard work, good listening skills and active participation will receive a "buen trabajo" stamp on their paper. I know if they all work to the best of their ability, they will do a great job! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Sra. Hamilton
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca y nariz
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas, pies
rodillas, pies
We so enjoy singing this in class and practicing singing quieter the faster we go. In order to reinforce this vocabulary, I played a game with the first grade. I wrote a couple of the lines of this song on the board and asked them to close their eyes. With their eyes closed, I erased a word from the song and when they opened their eyes (I had divided them into two teams), I asked them which word I had erased. Each team would get a chance to answer and I would offer a turn to the second team if the first team guessed incorrectly. Whoever answered correctly would get a chance at a super duper extra bonus point if they could tell me what the word meant in English. This is the first of many games I will play with them throughout the year and we discussed why we play games and what is expected of them in terms of sportsmanship. My first rule for games in Spanish class are that games are for learning. I told them that we could very well just repeat vocabulary using flashcards but that I find that profoundly boring for an entire classtime, although necessary for the first few minutes of the lesson. Secondly, games are for fun! If scholars end up getting upset about how their team does or if their team does not win, that then we are not having fun and we will have to stop playing games. My mantra is that there is no crying in Spanish!
In PE, I have been reinforcing our body part vocabulary with body part tag, which the scholars always enjoy. I start the music and when it stops, I call out two body parts such as "rodillas y orejas" (knees and ears). It is then their job to find a partner and connect their knee to their partner's ear. They so love this and I enjoy seeing the creativity and teamwork that goes into them accomplishing this task. This is a fun game that I will bring back periodically to practice this vocabulary and keep it fresh in their memory.
Drawing is a great way to have them practice this unit in Spanish, so with kinder this week I gave them a blank face outline and we practiced drawing in our facial parts and then drew arrows from the words to the actual part. Most of the scholars thought my drawing was creepy (I keep reminding them that I am not Mr. Hume!) but at least it kept their interest. =) Today and tomorrow, Kinder will learn the "head, shoulders, knees and toes" song and first grade will work on their listening skills as well as their number and color vocabulary while we learn to follow directions as we draw an alien. I hope they should you these lessons that we work on in Spanish class.
Lastly, in Spanish this week for Kinder, I introduced my "buen trabajo" (great job!) stamp. At the end of each class, those that have shown hard work, good listening skills and active participation will receive a "buen trabajo" stamp on their paper. I know if they all work to the best of their ability, they will do a great job! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Sra. Hamilton
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Ecuador, hula hoops and la letra "C"
Hola padres! We have had a good week this week as we have started our hula hoop unit in PE. We began with the basics of hula hooping such as ready position, spinning the hoop, moving the waist and keeping our knees bent and arms up. Most of them do really well and those that have a harder time persist and succeed as they practice. I tell them that in PE they won't always get everything right away, that sometimes it will take practice. I also ask the scholars to help each other out if they see someone struggling and I love to see them doing that.
In Spanish, we reviewed more numbers earlier this week and will jump into body parts this afternoon. We will learn the song "head, shoulders, knees and toes" in Spanish and it is a song that we will use for both Spanish and PE. I am excited for the Kinders to learn it! Speaking of Kinders, they will conquer the letter "C" this week. Next week, we will look at the sound of the phonogram "CH", which I will explain more about in my next blog post.
Yesterday, in Mrs. Mason's Kinder class, we began our study of Ecuador. Ask your scholar whose flag is similar to that of Ecuador's and why. They were fascinated by a video I showed them of the Galápagos Islands. There is so much to learn about this amazing country. Each class will receive this lesson when I see them on Wednesday for Spanish this month.
Thank you for all of your support. Your scholars are a true joy!
Sinceramente,
Sra. Hamilton
In Spanish, we reviewed more numbers earlier this week and will jump into body parts this afternoon. We will learn the song "head, shoulders, knees and toes" in Spanish and it is a song that we will use for both Spanish and PE. I am excited for the Kinders to learn it! Speaking of Kinders, they will conquer the letter "C" this week. Next week, we will look at the sound of the phonogram "CH", which I will explain more about in my next blog post.
Yesterday, in Mrs. Mason's Kinder class, we began our study of Ecuador. Ask your scholar whose flag is similar to that of Ecuador's and why. They were fascinated by a video I showed them of the Galápagos Islands. There is so much to learn about this amazing country. Each class will receive this lesson when I see them on Wednesday for Spanish this month.
Thank you for all of your support. Your scholars are a true joy!
Sinceramente,
Sra. Hamilton
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