This Week in Espanol- Preschool Class September Week 1

Estimados Padres,

Bienvenidos al Espanol (Welcome to Spanish)!

This month in Spanish our theme is "Lo Que Me Gusta," which means "What I Like." The children will be focusing on self introduction, greetings and expressing their likes and dislikes.

Each class we start off with a brief circle time which normally includes a mixture of counting, songs and practicing general courtesy. Today the children practiced greeting others and introducing themselves in Spanish. They were awarded maracas for successfully greeting the class and saying their name in Spanish.

We did a freeze dance to a song called "Me Gusta Bailar Rapido y Tranquilo," which means "I Like to Dance Fast and Slow." It's a cute song and you click to see it. I encourage you to play it for your child. I included the lyrics in case you are curious :)

I brought in some fruits and vegetables and they had to tell me "Si Me Gusta" (Yes I Like It) if they liked that fruit/vegetable. Some students even learned to say "No Me Gusta," which means "No, I don't like it!" I sent home a coloring page that they can color. They do not have to know all the fruit/vegetable words right now but I included them for your reference in case you'd like to use those words at home. I recommend using the sheet as a discussion piece with your child. You can point to a fruit/vegetable and say "Si Me Gusta" and then have your child do the same.

Finally, they got to feed my monkey pet, Senor Mono, at the end of class as a reward. I also sent them home with a special "paleta" (lollipop) from Mexico.

Each week I use lots of words in Spanish but we generally have one or two words/phrases that I focus on. These are my focus words, or goal words that I hope the children really pick up on. If you are ever able to incorporate these words at home, it really helps their retention! Please do not feel the need to quiz your child or force them to memorize words. Just use the word in it's normal context- if you see a banana you could replace banana with "platano." (Example, "Do you want el platano or las uvas for snack?"). As the year goes on I will give you more ways to use Spanish at home.

This Week's Focus Words:

Si Me Gusta (Yes I Like It) see-may-goose-tah
Hola (Hello) oh-la

Other Vocabulary:

Me llamo (My name is) may-ya-mow
El Platano (Banana) pla-tah-noe
La Sandia (Watermelon) san-dee-ah
La Manzana (Apple) mahn-sa-nah
Las Uvas (Grapes) ooh-vas
La Zanahoria (Carrot) san-ah-ore-ee-ah


Hasta la proxima semana! (Until next week),

Senora Mellor
Best Amigos Spanish

After School Spanish Club

Parents,

By request, I am now offering after-school Spanish classes for elementary-age students!

These classes will be weekly 45 minute lessons that incorporate music, movement, games, incentives and art to help children learn Spanish.

If you know of a program or location that might wish to host classes, please let me know. It also never hurts for you to put in a mention about the program to the after-school director or principal so they know that parents are interested. This is a great way for schools to offer foreign language without pulling from their own school budget. Studies do show that early childhood is a great time to learn a second language for many reasons- improved math abilities as well as enhanced critical thinking and English skills. You can read more about this from Wake Forest University here.

As of right now, Noah's Ark After School Program is on board. I will provide updates on where the program will be offered as I have more information.

As always, gracias por su apoyo (thanks for your support)!

Senora Mellor
231-3514
Best Amigos Spanish

This Week in Espanol (May 16)

Estimados Padres,

We are fast approaching the end of Spanish!

Noah's Ark did not have Spanish today due to end of the year rehearsal for their school recital.

This week in Spanish class we practiced some new opposites as well as reviewed others. Our review was "night" and "day" and we also learned "hot" and "cold." The children had to tell me items that were hot or cold, using the Spanish words.

We also played a fun traditional Mexican game/song called "Vibora de la Mar." (Sea snake). We talked about the word for snake in Spanish and they acted out being a snake. We made a long line forming a snake and formed a bridge using myself and one other child. I sang the song and at the end of the song one child gets caught under the bridge!

This is a well known children's song in Mexico and also a game that is played at weddings. It can get kind of crazy sometimes! Usually the person at the end falls down (we did not do that in class) :)

See Youtube videos below (good for your child to see):

Children Dancing to Vibora de la Mar

Adults Playing the Wedding Game Vibora de la Mar

If you want some great entertainment, search the following on You Tube (Caidas en la vibora de la mar- Falls during Vibora de la Mar). You will see many Mexican weddings!

Focus Words:

Hot: Caliente (ca-lee-in-tay)
Cold- Frio (free-oh)
Night- Noche (no-chay)
Day- Dia (dee-ah)
Snake- Vibora (vee-bore-ah)

Words to Song:

A la víbora, víbora                  To the snake, snake
de la mar, de la mar                 Of the sea, of the sea
por aquí pueden pasar              You can pass through here
Los de adelante corren mucho  Those in front run fasta
y los de atrás se quedarán     Those in the back get left behind
tras, tras, tras, tras.                Behind, Behind, Behind

Atentamente,

Senora Mellor
Best Amiogos Preschool Spanish
910-231-3514

This Week in Espanol (May 2nd)

Estimados Padres,

Last week we talked about Spain and Mexico, how far away they are, where they are located and how people speak Spanish there. I brought in hats from each country and we learned the Spanish word for "hat" and compared hats.

Since Cinco de Mayo is coming up this Sunday, this week in Spanish class we focused on Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not really an official Mexican holiday, so I don't focus on that but thought it would be nice to compare flags.

I showed the children the American flag and we talked about the colors in Spanish. We did the same for the Mexican flag.

The children got to make a Mexican flag with stamp ink and their thumbs. The ink is washable; I hope no one got any on their clothes. I was careful and told them to be careful but just in case, the ink should wash off easily.

Focus Words:

Flag-  La Bandera
Green- Verde (vair-day)
White- Blanco
Red- Rojo (row-hoe)
More- Mas (some groups learned this word and had to use it if they wanted more ink).

We also reviewed past material, rehearsing for our end of the year performances. Please continue to play the CD for your child, as it helps them keep Spanish fresh in their minds throughout the week. All performances are group performances; the only part each child will say individually is introducing themself, so you may want to practice that with him/her so he/she is comfortable. (Hola, me llamo or if they just want to say "me llamo" that is fine, too).

See performance dates below:

Noah's Ark- Thursday, May 9th at 11 a.m. in the Chapel Building

CLC-Darlington- Children will be performing at the annual CLC recital (I do not have the date in front of me but your child's teacher should have it)

CLC- Medical Center Drive- Thursday, May 16th at 4:30 p.m. in the gym/activity room. Children will be performing for the 4 and 5 year old classes. Parents invited.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me! Hasta la proxima semana! (Until next week!)

Senora Mellor
231-3514

This Week in Espanol- (April 18th)

Estimados Padres,

This week in Spanish we learned people words- boy, girl, man and woman.

We played a game similar to duck duck goose where the children had to touch each other's heads and say "boy" or "girl" in Spanish.

We looked at magazines and pointed out men or women.

Finally, we made a booklet with labeled pictures of a man, woman, boy and girl. I recommend reading this with your child and asking questions such as "Show me el nino." Or "donde esta el nino (where is the boy) if you are comfortable using more Spanish. Advanced: Ask "Quien es" (who is it) and point to a photo and have your child tell you the word in Spanish (Es el nino- It's the boy). You may have to remind him/her a few times. Making it relate to you is always fun- ex. Is Daddy an hombre or mujer (man or woman).

As always, I incorporated counting and colors into the class, letting them say which color they wanted of different items. We also practiced our opposites of big/little, up/down, hard/soft. Some classes learned day/night although this was not our focus today.

*Tip- In Spanish the "H" is silent. For example, the word for man is "hombre" but you do not say the letter "h." Simply pretend it is not there.

Focus Words:

The Boy- El Nino (neen-yoe)
The Girl- La Nina (neen-ya)
The Man- El Hombre (om-bray)
The Woman-La Mujer (moo-hair)

This Week in Espanol (April 11th)

Estimados Padres,

This week in Spanish class we counted, sang our opening songs and practiced some opposites (hard/soft), (big/ little), (up/down). Our songs for today included "If you're happy and you know it," "El Baile de los Colores" (the colors dance) and our Spanish ABCs.

With it being spring, we learned the Spanish words for bee and butterfly. They had to act out the parts as I called the word. When I said "bee" in Spanish they had to  buzz. When I said "butterfly" in Spanish, they had to flap their wings. We also focused on the color words, "yellow" and "black."

Focus Words:

Butterfly- Mariposa (mah-ree-pose-ah)
Bee- Abeja (ah-bay-ha)
Black- Negro (neh-groe)
Yellow- Amarillo (ah-ma-ree-yoe)


The children got to make a butterfly or bee craft. They had to tell me in Spanish which one they wanted- either bee or butterfly. They decorated it and put it on a stick with the Spanish word written. *One class, the 3 year olds ran out of time so we will make our craft next week.

Please let me know if you did not receive the brown envelope that I sent home last week with your child's music CD in it. I will track it down or make another! I hope they (and you) are enjoying practicing with the CD.

Hasta la proxima semana!

Senora Mellor
Best Amigos Preschool Spanish
231-3514

This Week in Espanol (April 4th)

Estimados Padres,

This week in Spanish class we sang our opening songs (Spanish ABCs, If you're happy and you know it, and a new color song).

We played with balloons and said the colors and danced to a song called "El Baile de Los Colores," the colors dance.

Our focus word of the day was balloon. Some groups also learned the opposites, "hard and soft."

Focus Words:

Balloon- Globo (globe-oh)
Hard- Duro (dure-oh)
Soft- Suave (swav-eh)

Today I sent home a CD with music for your child to listen to. Music is a great way to learn grammar and complete sentences in Spanish for children. They sing and do not realize they are actually learning what sounds correct to their ears for the foreign language. Please play it as much as you can bear (think in car or at bedtime or while you're cooking dinner). Some of the songs we will sing at our recital so the more he/she hears the songs the more comfortable he/she will be.

Hasta la proxima semana! (Until next week)

Senora Mellor
Best Amigos Preschool Spanish