week of January 23

Spanish I students have settled into the new semester.  We just finished unit 2 in our books and are now able to conjugate verbs in the present tense.  That has really expanded our ability to communicate.  We also created "talaveras" which are hand painted tiles.  We researched Mexican designs and then students were able to design their own tile to their personal liking.  Ask your student to see his/her creation!

This week we will be moving to Puerto Rico in our studies. Students will be able to express feelings, say what has just happened, and further express likes.  We will also practice having telephone conversations.

Anticipated grades:
clicker quiz
grammar quiz 1
grammar quiz 2
telephone conversation--oral quiz
homework

week of Nov 14

Spanish I students have begun a unit taking place in Mexico City.  We will learn about one of the largest cities in the world and be able to compare our lives.  Vocabulary is centered around school subjects and school related words.  Students will learn how to conjugate (change) a regular -ar verb into the five verb forms we study.  We will also learn how to express frequency of time (sometimes, never, always...) and obligations. Anticipated grades for the week include:

clicker quiz over vocab
quiz over -ar verbs (changing them to correct form)
quiz over frequency phrases and obligations

We will have a test next week.

week of Nov 1

Spanish I students have just finished a unit on family vocab, showing possession, numbers to 100, and a new verb "tener" (to have).  Tests have been posted to infinite campus.  There was a bit of a drop in both homework and test scores.  Students are encouraged to seek help on homework from Mrs. Kimbell or Ms. Elliott any time BEFORE the assignment is due.  We both arrive to school early and stay late in the afternoon.  This week we will create a photo album project about any four family members (immediate, or cousins, grandparents, uncles, even one pet!...) with a Spanish paragraph describing each member.  Students will  need a picture of each person they choose to include.  Pictures may be taken from their camaras, phones (with my supervision), jump drive, a scanned picture (bring in pic if needed), or emailed to me (jeanna.kimbell@hickman.kyschools.us). Please be sure your student gets the needed photos.  This project is worth 100 points (a test grade). Toward the end of the week we will start a unit taking place in Mexico City and start learning school-related vocabulary.

Have a safe, long weekend!  Ask your student about Dia de los Muertos...what is it?

Week of Oct. 17

Spanish I students have learned how to identify family members in Spanish.  We will continue practicing this vocabulary this week.  We will learn numbers to 100, how to show possession (there is no 's in Spanish), possessive adjectives, and months of the year.  Anticipated grades this week include:

Quiz over "tener"--to have (know all 5 forms) and showing possession (20 points)
Quiz over possessive adjectives and dates (20 points)
homework assignment--to be started in class (40 points)
Test over unidad 1, etapa 3 (100 points)

This is a busy week!  Be sure and review using the take home tutorial cd!

Week of Sept. 19

Spanish I students are learning lots of adjectives in our new unit centered in San Antonio, TX.  Students will be able to describe people and clothing (including colors), discuss likes, and the definite and indefinite articles in Spanish. Use of the flashcards on the cd (or reviewing vocabulary in the notebooks) is strongly suggested.

Anticipated grades for the week include:
Clicker quiz over vocabulary
Quiz over definite and indefinite articles
Quiz over adjective usage (maybe)

Week of Sept 12

Students will talk about likes this week and be able to express activities that they and others enjoy. After a review and test midweek, we will begin learning lots of adjectives to describe people as well as clothing items. Short reviews of notes or the cd program throughout the week would be quite beneficial.

Anticipated grades:
Quiz over "ser + de" (where people are from) and likes "me gusta, te gusta, le gusta"
written homework assignment (I will be available after school Tuesday for extra help.)
Test over Unit 1, Chapter 1 (pages 26-47)

Week of September 6

Spanish I students have begun the regular chapters in the Spanish book.  This week we are focusing on learning subject pronouns and our first verb (SER--to be), greetings, where people are from, introductions, and likes.  I strongly suggest students make flash cards for the SUBJECT PRONOUNS that we will be learning this week.  Having a strong knowledge of these pronouns will make their Spanish studies much more successful all year long and beyond. Practice for the chapter can be found on the CD tutorial under Unidad 1, Etapa 1.

Anticipated grades for the week:
clicker quiz on vocabulary (p. 30 in book)
quiz on greetings and subject pronouns (notes and book)
quiz on SER and likes (notes and book)