Spanish
The foreign language program at the School of Saint Mary is an introduction to the culture and history of Spanish-speaking people. The program is for students in grades 1-8. In these grades, students practice speaking, listening, writing and reading skills. Students work on basic vocabulary, grammar and idioms which are relevant to their daily lives. The program increases in difficulty from 6th to 8th grade and many of our 8th graders test out of Spanish I in high school after completing our course of study.
The 1st through 5th grade students meet four times a week for a total of one hour. 6th, 7th and 8th grades meet 5 days a week for a 45 minute class period for 3 quarters.
Curriculum
- Grades 1-2
- Learn vocabulary by thematic units with the addition of vocabulary to the units each year
- Compose simple sentences with learned vocabulary by the end of 2nd grade
- Participate in celebrations of Hispanic holidays, feast days, songs, legends and traditions
- Grades 3-5
- Read, write and speak in Spanish
- Cross-curricular units with home room teachers
- Verb conjugation and other grammar aspects in grade 5
- Grade 6
- Conjugate and use irregular verbs
- Read, write and speak in Spanish
- Study cultural references through the Media Center
- Study Mayan, Aztec and Incan cultures
- Grade 7
- Use thematic based vocabulary
- Conjugate regular and irregular verbs
- Use grammar applications (number and gender)
- Use conversational Spanish in “real life” applications
- Read level one novels for comprehension
- Grade 8
- Use thematic based vocabulary
- Conjugate regular and irregular verbs present tense, past tense and imperfect tense
- Conjugate reflexive verbs
- Use grammar applications (direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, etc.)
- Use conversational Spanish
- Read level two novels for comprehension
- Special events and activities
