En el restaurante

Fabulous Fifth graders worked hard on these skits, check them out!

Summer opportunity

Click here for information about a Spanish immersion camp during the summer.

Mi perro

Mi perro es grande y amarillo. Mi perro es bueno. Mi perro se llama Luke y come mucho. Me gusta jugar con Luke. Luke duerme, come y duerme más. Pero... ¡Luke no baila el merengue!

Las frutas

This is a favorite song that helps the children remember the fruits. Once I heard someone singing it while I was grocery shopping, there it was, a Beye student singing loud and clear in the middle of the fruit section!

Los planetas hablan-The planets talk

Some third grades gave life to the planets in our Solar System, check it out!:

Fashion Show!!

Fifth graders loved learning about agreement noun-adjective (in gender and number) by describing first what they were wearing and then what a partner was wearing. We had our annual Fashion Show on the same day as "Crazy Hat and Hair Day". It was veeeeeery interesting, as you can see in the slideshow on your right....

Países

We are learning about different countries in 4th and 5th grades classes. The content is read and processed in Spanish. I have also showed short videos to accompany and to make it easier to visualize what it would be to visit that country. One 5th grade class chose Paraguay. Click here to watch a very inspiring video about how a group is transforming Paraguay's society through education.

El Sistema Solar

Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by two things: the sky and rocks. I collect minerals, fossils and rocks for a hobby. When I go to new places I always come loaded with rocks, they are everywhere: my bags, my pockets, my shelves, my drawers... I also love astronomy and I especially love teaching it in Spanish to our third graders: I challenge you to this pre-assessment I created!

More science on acquiring new language

I am still a language learner, whether it is keeping my French and German, learning new things in English or my latest adventure (Mandarin!) I am always learning language. Spanish is my native language, I started French at the age of 5 and German and English at 22. I am at a disadvantage in Mandarin... Or may be learning French at such an early age gave me an advantage for life and made me a "mental juggler"... Read this article.

Day of the Dead

We are currently learning about the Mexican celebration of the Day of Dead. If you want to know more about it click and watch the videos on your right. The National Museum of Mexican Art has an exhibit on the Day of the Dead that runs till December 13th. For more information click here.
Also: the Chicago Children's Museum is currently presenting a special exhibit through March 13, 2011: "Mexico: festival of toys". For information click here.

Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15-October 15

During this Month we celebrate the accomplishments of Hispanics in the United States. A Hispanic or Latino is a person who came, or whose family came, from a Spanish speaking country. Lynn Allen, Director of the Multicultural Center located at Julian Middle School came to Beye School to talk to the students about the cultures of several Spanish speaking countries. On your right you can see some pictures of her visit. The students listened very attentively and had a lot of questions!

The importance of learning a second language!!

Happy Mexican Independence Day!!

İViva Mexico!
We commemorated the 200 anniversary of the Mexican declaration of Independence. Here is a brief history lesson:

Welcome back! Why are we here?

I hope you had a restful summer. My family and I traveled to Spain and Portugal to visit friends and family and to see new places. In case you have not checked it out our District's mission statement defines the compromise of District 97 with our students and community:

"The mission of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the educational prism through which students realize meaning and purpose in their lives, is to guarantee that each student achieves optimal intellectual growth while developing socially, emotionally, and physically through a system distinguished by

* Exemplary instruction focused on each student
* Commitment to the needs of a diverse population
* Meaningful partnerships with families and the community
* Celebrations of the power of art, music, and language
* Confident students challenged to be educational risk-takers"

As the school year begins I reflect on this and the place that foreign language in elementary school (FLES) holds is our community. What are the benefits of learning a second language at an early age? Let's make of this a discussion, leave me a sticky note:

Verano

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. Let me know what is you favorite activity during these months by leaving me a sticky note:

Spain won the World Cup!!!!

Soccer, anyone?

Spain will play the World Cup final!!!!!!!!

June 19, Día del Español in Chicago

The Instituto Cervantes (Cultural Center of Spain) is organizing a fiesta for "El día del español". For more information click here.

Video

The 4th and 5th graders LOVED this video made by Sr. Wooly about a student who is asking permission to go to the bathroom... to see what happens click here.

We'll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo!!

Next week the children will be learning about the Cinco de Mayo. It is a festivity that is celebrated more in the US than in Mexico (except in Puebla...). Click here for information about the Cinco de Mayo parade in Chicago. Click here for a short video about the history behind Cinco de Mayo. Then, take the "quiz" on your right...