Where did April go? I say that every month but April really flew by! It has been a month of learning for the students and for me. Two of the Spanish teachers and I got the opportunity to attend the TELL (Teachers of Effective Language Learners) in Nashville this month. It was an awesome conference. There were about 80 world language teachers there and they were all passionate about language proficiency. The weekend of the conference was spent collaborating on ways to increase our students' proficiency in a second language. The goal is to move students from using simple words (novice level speakers) to paragraph level speakers (advanced level speakers).
Obviously with only 30 minutes of instruction a week I won't be able to increase my students' proficiency level to that of a advanced level speaker but I can help them reach a novice mid level (using phrases) and a novice high level (using some sentences). I can see it happening already. I hear my 2nd and 3rd graders beginning to use some phrases such as No inglés (no English), una vez más, (one more time), and hablen español, (speak Spanish). It's been really gratifying to see them beginning to communicate and take risks. It's only the beginning. I can teach them so much more and they can do so much more. I am really looking forward to next year! I think it's going to be so exciting to see what we accomplish as this program continues to grow.
In May all grades are going to wrap up and review what they learned this year. We are going to spend a week on finishing our portfolios and then I will send them home.
I have so enjoyed this year. This time of the year is always bittersweet for me. I am always a little sad at the end of the year with my own children. I know that as every school year ends they grow a little more and get a little more independent. I am reminded that they are growing up. It is the same with my Spanish classes. When I started teaching the 2nd and 3rd graders they were Kindergarteners and 1st graders! They are growing up too.
As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Gracias.
Joelle Jones
Obviously with only 30 minutes of instruction a week I won't be able to increase my students' proficiency level to that of a advanced level speaker but I can help them reach a novice mid level (using phrases) and a novice high level (using some sentences). I can see it happening already. I hear my 2nd and 3rd graders beginning to use some phrases such as No inglés (no English), una vez más, (one more time), and hablen español, (speak Spanish). It's been really gratifying to see them beginning to communicate and take risks. It's only the beginning. I can teach them so much more and they can do so much more. I am really looking forward to next year! I think it's going to be so exciting to see what we accomplish as this program continues to grow.
In May all grades are going to wrap up and review what they learned this year. We are going to spend a week on finishing our portfolios and then I will send them home.
I have so enjoyed this year. This time of the year is always bittersweet for me. I am always a little sad at the end of the year with my own children. I know that as every school year ends they grow a little more and get a little more independent. I am reminded that they are growing up. It is the same with my Spanish classes. When I started teaching the 2nd and 3rd graders they were Kindergarteners and 1st graders! They are growing up too.
As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Gracias.
Joelle Jones