Spanish
Mrs. Spotswood
My name is Moggie Spotswood and I will be teaching Spanish to students in grades K-6 for the 2006-7 school year. I attended Spring Hill College for two years and went on to graduate from the University of South Alabama receiving a B.S. in Spanish Education with a minor in English.
I will meet separately with each class two days a week. The course is designed to expose students to the Spanish language and give them a glimpse into various Spanish-speaking cultures. The children will learn basic Spanish vocabulary; additionally, the upper grades will study Spanish grammar. Our Catholic faith will be incorporated into various lessons. The unit on "Family", for example, will emphasize that God (Dios) is the Father (Padre) of all and that Mary (Maria) is our Mother (Madre). Consequently, we are all brothers and sisters (hermanos y hermanas) in Christ (Cristo). I will emphasize the need to respect that we are ALL God's children, no matter what language we speak.
It is my intent to makethis course an enjoyable, positive one that will give students the desire to learn more!
Spanish News
Our school Spanish Mass was postponed until May. This will allow time for the younger children to learn more so as to be better able to participate in the responses at Mass. We will soon begin preparing again for that Mass by reviewing hymns and going over the Mass parts.
The children have added many new words to their vocabulary over the past three months. These words deal with “las ropas” (clothing), “partes del cuerpo” (parts of the body), and “los cinco sentidos” (the 5 senses). Currently we are studying a unit on “la comida” (food).
In keeping with the season, we have been talking about the ways in which Spanish cultures celebrate “la Pascua” (Easter) and “la Semana Santa” (Holy Week). We are having fun painting hollowed-out eggs and stuffing them with confetti – that is, making “cascarones” (see picture below).
| Spanish News Archives |
| The last few months in the OLQM Spanish classes have been very busy! Our students have learned many words and phrases to add to their knowledge of the Spanish language. We've studied units on “Saludos/Introducciones” (Greetings?introductions), “La Familia” (The Family), “Los Colores” (The Colors), and “El Calendario” (The Calendar – days of the week, months of the year & numbers). . |
| The children in all grades made Mexican flags in conjunction with our unit on Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16). These “Banderas de Mexico” were displayed on the Spanish bulletin board. They also got to see a poncho from Mexico that was a replica of the flag on one side and displayed the ancient Aztec calendar on the other. We talked about the history of Mexico as it relates to the Aztecs. On “El Dia de Los Muertos” (The Day of the Dead), the children saw a model of an altar similar to one they might see at a gravesite in Mexico – complete with sugar skulls, candles and skeletons The students were reminded that death, though it brings sadness, is just another part of life –- the continuance of life for our souls. They now understand why the Spanish culture ‘celebrates' death each year from Oct. 31st-Nov.2 nd . . December will continue to provide opportunities for all to learn more about the Spanish culture. |
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A ‘joyful noise' can be heard coming from the classrooms of OLQM this week as the children begin to learn hymns to sing at the Mass in honor of “Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.” The children have learned about Our Lady of Guadalupe and her appearances to Juan Diego in Mexico . Since that feast is on Dec. 12, we are planning to have the weekly children's Mass said in Spanish. The children will be busy over the next month practicing Mass parts, including the “Senor, Ten Piedad” (“Lord, Have Mercy”), the “Santo, Santo” (“Holy, Holy”) and the “Cordero de Dios” (“Lamb of God”). Our students will come away with the knowledge that, regardless of the language spoken, the Catholic celebration of the Lord's Supper (the Mass) is the same throughout the world |