Yesterday we began music class! We will be using both drums and recorders this semester. Music classes will be every Tuesday at 12:40pm. Yesterday we learned about the difference between rhythms and beats and used drums to make different sounds. Changing how our fingers were spaced, where we tapped the drum, and how long we kept our hand on the drum changed the sound it made. Next week we will begin using the recorders. At this time it is unclear if the recorders will be going home - I will let you know if they are sent home for practice.
Today we started Spanish class! Mary will be teaching Spanish classes every Wednesday at 2:00pm. Here is what she wrote about the class:
Spanish at East Village Community School:
All the Spanish language learning at EVCS is done through interactive games, songs, art, activities, and projects that are often related to other parts of the academic curriculum. Throughout these experiences, we encourage children to hear, see, and use the Spanish language in ways that are relevant to their lives, their interests, and appropriate to their stages of development.
In all our Spanish classes (K through 5), students begin to learn the basic elements of grammar and vocabulary, how to use Spanish as a means of communication and self-expression, and about Spanish-speaking cultures. We believe that all students can and want to learn a language other than their own and our approach reflects the way children learn their first language -- that is, in a natural, communicative context. The curriculum provides a number of opportunities for children to listen and guess at meaning, to interact with and observe others, and to see many examples of the printed word. These informal experiences with Spanish lay the foundation for speaking, reading, and writing in another language.
Spanish at EVCS emphasizes meaningful communication. In class, a curriculum project becomes a medium through which we teach language, whether it is telling a story, creating a restaurant, singing a song, or learning about Day of the Dead or the Spanish conquest of the New World. We encourage students to listen and respond to Spanish using the method best for them--it may be through acting, giving one-word answers, or simply repeating the teachers words. Once they become familiar and comfortable with the sound system of the language, students can hear and comprehend more complex grammatical structures. We give grammar instruction, whenever possible, as an exploration of patterns and rules.
Culture plays a huge role in our Spanish studies and is integral to the whole experience of learning a foreign language. Classroom teachers are encouraged to integrate Spanish into the ongoing program and this demands a lot of collaboration between the Spanish teacher and the classroom teachers. Throughout the program, the Spanish teacher reinforces content areas, such as the family, neighborhood or market investigations, which provide a rich source of vocabulary and exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures. When young children learn a new language in this playful and integrated way, they easily acquire vocabulary and simple phrases. They are eager to use the words they know and to learn words that are important and relevant to their lives and interests. And they become more curious about and interested in Hispanic customs, traditions, and celebrations.
We certainly are a busy bunch this week!
