¡Bienvenidos a las clases de español!
Queridos Padres:
(Dear Parents)
¡Hola! My name is Señora Wu and I will be teaching your child Spanish for the 2011-2012 school year. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to the World Language Program at Barkhamsted Elementary School.
For many years, learning a second language was an educational experience offered only to older children, even though research has proven over and over that the ideal time for students to learn another language is at a younger age. At Barkhamsted Elementary School, Spanish classes begin in the Kindergarten year. All classes meet twice per week. The Kindergarten classes are 15 minutes long. Grades 1-3 class lengths alternate between 15 and 20 minutes. Grade 4 classes are 20 minutes each. Grade 5 alternates between 20 and 25 minutes. Grade 6 classes are 25 minutes each.
The language is presented at an age-appropriate level and pace. The majority of instruction in the lower grades focuses on oral language development, thus most class work will be oral. Upper grades focus on reading and writing, as well as oral developmnet. Fluency in any language only comes after years of sustained exposure and practice.
I greatly look forward to working with you and your child. We are going to have a fun-filled year!
Atentamente,
Señora Wu