tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post1718315406973782804..comments2024-01-25T07:36:22.307-06:00Comments on A Learning Journey: First Day Using Sonrisas Spanish School CurriculumA Learning Journeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09796182670039545255noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post-9128648693498552072014-11-17T13:31:29.043-06:002014-11-17T13:31:29.043-06:00Thank for you this review. I've been looking f...Thank for you this review. I've been looking for a Spanish curriculum for our five year old, and a friend recently suggested Sonrisas. It's helpful to see how it works for you!Anne Belkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036615976292866706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post-73572369897238935402011-08-07T23:58:59.226-05:002011-08-07T23:58:59.226-05:00Tracey, Thank you so much for your response! It wa...Tracey, Thank you so much for your response! It was VERY helpful! Now, I am heading back over to their site to check it out some more! :-)Mama Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602135742666865515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post-22058641709780331392011-08-07T22:03:06.287-05:002011-08-07T22:03:06.287-05:00Jennifer - Sorry it has taken me so long to get ba...Jennifer - Sorry it has taken me so long to get back with you. I just started using this curriculum and I am by no means an expert, but I would have to say that Sonrisas Spanish Curriculum focuses on oral language and communication as the goal for Level 1. They encourage consistent use of Spanish at least 90% of the time during Spanish class. All of the songs sang, games played, and books read are in Spanish however some books are bilingual. Alyssa will often read the English after I read the Spanish ... I never discourage her because of her LOVE for reading. She will also sit with the books and explore the language on her own after a lesson (often attempting to read the Spanish text aloud). Since we have been doing Spanish class again I have already noticed her pronunciation improving and her vocabulary increasing due to exposure. She constantly sings the songs from their CD around the house. The student doesn't actually read the books unless of course you encourage them to chime in when they come to a known word or concept (which I would encourage). The alphabet and Spanish letter sounds are taught in the next level. Oral language is the focus during calendar time, circle time, story time, and art. They recommend using the curriculum for two years so that means your child will be exposed to two years of oral calendar activities before reading and writing is emphasized. Then, in Level 2 the students are exposed to a letter a day and the focus shifts to reading and writing during chalkboard activities. I often expose Alyssa to the reading and writing because of her strong interest in the language and due to her experience with these particular language concepts in the past. I posted all of the charts seen on my wall as visuals to help with calendar time since our calendar was only in English. In the teacher's manual they discuss their approach in agreement with Dr. Penfield's research on language acquisition using the "mother's method ... and Patricia Kuhl's research indicating human-to-human interaction in order to learn or acquire the language. As for the methodologies behind the curriculum, Sonrisas incorporates a combination of teaching methods including ESL, Total Physical Response, The Natural Approach, the Waldorf Foreign Language Approach, and TPRS (Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling). They go into more depth about these influences in their manual starting on page 27. Don't forget they also target all of the multiple intelligences during the curriculum lessons. You may be able to contact them and ask for more information about their approach. Sonrisas also uses the approach of reading children's literature and engaging their imagination through the senses. Circling is used in Level 2 with the older students. The guide for creating the curriculum is based on the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. I hope this information is helpful. You could also research the above methodologies online if you are not familiar with them but it sounds like you might be. They also use authentic assessment to see if the child meets the communication objectives for this level. I hope you stop by again and Thank you for visiting! <br />If you copy and paste this URL you may find more detailed information: http://sonrisasspanishschool.com/blog/tag/foreign-language-teaching-methods/ <br />or <br />you could use the search button on the Sonrisas Blog: <br />http://www.sonrisasspanishschool.com/blog/.<br />Thanks a bunch, <br />TraceyA Learning Journeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09796182670039545255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post-47642508698553015002011-08-07T16:18:04.270-05:002011-08-07T16:18:04.270-05:00What a thorough review. I would love to try this ...What a thorough review. I would love to try this out and to find something similar for French!The girl who painted treeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09159718600311729528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151049058887204920.post-81420505201465583592011-07-29T15:41:31.831-05:002011-07-29T15:41:31.831-05:00Tracey, this curriculum is very intriguing to me! ...Tracey, this curriculum is very intriguing to me! I have been on the hunt for a fun Spanish curriculum to use with my kids. I tried another curriculum but soon stopped it b/c it started out teaching the letter sounds. I was afraid that my kids would confuse them with English letter sounds and that it would hinder their reading. (My concern was for my younger kids who were new and budding readers.) <br /><br />Anyhow, I have been all over the Sonrisas website and it looks great. I was wondering if you could give me some insight into the teaching approach. Are the kids primarily taught to speak the language or are they taught to speak, read, and write it? For now, I am more interested in my kids learning to speak, understand, and dialogue in Spanish. I feel they can learn to write and read it later. <br /><br />So, with that said, can you let me know the approach of Sonrisas? Thanks so much! I look forward to your response! :-)Mama Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602135742666865515noreply@blogger.com