Highland Park Spanish 

Sylvia Muir

Portable:  A-18

Feel free to contact me directly with questions or concerns:
School:  841-4307     Cell:  680-4801   

e-mail:  smuir@austinisd.org

!Bienvenidos a todos!  Welcome to Spanish at Highland Park.  I look forward to an exciting year of working with Highland Park Scotties introducing and continuing exposure to the Spanish language and culture.

Purpose

Our main purpose in teaching Spanish is for students to learn to love the Spanish language,  to exercise mouth muscles to establish authentic sounds,  and to learn to respect the culture of the Spanish-speaking world. 

Program and curriculum 

Highland Park parents and faculty established the Spanish program in  the Spring of 1992, because of a belief in the linguistic and cultural value of studying a second language and of beginning the study in school as soon as possible.  A Spanish exposure curriculum is offered at Highland Park for students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.  Students receive one Spanish lesson per week of approximately 30-45 minutes.  

Goals of the language experience program

• Listening proficiency developed through comprehending basic vocabulary and responding to basic commands, 
• Speaking skills developed through activities like responding to simple questions, playing games, singing songs, and reciting poetry, 
• Working with content relevant to students’ interests and experiences, including greetings, naming, colors, numbers, the alphabet, calendar, classroom objects, school personnel, body parts, animals, physical states, weather, seasons, clothing, and food,
• Using Spanish as the primary language in the classroom, and
• Developing awareness of and sensitivity to the culture of Spanish-speaking people.

Home Reports

Summaries of general class work, special activities, and suggested practice in Spanish are sent home quarterly.  The reports are posted as follows:  Kindergarten Home Reports, First Grade Home Reports, Second Grade Home Reports, Third Grade Home Reports, Fourth Grade Home Reports, and Fifth Grade Home Reports.